Prayer to the Mother of God, from the pen of Pope Francis.

At the end of his Apostolic Exhortation ‘The Joy of the Gospel’ or ‘Evangelii Gaudium’, in

'Ego sum Lux'- 'I am the Light',- Christ the Light of the World, in the arms of his Mother: from Chapel of St. Zeno, in Basilica of St. Praxedes, in Rome. Photos: S. Devitt.

November 2013, Pope Francis concludes with this prayer to Mary, the Mother of God: it is a prayer of the Church and by the Church, God’s People, that the joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ would reach every human being, through each one of us. It is a prayer for this month of May. If you like it, pass it on to others.

Mary, Virgin and Mother,
you who, moved by the Holy Spirit,
welcomed the word of life
in the depths of your humble faith:
as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One,
help us to say our own “yes”
to the urgent call, as pressing as ever,
to proclaim the good news of Jesus.

Filled with Christ’s presence,
you brought joy to John the Baptist,
making him exult in the womb of his mother.
Brimming over with joy,
you sang of the great things done by God.
Standing at the foot of the cross
with unyielding faith,
you received the joyful comfort of the resurrection,
and joined the disciples in awaiting the Spirit
so that the evangelizing Church might be born.

Obtain for us now a new ardour born of the resurrection,
that we may bring to all the Gospel of life
which triumphs over death.
Give us a holy courage to seek new paths,
that the gift of unfading beauty
may reach every man and woman.

Virgin of listening and contemplation,
Mother of love, Bride of the eternal wedding feast,
pray for the Church, whose pure icon you are,
that she may never be closed in on herself
or lose her passion for establishing God’s kingdom.

Star of the new evangelisation,
help us to bear radiant witness to communion,
service, ardent and generous faith,
justice and love of the poor,
that the joy of the Gospel
may reach to the ends of the earth,
illuminating even the fringes of our world.

Mother of the living Gospel,
wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones,
pray for us.

Amen. Alleluia!

Given in Rome, at Saint Peter’s, on 24 November, the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, and the conclusion of the Year of Faith, in the year 2013, the first of my Pontificate.

FRANCISCUS

Icon of Mary, Mother of Tenderness