News     The Blessed Virgin Mary is the way to Christ  
Vatican: Pope John Paul II has affirmed that our Blessed Mother should be considered as the means to go to Christ who is the centre of our faith. It is Mary who can exert the greatest influence over her Son.
 
The highest ideal and model of Christian life is the Blessed Virgin. There is no other means that can transmit a faith-based spiritual growth to the millions of people in the world, stated the Pope. His Holiness was basing his remarks on the statements made by the II Vatican Council on Our Lady in its documents. Mary is the model of the Church and the exemplar of faith and mercy.
 
  Hope of the human race is the family  
The Vatican: The Pope, stressing the importance of the family, has said that the family is the hope of the human race. It was at the valedictory function of the International Family Association assembly held on October 5th at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that the Pope made this statement. The Pope said that families should faithfully realise the greatness of their vocation. He pointed out that mutual marital faithfulness and the joy of family life are inseparable factors. It is through the family that man grows, enters into the future, acquires maturity and becomes a member of the Church and of society. For this very reason the family cannot be substituted by any other institution. The indivisible conjugal relationship is the foundation of a happy family. Since it is ordained by God, it is the source of numerous blessings. The family is the foundation of a life - giving love. The sanctity of the family should not be tarnished by greed, selfishness or consumeristic tendencies. The world, the Church and the Pope place their hope in the family. "You must trust in God. God is with us", the Pope exhorted all the families of the world.
 
On the last day of the public programme for the Pope, nearly twenty lakhs of people participated disregarding the extreme heat. The Pope had earlier visited Brazil in 1980 and 1991.     Evangelise yourself first  
Chennai "A matter of paramount importance today is personal evangelisation. First we must be deepened in faith in God and also live according to that faith. Thus after evangelising overselves we must share that experience with others. This was the most important thing to bear in mind opined the CRI (Conference of Religious of India).     The priceless gift of God to the world and the Church  
The Vatican: Pope John Paul II said the late Mother Teresa was God's priceless gift to the world and to the Church. The Pope had consistently respected, loved and encouraged Mother Teresa. As soon as he heard about her death, he retired to his private chapel for prayer. The next day he offered his Mass for her with great fervour.
The Pope had often spoken about Mother Teresa at Bishops' Synods and Vatican conferences exhorting his listeners to emulate her example.
 
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