MARY AND MISSION

"THE YEAR OF THE ROSARY"

I would like the Year of the Rosary to be a favorable occasion for believers ... to deepen the meaning of their Christian vocation.

PRAYER IS PRIMARY

Confident recourse to Mary, with the daily recitation of the Rosary and the meditation of the mysteries of the life of Christ will emphasize that the Church.s mission must be sustained first of all by prayer.

"HOLINESS AND MISSION"

Holiness and mission are inseparable aspects of the vocation of every baptized person. The commitment to become more holy is closely linked to that of spreading the message of salvation.

"SO MANY POSSIBILITIES"

At no other time has the Church had so many possibilities of proclaiming Jesus, thanks to the development of the means of social communication.

REVIVED BY THE SPIRIT

Under the watchful gaze of her Mother, the ecclesial community flourishes like a family revived by the powerful outpouring of the Spirit, and, accepting the challenges of the new evangelization, contemplates the merciful face of Jesus in the brothers and sisters, especially the poor and needy, in those far from the faith and the Gospel.

"CAPABLE AND HOLY EVANGELIZERS"

It is necessary to prepare capable and holy evangelizers. The fervor of the apostles must not be allowed to weaken... The Rosary, if it is fully rediscovered and appreciated, is an ordinary yet fruitful pedagogical and spiritual tool to form the People of God to work in the vast field of apostolic action.

AN INVITATION TO ALL

I would like to suggest to all of you that you intensify your praying of the Rosary, privately and in community, to obtain from the Lord those graces that the Church and humanity especially need. I invite everyone to do this: children, adults, young and old, families, parishes and religious communities.

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

With Mary, we can obtain everything from her Son Jesus. Supported by Mary, we will not hesitate to devote ourselves generously to taking the proclamation of the Good News to the ends of the earth.

(Source: Message for World Mission Sunday, issued January 12, 2003)