Popes & the Vatican, Religion & Spirituality 

For every Christian, for every human being, Mary is the one who first 'believed,' and precisely with her faith as Spouse and Mother she wishes to act upon all those who entrust themselves to her as her children. And it is well known that the more her children persevere and progress in this attitude, the nearer Mary leads them to the `unsearchable riches of Christ' (Eph 3:8). And to the same degree they recognize more and more clearly the dignity of man in all its fullness and the definitive meaning of his vocation, for "Christ ... fully reveals man to man himself.'"These words of Pope John Paul II from his encyclical letter Mother of the Redeemer (Redemptoris Mater) emphasize the important role of Mary in guiding the Christian to union with Christ. In his Sunday Angelus talks from Easter Sunday, 1983 t0 Easter Sunday, 1984, the Holy Father expounds on the virtues and privileges of Mary, on her solidarity with all Christians and her boundless solicitude for mankind.Servite Fr. David Brown has performed an excellent service to the Church by compiling the Holy Father's unique Marian teaching from the Angelus messages. His explanatory notes assist the reader and highlight key aspects of these important papal instructions on Our Lady and her role in the Redemption - from Amzon