Vatican City, Mar 23, 2004 / 22:00 pm
During today’s general audience, on the eve of the feast of the Annunciation, Pope John Paul recalled he has entrusted the Church, the world and mankind to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, responding to Our Lady’s plea in Fatima.
Our Lady’s “fiat” or “yes” in the moment of the Annunciation, said the Pope, “echoes that of the Word Incarnate” to which we must add “our ‘yes’ with respect to God’s mysterious plans. Only through full adhesion to the divine will do true joy and peace flourish, which we all hope for ardently for our times.”
John Paul then recalled the three moments in his pontificate when he entrusted the Church, the world and mankind to Mary: December 8, 1978 when he entrusted the Church and world to her; June 4, 1979, renewing this vow at the shrine of the Black Madonna in Poland and again in 1984.
“I remember especially March 25, 1984, the Holy Year. Twenty years have gone by since that day when in spiritual union with all the bishops of the world I entrusted all of mankind to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in response to Our Lady’s plea in Fatima,” he said.