"Her first act was to listen to God," he said, noting how she then obeyed the angel's message and followed Jesus closely, "listening to every word that issued from his lips" and keeping them in her heart.
However, the Pope stressed, "it's not enough simply to listen." While this is the first step, it must be followed by concrete action.
"The disciple truly puts his life at the service of the Gospel," he said, and, recalling Mary's own actions, pointed to how after the Annunciation, Mary immediately went to her cousin Elizabeth to help her during her pregnancy.
Not only did she then give birth to the Son of God, but she also showed her concern for the young spouses in Cana by interceding for them. When Jesus was crucified on Golgotha, Mary "did not flee pain but stood beneath the cross of Jesus and, by his will, became the Mother of the Church."
After Jesus rose from the dead, she then "encouraged the apostles assembled in the upper room as they awaited the Holy Spirit, who would make them fearless heralds of the Gospel," Pope Francis said.
Francis closed his homily invoking Mary's intercession, praying that she would be "a protection, help and blessing for us all the days of our life."
"We fly to your protection, holy Mother of God. Scorn not our petitions in the hour of need. O glorious and blessed Virgin, deliver us always from every peril.
Celebrations for the Marian Jubilee will conclude Sunday with a special Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square.
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.