Mary's Smile

	Mary's Smile Now Mary dwells in the joy and the glory of the Resurrection. The tears she shed at the foot of the Cross have turned into a smile, which nothing can ever wipe away, just as her maternal compassion towards us always remains unchanged. The intervention of the Virgin Mary in offering succor throughout history testifies to this, and does not cease to call forth, in the people of God, an unshakable confidence in her: the Memorare prayer expresses this sentiment very well. Mary loves each of her children, giving particular attention to those who, like her Son at the hour of his Passion, are prey to suffering; she loves them quite simply because they are her children, according to the will of Christ on the Cross. The psalmist, seeing from afar this maternal bond which unites the Mother of Christ with the people of faith, prophesies regarding the Virgin Mary that “the richest of the people … will seek your smile” (Ps 44:13). Here in Lourdes, in the course of the apparition of Wednesday March 3, 1858, Bernadette contemplated this smile of Mary in a most particular way. It was the first response that the Beautiful Lady gave to the young visionary who wanted to know who she was. Before introducing herself, some days later, as “the Immaculate Conception,” Mary first taught Bernadette to know her smile, this being the most appropriate point of entry into the revelation of her mystery. Benedict XVI, Homily Esplanade in front of the Basilica of Notre-Dame du Rosaire, Lourdes, Monday, September 15, 2008