Shrine's guardian says pope believes Mary is perfect model of belief

Published: 2004-08-30

ROME (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II upholds the Blessed Virgin Mary as the perfect model for today's religious believers, said the guardian of an Italian Marian shrine. "The pope insists you can learn to believe from Mary; she was fully open to God's plan" and her decision to be part of it "was not based on a whim" but upon a firm, thoughtful choice, said Archbishop Angelo Comastri. The archbishop is papal delegate of the Italian sanctuary, the Holy House of Loreto, traditionally marked as Mary's house from Nazareth. He will be among those welcoming Pope John Paul when the pope visits Loreto Sept. 5 to beatify three new servants of God. Belonging to a faith community is no longer automatic in today's society, Archbishop Comastri told Catholic News Service Aug. 30 by phone from Loreto. "Today you must want to be, you must decide to be" part of a faith community, he said, "and what better than to go where it all began, to the place of the annunciation" where Mary said, "May it be done to me according to your word."

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