Pope's Marian devotion keeps clear focus on Christ

Published: 2007-09-10

MARIAZELL, Austria (CNS) -- When Pope Benedict XVI came to the Austrian Marian shrine of Mariazell, he spoke a lot about Jesus Christ and said relatively little about Mary. That was indicative of the "style" of this pope's Marian devotion, which Vatican officials have described as prudent, thoughtful and very Christocentric. In general, the pope sees attachment to Mary as a wonderful way for the faithful to draw closer to Christ, but has been wary of anything that tends to exaggerate or oversentimentalize her role in the church. "We rest awhile with the mother of the Lord, and we pray to her: Show us Jesus ... the one who is both the way and the destination," the pope said in his sermon Sept. 8 to 30,000 people at Mariazell, where a small statue of Mary and Jesus has been drawing pilgrims for 850 years. Later, in a prayer liturgy at the sanctuary, he noted that Mary had received the fullness of God's grace and said: "We learn to look always, like Mary, to Christ, and to make him our criterion and our measure."

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