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JOHN PAUL II
6
November 1994, John Paul II, in his pastoral visit
to the city of Syracuse, during his homily on the
occasion of the dedication of Our Lady of Tears
Shrine said:
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“Shrine of Our Lady of Tears, you were erected to
remind the Church of the tears of our Mother.”
“The tears of Mary belong to the order of signs:
They testify to the presence of our Mother in the
Church and in the world. A mother weeps when she
sees her children threatened by evil, be it
spiritual or physical.” |
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“Shrine of Our Lady of Tears, you were erected to
remind the Church of the tears of our Mother. May
all those who are oppressed by the awareness of
their sins, come here, within these welcoming walls,
and experience the richness of the mercy of God and
of his forgiveness! May the tears of their Mother
guide them here.” |
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“They
are tears of sorrow for all those who refuse the
love of God, for those families which are broken or
in difficulty, for the young people seduced by a
consumerist civilization and so often disoriented,
for the violence that still spills so much blood and
for the misunderstandings and hate which dig deep
trenches between individuals and peoples. They are
tears of prayer: the Mother’s prayer that gives
strength to every other prayer, and that rises in
supplication for all those who do not pray because
they are distracted by a thousand other interests,
or because they are obstinately closed to God’s call.
They are tears of hope, which melt the hardness of
hearts and open them to meeting Christ the Redeemer,
source of light and peace for individuals, for
families, for the whole of society”. |
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