Act Of Entrustment To Mary

History: On Sunday, October 8, 2000, during the conclusion of the Jubilee of the Bishops, Pope John Paul II and the bishops dedicated themselves and the Church to Mary for the new millennium. 1. "Woman, behold your Son!" (Jn 19:26). As we approach the end of this Jubilee Year, when you, O Mother, have again presented us with Jesus, the purest fruit of your womb, the Word incarnate and Redeemer of the world, we hear with greater clarity the gentle echo of his words entrusting us to you as our Mother: "Woman, behold your Son!" By placing the Apostle John in your care, Christ invited not just him but all of us, the children of the Church, under your protection, affirming his sole role as Savior of the world. You shine brightly, in no way diminishing the light of Christ, for you exist in and through him. All that is within you is a response of faith: you are the Immaculate One, through whom grace abounds. Here we stand, your children, before you at the beginning of this new millennium. The Church, led by the voice of the Successor of Peter and united with many Pastors from around the globe, seeks refuge in your maternal embrace and sincerely requests your intercession as we encounter the hidden challenges of the future. 2. In this year of grace, countless individuals have experienced the overflowing joy of the mercy bestowed upon us by the Father through Christ. Across various local Churches and especially here in this center of Christianity, many have received this divine gift. Here the enthusiasm of the youth has resonated, here prayers have been offered by the sick. Here, priests and religious, artists and journalists, workers and scholars, children and adults, have all recognized in your beloved Son the Word made flesh in your womb. O Mother, intercede for us, that the gifts of this Year may endure, and that the seeds of grace may develop into the full measure of sanctity to which we are all called. 3. Today, we entrust to you the future that lies ahead and ask for your presence as we navigate our path. We live in an extraordinary time, exhilarating yet filled with contradictions. Humanity possesses unprecedented power; we can cultivate our world into a paradise or turn it into chaos. We have the remarkable potential to influence the very sources of life: we can wield this power for good, honoring moral laws, or we might yield to reckless pride in a science that knows no bounds, disregarding the dignity owed to every human being. Humanity now stands at a pivotal point like no other time before. And once again, O Virgin Most Holy, salvation rests fully and solely in Jesus, your Son. 4. Thus, O Mother, like the Apostle John, we desire to welcome you into our lives (cf. Jn 19:27), so that we may learn to reflect your Son's example. "Woman, behold your son!" Here we present ourselves, the Church, and the entire world into your maternal embrace. Advocate for us with your beloved Son, that he may generously impart the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth who is life’s wellspring. May you receive the Spirit for us and with us, just as it occurred in the early community gathered around you in Jerusalem on Pentecost (cf. Acts 1:14). Let the Spirit awaken our hearts to justice and love, guiding individuals and nations toward mutual understanding and a steadfast commitment to peace. We entrust you with all humanity, especially the most vulnerable: the unborn, those born into suffering and poverty, the youth searching for purpose, the unemployed, and those facing hunger and illness. We entrust to you all troubled families, the elderly who have no one to assist them, and all who experience loneliness and despair. 5. O Mother, you understand the pains and hopes of the Church and the world: assist your children through the daily struggles of life, and grant that through everyone's efforts, darkness may not overcome the light. To you, Dawn of Salvation, we dedicate our journey through this new Millennium, so that, guided by you, all may come to know Christ, the light of the world and its only Savior, who reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever.Amen.