Reflection for the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

"In the lovely painting venerated in this basilica [Leon, Mexico], the Blessed Virgin holds her Son in one hand with immense tenderness while extending her other hand to succour sinners. This is how the Church in every age sees Mary. We praise her for giving us the Redeemer and we put our trust in her as the Mother whom her divine Son bequeathed to us from the Cross. For this reason, we invoke her frequently as 'our hope' because she has shown us Jesus and passed down to us the great things which God constantly does for humanity. She does so simply, as a mother teaches her children at home."

--Benedict XVI, Homily, March 25, 2012