To the Faithful at the Shrine of Notre Dame du Cape (10

On Monday, September 1984, the Holy Father visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Cap-de-la-Madeleine, where he spoke to the faithful gathered there.

As far back as evangelization goes here, we find devotion to the Virgin Mary. How can we announce and carry out the work of her Son without looking towards his Mother, without admiring her availability and her faith, without imploring her intercession? This very ancient sanctuary of Notre-Dame du Cap-de-la-Madeleine is a sign of this, and I am happy to be a pilgrim there in my turn.

People come here from all over Quebec, from other provinces, from all over Canada. These moments of pilgrimage are high points in the Christian life, great moments of community and personal prayer, with a freedom and simplicity that we do not always find at home; they are opportunities for renewal by listening to the Word of God. We come to lay our worries and requests at Mary's feet, with a trust that pleases God; often we rediscover at the same time our own vocation, Christian, priestly, or religious. The contemplation of Mary Immaculate leads to the desire for purification, the sacrament of penance, the need for a new heart, animated by the Holy Spirit. And I am sure that many leave here, after having prayed together with Mary as at Pentecost, with increased apostolic zeal.

It is therefore very important that these pilgrimages be well received, accompanied; that the spirit of prayer and the best ecclesial sense be maintained there. Also I congratulate and encourage the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate who, for 82 years, have taken charge of this sanctuary. I mentioned this morning the very beautiful work of evangelization that your confreres, dear Oblate friends, have accomplished and continue to accomplish throughout the Great Canadian North and in many other regions, especially in the service of the Amerindians. But in a sense, this ministry of Our Lady of Cap-de-la-Madeleine is also missionary. It must allow a renewal of the people of God. And it is in line with your Marian spirituality that you have helped to strengthen and spread in Canada.

In this place, I also greet the men and women religious who come to join the pilgrims, to serve them and to pray with them. Today I especially appreciate the presence of the contemplative sisters who, like Mary, Martha's sister, stand before the Lord in adoration, to unite themselves to his praise of the Father, to his redemptive offering, to bear witness to their fervent love for Christ who loved us so much and who remains here in the Most Holy Sacrament. Dear Sisters, with Mary, Mother of Jesus, you contemplate her Son: "Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine!" This silent, gratuitous prayer is a capital witness for all the pilgrims of this sanctuary, and it is of a mysterious fruitfulness for the deepening of their spiritual journey.

Brothers and Sisters, may the Most Holy Virgin obtain for you peace and joy in the service of the Lord! Through her intercession, may God bless the ministry that the Bishop of Rome carries out in this place! And may He welcome the prayer that will now be raised, near this basilica, in our Eucharistic gathering!

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