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| Icon of Mary, Mother of the Church, overlooking St. Peter's square |
“The consecrated woman is a mother, she must be a mother,
not a ‘spinster!’ Excuse me for speaking like this, but motherhood in the
consecrated life is important, this fruitfulness! May this joy of spiritual
fecundity motivate your life; be mothers, as a figure of Mary, Mother, and of
Mother Church. It is impossible to understand Mary without her motherhood; it
is impossible to understand the Church apart from her motherhood and you are
icons of Mary and the Church.” – Pope Francis’ address to religious superiors,
May 8, 2013. (Full text here.)
