Pope Benedict XVI (World Meeting of Families, 2006): “Mary is the image and model of all mothers, of their great mission to be guardians of life, of their mission to be teachers of the art of living and of the art of loving.”
Pope John Paul II (Letter to Families, 1994): “The family is called to carry out its task of education in the Church, thus sharing in her life and mission. The Church wishes to carry out her educational mission above all through families who are made capable of undertaking this task by the Sacrament of Matrimony, through the ‘grace of state’ which follows from it and the specific ‘charism’ proper to the entire family community.
“Certainly one area in which the family has an irreplaceable role is that of religious education, which enables the family to grow as a ‘domestic church.’ Religious education and the catechesis of children make the family a true subject of evangelization and the apostolate within the Church.”
Pope John Paul II (Angelus Message, July 2, 1989): “Mary as educator molded the Heart of her Son; with Saint Joseph she introduced Him to the traditions of the Chosen People, inspired in Him a love for the Law of the Lord, communicated to Him the spirituality of the ‘poor of the Lord.’ She had helped Him to develop His intellect and exercised a sure influence in the formation of His character. Although knowing that her Child surpassed her because He was ‘the Son of the Most High’ (Lk. 1:32), the Virgin was no less solicitous for His human upbringing (Lk. 2:51).”
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