THE VISITATION: FAITHFUL PROCESS, SAY ROSARY IN VATICAN GARDENS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 1, 2001 (VIS) - At 8 p.m. yesterday, feast of the Visitation of Mary, there was the traditional end-of-May procession in the Vatican Gardens from the church of St. Stephen of the Abyssinians to the Grotto of Lourdes during which the faithful recited the rosary. Pope John Paul arrived at the Grotto at 9 for prayers and then addressed those present, including several cardinals and bishops.

The Pope said that "Mary's encounter with her cousin Elizabeth is like a 'little Pentecost'. I would like to emphasize this on the vigil of the great solemnity of the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel account the Visitation immediately follows the Annunciation: The Virgin Mary, who is carrying in her womb the Son conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, radiates grace and spiritual joy around her. It is the presence of the Spirit in her that makes Elizabeth's son, John, destined to prepare the path for the Son of God made man, leap for joy."

"Where Mary is," added the Holy Father, "there is Christ; where Christ is, there is His Spirit which proceeds from the Father and from Him in the sacrosanct mystery of the Trinity. The Acts of the Apostles underline, rightfully so, the prayerful presence of Mary in the Cenacle, together with the Apostles who have gathered to await to receive 'power from on high'."

He ended his brief remarks by saying: "Thus concludes our Marian pilgrimage in the quiet of the evening and this induces us to think about the final horizon of our existence. ... May the Holy Spirit strengthen our steps on this path which leads us to heaven."

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