Ave Maria, the mystery of a most beloved prayer : a conversation with Marco Pozza

"Pope Francis provides an enlightening new vision of the importance of the Virgin Mary in the Church and in our lives. 'Mary is thus the universal Mother who gives total attention, care, closeness to each son, to each daughter. In her we see in fact the heart of a woman that beats like that of God, a heart that beats for all, without distinction. She is truly the human face of God's infinite goodness.' So writes Pope Francis in Ave Maria. In this follow-up to Our Father, Pope Francis explores and unpacks line by line the meaning of the Ave Maria prayer, while celebrating women and all they do as leaders, friends, sisters, and mothers. Teaming up again with theologian Marco Pozza, Francis illuminates Mary's simple and complex nature and how her example challenges all of us to lead lives of faith, hope, and perseverance. In the end, she is an icon not just for the religious but for all who look to grow more deeply in their purpose in life."--Jacket.;Introduction: Pure hope -- Part I: Hail, Mary, full of grace : the beauty of a woman in whom God dwells ; The Lord is with you : faith: fidelity and trust ; Blessed are you among women : the smile of feeling like part of the people ; And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus : the maternal tenderness of God ; Holy Mary : Act of Veneration of the Immaculate in Piazza di Spagna ; Mother of God : the Lord became incarnate in Mary ; Pray for us sinners : undoing knots ; Now and at the hour of our death : Mother of Hope ; Magnificat : the joy of faith -- Part II: A mother among wolves / by Marco Pozza. This important new work by Pope Francis provides an enlightening new vision of the importance of women in the Church and the world, seen through the lens of Mary, the mother of Jesus. "At the beginning of the re-creation of the world, there is a dialogue between God and a single woman," notes Pope Francis in Ave Maria . That woman was Mary, the mother of Jesus, the central role model of faith and service in the Catholic Church. In this follow up to Our Father , Pope Francis explores and unpacks line by line the meaning of the Ave Maria prayer, while celebrating women and all they do as mothers, sisters, friends, and leaders. Teaming up again with theologian Marco Pozza, Francis demonstrates Mary's complex nature and how her example challenges all of us to lead lives of faith, hope and perseverance. In the end she is an icon not just for the religious, but for all who look to grow more deeply in their purpose in life. Pope Francis celebrates women in the Church and the world, seen through the lens of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in this enlightening new work. “Mary was not omnipotent, she was a normal woman: full of grace, but normal. The power is that grace of the Holy Spirit. Mary is full of the Holy Spirit, who accompanies her for her entire life.”—Pope Francis In Ave Maria, Pope Francis explores and unpacks line by line the meaning of the Ave Maria prayer, while celebrating women and all they do as leaders, friends, sisters, and mothers. Teaming up again with theologian Marco Pozza, Francis illuminates Mary’s simple and complex nature and how her example challenges all of us to lead lives of faith, hope, and perseverance. In the end, she is an icon not just for the religious but for all who look to grow more deeply in their purpose in life.