Evangelization, Salvation and Our Lady

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

You may be interested in this interview. I am posting only an excerpt from Part 2, but  I links to the entire interview: Parts 1 and 2  are posted below the excerpt:

The Salvation of Our Century (Part 2)
Franciscan Father Cesare Cuomo of the Fatima Shrine on Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart
By Salvatore Cernuzio

ROME, DEC. 8, 2011 (Zenit.org).- For today's feast of the Immaculate Conception, ZENIT spoke with Franciscan Father Cesare Cuomo of the Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a collaborator at the Fatima Shrine.

Part 1 of this interview was published Wednesday.

* * *

ZENIT: How can Marian devotion be a part of the New Evangelization of which Benedict XVI speaks so much?

Father Cuomo: Our Lady is above all a model of evangelization because she sanctified herself, living the Word of God by incarnating it and with her example of life was an evangelizer. For example, when she went to her cousin Elizabeth, not only did she take material help to her cousin, but also an announcement. To seek, hence, with commitment to reproduce her way of life, the virtues she practiced, is already a form of evangelization. Moreover, when we are filled with her, it is almost natural for us to have an apostolic zeal, even just with words. If you allow yourself to be touched by Our Lady, she leads you automatically to bear witness with courage even in situations where humanly you might feel inhibited or timid.

ZENIT: In your opinion, is a rediscovery of the figure of Mary necessary today or is everything already known?

Father Cuomo: Yes, indeed! In fact this year we of the Family of the Immaculate Heart of Mary are carrying out a series of Marian catecheses where we wish to reflect further in a simple but profound way, on all the aspects of Our Lady’s life, beginning with her maternity and her virginity up to all those aspects connected to the type of reparation that she herself requested at Fatima. In practice, we choose an annual theme to then penetrate deeper in it during the following six months. From 2000 to 2010, for example, the theme was the Commandments, whereas from 2010 to 2017 it will be apparitions. The theme for next year began in November, and it is Our Lady’s apparitions, with the title of “Do you wish to offer yourself to God?” This catechetical itinerary, moreover, also serves as a preparation for the centenary of the Fatima Shrine.

Complete interview - Part 1 [HERE](http://www.zenit.org/article-33947?l=english)
Complete interview - Part 2 [HERE](http://www.zenit.org/article-33956?l=english)

Our Lady is our Mother and Model. Especially since both Bl. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have urged a “New Evangelization”, we need to look to her. She is all we are called to be as Church. We are all called to holiness, and we are all called to carry on the Mission of Christ. Mary was the first human person to bear the Good News, and she intercedes for us that we too may bring Christ to others, as she did on this earth.

Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, pray for us.
Jesus, we trust in You.