Most Holy Virgin Mary:

Good morning, everyone! You have come to Rome in this Holy Year to experience a moment of encounter with the Lord, which I see has filled you with joy. Saint Thomas of Villanova, commenting on Saint Augustine’s soliloquies, illustrates the origin of this joy: “You [Lord] are not one thing and your reward another, but you yourself are the immeasurable reward” (Complete Works, II, 89).

To encounter the Lord in the life we have so gladly embraced, we must, as pilgrims, walk a path. It is true that there are many paths, but they all boil down to two: “Mercy and truth” (Ps 24:10). Let us walk towards the Lord along these two paths, serving like Martha in works of mercy or resting like Mary at the feet of Jesus to contemplate the truth (Lk 10:38-41) (cf. ibid., VIII/2-3, 77)

The bishop saint of Valencia tells us that this is the path shown to us by the Gospel and the Apostle Paul, the path of love: “O delightful path of love!” says the saint. “Is there anything easier, more pleasant than to love? [...] The path of love is very easy, whether it be love of God or love of neighbour. So how easy this route is! How beautiful and pleasant the path is!” That is why all those who have reached the goal “have done so by this path” (ibid., II, 247).

This love is not something that is achieved with effort, but rather that is received as a gift. Saint Thomas tells us: “No matter how many things God gives you, if He does not give you His love, He has denied you Himself” (ibid., VIII/2-3, 107). Our journey thus takes shape from the heart: “God, in fact, does not look at what or how much you do, but at how much you advance in your desire and love for Him, because, although it is true that each person will be judged by their works, nevertheless the measure of the work is the charity of the heart” (ibid., VI, 487). Moreover, if the fire of love is lacking, works lose their meaning and become “a burden on the soul”, but “where there is love, there is no sorrow” (ibid. II, 63).

Dear sisters, let us invoke the maternal protection of Our Mother of Good Counsel and the intercession of Saint Thomas of Villanova, who so loved the mission in America (cf. ibid., III, 411), to walk this path of perfection with patience and courageous spirit to reach the end (cf. ibid., VII, 331).

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Holy See Press Office Bulletin, 15 October 2025