“Mulier amicta sole et luna sub pedibus eius, et in capite eius corona stellarum duodecim”

(...the woman clothed with the sun with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars)

And before us is the feast of Mary. Immaculate and luminous; daughter of her Son, "humble and high, more than a creature", who shines as a sign of consolation and a star of sure hope, because she accepts to be like the moon that does not shine of its own light, but of the Sun that is Christ. To Her we turn with eyes perhaps weary and misty from the tears and gloom of these times; it is She whom we invoke as Mother of Light. To Her we ask that all of us, poor seekers even of the shadow of light, may continue to seek, without growing weary.

To Mary Immaculate we whisper our desire to fulfil the invitation of her Son "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to the Father who is in heaven". To Her, sweetest Mother, treasure of the poorest, splendour of the stars and morning star; to Her, "the anchor of the shipwrecked, the poetry of song, the only reality of our dreams; to Her, radiance of the stars, image of the cosmos that will be" (Gen Rosso) we turn, still hungry seekers and thirsty for Light. To Her we also bring with discretion and trust the many who have in the secret of their hearts the invocation: "More light, more light"!

(Lello Ponticelli, Avvenire)