Above all, Saint Pope Paul VI desired that it should be made clear that Mary, the humble handmaid of the Lord, exists only in relation to God and to Christ, our sole Mediator and Redeemer. The pontiff moreover expressed the hope that the true nature and aims of Marian veneration in the church be illustrated, particularly where many are separated from the church, so that those who are not a part of the Catholic community may understand that devotion to Mary, far from being an end in itself, is instead a means essentially ordained to orient souls to Christ and thus unite them with the Father in the love of the Holy Spirit.
St Pope Paul VI advised the Council members that he had decided to send a special mission to Fatima in the then near future in order to carry a Golden Rose to the sanctuary of Fatima, more dear than ever not only to the people of the noble Portuguese nation, but also to the Council members and the faithful.
In this manner the pontiff intended to entrust to the care of this heavenly mother the entire human family, with its problems and anxieties, with its legitimate aspirations and ardent hopes. St Pope Paul VI concluded with the following prayer: "O Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, to you we recommend the entire Church and our Ecumenical Council.
"You, auxilium Episcoporum, aid of bishops, protect and assist the bishops in their apostolic mission, and all those priests, religious and laymen who help them in their arduous work.
"You who were presented by your Son Himself, at the moment of His redeeming death, as mother to His best-beloved disciple, remember the Christian people who entrust themselves to you.
"Remember all yours sons; support their prayers to God, preserve their faith, strengthen their hope, increase their charity.
"Remember those who are in tribulation, in need, in danger and particularly those who suffer persecution and those who are in prison because of the faith. For these, O Virgin, obtain fortitude and hasten their day of just freedom.
"Look with benign eyes on our separated brothers and condescend to unite us, you who brought forth Christ as a bridge of unity between God and men.
"O, temple of light, without shadow and without blemish, intercede with your only Son, mediator of our reconciliation with the Father (cf. Rom. 5,11) that He may have mercy on our shortcomings and may dispel any differences between us, giving us the joy of loving.
"To your Immaculate Heart, O Mary, we finally recommend the entire human race. Lead it to the knowledge of the sole and true Saviour, Jesus Christ; protect it from the scourges provoked by sin, give to the entire world peace in truth, in justice, in liberty and in love.
"And let the entire Church, by celebrating this great ecumenical assembly, raise to the God of mercy the majestic hymn of praise and thanksgiving, the hymn of joy and of exaltation, because the Lord has worked great things through you, O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary." [2]
The Third Session: The Debates and Decrees of Vatican Coucnil 2, September 14 to November 21, 1964. Faber: 1965. Xavier Rynne.
[1] The Third Session. Page 388
[2] The Third Session, pp 388 to 389
