Why did Pope Francis say, "When we encounter the Cross, do we turn to Mary," rather than to Christ? When we encounter the Cross, we turn to Mary: Give us the strength, Mary our Mother, to accept and embrace the Cross! &mdash;His Holiness Pope Francis


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Can anyone explain, according to Catholic doctrine, why, when we encounter the Cross, we turn to Mary, rather than to Christ?
Mary is the mother of the incarnation.  If the incarnation matters, then Mary matters.  Mary matters because God mattered to Mary.  Mary said “be it unto me according to thy word”.  


  John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.


The Word of God is Jesus Christ; Mary bore the Word that became flesh.  She did this as a humble servant.  When we look to Mary, we look to the reality of the incarnation. We look to the heart of a mother, the human mother of Jesus Christ.  

We are to have the heart of Mary and want what God wants for us, setting aside our agenda, our will, and doing the will of God the Father through the overshadowing presence of the Holy Spirit. This is what Mary did while yet on Earth.  


  Matthew 12:47-49  Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren…For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.


Mary physically bore the “Son of Man” who in glory is the “Son of God”.  Surely, it is foolishness to attempt to divide the incarnation (Mary) from the risen Lord (Jesus Christ).

So, when we turn to Mary, we turn to the incarnation, and this is not turning from, but towards, Christ.