“In a world stricken by terrorism, war, and vengeance, the Marian Congress heralds the dawn of a world of hope, peace, love and holiness,” was the spontaneous remark of a participant in Taiwan right after the event held there. A young Austrian said, “It was all so very new, nothing old-fashioned. To offer Mary like this is a stroke of genius!” .“I discovered that the rosary is indeed a peace prayer, an antidote to war!” they wrote from the Philippines. From Argentina: “Today I discovered Mary as a woman of peace, a strong woman who is a model for the whole human race!” . And from Uganda, “It’s marvellous to understand Mary in a new way. This encourages us to bring her home with us, to live with her in our changing society.” These are just a few of the many comments received after the 157 Marian Congresses which took place all over the world during the Year of the Rosary. Mary was rediscovered particularly in her role as mother and model for one’s life. She showed the way for many people who now want to follow in her footsteps.

The peak moment was the International Marian Congress held at Castelgandolfo (Rome), which served as a model for the numerous Congresses which later studded the globe, almost as a chorus of praise to Mary on a planetary scale.

Participants at some of the Congresses: Milan – 9,000; Slovakia – 1,900; Korea – 2,250; Manila (Philippines) – 1,800; Malaysia – 1,300; Mexico – 1,200; Buenos Aires (Argentina) – 3,400; Paraguay – 2,000; Congo – 1,500; Burundi – 3,000. Wherever a Marian Congress took place, it proved to be a remarkable experience of the life of the Church. In most cases the Congress was organized jointly by the members of various Movements and associations of an entire diocese or region. In this way, the event highlighted the charismatic and marian dimension of the Church.

News of the Congresses appeared in newspapers or in some cases on television. Bishops, politicians, artists, representatives of ecclesial Movements and personalities of the cultural sector offered their significant contribution. Another characteristic note was the presence of brothers and sisters of different Christian denominations. In some cases they also shared their experiences.

Some followers of the Great Religions spoke about the idea of Mary in their respective faiths.

Since November 2002, “Città Nuova” magazine offered a column entitled “The Year of the Rosary”. A new book by Chiara Lubich, Mary – Through her God shines, was printed, and for children a small, colourful volume entitled, “She was so very beautiful”.

On October 16, 2002, in St. Peter’s Square, Pope John Paul II handed a letter to Chiara in which, among other things, he wrote, “I wish to entrust the prayer of the Holy Rosary ideally to all the Focolarini (…) Give your contribution so that the following months may be an occasion of inner renewal for all Christian communities.” Chiara immediately adhered to the Pope’s request, and soon ideas and initiatives came up on how to concretize the Focolare Movement’s response to the Pope. Messages of thanks from all over the world were later sent to him for the many fruits of new, unexpected spiritual life born thanks to the Marian Congresses