The Biblical Foundations of the Marian Title Solace of Migrants

This article surveys the Biblical bases of one of the new titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Litany of Loreto, "Solace of Migrants," nominated by Pope Francis in 2020. Two New Testament pericopes appear as obvious foundations of the new Marian title—the Holy Family's journey to Bethlehem (Lk. 2:1–7) and their Flight to Egypt (Mt. 2:13–15). Mary is presented, together with her spouse and Son, as a migrant who experiences the difficulties of journeying and the instability of settling down in another land. She is in solidarity with those who escape violence from their native lands and flee to foreign countries or those forced to leave their homes while remaining within their country's borders. By creating this new title of Mary, Francis calls for the Church to intensify her care for migrants, for one of his main pastoral priorities is refugeeism and migration. The Church is invited to look to Mary as Mother and exemplar of charity. Just as Mary became a solace to Jesus and Joseph, so too is the Church called upon to solace migrants, refugees, and internally displaced persons. The Virgin Mary and the Church can console (consolari, from solacium) migrants for God has solaced them and they themselves are migrants, too. The Church's devotion to Mary as Solace of Migrants leads her to perform concrete acts of charity and become a haven for the needy.