|
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE |
|
|
United in prayer for peaceCall to all Catholics in the NetherlandsLast October 13 the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of the Holy Virgin Mary in Fatima (Portugal) ended. Mary's call to especially pray the rosary for the intention of peace, however certainly did not. On the contrary, her call is certainly also in the world of today of very actual significance. As bishops of the Netherlands, we want in the year 2018 - united with all the people in our dioceses - to pray every month on a special day the rosary for the intention of peace in the world; that God will give it and that He - mindful of a prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi (+ 1226) - makes ourselves as an instrument of God's peace. It would be particularly nice if believers would meet for this and - certainly if you are alone - that you know that you pray this prayer in union with many. We are inspired by our Pope Francis who said on October 8 2016 to delegations from Marian places of pilgrimage to pray the rosary as often as possible, because this prayer helps us to recognize the presence of Christ in our lives. His admonition ties in with the Holy Pope John Paul II who in his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae (October 16, 2002) wrote: "The rosary prayer, however much it may relates to the Virgin Mary, is actually a prayer that is deeply connected with Christ. In the sobriety of its components, the prayer has united in it the depth of the full message of the Gospel, of which it is also a summary at the same time." The days in 2018 on which we, united with you, would want to pray the rosary for the intention of peace are: January 1 - Solemnity of Holy Mother of God and World Prayer Day for Peace February 2 - Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (Candlemas) March 19 - Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Bridegroom of the Blessed Virgin Mary April 9 - Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord to the Virgin Mary by the angel Gabriel (In 2018 this feast will not be on March 25, because it is Palm Sunday. It is moved to the first day after the octave of Easter) May 31 - Feast of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Elisabeth June 9 - Memorial of Immaculate Heart of Mary July 7 - Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary, Sweet Mother of Den Bosch August 15 - Solemnity of Assumption of Mary September 8 - Feast of Birth of the Virgin Mary October 7 - Memorial of Virgin Mary of the Rosary November 1 - Solemnity of All Saints December 8 - Solemnity of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary As bishops we rely on the power of prayer, especially that of the rosary, especially in union with Mary and with many in our country and all over the world. Because of the need to implore God - according to a word from Saint John Paul II in the letter mentioned above - "the gift of peace", we call you to pray with us for that. The R. C. Bishops of the Netherlands Utrecht, November 14, 2017 |
|
| This document is part of ... |   last 1000 visitors |
Monday January 1st, 2018 |