Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hué (Fides Service) - On December 1 Cardinal Sepe, still on his pastoral visit to Catholics in Vietnam, made a pilgrimage to the national Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Lavang where in the past persecuted Christians fled for safety. At the end of Mass, offered for the intentions of the Pope, the Cardinal prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God to intercede to obtain peace and material and spiritual prosperity for the people of Vietnam and all the graces necessary to continue the earthly pilgrimage. “O Mother intercede for us and for all who suffer because of religious persecution, injustice, discrimination, war” the Cardinal prayed, asking Mary to console and give courage to all the suffering.
The Cardinal recalled that the Blessed Virgin Mary has appeared in many places in the world, Lourdes, Fatima calling people to pray and to penance and convert their hearts . “Here in Lavang - the Cardinal said- she encourages us to accept suffering and pain willingly because her Mother’s heart knows that the word of her Son Jesus is the truth: ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Lk 9,23)”. The true believer “readily accepts God’s will” knowing that Our Lord allows suffering for our sanctification. “At times in life we fail to understand why we have to suffer and our cross becomes incredibly heavy. These are the times when we must say, even amidst our tears ‘Father, your will be done! Dear brothers and sisters we are confident that God our Father loves us and is with us”.
At the end of his homily Cardinal Sepe encouraged those present to imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary as an example of humility and docility to God’s will: “Let us contemplate Mary our Mother and learn from her to live in profound union with Jesus”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 1/12/2005, righe 22; parole 339)
