France (Friday, 08-14-2015, Gaudium Press) So far six French bishops have decided the bells will ring out in all churches in their diocese on Saturday, August 15, the Feast of the Assumption.
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| A Christian woman who fled from the violence in Mosul a year ago holds her daughter as her baby sleeps CNS |
Launched by Archbishop Dominique Rey of Fréjus-Toulon, the initiative calls on parishes to gather at noon to show their support for persecuted Christians in the Middle East.
It is hoped more churches will also take part, with Switzerland confirming Fribourg, Lausanne and Geneva will also ring their church bells tomorrow.
Dioceses in England, Wales and Scotland are yet to confirm if they are taking part.
The date coincides with the dramatic events in Iraq a year ago – the fall of Mosul, then Qaraqosh, the country’s largest Christian town, and all the plain of Nineveh, the Christian heartland of Iraq.
Archbishop Jean-Pierre Cattenoz, archbishop of Avignon said the Feast Day of the Assumption was chosen as the Christians in the Middle East have a special devotion to the Virgin.
He said: “This is a gesture of prayer, solidarity, peace and faith. We believe it can have a real impact.”
He added this will be a prayer to ‘Our Lady who brings down the walls’.
“The walls that must fall are vast,” he said.
“Those that separate nations and peoples who are killing each other, but also those that divide communities, including in France.”
Source Catholic Herald
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