The celebration was presided over by the Bishop of São Luís Dos Montes Belos (GO), Dom Lindomar Rocha Mota, and followed the theme “Mother Aparecida, we are pilgrims of hope!”.
Photo: Portal A12/Thiago Leon.
Newsroom (05/10/2024 13:25, Gaudium Press) Last Thursday evening, October 3, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida celebrated the first day of the Solemn Novena for the Feast of the Patroness 2024. The celebration was presided over by the Bishop of São Luís Dos Montes Belos (GO), Dom Lindomar Rocha Mota.
Photo: Portal A12/Thiago Leon.
Flags of Brazil, the Vatican, the Church, and the Brazilian states
In keeping with tradition, the first day of the novenary saw the entry of the flags of Brazil, the Vatican, the Church, and the Brazilian states. This year, the flags were carried by teachers from the Aparecida Municipal Education Network. The Brazilian National Anthem was then performed.
Photo: Portal A12/Thiago Leon.
In a moment of great emotion and faith among the devotees, the image of Our Lady of Aparecida entered the Sanctuary on a float, symbolizing the faith of the pilgrims who have their graces achieved through her intercession. At this moment, the Mother, Queen, and Patroness were asked to take care of our country.
Mother Aparecida, we are pilgrims of hope!
In front of devotees from all over Brazil, who gathered around the central altar of the Marian shrine, the prelate reflected on the theme “Mother Aparecida, we are pilgrims of hope!”. In his homily, he stressed that we must carry the name of Jesus Christ on all our journeys through the intercession of the Mother of Hope.
Photo: Portal A12/Thiago Leon.
He also explained that everything becomes possible with God’s faithfulness, when it comes together with our trusting faith and that “Our Lady comes to remind us that we are pilgrims of hope and that we cannot lose this hope! It is part of our Christian being and this hope is full life in Christ”.
Pilgrimage based on faith, hope, and charity
In an interview with Portal A12, the Bishop commented that the meaning of life is found “in our journey of hope and pilgrimage”. There we also uncover “the meaning of our faith, because the people of God are a people who walk. We can’t remain static where we are, so pilgrimage has always been a part of God’s history. Jesus also takes on this tradition and walks among the people.”
Photo: Portal A12/Thiago Leon.
Lindomar also said that true pilgrimages are based on faith, hope, and charity. And that to go on a pilgrimage is to walk in hope. “The pilgrim knows the difficulties along the way, sometimes his feet get tired, but he walks in the certainty that he knows where he is going! This is how we differentiate the pilgrim from the wanderer, who only walks without knowing where he is going to end up!” he concluded. (EPC)
Compiled by Dominic Joseph
