On October 29, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, consecrated the Holy Land and all its inhabitants to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Newsroom (03/11/2023 20:30, Gaudium Press) On October 29, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, consecrated the Holy Land and all its inhabitants to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The act of consecration took place during the celebration of Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Palestine, in the sanctuary of Deir Rafat, located 50 kilometers from Tel Aviv.
The consecration ceremony takes place at a time when the Holy Land and Palestine are facing conflicts, violence, and political tensions. The Cardinal decided to once again invoke Our Lady’s intercession to ask for peace for the inhabitants of the region.
In his words, Cardinal Pizzaballa explained that, unfortunately, humanity has strayed from the path of peace and forgotten the lessons left by the countless sufferings caused by recent wars. He therefore begged the Lord for forgiveness for our sins and asked the Virgin to guide our steps: “Mother of God and our Mother… you once walked the roads of our land; now guide us along the paths of peace.”
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa
The words of the consecration did not fail to exhort the feeling of fraternity: “Our Queen and Mother, show the inhabitants of your home and the path of fraternity. Amid the roar of arms, turn our thoughts into peace and our swords into plowshares.” The Latin Patriarch also appealed to leaders, urging them to work together for the common good of humanity.
The Cardinal asked that the maternal embrace of the Virgin Mary may give comfort to those who are wounded, bereaved, or who have been forced to leave their homes due to the conflicts. The act of consecration ended with a plea for an end to war and the spread of peace in the cities and villages of the Holy Land.
Traditionally, the Solemnity of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Palestine, is celebrated by thousands of faithful at the shrine of Deir Rafat, between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. However, this year, due to the war in the region, few people were present. (FM)
Compiled by Dominic Joseph
