ASIA/MYANMAR - Cardinal Bo calls for reconciliation at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Nyaungbelin

Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - "Inspired by Mary, we pray that the warring parties in Myanmar may come together at the Marian Shrine of Nyaunglebin. May this sacred place become a refuge of peace and reconciliation, where enemies embrace one another as brothers and sisters in Christ", said Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, in his address to the faithful who had come to Nyaungbelin, in the Bago region of the Archdiocese of Yangon, for the Jubilee pilgrimage. At the shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, in an area where sporadic clashes between opposition forces and the Burmese army have occurred, more than three thousand faithful, three bishops, numerous priests and religious, as well as Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu believers gathered for the pilgrimage on February 9, asking for Our Lady's intercession for peace in Myanmar and in the world.

"In this holy land, countless pilgrims have sought consolation, healing and the tender intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes. As we gather on this blessed feast day, let our hearts swell with gratitude for the boundless love of our Blessed Mother and let us open ourselves to the wonders that faith can reveal", the Cardinal said in his homily at the Eucharist in the shrine. In every pregnant mother in the refugee camps spread across the country and hosting more than 3.8 million people, "we see the face of a Mary on the way to Bethlehem, looking for a safe place to give birth to her child," the Cardinal said. The courage of Burmese women, he added, "reflects Mary's serenity in the midst of chaos and reminds us that peace is not the absence of adversity but the presence of God within."

The Cardinal recalled the importance of peace, reconciliation and forgiveness, recalling Mary as the "Mother of Peace" in Myanmar, which is plagued by unrest and conflict. "Her unwavering acceptance of God's will invites us to cultivate inner peace and become messengers of peace in our troubled world," he said.

In "Mary, the Mother of Reconciliation," he continued, "we find the strength to overcome divisions, heal broken relationships and unite in faith and love." In a world torn by political, cultural or religious divisions, Mary calls us to be bridge builders,” he noted, urging everyone to ‘reconcile with those we consider enemies’ and ‘seek unity where there is discord’. “Mary,” he added, “in her deep sorrow did not give in to hatred or despair. She embodied the essence of forgiveness, reflecting the words of Jesus: ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’ (Luke 23:34). Mary’s ability to forgive in the face of unimaginable suffering teaches us that forgiveness is a divine act of love that liberates both the giver and the receiver.”
The Cardinal concluded by recalling that Mary is also venerated in the Koran. "This shared admiration," he said, "invites us to interreligious dialogue and mutual respect, recognizing that Mary's virtues are universal: she is the mother of us all," stressing in this context that "Mary's loving intercession can heal even the deepest wounds."

The Archbishop of Yangon expressed the hope that in the nation "the divisions of war will give way to the unity of peace, in which all people can live in harmony and in which Mary will guide our steps towards a lasting peace." He called on the faithful "to actively seek to heal divisions as mediators of reconciliation" and "to practice forgiveness by freeing themselves from the grip of past injustices." All are called to "support displaced families," to "participate in interreligious efforts" to "support human rights and justice," so that the baptized in the Jubilee Year become "beacons of hope, channels of God's peace and messengers of his infinite mercy." "May Mary, Mother of God, help us to create peace and harmony throughout the world, especially in Myanmar," Cardinal Bo concluded. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 11/2/2024)

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