Dear Pauline Friends & Family,
This Good Friday, might we be in a position to keep solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters in the Holy Land? There are many ways to do our duty of restoring the spiritual patrimony handed down to us, such as by our prayer, by concrete assistance, and by pilgrimages. We could also give out of the kindness of our hearts a donation to the traditional Good Friday collection for the Holy Land. This is a good practice observed in the Church of the Holy Family also known as United Nations Parish on 315 East 47th St., New York City.
The VIS article below raises our awareness about the Holy Land and encourages us to promote prayer initiatives and fraternal charity towards Christians of Jerusalem, Israel, Palestine and neighboring countries. May God grant us the necessary temporal and spiritual graces to follow the inspiration of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri and Archbishop Cyril Vasil S.J. as contained in their communication to the bishops world-wide.
QUOTE
SOLIDARITY
WITH CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND
Vatican
City, 1 March 2012 (VIS) - Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the
Congregation for the Oriental Churches, has sent a letter to the bishops of the
world concerning the traditional Good Friday collection for the Holy Land. The
letter, which also bears the signature of Archbishop Cyril Vasil S.J.,
secretary of the congregation, has the purpose of sensitising the Catholic
Church around the world with regard to the Holy Land, and of promoting
initiatives of prayer and fraternal charity towards Christians of Jerusalem,
Israel, Palestine and neighbouring countries.
"The
Son of God made man, after having crossed this land announcing the Kingdom and
confirming the word with mighty works, wonders and signs, went up to the Holy
City to immolate Himself", reads the English-language version of the
letter. "From that time, every Christian finds himself at home in that
City and in that Land. This is possible thanks to the pastors in this place,
who, by the will of the Lord Jesus, continue in our day also to gather our
brothers and sisters in the faith to celebrate the love of Him Who 'makes all
things new'.
"The
Congregation for the Oriental Churches hereby reminds the bishops of the entire
world of the unceasing request of Pope Benedict XVI that the mission of the
Church in the Holy Places be generously supported. Although specifically
pastoral, this mission at the same time offers a praiseworthy social service to
all without exception. In this way, fraternity, which can overcome division and
discrimination, increases and gives renewed impetus to ecumenical dialogue and
inter-religious collaboration. This constitutes an admirable work of peace and
reconciliation, which is all the more necessary today, as we share the Holy
Father’s preoccupation 'for the people of those countries where hostilities and
acts of violence continue, particularly Syria and the Holy Land'".
"This
year, Good Friday seems more fitting than ever as a sign of the needs of both
pastors and faithful, which are bound up with the sufferings of the entire
Middle East. For the disciples of Christ, hostility is often the daily bread
which nourishes the faith and sometimes makes the echo of martyrdom. Christian
emigration is exacerbated by the lack of peace, which tends to impoverish hope,
changing it into the fear of facing alone a future that seems to exist only in
the abandonment of one’s own country.
"Nonetheless,
as was the case for the Gospel’s grain of wheat, so the trials of Christians in
the Holy Land prepare without doubt a brighter tomorrow. The dawning of this
new day, however, requires support now for schools, medical assistance,
critical housing, meeting places, and everything else that the generosity of
the Church has devised".
"We
have the duty to restore the spiritual patrimony which we have received from
these Christians’ two millennia of fidelity to the truth of the faith. We can
and must do this by our prayer, by concrete assistance, and by pilgrimages. The
Year of Faith, which marks the fiftieth anniversary of Vatican Council II, will
provide particular motivation for us to direct our steps towards that Land. ...
Next Good Friday, around the Cross of Christ, let us be conscious of being
together with these brothers and sisters of ours. May the loneliness that is at
times strongly felt in their situation be overcome by our fraternity".
Also
made public today was a report prepared by the Custody of the Holy Land (a
province of the Order of Friars Minor with responsibility for the Holy Places),
listing the works carried out with the proceeds of the Good Friday collection
of 2011. Restoration and maintenance has been carried out on numerous shrines,
churches and convents in the Holy Land including such places as Bethlehem,
Jerusalem (Gethsemane and the Shrine of the Flagellation, among others), Jaffa,
Magdala and Mount Tabor. Other initiatives sought to improve welcome services
for pilgrims.
A significant part of the
proceeds was used to fund student scholarships, to help small business, and to
build houses, schools and areas for children. Other recipients of aid included
families, parish communities, the poor and cultural institutions.
UNQUOTE
Our Lady of Peace, pray for us.
Respectfully,
Margie Skeels
Pauline Cooperator - NYC
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