austraLasia #2805 People Power in Myanmar - with a Marian flavour
NYAUNGLEBIN (Archdiocese of Yangon, MYM): 16 February
2011 -- 50,000 Catholics, other Christians and
believers of other religions flocked to a midnight Mass
celebrated in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes at the National
Marian Shrine at Nyaunglebin, Myanmar, on 12 February.
Presiding Prelate was Archbishop Charles Bo sdb, along with
80 other concelebrants.
This was the 109th National Marian Feast
in Nyaunglebin, and was preceded by a Novena to Our Lady of
Lourdes from from 4 to 13 February 2011. As is his wont, the
Archbishop used the occasion to preach a message of peace,
appealing not only to his own flock but especially to those
of other faiths, and to the political powers that be.
Accepting that most people seek peace and happiness in life,
he focused the fulfilment of this desire on important
relationships: "Among political parties, business people,
family members, at school, in offices, and in any given
situation". He was not only speaking of horizontal
relationships: "Relationship with God" is equally important.
Archbishop Bo drew on the deep religious
desire in all faiths to encourage a good relationship with
God, but he also reminded those of no religion, and those
whom he called "free thinkers", to rethink! He placed
this within the overwhelming religious culture of Myanmar,
particularly dominated by the Buddhist faith, but noting
that"both Buddhists and Christians go to the pagoda, church,
monastery. saying prayers in the early morning, or in their
homes, decorating places that represent God with fresh
flowers, candles, water".
He said he was very pleased to see the
mutual understanding, cooperation and loving relationship
between believers of different religions. Then he encouraged
the present leaders of the country of Myanmar to "meet and
consult with the religious leaders for the development of
the country and people". He said “In building the country,
religion plays a major role. If the political leaders work
together with the religious leaders, there can be more
peace, and prosperity. What we cannot solve by arms and in
fact we cannot
solve all problems by arms, we can solve by religion, and
faith.”
The Archbishop then went on to speak of
people's relationships amongst themselves on a day-to-day
and homely basis. “The second most important area of our
relationship is the relationship with one another; they may
be our parents, wives, husbands, children, friends, people
in society.” He encouraged the pilgrims to get rid of all
envy and to have a good relationship with others in order to
obtain peace and happiness, the most desirable thing in
life.
Our Lady of Lourdes’ Marian Shrine in
Nyaunglebin was recognized as National Marian Shrine
by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar some 7 years
ago. Yet traditionally for many years already, people from
different parts of the country came together to this place
to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Feast.
At the end the Prelate greeted the
different groups in 12 languages. _________________
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