[This statement just came in, in French, from a friend; any translation errors are mine. --RC]
Solemn consecration of Iraq to the Virgin Mary
Friday, 21 March 2003 18:00 (local time) [ 10 AM US Eastern time ]
by all the patriarchs and bishops of the various Christian churches of Iraq
in the Chaldean Cathedral of St. Joseph,
before the pilgrim statue of "Our Lady Queen of Peace"
As in all the difficult moments of history, the Christian people of Iraq turns to the Virgin Mary to implore the help of God, certain that the Mother of God never leaves her children without aid.
It is in this spirit that for several days, the Christians of Baghdad have dedicated themselves to praying, in numerous churches of the city, around a statue of the Virgin which was on pilgrimage throughout the country in 1998 and which is named "Our Lady of France, Queen of Peace". This statue of the Queen of Peace, which has already encountered large and very fervent crowds, in the course of its pilgrimages from the north to the center of the country, having been welcomed by Christians and by numerous Muslims, and before which they have prayed, takes up its journey to Baghdad again today, and more and more the world gathers about her.
Following an idea of the Latin Bishop of Baghdad, this movement of prayer around the Queen of Peace will culminate in the Consecration of Iraq to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which the bishops of the Chaldean, Latin, Syrian, and Armenian Catholic Churches and the Syriac Orthodox and Assyrian Churches will pronounce next Friday March 21, at 18:00 (local time) in the Chaldean Cathedral of St. Joseph.
The announcement of this event is being made in all the churches of Baghdad Sunday March 16, and prayers are multiplying today that there may be a great crowd at the celebration on March 21, even if war should begin. This movement, which will bring together Christians and many Muslims, has as its end to entrust the events to come to the Providence of God through the Virgin Mary, and to offer Him everything, visibly and solemnly, that everything be resolved with the least possible suffering.
No one knows how the Virgin Mary will respond and will act to protect her people, but let us have confidence in her. Let us ask her, in Iraq and in the entire world, to intercede, and to intervene powerfully, in the wake of this Consecration, for the true good of all her children, for the greater glory of God.
The participants
The event is organized by the Chaldean Catholic Patriarchate (represented by Bp. Shlemon Warduni and Bp. Emmanuel-Karim Delly) in the St. Joseph Cathedral, in the center of Baghdad.
The other Churches joining this Consecration are:
-- The Latin Catholic Church (represented by Bp. Jean Benjamin Sleiman)
-- The Syrian Catholic Church (represented by Bp. Athanase Matti Shaba Matoka)
-- The Armenian Catholic Church (represented by Bp. Paul Coussa)
-- The Syriac Orthodox Church (represented by Bp. Saverius Jamil Hawa)
-- The Assyrian Church (represented by Bp. Ghevargese Warda Daniel Sliwa)
Significant crowds are expected for this event, which is to be broadcast by the international media present in Baghdad.
The "Pilgrim Virgin" movement of prayer and peace
Launched in France in 1995 before 108 statues and icons of the Virgin Mary, pilgrims from town to town, this initiative has spread through the world. Today there are over 8,000 pilgrim statues and icons in support of evenings of prayer in over 120 countries.
The Pilgrim Virgin's visits this past week in Baghdad
* Monday, March 10: the Christians of Baghdad
The statue of the Virgin was welcomed in the Church of Our Lady of Deliverance by Mgr. Matoka, the Syrian Catholic bishop. CNN interviewed Deacon Noel Farman and the Syrian bishop at 16:00
* After that, it was received Tuesday, March 11, in St. Joseph Cathedral by Mgr. Sleiman, the Latin Catholic bishop.
* From Wednesday March 12 to Friday March 14, the Chaldean Sisters of Mary Immaculate welcomed the statue in their large church of the Immaculate, across from the German Embassy.
* Saturday the 15th and Sunday March 16, the Armenian Catholic Church opened its largest church to receive the statue and to intensify prayers.
* Sunday, March 16, the Consecration on Friday March 21 was announced in the major churches of Baghdad, inviting all the population to attend.
* The Virgin will be invoked from church to church, in the coming days, by ever-larger crowds and with the support of all the Christian bishops of Baghdad, who have received this initiative very favorably.
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Feel free to pass along this message: the entire world is called to support this movement of prayer and peace and to unite in prayer with the Consecration on March 21.
The Holy Father John Paul II, who has called for prayer and fasting to avert war, has been informed of this action. Everyone can send this invitation to others, by Internet or by fax, and respond to this appeal by uniting his prayers and fasting to the intentions of the Virgin Mary for the peace of the world, most especially through this Consecration of Iraq to Mary.
