patron saint
Pastoral Letter of the Archbishop of Valencia the 50th anniversary of regional patronage
Dear priests, members of the consecrated life and lay faithful
is not easy to put into words everything that has my heart to speak of the Virgin Mary. I do not know if you know move in writing what I feel and I want to say at the moment, but I can not pass this great feast of the Mother of God Desamparats dels without making a solemn and public invitation to open your lives to the maternal gaze and fruitful of the Blessed Virgin. Let
speak of a habit you have, but it comes in handy to move it later to other aspects of life. I know many of you have the healthy habit to reunite the family frequently and spend a day meeting and fellowship. Hopefully this tradition will not ever forget! It's usually match that act on Sunday or a holiday where the family together and share. Married sons and their children go to different generations and exchange views. Without a doubt, is an emotional time for everyone. Cuidadlo and will continue while they are in life your parents and then with you. It is an action that heals the heart and gives us the possibility of one skilled in the brotherhood and fellowship. If you also are making all this on faith in Jesus Christ and accompanied by the Virgin Mary, I am sure you will bring great blessings and immense. This custom usually transferred to public holidays on which we all gathered around the Virgin Mary. What is admirable also see Christian families and parishes that you approach every so often to make a visit to the "house of our Mother" as is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Forsaken!
This festive gathering, we have the opportunity to live more fully in a few days. On 8 May, as usual, the great family of the Church in Valencia, will meet on the big day the feast of the Mother, which is a day of excitement and fervor of appeal and request for renewal of our Christian life example of our patron saint who made his life a sincere and total offering to God. This year, along with all the splendor of the habitual acts, will add the event's 50 th anniversary of the declaration of title to the Lady of the Forsaken as primary and principal patron of the Valencia region, given by Blessed Pope John XXIII, Archbishop of Valencia being the Hon. and Rt. D. Marcelino Olaechea, in 1961.
This date can not be overlooked by Christians, precisely because of this, I felt it deserved special consideration to help us understand the profound depth that has the title of the Virgin, with which the Lord has enriched our land in Valencia. The first thing I ask you to do is ask the meaning of the figure of a pattern or as in this case of our patroness Our Lady of the Forsaken. Etymologically speaking the term comes from the Latin patronus and refers to one who does a defender or protector. Perhaps we could defined as the Lord Protector in his loving providence, about a people or congregation, whether it be a saint, the Virgin or Jesus Christ in one of his avocations. So, with the papal bull of the designated Lady of the Forsaken as principal patron he meant the protective umbrella that the Blessed Virgin will have on the region of Valencia. How well express this the old films where the image of the Mother of God appears on the city of Valencia, surrounded by towers! The Virgin herself, with an eye and mantle extended, that cares for each of their children. And she has learned to live the Valencian people coming to his patron saint to calamities and epidemics, wars and disputes, crises and difficulties. Virgin is constantly listening to the clamor, both personal and collective, of a people crying and go to the Basilica with plenty of intent and petitions, making the site sacred heart of the city and the heart of all the Valencia region, is an emblematic place par excellence. At the foot of his image deposited Blessed are the tears of the suffering, the request for the ill health, the hope of the poor, innocent children, the peace of those who have no peace, the strength of those who job seekers, thanksgiving of those who know helped ... And the glory of Valencia, pride Spain, the honor of our people, the joys of our defense attorney and clear mirror that reflects a full and coherent faith. So full of enthusiasm can say that all the children of Valencia can be satisfied by such a great protector. The Blessed Virgin herself is constantly interceding with God by presenting all our prayers and supplications, and appearing as a "godly light" that leads to the safe harbor, Jesus Christ, the blessed fruit of her womb. Therefore, we must give many thanks to God for having given so lofty patron!
This special protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to Throughout the history of our Archdiocese, as shown by the successive archbishops who have exercised his episcopal ministry under the watchful gaze of Our Lady of the Forsaken. Thus, D. Olaechea and Loizaga Marcelino (1946-1966) composed this beautiful prayer to the Virgin known to all: "Help us, our Lady and Mother. Protects our families, our towns, our Spain, in our world today. Away from war and strife. Divided unites hearts with the joy of being together with you, your children. Da, who have and can, eyes of mercy, and open heart. Give all food, clothing and loving home. Health to the sick patient in pain at the suffering, comfort the sad, hope to those who have lost. Minds away from the error, and heart weakness. Move sinners to come to himself as the righteous highest virtue. Make cantándote and go live with your name on the lips, to see you in the glory with your Son, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, God, for ever and ever. Amen. "
also D. José M ª García Lahiguera (1969-1978) was able to reflect on his life a great love for the Virgin. In its submission to the faithful of Valencia said in his homily at the inauguration: "Love your bishop. This you will do nothing to correspond to the great love I have each and every one your bishop, which comes as a parent to live with you, and as a pastor to die for you. My Queen and Lady, Mother, Our Lady of the Forsaken, ampárame! ". It is impressive to read the end of his testament: "I thank my Mother Immaculate, Mother of the Church, Virgin Mary, assumed into heaven, Queen of my heart, Lady of my life, my whole being Owner, Mother Christ the Eternal High Priest, for with her giving me a tender devotion to Mary, filial, affectionate child, constitutive feature of my pity. Devoted to her from birth, of her as Universal Mediatrix of all graces hope confidently the forgiveness of my sins, the sanctity of my life, my final perseverance and eternal salvation. " My dear brother
D. Miguel Roca Cabanellas (1978-1992), whom death overtook him unexpectedly, also addressed to the Virgin of the Helpless. Here is an excerpt from his last Mass d'Infants of 1991: "As we feel the present and near but we can not capture with our eyes, we Christians do images of Mary, to help us represent your presence. For Valencia the image of the "Mare de Deu dels Desamparats" is, for centuries, a privileged sign of this sweet and endearing presence of our "Mareta". "
In the writings of my last predecessor, D. Cardinal Agustín García-Gasco and Vicente (1992-2009), also appear clear references Marian. So was driving his last Mass d'Infants in 2008, which dealt with around 60 th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "If Valencia is Patron to the" Mare de Deu dels Desamparats "racism does not fit here rejections or foreign to the will of God ... The name of our patron saint in her title of Mother of the Forsaken can be understood also as "Mother of the Protection of Human Rights". "
Finally, I have to give thanks God for allowing me to have a close filial relationship with Mary, throughout my Christian life from the early years of my conscious life, and in my life and Episcopal priest. She was present in a unique way in my episcopal ministry in the various dioceses where I worked. I still remember as a seal upon my heart when on the morning of April 18, 2009, upon arrival in Valencia, you can kiss the hand of his holy image. An intimate moment and only keep in my heart all my life! And so I went to her on the eve of the Immaculate, 2009 with the prayer of consecration, I would repeat today with you all: \u0026lt;\u0026lt;Santa Mary, Mother of God, as was the case in your life is being repeated in mine, your son Jesus Christ has come into my life to say: "I'm with you." These words have troubled me, but he continued saying: "Fear not, what you can not do with your strength, you'll do with my grace." Holy Mary, Mother of God, help me to have the same beliefs, feelings and reactions you had when God through the angel said unto thee, "Hail, fear not." Hold me with your motherly love as I held you to the news that you were going to be the Mother of God, the strength of the grace of God is also with me. Santa Maria Mare, (tonight), at your image I make my commitment to putting God in your hands and saying your words: "Here I am, done to me according to thy word." In making this consecration, put in your hands of Mother all I am and everything I have. Santa Maria, Mare dels Desamparats, pray for me. Amen>>.
Thus, given the sincere devotion to the people of Valencia expressed his patron saint, the spiritual good it is to parishioners, the deep historical roots of this title which has come into the same culture of this people, all for the good of the archdiocese and the Church universal direct that:
1) Sunday May 8, the Feast of Our Lady of the Forsaken, is praying the Angelus, at the usual time, in all parishes and places of worship in the Archdiocese of Valencia, giving thanks for the 50 th anniversary of the declaration as Chief Patron of the Virgin of the Helpless throughout the Region of Valencia.
2) At all Masses the weekend of 7 and May 8 was read a public petition asking the Lord by Pope Benedict XVI, for all his intentions, his ministry in the Church. The Holy Father has granted the Golden Rosary of the Royal Basilica to highlight the 50 th anniversary of the declaration on the patronage of the Virgin of Helpless, we appreciate this distinction and this gesture of love for this beloved Archdiocese of Valencia.
3) I invite you to Sunday May 8 pray the Rosary to join the saving mysteries of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, calling especially the increase of vocations to the priesthood. Following the example of Mary many young people can say, "Here I am Lord to do your will."
4) As the devotion to the Virgin has always been linked to the exercise of charity in favor of the most helpless and innocent, I invite you to make a special collection to meet the needs of the disadvantaged, especially in these times where so many people who suffer the consequences of unemployment. To match the solemnity with the 2 nd Sunday of the month and as well ordered the Diocesan Synod, I invite the collection was handed over to the Caritas parish, and in default to any charity of the Church, emphasizing support for charity of the Confraternity of Our Lady of the Forsaken. This will be the best offering we can do to the Virgin.
5) As a sign of joy that I invite the 13 hours in all towers of the Archdiocese, will make a ringing of all bells.
6) In the pastoral and parish catechetical it should be remembered this anniversary, highlighting the importance of the figure of the Virgin Mary in Salvation History. I therefore invite you to share this pastoral letter, especially with children and young people, so they can experience the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin.
With great affection and my blessing
+ Carlos, Archbishop of Valencia Valencia
, May 6, 2011
I Vespers of the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Forsaken
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