A Day of Prayer for peace in our land

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has issued a pastoral letter "To the People of God in the Philippines", regardless of their religious persuasion. It is a strong call for a national journey to peace, hopefully, to be led by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace.

The letter was released on Sunday, August 28. It was signed by the President of the C.B.C.P., Fernando R. Capalla, Archbishop of Davao, in the name of all the Bishops. There are roughly 89 active Bishops, and about 25 who are retired.

In addressing this call to all the children of God, regardless of their faith, the Bishops are following in the footsteps of John Paul II, who during his 25 years as Holy Father tried constantly to break down the walls between the members of different religions, to build bridges between Christians and Muslims, between Buddhists and Hebrews and even Agnostics.

At Assisi John Paul was embracing the Muslim Imam, the Buddhist Monk, the Jewish Rabbi. At his funeral people of all religions wept, because they looked upon him as their personal friend.

In the pastoral letter Archbishop Capalla says:

" Upon the request of Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of the Archdiocese of Lipa, and after consulting the CBCP Permanent Council, we declare 12 September 2005 as a day of Conversion, Reparation and Consecration. On that day, all Filipinos regardless of religious persuasion are encouraged to return to God (conversion), work together for a better nation (reparation), and declare a commitment to God to seek always what is good for all humanity (consecration).

"We are inviting everyone to join the Day of Pilgrimage and National Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which will be held on September 12 in the Carmel of Lipa. In the concluding Eucharist in the afternoon, His Eminence, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu, will lead the Consecration of the Philippines to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace."

This national pilgrimage is being convened by His Eminence Ricardo J. Vidal, who was the Archbishop of Lipa before he became the Archbishop of Cebu. His Vice Chairman is Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo, Archbishop of Jaro, who is the incoming President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

The members of the board, who are planning the event, are:

Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto, Archbishop of Pampanga

Bishop Florentino B. Cinense, Bishop of Tarlac

Bishop Camilo D. Gregorio, Bishop of Batanes

Bishop Socrates B. Villegas, Bishop of Balanga

Bishop Federico D. Escaler, S.J., the retired Bishop of Ipil

Father Melvin P. Castro, Director of Radio Maria Philippines, and Secretary to the Bishop of Tarlac

Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, within his own Archdiocese of Lipa, declared a season of prayer and sacrifice for our nation, starting on July 16, 2005 and ending on September 12. He did this in accordance with the pastoral statement of the Bishops on July 10, urging our people to gather together, pray together and act together, to bring the country away from the present impasse, in order that the will of God might prevail in the political order.

Archbishop Capalla, in the pastoral letter of August 28, said:

"Our exhortation to our people to pray, more than just being a response that we had to offer as Church leaders in the face of troubles, was borne out of our deep faith and hope in the wisdom and providence of God.

"The mysteries of the Holy Rosary tell us that Jesus and Mary are persons of peace. By his concern as the Good Shepherd, by her care as a mother, by their sacrifice and self surrender, they move us to work for the good and growth of all. Hence, to imitate what these mysteries contain is to learn from them how to work for social transformation and peace."

The ceremonies will begin with an Overnight Eucharistic Vigil, starting at 9 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, in the San Sebastian Cathedral, in Lipa City. The vigil will end at 5 a.m. on Monday, September 12, with a procession to the Carmelite Monastery.

This day on which the vigil begins, September 11, is remembered by all the world as a day of tragedy. On that day the jet planes smashed into the Twin Towers in New York City, causing the death of thousands of innocent civilians.

Archbishop Arguelles says:

"Our national crisis certainly is just a miniature of the trouble afflicting the whole planet. We believe that the solution to the world-wide crisis will come from our tiny islands. And it will come with prayer."

At 8 a.m. on Monday, September 12, in the grounds of the Carmelite Monastery of Lipa, there will be a Marian Conference. At 4:30 p.m. His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal will celebrate Mass, and consecrate the Philippines to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, and Mediatrix of all Grace.

We have tried so many things! Turmoil in the Halls of Congress, rallies in the streets of the city, wild headlines in our newspapers, sensational statements on radio and television – none of them has worked.

Now we are trying God. It was Christ Our Lord who said:

"With me, you can do all things. Without me, you can do nothing. . . . . .I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me, and I in you, my life will flow through you, and you will live. But if you are cut off from me, you will wither and die, and be good for nothing but to be thrown out on the road, and trampled upon by men."

"Ask, and you will receive. . . . .Seek, and you will find. . . . .Knock, and it will be opened to you!. . . . Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am, in the midst of them."

And we are praying to him through his mother. For her, he changed water into wine at Cana in Galilee. If he can do that, he can also change our politicians into statesmen. He can change our media men and women from thoughtless, irresponsible sensationalists into careful, responsible leaders of men. He can lift us out of darkness into the light.

That is why the Bishops are calling for this pilgrimage to Lipa, and begging all of us to invest in one day of prayer.

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