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Let’s pray for Belgium and the world with Bishop Jean-Pierre Delville

I ask every one of you to support the Rosary on the Borders.

I ask you to pray to Our Lady, a Jewish woman, who spoke Aramaic and became the Mother of Our Lord Jesus and the Mother of God.

Let us thank Our Lady for appearing to three children in Fatima, in 1917, to condemn the horrors of Word War I, and again in Banneux, in 1933, to give a holy source of water to all nations just as the nazi regime started to gain power.

In the diocese of Liege, a group of faithful will pray the rosary in Moresnet, at a crossroads between Belgium, Holland and Germany. It is a place where three different languages are used, a contact point between three different cultures, who respect and appreciate each other.

Let us pray for the Dutch and the Germans, for the Belgian people who speak French, Dutch or Arabic, or other languages, for the Belgian people who do not share our religion, Christians as well as moslems.

Let us pray that our country, touched by a diversity of cultures, may be always ready to welcome foreigners, migrants and refugees.

Let us pray that the whole Word, often divided and violent, may find peace and reconciliation through the intercession of Our Lady, Queen of Peace.

+ Jean-Pierre Delville

Bishop of Liège

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Bishop André Léonard joins us in the prayer

Even though I don’t have any responsibility anymore in Belgium, I am delighted about the Rosary prayer project for Faith, Life and Peace that will be recited in our country on October 13th. From the Monastery of the Visitandines of Thonon-les-Bains (France), where I will be preaching a retreat that day, I will unite myself closely with this initiative in communion with all my compatriots.

+ Archbishop Emeritus André Léonard

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Interview with Bishop John Armitage

Rosary on the Coast, Great Britain

The first recorded words of Our Lady in the Annunciation shows us a women of faith, who when presented with Gods Will in her life was at first “deeply troubled” but the assurance of the Archangel Gabriel not to be afraid because “nothing is impossible for God” led her to open her heart and say yes to God. Her last recorded words are “Do whatever he tells you”.

The Rosary enables us to reflect on the events of the life of Our Lady’s Son, and to share in her joy that her son become our Saviour.

When we are troubled and afraid, we shall find joy and courage as we seek to “do whatever he tells us”. The Rosary Around the Coast is an act of faith in troubled times, asking for the protection and motherly care of the women who stood at the foot of the Cross.

This simple public act of faith intercedes for all Gods people, that they may share with us the cause of Marys joy, Jesus Christ our Saviour.

God bless

+ Mgr John Armitage,
Rector of The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, Great Britain

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Letter of encouragement from Bishop Guy Harpigny

Rosary for Faith, Life and Peace on 13th October 2018

From the first century onwards, the Church has always prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the 12th century, Christians praying the Ave Maria began the devotion of the “Psalterium Beatae Mariae Virginis” of 150 Ave Marias, just as the Psalter contains 150 psalms.

Henry Egher, a Carthusian monk, who died in Cologne in 1408, divided the 150 Ave Marias into 15 decades. Dominic de Prusse, also a Carthusian monk, who died in 1461, united the recitation of the decades with the contemplation of the mysteries of the life of Jesus Christ. The Dominican monk, Alain de la Roche, who died in 1475, spread the initiative of Saint Dominic de Guzman (13th century), founder of the Dominican order, who asked his faithful regularly to pray the Ave Maria.

The 150 Ave Marias include three rosaries, each one containing five decades. We call it the “Rosary”, in reference to the roses that can be seen on many paintings of Our Lady.

Popes have always recommended the recitation of the rosary. Pope Paul VI (in Marialis Cultus, 1974), who will be canonized on 14th October 2018, encouraged it strongly. Saint John Paul II (in Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 2002) added a fourth rosary (the luminous mysteries) to the existing rosary.

Since the addition of the fourth Rosary by Saint John Paul II, we have:

Joyful mysteries:

  • Annunciation to Mary
  • Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
  • Nativity of Jesus in Bethlehem
  • Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
  • Jesus’ recovery at the Temple at the age of twelve

Luminous mysteries:

  • Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
  • Marriage of Cana
  • Announcement of the Kingdom of God and call for conversion
  • Transfiguration of Jesus
  • Institution of the Eucharist

Sorrowful mysteries:

  • Agony of Jesus in the Olive Garden
  • Flagellation of Jesus
  • Coronation of thorns
  • Carrying of the Cross
  • Crucifixion and death of Jesus

Glorious mysteries:

  • Resurrection of Jesus
  • Ascension of Jesus
  • Effusion of the Spirit at Pentecost
  • Dormition and Assumption of Mary
  • Coronation of Mary in heaven

Not long ago, Catholic faithful from Ireland, the United Kingdom, Poland and other countries, gathered on the borders of their countries to pray the rosary.

Now, a group of Belgian faithful are encouraging all of us to pray the rosary in many places in Belgium on 13th October 2018 at 3pm, to ask Our Lady for the renewal of faith, for the protection of life and for peace of heart.

These faithful are joining with several similar initiatives which already exist in the diocese.

I encourage all those belonging to my diocese to pray the rosary together on 13th October for faith, life and peace.

+ Guy Harpigny,

Bishop of Tournai

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With Mary…

With Mary.

People pray a lot. Thanks to God. Praying is an answer to the grace of God and to keep in touch with the channel of his love. Praying is showing your belief in the fact that the best is that God reigns over our life and society.

However, there is a shortage of that belief and trust, more than we should want. With our eyes, we see a lot and even so , we notice what is going  wrong. A lot is running in a way that we don’t like or that Jezus shows us in his Holy Word.  Perhaps it could be good to be attached to Mary’s belief and to pray with her.

Those who recite the Rosary, consider the mysteries of happiness God wants to give to all the people. He shows it in Jezus Christ. Mary has been inspired by this salvation;  she said ‘yes’ to God’s will with her whole life.

She was the first worshipper of the New Testament and she is with us when we pray the Rosary.  The way of the happy, the sorrowful and glorious mysteries.

Mary was there at that time. She saw it with her own believing eyes.

She accompanies us in all the divine and human experiences of Salvation and she is helping us to look as a real believer.

In that way, as a church-society, as beloved children of God, as goodwilling people,  we want to pray with Mary and believe that God’s will is the best in our life.

From the place of pilgrimage in Scherpenheuvel, we want to support that initiative wholeheartedly.

Canon Luc Van Hilst, Rector of the Sanctuary of Scherpenheuvel.