With her prayer and presence, she will surely support the new evangelization just as she supported the first. In our time, she is no less present to the Church than she was at Pentecost, gathered with the Apostles in prayer (cf. Acts1:14). She has been a wondrous helper in all the Church's efforts to preach and teach the Gospel in the world of the Pacific.
Missionaries and immigrants alike brought with them a deep devotion to her as an integral part of their Catholic faith and since that time, the faithful of Oceania have not ceased to show their great love for Mary. Mary our Mother 53 To conclude this Apostolic Exhortation, I invite you to join me in turning to the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mother of the Church, who is so revered throughout Oceania. In a prayer addressed to Mary, Help of Christians, Mother of the Church, Bright Star of the Sea, and Our Lady of Peace, Mary as "light of every ocean and mistress of the deep" is asked to "guide the peoples of Oceania across all dark and stormy seas." She has been proclaimed "Patroness of Oceania under the title of Our Lady of Peace." It is especially under the aspect of peace that Pope John Paul II concludes the document. Special veneration is given to her under the title Help of Christians. The document speaks of the deep devotion to Mary as an integral aspect of the Catholic faith in Oceania. It also focused the attention of the universal Church on the hopes and challenges, the needs and opportunities, the sorrows and joys of the vast human tapestry which is Oceania." Reference to the Blessed Virgin Mary takes place twice in the document: in # 5, when speaking of Christ who was born of Mary, and in #53, the final paragraph and conclusion to the document. In the words of the Holy Father, "The Assembly analyzed and discussed the present situation of the Church in Oceania in order to plan more effectively for the future.
#Stormy ocean waves full
The full document is available on the internet.Įcclesia in Oceania was published by Pope John Paul II as the summary the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Oceania, which was held from November 22 - December 12, 1998. Magisterial Documents: Ecclesia in OceaniaĪpostolic Exhortation on Jesus Christ and the Peoples of Oceania: Walking His Way, Telling His Truth, Living His Life Pope John Paul II November 22, 2001
0 kommentar(er)
