ASIA/TAIWAN - Regional Bishops’ Conference of Taiwan makes an invitation to participate in celebrations for 150th anniversary of the Lourdes apparitions

Tai Pei (Agenzia Fides) - The Liturgical Commission of the Regional Bishops’ Conference of Taiwan invited the faithful to actively participate in the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Lourdes apparitions, in order to gain the indulgence declared by His Holiness Benedict XVI. According to the Christian Life Weekly, a weekly bulletin of the Archdiocese of Tai Pei, the official letter of the Commission says: “all faithful who follow the indications of the Decree of the Apostolic Penitenciary (the Chinese translation by Bishop Wang Yu Rong) may obtain the indeulgence on the occassion of the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the Massabielle Grotto, in Lourdes...” The notification also encourages the Catholics to pray for all people, offering sacrifices for the souls in purgatory. Lastly, it calls for an active participation on behalf of everyone - priests, religious, and laity-in offering their prayers to the Immaculate Mother of God. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 15/2/2008; righe 12, parole 153)