Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Viterbo (Agenzia Fides) – On the afternoon of Sunday, September 6, the Holy Father Benedict XVI met with cloistered nuns from the diocese's 12 monasteries, who gathered in the Shrine of the “Madonna della Quercia,” Patroness of the Diocese of Viterbo. In opening his address to them, Benedict XVI said: “ You, as contemplative nuns, have a mission to be torches in the Church who, in the silence of your monasteries, burn in prayer and love for God. I entrust my intentions to you, the intentions of the pastor of this diocese and the needs of those who live in this land. In this Year for Priests, I entrust to you above all priests, seminarians and vocations. With your prayerful silence be their support 'at a distance' and exercise your spiritual maternity toward them.” After thanking them for their presence, the Pope exhorted the religious to invoke the maternal presence of Mary using a prayer he himself had written.
In the prayer to Our Lady of the Quercia, the Pope invokes Mary, asking her to watch over “the Successor of Peter and the Church entrusted to his care; watch over this diocesan community and her pastors, over Italy, over Europe and the other continents.” He invokes her as the Queen of Peace, asking that she may “obtain the gift of concord and peace for the nations and for the whole of humanity.” Addressing the Mother of Christ, he asks that she may help all her children to “ratify the designs that the Heavenly Father has for everyone, to cooperate in the universal plan of redemption.” Addressing her as Queen of the Family, he asks that she may keep firm the unity of our families, “which are today threatened from every side,” and to especially watch over “those who are divided and in crisis.” To the Mother of the Church, the Pope asks that she may nourish the enthusiasm of the all the members of our diocese and “make firm and decided the will of those the Lord of the harvest continues to call as workers in his vineyard, so that, resisting every worldly enticement and snare, they generously persevere in following the path that they have set out upon.” He asks that the Mother of Humanity turn her gaze upon the men and women of our time, upon peoples and those who govern them, upon nations and continents; console those who weep, who suffer, who struggle because of human injustice, sustain those who waver under the weight of toil and look to the future without hope; encourage those who labor to build a better world. Lastly, addressing the Virgin of Listening, Star of Hope, he says: “we thank you and we renew to you the offer of our life, certain that you will never abandon us, especially in the dark and difficult moments of existence.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 7/9/2009)
