EUROPE/ITALY - Remembering the witnesses to the faith in our time

Rome (Agenzia Fides) – At the beginning of Holy Week, the Community of Sant'Egidio promotes a prayer meeting in Rome and in several other countries around the world to remember the faith of the witnesses who gave their lives for the Gospel. "In this time of great difficulties, there are witnesses to the faith that illuminate humanity's journey towards Christ who died and rose for us. Thus, the memory of those who gave their lives for the Gospel is valuable and meaningful, especially in the heart of Holy Week," highlights the invitation from the Community of Sant'Egidio. "Following Jesus, who goes to his death on the Via Dolorosa, the martyrs of faith, love, reconciliation, and peace help women and men today to renew their lives, indicating the stone on which to build. These women and men all remind us of the courage to decide to live the integrity of the Christian life." During the prayer meeting, each of the witnesses to the faith who have lost their lives in recent times in different continents will be named. The prayer meeting will be held in Rome at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere on Tuesday, March 30 at 5:30pm, presided by Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Other celebrations are being held in Genoa, Messina, Milan, Naples, Trieste, Buenos Aires (Argentina), Liege and Antwerp (Belgium), Paris (France), Aachen and Würzburg (Germany), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Barcelona (Spain ), Boston, New York, and South Bend (United States). (SL) (Agenzia Fides 30/03/2010)