70 years of the Marian Dassa cave: a celebration filled with feelings

The occasions to mark the seventieth anniversary of the Marian Dassa Grotto ended this Sunday in a festive ambiance. Surrounded by all of the bishops of Benin but in addition by a powerful variety of monks, Jean-Claude Cardinal Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg celebrated the final mass of this pilgrimage in honor of the Virgin Mary.

After three days, this nice Marian sanctuary had turn out to be too cramped for the numerous delegations. A tarpaulin and chairs positioned throughout the web site weren’t sufficient to carry all of the pilgrims. The granite blocks across the celebration altar had been used as seats for the Catholic trustworthy. Whereas standing, some pilgrims religiously comply with the archbishop’s teachings.

Dassa Mariale Caves

In his homily, Jean-Claude Cardinal Hollerich encourages Christians to tolerance. The minister reminded Catholic Christians of the values ​​of the Christian religion, particularly the significance of the household, the seek for peace and justice. “With out justice there shall be no peace in our hearts for our households, in our societies and in our nations. Peace is a present from God for which we should put together our hearts.”he emphasised.

The archbishop attracts the eye of the trustworthy to their function in constructing a peaceable nation. Right here he explains the complete which means of the theme of the pilgrimage “With Mary, we pray for unity and peace:

“The mom is the one who holds the household collectively. We’re all youngsters of the identical mom, the Virgin Mary.” Mom Mary needs to see us all united in brotherhood. We should due to this fact pray to the Virgin Mary to provide peace in each nation and assist us to comply with within the footsteps of her son Jesus Christ”.

All united to provide thanks

“We have simply skilled an important mass. A chance for all of the sons of Benin to return and thank God for his miracles in our lives.”famous Father Anicet Gnanvi, communications director of the Benin Episcopal Convention.

The principle steps of this celebration are listening, sharing the phrase of God and the Eucharistic celebration through which all the kids of the identical father communicated on the Holy desk by coronary heart. One other spotlight of this celebration is the proclamation of the gospel in tune. “The priest’s private alternative is to announce the gospel by means of singing. That is executed throughout solemn plenty”explains Father Anicet Gnanvi.

For the Christian neighborhood, this pilgrimage appears like a second of communion between Christians to reward God and honor the Virgin Mary. The celebration, which is wealthy in musical colors, is offered by the Aluwasio, Hanyé, Cécilienne, Bariba and Sèxwégnon choirs. A method for the church to indicate the instance of unity by together with the totally different greatest that exist all through the territory. “The choirs sang very effectively. The liturgical a part of the mass was carried out by the Cecilian choir, the mom of all choirs, it was wonderful”famous Esther Agboton, a pilgrim who doesn’t fail to carry out this act of religion.

The happy pilgrims

Beninese or foreigners, the Catholic trustworthy who participate within the pilgrimage are happy that they’ve taken half on this spiritual journey. “Earlier than I arrived at this holy place, I used to be very sick. However right this moment I really feel completely superb. On this assembly one thing was ready for me. I took my blessing. I used to be amazed by all the pieces I noticed. I am considering of organizing myself to return again subsequent 12 months”confides Judith Appo, a pilgrim who made the journey from Ivory Coast.

A practising Catholic, Michel is a part of the delegation from Burkina Faso that needed to expertise the standard pilgrimage to the Marian Dassa cave. “It was a query of curiosity that pushed me to this holy place. I’m pleasantly shocked by this group. I’ll share the graces acquired”he trusts.

Benin Catholic TV quickly on the airwaves

A significant announcement additionally marked the celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the Marian Dassa-Zoumé Grotto. Fortuné Badou, Rector of the Marian Shrine and Vicar Basic of the Diocese of Dassa-Zoumè, introduced the upcoming launch of the Catholic tv channel. “Lumen Christi”. The media shall be broadcast on September 14. The creation of this channel can also be one other method of marking the seventieth anniversary of the Marian grotto.