Millions of Indians to join Pope Francis in Eucharistic adoration
May 30, 2013: For the archbishop of Mumbai, who is also the president of the Catholic
Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), communion with Pope Francis, communion with the
universal Church, but also communion with as well as deep concern for India's problems,
for a mission that is more effective against poverty, for women's dignity and against
violence are some of the values underline the proposal for the Worldwide Eucharistic
Adoration, set for this Sunday, 2 June. Benedict XVI had planned the event as part
of the Year of Faith. Pope Francis added some special prayer intentions, hot issues
in India like slave labour and violence against women. In countries like Japan, Vietnam,
India, and Iraq and continents like Africa, Americas, and Oceania, Churches will join
the worship.
At least 19 million Catholics in India will join the Holy Father
in Eucharistic Adoration at 8.30 pm IST for an hour of prayer in parishes, convents
and other religious institutions around India, synchronising the time of the Adoration
with that of Pope Francis who will preside the hour of Eucharistic adoration in St
Peter's Basilica, in communion with the Holy Father and all Christians around the
world.. This will give us an opportunity to join Peter's successor in praying and
worshiping the living Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
In many
places across India, thousands of people, including many youth, will join a candlelight
procession, coming from different directions, to worship jointly and bear witness
to Christ's immense love and the riches during this, the Year of Faith," Card Oswald
Gracias said.
As part of his plan for the Year of Faith, and in recognition
of the strong link between faith and the Eucharist, Pope Benedict XVI included an
hour-long Eucharistic Adoration in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, in communion
with all the bishops and their respective diocesan communities around the world.
Pope
Francis is spiritually very close to the peoples of Asia and India, and that these
intentions reflect the concerns and challenges of our brothers and sisters.
Being
in communion with the Vicar of Christ and worshiping the Eucharistic Lord in this
Year of Faith are historic and grace-filled gifts for the Universal Church.
The
intentions of the Holy Father address the situation of so many of India's children
and women who are suffering from every type of violence.
Whilst the Catholic
Church has been in the vanguard of promoting gender equality through tirelessly and
selflessly serving the poorest and dispossessed with the help of thousands of religious
missionaries in the remotest interiors, through our medical, social, welfare and educational
ministries, the road ahead is still long and difficult. The patriarchal mindset has
to change, gender discrimination must cease, equal dignity for girls and women has
to be the social norm.
Our women suffer unspeakable domestic violence. Most
regrettably, female foeticide and female infanticide continue. With Pope Francis
and the Universal Church, these intercessions are very close to the sufferings of
the people of India.
May their silent scream for help be heard by a vigilant
Church so that, gazing upon the crucified Christ, she may not forget the many brothers
and sisters who are left at the mercy of violence. The rape of Sister Meena Barwa
(who still has not had justice) touches a deep cord for us.
The adoration will
also take place at the Dibyajyoti Pastoral Centre in the Kandhamal district, where
sexual violence was unleashed upon many women during anti-Christian pogroms. In a
country where sexual violation and torture on girls continue to grow, police have
shown callous disregard for their plight, often putting them down to failed love affairs.
Despite
the rapid growth in our economy, economic precariousness is another major issue as
the gap between rich and poor widens further. We must indeed address the widening
inequality, which could also have serious social consequences. Since we are one human
family, one universal holy hour will make our shared humanity very tangible. When
one member of the family suffers, all suffer.
Holding a Eucharistic Adoration
simultaneously in various part of the world is significant, especially in our time
when globalisation makes us increasingly dependent upon each other.
Christianity
can and must ensure that this unity is not built without God, without true Love. Otherwise,
this would give way to confusion and individualism, to the oppression of some against
others.
The sacrament of the charity of Christ must permeate all one's daily
life; the Gospel has always aimed at the unity of the human family, a unity not imposed
from above, or by ideological or economic interests, but from a sense of responsibility
towards each other, because we identify ourselves as members of the same body, the
body of Christ.
Christ is our food for the journey; he enables us to become,
for everyone, witnesses of hope and love along the path of true justice.