Indian bishop encourages prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel for WYD in Rio
Mumbai, 18 July 2013: "Let us pray that World Youth Day increases our young people's
love of Christ, for they are the hope of tomorrow, in openness and wonder, in faith
and spontaneity", said Agnelo Gracias, auxiliary bishop of Mumbai to the Catholic
community, on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, celebrated in the monastery of
the Carmelites in Andheri.
"The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel - Sister
Marie Gemma, prioress of the cloistered monastery told AsiaNews - leads each of us
to deepen our devotion to Our Lady and the gift of prayer that allows us to uncover
her mystery." "Contemplating and beholding the beauty of Mary - she added - is very
important in today's world, which is so full of distress and ugliness. The Virgin
is a beauty that enchants God with her innocence and purity."
To celebrate
the feast of Mount Carmel Bishop Gracias presided over a special mass. In addition
to praying for the upcoming World Youth Day (22-28 July), which this year will be
held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the bishop addressed a thought also for the victims
of the recent floods.
"Let us pray - he said - so that Christ's compassion
give them a horizon of hope, strength, courage and love," to overcome the suffering
that has hit them. Source: AsiaNews