World Press Release Issued by: "Mary for Peace"
Friday, March 21, 2003
Translated for The Remnant by: Gerry Matatics
At a very difficult moment in history, the Christian people of Iraq turn toward the Virgin Mary to beg for God's help, certain that the mother of God never leaves her children without aid.
It's in this spirit that, for the past several days, the Catholics of Baghdad have given themselves to fervent prayer in several churches in the city of Baghdad before a statue of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace. A pilgrim statue first came to Iraq from France in 1998, when it made a pilgrimage throughout the entire country under the title Our Lady of France, Queen of Peace.
The Queen of Peace statue, which has in recent days encountered huge and very fervent crowds in the course of its pilgrimage in Iraq from the
north to the center of the country, is today being greeted and prayed before as it again takes up the path to Baghdad's churches. Greater and greater numbers are assembling themselves before the statue.
According to an idea of the Latin Rite Bishop of Baghdad, this movement of prayer around the Queen of Peace will culminate in a ceremony of
coordinated consecration of Iraq to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The consecration ceremony will commence with the celebration of The Divine Liturgy. A gathering of bishops of all the Catholic Churches / including the
Chaldean, Latin, Armenian, Syriac Rites (as well as the Syriac and Assyrian Orthodox churches)/will pronounce the consecration on Friday the 21st of March at 6:00 p. m. local time in the Chaldean Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph in Baghdad.
The announcement of the event was made in all the churches of Baghdad on Sunday March 16th and the prayers are multiplying up till this day so
that there will be a huge throng at the consecration on March 21st, even if the war has already begun. This movement, which is expected to bring together Christians and perhaps even some Muslims, has as its goal to entrust the events of the future to the providence of God through the Virgin Mary and to offer everything to her, visibly and solemnly, so that things will turn out in the manner that will entail the least suffering.
No one knows how the Virgin Mary will respond to protect her people but we must have confidence in her; Ask her to intercede and intervene
powerfully in Iraq and throughout the entire world in response to this consecration for the true welfare of all of her children and for the
greater glory of God.
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This demonstration is organized by the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch (represented by Mgr. Shlemon Warduni and Msgr. Emmanuel-Karim Delli) in the Catholic Church of St. Joseph in the very heart of Baghdad.
The other churches which will join in this consecration are:
- Latin Catholic Church (represented by Mgr. Jean Benjamin Sleiman)
Syrian Catholic Church (represented by Mgr. Athanse Matti Shaba Matoka)
Armenian Catholic Church (represented by Mgr. Paul Coussa)
Syriac Orthodox Church (represented by Mor Saverius Jamil Hawa)
Assyrian Church (represented by Mar Ghevergese Warda Daniel Sliwa)
Huge crowds are expected for this event which will be broadcast by all the international media present at Baghdad. Amongst the several faithful
already in prayer communion with the consecration are: the Carmelite Sisters of Quebec, Chile and Germany, as well as the Sisters of the Sanctuary of the Miraculous Medal (a place where the Virgin appeared, which is situated at Rue du Bac in Paris).
The Pilgrim Virgin in Baghdad
On Monday March 10th, the Christians of Baghdad welcomed the virgin statue of Our Lady of Peace in the Church of Our Lady of Deliverance led
by Msgr. Matoka the Syriac Catholic bishop. CNN did an interview at 4:00 p. m. with Deacon Noel Farman and the Syriac bishop.
The statue then was welcomed on Tuesday March 11th in the Catholic Church of St. Joseph by Mgr. Sleyman, Latin Catholic bishop.
From Wed March 12th to Friday March 14th the Chaldean Sisters of Mary Immaculate welcomed the statue in their Church of the Immaculata which
faces the German embassy.
On Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th the Armenian Catholic Church opened its largest church to receive the statue and intensify the
prayers for peace.
Sunday March 16th the announcement of Friday's national consecration (on March 21st) was made in the largest churches throughout Baghdad inviting the entire population to turn out.
The Virgin statue will be brought from church to church in the days which follow by the crowds which grow ever more numerous and with the
support of all the bishops of Baghdad who have most favorably welcomed this initiative.
Do not hesitate to pass on this message because the whole world is called to support this movement of prayer and peace and to unite in this
consecration to Our Lady on March 21st.
The Holy Father Pope John Paul II who has called everyone to pray and fast to stop this war has been informed of this action. People can
transmit this invitation to those around them and respond to this appeal by uniting their prayers and their fasts for the intention of the Virgin Mary for Peace in the world, and especially in union with this Consecration of Iraq to Mary.
