Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Día de las Madres


Queen of peace, pray for us!
Our gaze is directed toward you in great fear, to you do we turn with ever-more insistent faith in these times marked by many uncertainties and fears for the present and future of our planet.

Together we lift our confident and sorrowful petition to you, the first fruit of humanity redeemed by Christ, finally freed from the slavery of evil and sin: hear the cry of the pain of victims of war and so many forms of violence that bloody the earth. Clear away the darkness of sorrow and worry, of hate and vengeance. Open up our minds and hearts to faith and forgiveness!

Mother of mercy and hope: Help every human being of every race and culture to find and embrace Jesus, who came to earth in the mystery of Christmas to give us 'His' peace.
Mary, Queen of peace, give us Christ, true peace in the world!


Here in Panamá today is Mother's Day. This is a BIG DEAL here; a national holiday. Everything is closed, except for the 24 hour Grocery Stores. When I took my morning walk the streets were clear. I heard a Drum and Bugle corp marching down the street at 4:30 am; someone's mom doesn't get to sleep-in on Mother's Day!

Panamanians celebrate Mothers' Day on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and the Costa Ricans celebrate Mothers' Day on August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. Here in Central America, the Blessed Mother and our blessed mothers get to celebrate on the same days.

¡Feliz Día de las Madres! Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception!

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Are you seriously saying that she passes the petitions on to jesus and he's more likely to listen because she's asking him for a favor?
Sounds like ward politics.

June Butler said...

Well, at least there is an alternative in Panama if one doesn't believe in the immaculate conception of the BVM. Happy Mothers'Day!

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