By Deborah Castellano Lubov
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar (CBCM) has designated Thursday, 26 Mar, as a special day of intense prayers and fasting for Myanmar and is encouraging all the faithful to observe it.
In a letter addressed to “the Children of God,” Cardinal Cardinal Bo, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar, along with the Conference’s Secretary General, Bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye, make this appeal for their tormented nation.
“For the Catholic Church,” they note, “the Holy Lenten Season is the time to make more effort for penance, conversion of heart and the intimate relationship with God” and a time where Catholics are called to prayer, fasting and charity.
The Bishops reiterate the need for special prayers for peace especially in the Middle East and in Myanmar, calling on the faithful to pray “that God gives His Peace to the world and to Myanmar and that there will be mutual understanding and progress in unity.”
In a special way, the prelates invite the faithful to recall the prayer of peace of St Francis of Assisi; to fast in order to unite “with the suffering of Jesus Christ, that we offer our sufferings for the conversion and unity of hearts;” and perform acts of charity so that “we help and make donation for the poor and suffering people.”
Cardinal Bo and Bishop Saw Naw Aye conclude their letter extending their sincere gratitude to the faithful for their prayers for peace, noting, “His Holiness Pope Leo XIV also reminds that peace is built by the practical living of love, compassion and mutual understanding in daily life.” – Vatican News
