The month of May, which the Catholic tradition dedicates in a special way to the Mother of Jesus started in Jerusalem with a celebration in St Saviour’s church. The local faithful gathered for Mass and the recitation of the Rosary. An altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary was set up in the left nave.
To Jesus through Mary
“We start the Marian month today putting all our difficulties and the challenges we have to face in front of the Lord, through the Virgin Mary, so that she can help us overcome them,” said the parish priest, fra Amjad Sabbara, explaining the particular spirit with which the parish wants to live this month. Every day after the Mass at 5.30p.m. (on Saturday at 5.00p.m.), there will be the recitation of the Rosary, whereas on Sunday it will be before the 11.00 a.m. Mass.
This year, at the end of the Rosary, fra Amjad and fra Ayman, the deputy parish priest, are proposing short catechisms on the sacraments: “We thought of exploring in further depth the Catechism of the Catholic Church and on the sacraments. We want people to rediscover the meaning and the value of the sacraments and that they become an integral part of their identity as Christians in the Holy Land.”
Act of entrustment
Before the Mass, the families who so wished could accompany their daughters on an act of entrustment to the Virgin Mary. It is a tradition that the little girls who are entrusted to Mary at the beginning of May wear a white dress and a light blue veil at all the celebrations in the Marian month.
This year, two girls, Tia and Perla, were entrusted to the protection of the Virgin Mary. “We have decided to take our daughter and entrust her to Our Lady because we want Mary to protect her throughout her life and support her faith,” Perla’s mother said. “My husband and I are confident that Our Lady will give us everything we ask.”
Marinella Bandini
