聖母受迫害基督徒之佑
哥倫布騎士團向聖母祈禱項目
開啟介紹

撰文:默基特希臘禮阿勒頗總主教讓巴爾
譯自:鹽與光天主教傳媒機構

親愛的騎士兄​​弟、家人和朋友們,

作為敘利亞阿勒頗總主教，一個有一位名叫掃祿的人被帶進教會並成為聖保祿的地方，我以極大的希望來開啟哥倫布騎士團向聖母祈禱項目。

這個聖母受迫害基督徒之佑聖像畫觸動了我和在中東因耶穌之名而受苦的人民的心靈。

我知道聖母會藉著這聖像畫去來祝福所有參加朝聖的人，因為在數百份聖相中，每個都帶有教宗方濟各的宗座祝福，都是由哥倫布騎士團以仁愛在美國及我們所有的國家，由一個議會帶到另一個議會，由一個堂區帶到另一個堂區。

我的騎士兄弟，您們已經聽到我的人民，以及所有那些在中東因為信仰而受到迫害的人的請求。我的騎士兄弟，您們通過基督徒難民救濟基金(Christian Refugee Relief Fund)給予了偉大慈善的回應，提供了數百萬美元來幫助您被趕出家園和斷絕了生活的基本需求的兄弟姐妹。您給飢餓的人帶來了食物，給口渴的人喝，給了赤身露體的人衣服，給了無家可歸者住所，對孩子的教育，以及許多以為他們再也沒有理由再笑的人的笑容。謝謝！

現在，正如這第18屆哥倫布騎士團的祈禱計劃始於我們的尊貴大騎士的命令，那裡將會為我的人民祈禱，為我們在全世界的信仰英雄見證人祈禱。祈禱會像聖潔的韾香一樣上達一位垂憐衪的百姓所受的苦難的天主的寶座。

自1979年以來，騎士一直在舉辦這樣的祈禱活動，全世界約有2千萬人參加了166,900次的祈禱服務。這是最震撼人心的知道我的人民將從您深切的祈禱中領受益處。

我看著這聖母受迫害基督徒之佑聖像畫，並看到了一個因著我們這個時代悲慘的需要的瑪利亞的稱號。我看到在耶穌正在祝福他們和我們同時，基督徒殉道者也在聖母的衣篷下團結起來。我看到不同基督傳統宗教的十字架聯合起來祈禱，從東方和西方、北方和南方、主教們、司鐸們、平信徒、男女修道者，都在十字架下與我們的母親-聖母一起團結起來。

我懇請大家繼續通過哥倫布騎士團來幫助我的人民。

謝謝至尊騎士和我的騎士兄弟，去幫助我們更深入地明瞭上主希望通過衪的人民服務的愛與慈悲的奧積。

聖母受迫害基督徒之佑，為我等祈。

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下載祈禱卡

OUR LADY HELP OF PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS MARIAN PRAYER PROGRAM

Inauguration Introduction

by

Most Reverend Jean-Clement Jeanbart
Greek Melkite Archbishop of Aleppo

 

My dear Brother Knights, families, and friends:

As the Archbishop of the historic see of Aleppo in Syria, where a man named Saul was brought into the Church to become St. Paul, I address you with a great sense of hope as we inaugurate this Knights of Columbus Marian Prayer Program.

This icon of Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians touches my heart and the hearts of my people in the Middle East who have suffered so much simply for professing the name of Jesus.

I know that Our Lady will bless all those who take part in the pilgrimage with this icon, as hundreds of copies, each bearing the Apostolic Blessing of Pope Francis, are lovingly carried by Knights of Columbus from council to council, and parish to parish throughout America and all our countries.

You, my brother Knights, have heard the pleas of my people, and of all those who are persecuted for their faith in the Middle East. You, my brother Knights, have responded with great charity through the Christian Refugee Relief Fund, providing millions of dollars to help your brothers and sisters who have been driven from their homes and denied the basic needs of life. You have brought food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, shelter to the homeless, schooling to children, and smiles to the faces of so many who thought they would never have a reason to smile again. Thank you!

Now, as this 18^th Knights of Columbus prayer program begins at the behest of our Worthy Supreme Knight, there will be prayer for my people, prayer for all the heroic witnesses of our faith throughout the world. Prayer that will rise up like holy incense to the throne of God, who looks with compassion on the suffering of his people.

Prayer programs such as this have been held by the Knights since 1979, with some 20 million people taking part in 166,900 prayer services around the world. It is most humbling to know that my people will be benefitting from your profound legacy of prayer.

I look at this icon of Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians and see a title for Mary that is tragically needed for our times. I see Christian martyrs united under the mantle of Mary, with Jesus blessing them and us. I see the crosses of different Christian traditions uniting us in prayer, from East and West; North and South; bishops, priests, laypeople, men and women religious, all united at the foot of the cross, with Mary as our Mother.

I ask everyone to continue to help my people through the Knights of Columbus.

Thank you, Supreme Knight, and you, my brother Knights, for helping us see more deeply into the mystery of love and mercy that God wishes to work through his people.

Our Lady Help of Persecuted Christians, pray for us!