Pope Benedict XV1 has officially endorsed the Annual Global Rosary
Relay for Priests taking place on July 1 (Friday) and he has written a
special prayer for the occasion.
In it he asks that all who are ordained to the ministerial priesthood
may be ever more conformed to God, preach the Gospel with pure heart
and clear conscience, and be shining examples of a holy, simple and
joyful life.
48 rosaries will be prayed at 48 Marian shrines in 24 hours in this
second event of its kind.
Since last year the number of shrines
participating has doubled to 48 in thirty-five countries worldwide.
The
event involves the members of the Church praying for all priests in the
exercise of their ministry so that they may experience gratitude and
support of the family of the Church.
Irishwoman Marion Mulhall has been praying for priests for around two
decades (long before any of the recent scandals) and said that at the
end of the Year for Priests, the Prayer Relay was an inspiration that
she shared with colleagues and it spread and spread.
Knock hosted the
first rally last year, as did 23 other shrines elsewhere in the world.
Not only is the rosary prayed at shrines but individuals can pray
wherever they are be it at work or at home, commuting or relaxing with
family and friends.
“It is organised in such a way that there will be an entire day of prayer over the entire world,” Marion Mulhall told ciNews.
“There will be someone praying in some part of the world every minute
of the day. People really want to be part of it. It is very easy, you
can just stop what you are doing (at the designated time) and pray.
Children can do it, adults, people from other faiths – it is for
everyone.”
This year, first up to recite the Rosary is to be Los Angeles at
midnight GMT and the spiritual baton will sweep around the world and end
up back in the USA in Wisconsin, 24 hours and 48 shrines later.
After Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles the Rosary Relay will then
pass on every half hour to locations including Australia, China and
other Asian countries, Dubai and the Middle East, Nazareth in the Holy
Land, South Africa, Eastern and Western Europe including Ireland and
Great Britain, and the Americas, ending back in the USA at The Shrine of
Our Lady of Good Help in Wisconsin at (GMT) 24.00.
In Ireland the Glorious Mysteries will be recited at 6:00pm at the
National Shrine of Our Lady of Knock.
The baton will be passed on at
6:30pm to Our Lady’s Island, Wexford for the Luminous Mysteries (or
Mysteries of Light).
This is the first time the Relay is taking place
in Wexford and they are expecting a packed church.
Each shrine team (in Ireland and abroad) received personalised
publicity material and promote the event locally and through the
internet.
They also use their own initiative in the local events that
include the Rosary and the Pope’s prayer.
For example, In New York, the
Shrine of Our Lady of Roses will be linked to up to 1,000 people via
conference call.
“People are coming up with ideas and planning and thinking ahead. It has taken on a life of its own,” said Mulhall.
Among those who support the initiative in Ireland are Michael Neary
Archbishop of Tuam, Ireland (Episcopal Advisor to Worldpriest) who said,
“I believe it has great potential and will bring many spiritual
benefits to all involved.”
Next year the event will be on June 15 during the World Eucharistic Congress.