Assumption of Our Lady of Yagma 2024: Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo invites people to redouble their prayers for peace in Burkina Faso

Six months after the parish pilgrimage, pilgrims have again invaded the Shrine of Our Lady of Yagma, this time to honor the glory of the Virgin Mary. From dawn, the faithful flock to the religious site located in the northern suburbs of the Burkina Faso capital on foot, bicycles, motorcycles and even cars. Under the vigilance of security forces, pilgrims line up and are thoroughly searched before entering the prayer site.

Inside, on benches under the shade of trees, pilgrims stretched as far as the eye could see, most of them wearing the uniforms of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. At 9 a.m., before the Eucharistic celebration began, the pilgrims prayed the Rosary and praised the Blessed Sacrament. A few minutes later, Cardinal Philippe Ouédraogo, the president of the celebration, arrived in grand style, wearing bishop’s vestments, holding the mitre and the crozier. He was warmly welcomed by the faithful Christians with songs and praises.

After the liturgy, Cardinal Filipe Ouedraogo called on people to promote the values ​​of peace in his homily. For the religious man, who has been retired since 2023, the origins of this religious worship date back to the 4th century and are called Dormition. He explained that assumption comes from the Latin word “assumere”, which means “to carry with, to take away”.

“It is a dogmatic fact that the Blessed Virgin Mary, from the moment of her conception, was filled with the grace of the Father. The Church remembers that her glory is the fruit of her constant fidelity and her sacrificial communion,” he suggested, adding that the Virgin Mary was the first to open the way to the Resurrection through her humble faith. This celebration, he exhorted, invites us to follow the example of the Virgin Mary. “It is a model to learn to always love Jesus, but also to love one another,” he implored, before paying tribute to the relevance of the theme: “Mary, Queen of Peace, Servant of the Lord. »

In his ten-minute homily, the cardinal insisted on the fundamental value of peace. For him, peace is a gift from God and the fruit of human effort. In order to enjoy it, he insisted, the faithful must constantly pray and commit themselves to the voice of justice. “We must redouble our prayers for peace in our families, our country and the world. Jesus gives peace through his victory over death and the hope of his presence. All of us must commit ourselves to peace, through action and word, individually and collectively, in our families, social groups, parishes and homelands, through gestures of solidarity and love for people in turmoil “.

He said the pope invited people to pray in August that political leaders would serve the people and work for integral human development and the common good. In addition to the pope’s prayer intentions, he revealed his concern for respect for human rights. “Any lack of respect for human rights is a serious attack on peace,” he said, citing a statement by Pope John Paul II in 1979. He called on the faithful to preserve social harmony and said that Pope Francis asked all families to understand these three words. It’s about “please, thank you, I’m sorry.” » “These attitudes allow us to create a climate of serenity, peace and happiness in family and social life,” he concluded before a procession of the statue of the Virgin Mary.

The government was represented by Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, Minister of State and Minister of Communications, Culture, Arts and Tourism; the Minister in charge of humanitarian action and the Minister in charge of animal and fishery resources. Government spokesman Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo said they came to convey the Faso president’s message of solidarity. “This is an opportunity to unite for the restoration of peace in Burkina Faso. We feel very fulfilled by all the prayers expressed here.” He added that peace is the fruit of prayer but also the fruit of the actions of each citizen. “Let everyone be an everyday peacemaker in their own environment. The government cherishes the values ​​defended by the Church,” concluded the minister.

The Mass also had the strong participation of the African Catholic Press Union (UCAP). Its first manager, Alexandre Le Grand Rouamba, welcomed the relocation of some staff from other countries.

The celebration ended with a message of thanks from Father Jules-Pascal Zabre, Rector of the Temple.

Serge Fish Key

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