Catholics have been tasked to observe a vigorous May Devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus for an end to violent conflicts witnessed globally and in the West African Region. The charge was given by Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, Bishop of Oyo Diocese in his letter issued on the feast of Our Lady, Mother of Africa, Saturday, April 30, 2022.
Bishop Badejo urged all priests, female and male religious, catechists, and lay leaders to invite all the faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Oyo to be more dedicated to the May devotion to the mother of Jesus beginning from May 1. He said: “I call you all to focus your devotions with them on the rosary as an effective weapon against conflict, war, insurgency, bloodshed, injustice and corruption in the world and particularly in Nigeria, Ukraine and Russia.”
Bishop Badejo who doubles as the President of the Pan African Episcopal Committee for Social Communications (CEPACS) called for prayers for world leaders. He said: “Please pray for leaders at all levels to repent and end their insincerity and insensitivity to the suffering masses. “Remind our people that the Rosary has been used by the Church all through human history as a weapon for peace.” The Bishop harped on a more vigorous practice of praying the Holy Rosary, “We have been doing this too, but let us do so more at this time “As you work to transform the world around you, please pray the rosary more, especially in your family, community, groups, church societies and parishes for these purposes.”
Bishop Badejo who is serving as a member of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication continues, “Ask for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary to act like she did on that day at Cana in Galilee.” “Like wine, peace, love and joy are clearly running out in our nation and communities and families.” He urged the people of God under his pastoral care to implore the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for his people with her son as she has promised severally to do. “Let us remember her words, “Do whatever he tells you (John 2:5),” Bishop Badejo said. “May our supplication be answered. God bless you all. Amen”, he prayed.
