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Santiago de Queretaro (Agenzia Fides) – Bishop Mario De Gasperin of Santiago Queretaro, presided a Mass on Wednesday, March 25, Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord and celebration of the "Day of the Unborn Child," in honor of the inauguration of the Shrine for Life, a chapel located near the Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the city.
Accompanying the Bishop were Fr. Jorge Valencia (new Rector of the Shrine for Life), Fr. Jaime Gutierrez Jimenez, President of the Diocesan Commission for the Family, Youth, and Laity, and several parish priests and lay faithful.
In his homily, Bishop De Gasperin affirmed that "the human life that begins to grow in the mother's womb is the same that can live on in eternity." In precisely these moments in history, in which "human life is being threatened by so many aggressions and its meaning and value are trivialized and distorted, we should return to the source of life and dignity of every person, who took flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, we should return to her maternity." "Adopting a child or saving a life – the Bishop said – means imitating God, spreading His paternal love throughout the world. Sharing life is imitating God, who sent His Son into the world, so that "we could all have life in abundance."
He later mentioned that "every human life should always be defended: that of the unborn child, that of that of the pregnant mother, that of the new born, the weak, the sick, the elderly, and even the criminal, as God protected the life of Cain after he killed his brother."
"Our God is a God who loves life," and thus, as Catholics we are "the people of life and for life. This is our vocation, our honor and our prides."
As for the new Shrine for Life, Bishop Mario affirmed his hope that it will become "a place for honoring, respecting, defending, and giving thanks for life, as well as where one can come and weep their frustrations and experience mercy, forgiveness, and peace. It should become an ode to life; a light that brings hope of fullness of life for all." After his homily, the Bishop blessed the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which will preside the Shrine that is located in the historic part of the city of Santiago de Queretaro.
(RG) (Agenzia Fides 27/3/2009)
Blessings+Deacon John
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