Starting this 2014, the day of the Virgin of the Charity of El Cobre will be celebrated as “solemnity” according to a notification sent by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments from the Vatican to the President of the Episcopal Conference of Cuba (CEC) Monsignor Dionisio García Ibáñez.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis sent the first message of a pope in history addressing the Cubans due to the anniversary of the discovery of the image of the Virgin also named Mambisa, where he urged them to “rejoice, stand up and persevere.”
In the letter, published Saturday on the website of the CEC, the Pope advised Cubans “to have joy and share it with those around us, lift the heart and not succumb to adversity and stay on the right path, helping tirelessly to they are oppressed by sorrows and troubles: these are the important lessons taught by the Virgin of the Charity of El Cobre, useful for today and tomorrow. ”
The Pope also noted the recent placement of an image of the Virgin in the Vatican Gardens: “Her presence there is an evocative reminder of affection and vitality of the Church making a pilgrimage in those bright Caribbean lands.”
In this regard, the Bishop of Cienfuegos, Monsignor Domingo Oropesa confirmed the joy of the Church in Cuba: “We can say that this year 2014, around the Feast of the Virgin of Charity of Cobre are several premieres, wonderful premieres. As for the first time we will celebrate the Patroness Virgin of Cuba as Solemnity; we also premiered liturgical and the Word of God texts to the masses the next September 8th; we received the first message of a pope in history to us all for the Virgin of Charity; and a few days ago started the presence of an image of the Virgin in the Vatican Gardens. ”
“Certainly this September 8, 2014 is embellished by gestures, text, images and messages full of simplicity and love as was and is the Blessed Virgin. Celebrating as a Solemnity the Virgin of Charity each September 8 is very important, and has involved moving the Feast of the Virgin birth to the next day. That is how the Catholic Church has approved it. The solemnity in the Catholic religion is the highest degree of celebration, “he added.
In the Catholic Church, a Solemnity is a celebration of maximum degree commemorating an important event for faith. The celebration begins on the eve of the previous day. They even have their own readings taken from the Sunday Lectionary and Masses have their own prayer for each of them.
In that sense, Monsignor Oropesa explained that “in terms of the approved texts for the celebration of Mass we can see that shows the Virgin as our Mother and Patroness, as the one that welcomes us with motherly love from the Calvary, as our lawyer to intercede for us, as it accompanies us in our steps towards the heavenly homeland, as that encourages us to witness to the Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ in the world … some simple texts adopted nearly a hundred years after Pope Benedict XV, in 1915, declared her the patroness of Cuba. ”
The Cuban bishops have invited to this celebration “all Cubans, because the Virgin of Charity is ours, whether we are believers or not, Catholic or Protestant, or have a popular devotion that can be more or less syncretic”.
“We also come to our Cuban brothers who live outside of Cuba, because the Virgin of Charity is a symbol of the nation, it is the bond of unity of our families, of our people and, above all, it is the Mother of Jesus Christ, the son of God, Savior of all men”, they said.
