Marie de Nazareth
To Jesus, through Mary
Conversions and a new fervor
True conversions have occurred: we witnessed atheist souls reflect upon themselves and recognize their sins, placing themselves on the return road (accepting penances before being allowed to receive the sacraments). Lukewarm souls have become and remained fervent. Shepherds of souls have recorded interior conversions that were genuine and sincere.
Many people from neighboring countries have come to pray and express a deep faith by accepting the practice of prayer obtained by penance and the love of Christ.
We noted conversions to seek Baptism. Some indifferent baptized families brought their children to religious education classes and reception of the sacraments of life.
We also witnessed a strong living faith within the Movements of Catholic Action (Legion of Mary, Sacred Heart League, etc.).
We saw a great awakening in the participation to weekday masses. The realization of the meanness of sin led necessarily to view the Sacrament of Reconciliation as the sole remedy.
A relevant message for Rwanda: The tragic visions came true
First of all, the war and the tragedy of the genocide were certainly announced events. And isn't it true that the apparition came as a heavenly favor, to prove to us the love of Christ and his Mother, and therefore to ask us not to neglect the great goodness of God that had blessed this country?
Serious injustices and sins denounced
The apparition came to reveal to us anew the existence of sin which acts against God, a sin that had taken on many forms: serious injustices, profanations, a depraved sense of the existence of God and his law, etc. Isn't it true finally that the apparitions came to teach us to be humbly grateful, and recommend us to have recourse to the most pure Virgin, mediatrix of the graces of salvation?
Divine love to die saintly
Next, these apparitions produced the fruit of good life in the after life: in fact, certain people awaited death in prayer, united to the Mother of God, praying to her for the forgiveness of personal sins and the sins of others, especially for their aggressors. Some were driven to their death singing their joy to imitate the Passion of Jesus, while others had the Bible in their hands, in the hope of soon reaching the land of the Blessed.
After the war, a reference for Christian life
Today, after the war, we must be attentive to these messages: the reconciliation with the offended God and with brothers turned enemies draws its strength from these messages that have become like a reference for leading an authentic Christian life.
A relevant message for the other continents
In many countries, some horrific things have also offended the God of Love, and have denied the role of Mary in the work of salvation. Those sins of massacring human lives, this captivating materialism, this sacrilege against human life in all this context of shameful manipulations, this species of lie of pretending to live in a Christian manner, all the while refusing to believe in the salvation of Christ by the Cross, all these sins and many others call to man's conversion today, and to his reconciliation with his God and the Father of all.
May the role of Mary cooperatrix of the human race permeate our life, which was saved by Christ our Redeemer.
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Bishop Jean Baptiste GAHAMANYI,
Bishop Emeritus of Butare, Rwanda. In Rome, September 14, 1997