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A reflection by Fr. Oscar Pezzarini, director of Cottolengo Don Orione

Father Oscar Pezzarini

"Let us imitate the virtues of Our Lady and ask for her protection"

On the day of the Immaculate Conception Fr. Oscar, in charge of the weekly comment in "La Manga" on behalf of Fr. Grassi told us to exercise these virtues in order to get along as a nation and a homeland. He recalled the intense devotion to Mary both in Argentina and in the Spanish speaking America. "Communion is to receive food and strength through the living presence of Jesus himself", he said.

Buenos Aires, Sunday, December 8, 2002.- On the day of the Immaculate Conception Fr. Oscar Pezzarino, in charge of the weekly comment in "La Manga", Fr. Julio Grassi's radio program (Radio Rivadavia -AM 630 kHz- Sundays from 2 to 5 a.m.) called "to imitate Our Lady's virtues and to ask for her protection".

"These virtues are faith, our Lady's great greatheatedness -accepting to become a mother-, the solidarity of her help to those who are in need and to their relatives, open and full of God."

"She was great because she believed in God. Thus He blessed her and gave her the chance of becoming His mother."

"When we talk about values, we are referring to those virtues we need to exercise in order to get along as a nation and as a homeland. Argentina is a deeply Marian land. The American continent is full of Our Lady. Therefore, we ask Her to keep on protecting our homeland, which was born under her mantle. Our leading men had a strong devotion towards Her and put all their trust in Mary to protect the land which they were liberating."

"This is the day on which we celebrate Our Lady's greatest festivity, that is, her Immaculate Conception. This is one of the four dogmas of faith. Christ preserves who was going to be His mother. It is a special preparation, a very special divine intention for God to Mary, who was faithful to Him" recalled the director of Cottolengo Don Orione.

"The Festivity of the Immaculate Conception is a strong tradition for the Catholic Church not only because of the dogma and the Virgin´s greatness, but also because historically this is the day on which many children receive their First Communion. Today, December 8 is the first encounter of many children with Jesus."

"Receiving the First Communion is an important step in the growth of faith. It is not just another social event. It is not a matter of complying with the sacrament, but of receiving food and strength through the living presence of Jesus himself."

Father Oscar Pezzarini asked those who on a day like this had their first encounter with Jesus to reflect on what happened since that moment in each one's life from an eucaristic point of view. "Do we go on receiving Jesus?", he asked. "Through the eucaristic nutriment we have the chance of integrating Him."

"Today, at both Felices los Niños Foundation and Cottolengo Don Orione, many of our children will receive Jesus. They are going to celebrate because the will receive Jesus deeply as a part of the spiritual preparation they get at the Foundation and the Cottolengo."

"Both liturgy and sacraments are symbols, means we can see and which show something deeper through which God gives us His grace."

"Let the Virgin Mary bless our country in the Day of the Immaculate Conception, particularly those who are most in need and those who are hungry", closed Father Oscar Pezzarini.

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