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A reflection by Fr. Oscar Pezzarini, General Commissioner of the Work of Don Orione

Father Oscar Pezzarini

"The Virgin Mary joins the people of Argentina in their sorrow and in their hope"

With just a few days to go for the celebration of the festivity of Our Lady of Lujan, the patroness of Argentina, Father Oscar reclaimed the virtues of Mary. He asked us to emulate them, as thousands of Argentineans do as they collaborate with the flood victims in Santa Fe. «She took action near people in need doing something for somebody», he reflected.

Buenos Aires, Sunday, May 4, 2003.- Father Oscar Pezzarini, the General Commissioner of the Work of Don Orione, 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.), assured tonight that "the Virgin Mary joins the people of Argentina in their sorrow, their suffering, their faith and their hope" and asked to "imitate her virtues".

"So did the people who came over with their donations, their words or their goods for the flood victims of Santa Fe who are suffering so much. This is the virtue of being available for those in need, and even without noticing it we are imitating her."

"The month of May is very special because we celebrate the birth of our nation. Besides, in the next few days we are going to define who will be our next president. It is also special due to what is happening in Santa Fe, which beyond the tragedy makes us realize that the people of Argentina are showing their solidarity."

"In Argentina the month of Our Lady is November. But this month of May is very related to Mary because on Thursday, May 8, we will celebrate the Festivity of Our Lady of Lujan, the patroness of the Argentine Republic", stated Father Oscar.

"Let's look once again towards Mary. Since our part of America and our country started, she was invoked and her presence was felt at our side, her Argentine children."

"The Virgin Mary wanted to stay at the shores of the Lujan river. Her destination was somewhere else in our country, but in an almost miraculous way she chose to stay here, where the devotion for her started and grew through her house, through her shrine."

"The Virgin Mary was great not just for being the Mother of Jesus but also for her own virtues which for us, her children, may become a way to imitate her so our land may grow great."

"She was a woman of faith, everything she did was because of her great confidence in God and because she believed that God was able to do great things in her. She was a woman open to the needs of others."

"Her humbleness allowed her to keep her place. She was the Messiah's Mother, the mother of the One who was acclaimed by the crowds and, nevertheless, she didn't walk along with Jesus in the moments of His glory when He was cheered."

"On the contrary, she appeared in the instants of persecution and sorrow. Mary was a woman who was faithful to God and to the mission He had given her."

"The Virgin Mary joins the people of Argentina in their sorrow, their suffering, their faith and their hope. She who saw her Son suffer, give his life away and die for mankind, joins many mothers in their sorrow as they see their children suffer and die."

"Is the Virgin just another devotion, or is she the woman who embodies virtues which should be imitated and which we can imitate because they are so close to us?", asked the General Commissioner of the Work of Don Orione. "She is someone who cheers us up and whom we must imitate in her virtues."

"«Let us honor Mary in our prayers. Let us spread her cult and let us imitate her virtues. Let us renew or souls with works of faith and love towards God and towards our brethren. Let us honor Mary by stripping away our pride and living in humility. She was very humble», said Don Orione referring to Mary".

"According to the Gospels, the Virgin was not a woman of many words. She took action near those in need doing something for someone and she walked along with her Son. She didn't just stick to theories, she took action."

"We Argentineans would do well in imitating the Virgin, since we never lack words and theories. This is the instant for action. The people of Argentina are showing their leaders that when there is a need there is more to do than just talking, it is necessary to stay at the side of those in need."

"May Our Lady bless us all and protect our country", prayed Father Oscar Pezzarini on the end.

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