Cardinal Bo points out five wounds of Myanmar

Myanmar Cardinal Bo identified the five wounds of the nation, inviting pilgrims to look at Mary for hope, mercy and healing.

Cardinal  Charles Maung Bo, SDB, said that “Like her son whose five wounds Mary witnessed on the cross, we have come with five wounds: five wounds that include Covid, conflict, coup, the collapse of economy and crisis after crisis.” 

Myanmar has been under a military coup since February 1, 2021.

Cardinal Bo stated that “We are sad that pandemic and other excruciating social ills brought a united people and a proud nation to the knees. On our knees, we have come to our mother imploring her for holistic health. We pray on our knees today with our mother.”

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, SDB, celebrated a mass of the 120th feast of Our Lady of Lourdes at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Nyaunglebin parish in the Archdiocese of Yangon, Myanmar, on February 12.

In his homily, Cardinal Bo said, “Mary is the Star of Hope, Mother of Mercy, and Healer of all wounds.”

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, the President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), said that the holy shrine of Our Lady used to attract thousands during normal times, bringing people from every corner of Myanmar, from every culture and every religion.

“Indeed, she (Mary) united us as a nation, as a people, as sons and daughters in this holy ground,”  the prelate said.

Cardinal Bo reminded the pilgrims, “ Today we come to her (Mary) protection once again. As a nation and as a people we face challenges, face tears, face the pandemic, face displacement, and face human brokenness. Here we came in Hope, seeking Mercy, seeking healing.”

The archbishop of Yangon says, “We gather here, firmly hoping that our mother becomes our Healer. ….that she may take this nation in her arms and heal all of us. Let her Mercy that brought the savior to the world, bring once again peace in this land.”

“Not abandoning us she stands with the people of Myanmar today.  She is the mother most faithful and merciful,” assured the 73 years old Cardinal.

The prelate recalled that “Every year we gathered here in joy, as a people of this great nation, forgetting all our difference, celebrating our common humanity, Our Lady become the mother of all people, of all races and all religions.  The whole of Myanmar came here for healing and celebrating.”

“But this year we have come here as a wounded nation and a wounded people.”

“More than ever, we need our Mother of Mercy in Myanmar today. Our pain is her pain.”

Cardinal Bo continues, “Her son was born in an abandoned place, and they fled violence.”

He preached in the belief that “Like a true mother whose impulse is to know the infant's needs and rushes to fulfill it, our Lady knows our suffering, our brokenness, our fears, and anxieties.”

“Mother Mary feels our pain; like us she had undergone all the sufferings and pain we undergo today. “YES” she knows the pain of thousands of our mothers who lost their sons and daughters to violence.”

“She knows what it means to live under fear and anxiety, fearing for the life of her precious child. She knows what it means to be an internally displaced person since she was forced to relocate during the most challenging time of her son’s birth,” encouraged Myanmar Cardinal. 

“She knows the shatteredness of being a refugee when she fled to Egypt. Mother Mary says to our refugees and those who are hidden: I empathize with you.

Recalling Pope Francis’ words, “The churches as the houses of Mercy,” Archbishop Charles Bo urged, “Let the churches become the field hospitals, as the Pope urged in his writings, receive everyone, wounded and living in fear.”

 “Let us teach this nation to heal, not to wound: to throw away weapons of mutual destruction and arm itself with tools of healing.”

The prelate hopes, “She will heal us, heal this nation and we will resurrect into freedom and peace. For this, we are gathered here.”

Cardinal Bo prayed, “May our prayers heal this nation and cure the world of the pandemic so that we can come together next year as a family of Myanmar nation, reconciled, healed, and restored to our normal life.”