The Cardinal Vicar writes to the families of the diocese and sends the text of the prayer to be recited at home. During the day of next Tuesday, the Franciscans of the Twelve Holy Apostles will be present in front of the monument behind Piazza di Spagna to support those who still want to go for a spontaneous homage to the Virgin Mary.
For this year’s celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis will be entrusting the city of Rome and its inhabitants, as well as the many sick people throughout the world, to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But the act of devotion will be undertaken privately, according to a statement issued on November 30 by the Director of the Holy See Press Office.
On Tuesday, December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated. In view of the day, the diocese of Rome invites to pray to the Virgin Mary in one’s home. In fact, the Cardinal Vicar Angelo De Donatis has sent a letter to families with the prayer of entrustment to Mary prepared for the occasion. Attached is the full text of the prayer.
“As you know, the feast of the Immaculate Conception is deeply felt by the Italians and, in particular, by us Romans — writes Cardinal De Donatis –, especially by our parents and our grandparents. So we propose to you for the 8th of December to address a prayer of entrustment to Mary. In union with Pope Francis, we pray for ourselves, for the people that inhabit our city and for the end of the pandemic. We all put ourselves under the mantle of Our Lady and together with Her we cling to the Lord: we will feel fraternity grow with all and our strength will be renewed to stand and go forward.”
In any case, during the day of next Tuesday, the Franciscans of the parish of the Twelve Holy Apostles assure their presence, as usual, near the column of Piazza Mignanelli, behind Piazza di Spagna, for all those that wish to go to render spontaneous homage to the Virgin Mary. As always, the first will be the firemen, in honor of the 220 colleagues that inaugurated the monument on December 8, 1857. At 7:30 in the morning they will go up to the top to lay their floral wreath on Our Lady’s arm. The column of cipollino marble is 12 meters high and was planned by architect Luigi Poletti. On the top stands the Marian statue in bronze made by sculptor Giuseppe Obici.
“It’s important that the firemen can truly carry out this gesture in the name of the whole city — reflects the parish priest of the Basilica of the Holy Apostles, friar Aniello Stoia –, a gesture that is charged with anticipation. Let us ask the Virgin to intercede so that we can be freed from this situation, and return to live serenely with our dear ones. It’s good to stay at home and not gather near the monument; however, if someone finds himself passing by, we, Franciscans, guarantee our presence and a blessing from afar.”
Held, among other things, in the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles is the oldest Novena to the Immaculate of Rome. At 5:45 pm from November 29 to December 7, the recitation of the Rosary begins and the singing of the Litanies, which is followed by the 6:30 pm Mass presided over every evening by a Cardinal. It concludes with the Franciscan hymn “Tota Pulchra.” Intervening today is Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. On Wednesday, December 2 it will be the turn of Cardinal Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
On Thursday, December 3, instead, is the turn of new Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Franciscan, former Keeper of the Holy Convent of Assisi, who became a Cardinal in the Consistory of November 28. On the next day, Cardinal Beniamino Stella, Prefect of the Congregation of the Clergy, will celebrate the Mass. On Saturday the 5th, the Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin will intervene. He will be followed on Sunday by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Major Penitentiary, while Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council of Culture will preside over the Mass on Monday, December 7. The conclusion on the 8th <will be> with Cardinal Giovanni Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals.
December 1, 2020
* * *
Entrustment of Families to Mary
(Text inspired by Evangelii Gaudium, 286)
To You, O Mary,
Mother of the Church and Queen of the Family,
We entrust our family,
In this time of anticipation of Christmas.
You see our joys and our hopes,
Our sadness and our fears.
You, who transformed a stable for animals
Into a home for Jesus,
With some poor bands and a mountain of tenderness,
Help us to receive Him in the simplicity of our home.
You, who are the little handmaid of the Father that exult in the faith,
Help us to elevate our praise and gratitude to God
You, who are ever the attentive friend,
Let not the wine of Joy be lacking in our life.
You, who were pierced by the pain of the cross,
Understand all our sorrows. As Mother of all,
You are light of hope also in times of darkness,
You are the missionary who comes close to us
To accompany us in life,
Opening our hearts to faith with your maternal affection.
As a true Mother,
Walk with us,
Sing with us, and infuse incessantly in us
The closeness of God’s love.
We entrust to You grandparents, the elderly and the sick.
We entrust to You spouses, parents and children.
We entrust to you young people, youngsters and children,
We entrust to You those in grief and mourning,
We entrust to you the poor and those that are alone.
We are certain that with your presence as Mother,
Our home will always be full of trust
And will be able to be small Church
Where to recognize always the presence of God.
Hail Mary . . .
