Mary, Mater Ecclesiae, in Saint Peter's Square

Vatican Becomes a “Marian Shrine” During the Month of May

It includes a torchlight procession like in Lourdes.

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(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 05.08.2023).- During the whole month of May , time that the Church dedicates especially to Marian devotion, the Vatican’s Saint Peter’s Basilic has organized again this year a series of celebrations and prayer meetings in honour of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.

Beginning on Saturday May 6  and on all Saturdays of the month, the Holy Rosary will be recited in Saint Peter’s Square at 9:00 pm with a procession aux flambeaux.  The first of these events was presided over by Monsignor Vittorio Francesco Viola, Secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. On Saturday, May 13, Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, LC, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State will preside over the prayer; and on May 20, Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops will lead the prayer. The closing ceremony on the afternoon of May 27, will be presided over by Monsignor Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for General Affairs of the Holy See’s Secretariat of State.

 Also on Saturdays, at 4:00 pm during the whole month, Marian prayer events will be held, organized by Saint Peter’s Parish before the icons of Saint Peter’s Basilica that represent the Virgin Mary. 

As usual, there will be Eucharistic Adoration in the Basilica’s parvis on all the first Tuesdays of the month. The event in May will be held on Tuesday the 9th at 8:00 pm.

The Rosary with the procession “of torches” will be broadcast live on television by the Vatican Television Center and Vatican Media. 

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