May is the month the Blessed Virgin Mary, a tradition that goes back as far the 13th century. Her love for children is much deeper than any one of us can have. She stands at the foot of the cross witnessing her own son Jesus being crucified for the redemption of humankind. Her heart-breaking experience is incomparable and none of us can understand God’s love better than she can.
“God sent his only Son into the world that we might have life through him. Love consists in this” [1 John 4:9-10]. The Holy Mother loves the world. God chose her to be the Mother of Heaven and Earth for her humility and trust in God.
The faithful are urged to emulate to her virtue on the one hand, and be encouraged to pray to her on the other. When we invoke her intercession with great respect, we will certainly be blessed by God and our prayers will be answered. Facing the now three-year-long Covid-19 pandemic, the brutal war provoked by the invasion of Russia’s of Ukraine, the economic recession in Hong Kong, and the hidden uncertainty, fear and unsettled feeling in society, we need to pray for our Mother’s protection more than ever before.
On 25 April 2020, Pope France wrote a letter encouraging people to make the most of the opportunity to pray the rosary individually, or with the family, as we stayed at home in the midst of the pandemic. He said, “The restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all the more this ‘family’ aspect, also from a spiritual point of view.”
With the advent of the Omicron-driven fifth wave, 23 scheduled premises were forced to close for three months according to the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation and Cap. 599F.
Many people we compelled to reduce or even stop their social activities and to stay at home instead. In a way this enhanced relationships and as family members got closer to each other as they spent more time together whereas prior to the pandemic, family members would be engaged in their own social activities on weekends and they gathered together.
They made use of online devotional resources to fast, meditate the Stations of the Cross, participate in online Masses during Lent, and celebrate the Paschal Triduum together.
The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination started on April 22. Hopefully all students can face the challenges ahead courageously despite the academic and pandemic pressures they face.
Let us pray to Our Lady with this prayer by Pope Francis: “Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew…Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this emergency, and are risking their lives to save others… Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that they may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.” SE
