Benedict XVI to Ordain 22 to Priesthood

Zenit ^ | April 26, 2007

[NYer]

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 26, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI will ordain 22 men to the priesthood as the Church celebrates the 44th World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

The deacons to be ordained this Sunday come from the Redemptoris Mater Seminary; the Roman Major Seminary Madonna of Divine Love; the Capranica College, which serves the Indonesian diocese of Bani; and the Legionaries of Christ.

On Saturday, in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, there will be a prayer vigil for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.

Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the vicar of Rome, will preside over the vigil, which will include the celebration of vespers and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

The 22 deacons, and 120 religious who will make their final profession this year, will participate in the vigil.

[NYer]

Hopefully, EWTN will cover this beautiful event. Will check their listings tomorrow.

[topher]

I have been to the shrine of Madonna of Divine Love which is a ways South of Rome (outside the loop). Though devotion to this is centuries old, it was only in the early part of the 20th Century that there was more formalized devotion at this shrine. (Before it was mainly sheep herders that gave devotion -- if I remember the story).

I wonder if this is a fairly new seminary (Madonna of Divine Love)?

[Salvation]

**the Capranica College, which serves the Indonesian diocese of Bani; and the Legionaries of Christ.**

I know that Indonesia is a site of some of the worst persecution of the Catholic Church. Looks like it is growing despite the persecution. Sort of works that way, doesn’t it?

[topher]

Some info on the shrine of Madonna of Divine Love from:

http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=3046

(Note: that you must register to access this webpage)

The sanctuary of the Madonna of Divine Love is situated on the Via Ardeatina, in the region of the Via Appia and the Catacombs. La Madonna del Divino Amore is known to all pilgrims to Rome, but it is particularly dear to the hearts of the Romans and especially to those living in the outskirts of the city. This shrine's popularity is surpassed only by that of the shrine dedicated to the protectress of Rome, the Salus Populi Romani in the Basilica St. Maria Maggiore.

The sanctuary of the Madonna of the Divine Love was built in the middle of the eighteenth century; the image dates back to the early fourteenth century. During World War II, when Rome was constantly in danger of becoming a center of actual fighting, the population journeyed daily by the tens of thousands in spontaneous pilgrimages to this lovely shrine, asking relief from the overpowering uncertainty and tension.

The climax of the crisis approached when the Allies landed at Anzio. At the insistent request of the population, the clergy removed the mural from the shrine on the Via Ardeatina, which was then about thirteen miles from the front. The image was set up in the Church of St. Ignatius within the city of Rome. At that time the Holy Father placed Rome under the special protection of the Madonna of Divine Love.

After the liberation, Pius XII immediately went to the Church of St. Ignatius and, in a most moving ceremony, declared her the Saviour of Rome. After the war the image was returned to its original sanctuary.

I was wrong about when the sanctuary was built -- middle of the 18th Century -- not the early part of the 20th Century.

[NYer]

Madonna of Divine Love

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A PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF DIVINE LOVE

O beautiful Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, O Lady of Divine Love, we turn to you in confidence that you will obtain for us the grace we sorely in need. We know that you will never turn us away, you who have been worthily greeted by an angel with the words "Hail, full of grace!"

Yes, O Mother, You are truly full grace, for your heavenly spouse, the Holy Spirit, with his Divine Love, has designed to come upon you the moment you took form in your mother's womb, thus preserving you from the stain of sin and keeping you ever immaculate; again he came down upon you at the time of the annunciation, rendering you the mother of Jesus, at the same time keeping you ever virgin. He came down upon you at Pentecost, filling you with his seven gifts, and making you the fount and dispenser of all heavenly blessings.

Therefore, O gracious Mother of Divine Love, listen to our prayers. THANK YOU DEAR MOTHER!

Grant peace and prosperity to (Italy and to) the whole world, protect our Holy Father, bring into perfect unity all Christians according to the desire of your divine Son, illumine with the light of the Gospel all who have not yet come to the true faith; convert poor sinners; give us too a sincere contrition for our sins; render us always strong enough to say "no" when temptations assail us; lead us along the path of fraternal love and charity; and, finally, when God would beckon us, open to us the portals of heaven. You who see us mourning and weeping in this vale of tears, come to our aid when we are weighed down by the load of our miseries; give us strength to accept the inevitable difficulties and trials of life; grant, O Mother of Grace, health in mind and body to all who turn to you.

Comfort, O Virgin Mary, and free all the holy souls from purgatory, especially the souls entrusted to the suffrages of your holy shrine and the victims of all human conflicts.

Cast your maternal gaze on the Shrine of Divine Love, keep it ever in your sweet protection; grant that we, your beloved children, will always render you praise with our lives; keep ever burning in us the flame of Divine Love so that we will let ourselves be entirely consumed by it here in this life and for ever in heaven. Amen.