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Milagro del sol en Nigeria el 13 de octubre de 2017 ante 55.000 personas
Testimonianze sul miracolo del sole avvenuto in Nigeria
La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana Benedetta Frigerio 24-10-2017 http://www.lanuovabq.it/it/testimonianze-sul-miracolo-del-sole-avvenuto-in-nigeria
Non si sa se la Conferenza episcopale della Nigeria avvierà un processo per confermare la veridicità del fenomeno solare avvistato da numerosi fedeli laici e religiosi radunati a Benin City [de 1'5 millones de habitantes, capital del Estado de Edo en Nigeria] il 13 ottobre 2017 in occasione della riconsacrazione del paese al Cuore Immacolato di Maria, nel giorno del centenario della fine delle apparizioni della Madonna a Fatima (il cui messaggio aveva già portato la Conferenza episcopale a consacrare la Nigeria al cuore immacolato di Maria il primo ottobre del 1960), ma fonti ecclesiali locali si sono espresse così: “Ho chiesto testimonianza ai presenti. Il presunto miracolo sarebbe avvenuto nel pomeriggio dopo le 16…Un vescovo autorevole ha notato l’entusiasmo e la gioia della gente, anche di alcune religiose che dicevano di aver visto segni nel cielo come avvenuto a Fatima. È probabile che, per arrivare a suscitare entusiasmo fra la gente, qualcosa deve essere accaduto”.
A confermare la tesi e quanto documentato da un video, che ritrae il fenomeno solare con centinaia di fedeli rivolti al cielo con le mani alzate, è stato padre Chris N. Anyanwu, direttore delle comunicazioni della Conferenza episcopale nigeriana. Il sacerdote ha spiegato che la consacrazione, a cui erano presenti 55 mila persone, è avvenuta la mattina del 13 ottobre, attraverso la celebrazione del presidente della conferenza episcopale Ignatius Ayau Kaigama insieme ad altri 53 vescovi, 1.000 preti e 2.000 religiosi. Anyanwu ha poi sottolineato che il presidente della conferenza episcopale in mattinata si era rivolto ai presenti così: “Siamo convinti che qualunque cosa la nostra Madre Benedetta chieda a Gesù per noi verrà concesso”. Tonnellate di preghiere, ha fatto notare il direttore delle comunicazioni, "sono state innalzate al cielo in questi due giorni con un intenso programma spirituale, fra cui una processione con l’intenzione specifica di un intervento di Dio per guarire la Nigeria”.
Dunque, ha continuato in riferimento al miracolo del sole, “i segni che sono seguiti immediatamente dopo la riconsacrazione della Nigeria, molti credono, sono stati un’indicazione del fatto che Dio ha risposto alle loro preghiere per la nazione. Immediatamente, infatti, c’è stata una forte pioggia, seguita dal bel tempo di sole e dal cambiamento di colore del “sole danzante”. Questo fenomeno inusuale ha rallegrato i cuori dei pellegrini sul luogo della celebrazione, poiché molti di loro hanno testimoniato che quello che hanno visto ricorda il fenomeno avvenuto a Fatima nel 1917”. Perciò, ha continuato, “con il riunirsi spirituale dei cattolici di tutta la Nigeria a Benin City e la consacrazione del paese al Cuore Immacolato di Maria crediamo che Dio abbia cominciato il processo di guarigione della nostra terra”.
Una fede tenace quella della Conferenza episcopale nigeriana che oltre alla consacrazione aveva indetto il 2017 come anno mariano, domandando preghiera, penitenze e propositi di conversione, per implorare la pace per la Nigeria lacerata dal terrorismo islamico, dalla persecuzione dei cristiani, dalla corruzione e dalla povertà. Ma non è finita, ha concluso Anyanwu, perché “la consacrazione della Nigeria alla Vergine Maria va di pari passo con alcune gravi responsabilità da parte dei cristiani, specialmente cattolici, che includono la preghiera quotidiana del Rosario, il cambiamento della propria vita, evitando qualunque cosa possa scatenare crisi o conflitti, evitando i peccati della carne, modi di vestire immorali, peccati e infedeltà matrimoniali, immoralità sessuale, contraccezione artificiale, atti di aborto. Ci chiede di pregare, di confessarci, di digiunare, di essere uno strumento di pace e di sviluppare una dimensione mariana nell’espressione della fede cristiana”.
In realtà, la Nigeria, aveva già cominciato un processo di guarigione, dopo un altro segno miracoloso dato al vescovo della diocesi di Maiduguri, Oliver Dashe Doeme, che nel 2014 aveva raccontato che “mentre ero nella mia cappella di fronte al Santissimo Sacramento”, Gesù apparendo gli consegnò una spada che si trasformò in Rosario e poi disse: “Boko Haram è stato sconfitto”. Così il vescovo cominciò a viaggiare per tutta la Nigeria consegnando il messaggio a tutti i cristiani perché, come disse al Catholic Herald nel 2016, era “chiaro che il Rosario sarebbe stato in grado di sconfiggere Boko Haram”. Il messaggio di Doeme ha portato parrocchie, famiglie e persino scuole a pregare quotidianamente il Rosario. Perciò, concluse il vescovo, “prima i membri di Boko Haram erano ovunque”, mentre “ora non sono più dappertutto”.
A confermare i semi di speranza è stato padre Peter Kamai, rettore del seminario di Jos, che durante la Pasqua di quest’anno spiegò che la relativa calma di quest’anno dopo circa otto anni di attentati continui si doveva alla preghiera: “Un nostro vescovo ha ricevuto in visione da Gesù il mandato di far pregare tutti... Perciò sono tre anni che il vescovo diffonde questo messaggio e le nostre chiese lo hanno accolto… Da quando la comunità cristiana ha cominciato ad incrementare le suppliche a Dio, tramite il Rosario quotidiano, dalle macerie sono cominciati a spuntare piccoli germogli di speranza".
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THE HEALING OF NIGERIA HAS STARTED WITH THE RE-CONSECRATION OF THE COUNTRY TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
By Rev. Fr. Chris N Anyanwu (National Director of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja) Catholic News Service of Nigeria http://www.cnsng.org/viewnews.php?tabnews=1710
Catholic News Service of Nigeria: http://www.cnsng.org/ (enlace en Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria: http://www.cbcn-ng.org/ )
Nigeria, as it is today, and in the opinion of many, is a troubled country. As appropriately captured by Peter Cunliffe-Jones’ book: My Nigeria: Five decades of Independence, this troubled giant of Africa, vast in size, rich in contrast, and vibrant in citizenry, is a country full of hurts. Its complexity keeps growing daily. In the last few years, Nigeria has been turned into a huge theatre where absurdities flourish freely. This in itself captured the attention of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), during their Second Plenary meeting, September 7-15, 2017, in Jalingo, Taraba State, where they deliberated extensively and noted in their communiqué issued at the end of the meeting that: “Our country is currently passing through a phase that is marked with tension, agitation and a general sense of hopelessness and dissatisfaction.” They further observed in the same communiqué that “there are agitations in many sectors of the country against the one-sidedness in appointments to key institutions and sensitive national offices, against marginalization, and unfair distribution of resources and amenities. There are also allegations of cases of selective application of the rule of law.” The CBCN attributed the anomalies in the Nigerian system of governance “as a result of years of injustice, inequality, corruption and impunity.”
On his own part, Karl Maier, a British Journalist, wrote a book with the curious title: This House Has Fallen. The book describes Nigeria as “a byword for chaos and corruption.” It goes further to present the country as a country that has proved to be by far the most confounding, frustrating, and at the same time engaging place…” The book says Nigeria “simply overwhelms the senses, one of those rare examples in which the sum of its parts is, at least to date, immensely greater than the whole. It is a work in progress though one is never too sure whether it is being assembled or torn apart.”
With all the realities of imperfections of the Nigerian nation one is convinced that Nigeria is still a ‘work in progress’, God has not finished its work on her. The fact still remains that every genuine Nigerian must not give up hope in the project called Nigeria. The hope in the emergence of a new Nigeria was re-invigorated by the CBCN in their latest communiqué when they made a passionate appeal to all Christians and the rest of Nigerians not to lose hope but look at themselves and the country in a better light. In their own very words, “much cheering news abounds in the land amidst the suffering and hardship, the pain and the feeling of helplessness. We are hopeful that Nigeria will survive the present hardship and will become better for it. And our hope does not disappoint us (Rom 5:5). We all are stakeholders in the Nigeria project. We must therefore work hand in hand with a better understanding of ourselves to build the Nigeria of our dreams.” The Bishops stated in the communiqué.
However, the CBCN believes that the building of a new Nigeria which must reflect the dreams and aspirations of every Nigerian should commence with a special prayer programme designed to hand over our dear country and its people into the protective hand of God and to pray for peace, unity and reconciliation among Nigerians. This explains the reason why the Catholic Church in Nigeria declared the year 2017 as Marian Year, in honour of the Centenary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal to be concluded with the re-consecration of Nigeria to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Benin City from the 12 to 14 October, 2017.
The ceremonies put together to conclude the National Marian Year and to re-consecrate Nigeria to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Benin City which was the high-point of liturgical gathering of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, provided the opportunity for a providential moment of soul searching and intercession for Divine Mercy. About 55, 000 people were in attendance. The celebration was led by the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev Ignatius Ayau Kaigama alongside 53 other Bishops, over 1000 Priests and 2000 Religious. Also present at the ceremony was the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Mr. Philip Shaibu, their wives, as well as many top Government functionaries from within and outside Edo State.
“The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria envisioned this national day of prayer dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary as our own way of marking the culmination of the centenary of her apparitions to the three shepherd children, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta. Our celebration began with the declaration of a year-long period of Marian prayers and devotions, culminating with the re-consecration of Nigeria here in Benin City on this 13th Day of October with declaration by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, of a Jubilee Year in honour of the Centenary of the Marian apparitions in Fatima beginning from the 27th of November 2016 till the 26th of November 2017.” Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria(CBCN), had explained in his address during the re-consecration Mass in Benin City.
The re-consecration of Nigeria to the Immaculate Heart of Mary marks the beginning of the journey towards national restoration which has seen the commitment of everyone, especially Catholics in Nigeria towards nation building. The essence was to entrust Nigeria to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Nigeria, and to ask her to intercede on our behalf to stabilize the Nigerian ship of state and to obtain for us all the blessings and graces that we need as a nation.
Archbishop Kaigama who welcomed everyone for braving the odds to come to Benin City not minding the economic recession that has diminished their financial capacity, as well as the long rough and bad roads and even the inconveniences of spending two to three days on pilgrimage noted that “coming together in such numbers to celebrate our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a testimony that the Marian year has borne positive fruits in parishes across the country.” “I wish to thank you all as you come from all parts of the country: from the Creek areas of the Delta to the mountains of Mambila Plateau; from the far Northern cities bothering the Sahara to the city of Lagos and others lying on the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean. This demonstrates that we are one big family of God in Nigeria on mission. On behalf of the over 70 Bishops of the Nigerian Church, together with the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, we welcome you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in honour of the BVM.” Kaigama remarked.
Speaking further, The CBCN President declared: “We are convinced that anything our Blessed Mother asks of Jesus for us will be positively granted to her. We are therefore, propelled by faith and animated by the love of Mary to boldly ask God to heal Nigeria. We are convinced beyond doubt that as Abraham pleaded with God not to destroy Sodom (cf. Gn 18), so will God not destroy our land. As Nineveh repented and was spared, so shall Nigeria be spared. We have the word of the Lord Himself when He declared, if "my people who bear my name humble themselves and pray and look for me, and turn from their wicked ways then I myself will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and restore their land" (2 Chr 7:14).”
Tons of prayers were stormed to Heaven in the two days sprit-filled eventful programme with candle light procession for the specific intention of God’s intervention and healing for Nigeria.
In his concluding remarks, the CBCN President, reminded everyone present that “We have the privilege every October 1st to celebrate the Independence Day of Nigeria and also the Solemnity of our Lady Queen and Patroness of Nigeria from whom we have so much to learn: her tender motherly care, her tranquil faith disposition, her social sensitivity, her humanitarian concern and her fervent intercession to her beloved son Jesus. She alerted Jesus about the married couple and their guests in Cana concerning their lack of wine. We too in Nigeria are lacking wine, not intoxicating wine - which we have in abundance, but the wine to stimulate our social sensitivity to improve the socio-economic conditions of our people and to see the need to be our brother and sister's keeper. With its enormous blessings both human and natural, Nigeria should be able to change stones into bread, provide enough potable water and manna for the people as Israel enjoyed in the desert; cure people's illnesses like Angel Raphael did instead of rushing abroad for medical treatment; give good education to youths the type Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego received (cf. Daniel 1); provide better and easier means of transportation across the length and breadth of this nation; use our resources so prudently and with charitable consideration for others irrespective of tribe, religion or political leanings, in a manner that it becomes unnecessary and unpatriotic for any one or group to seek to leave the country or asking others to leave a certain part of Nigeria. What is very necessary is the equitable distribution of wealth, political appointments, infrastructural development and the prudent use of our resources by leaders.”
It must be noted that trusting Nigeria to Mary, Mother of God goes along with some serious responsibilities on the part of Christians especially Catholics which includes praying the rosary daily, amending one’s life, avoiding anything that can trigger crisis or conflict, avoiding sins of the flesh, immodest dressing, sinful and unfaithful marriages, sexual immorality, artificial contraception, acts of abortion, etc. It requires praying, repenting, fasting, being an instrument of peace and developing a Marian dimension in one’s expression of Christian faith. Indeed Mary calls everyone to change their lives and to break completely with sin which grieves God.
In the end, the signs that followed immediately after the re-consecration prayers for Nigeria were said, many believe, it was an indication that God has answered their prayers for the nation. Instantaneously, there was a heavy downpour of rain after which followed a clear weather of sunshine and the changing colour of the ‘dancing sun’. This unusual phenomenon gladdened the hearts of the pilgrims at the venue of the celebration as many of them testified that what they saw is reminiscent of Fatima experience in 1917. Indeed, the great jubilation of participants at the sight of these signs clearly showed in the enthusiasm of their faith that Nigeria will no longer be the same any longer. With the national spiritual gathering of Catholics all over Nigeria in Benin City to re-consecrate the country to the Immaculate Heart of Mary over, it is believed that God has started the process of healing our land and the citizens of Nigeria which is made of different cultures and tribes.
Catholic News Service of Nigeria
The Healing of Nigeria Has Started with the Re-consecration
of the Country to the Immaculate Heart of MaryOct 20, 2017 385
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Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria: http://www.cbcn-ng.org/
Catholic News Service of Nigeria: http://www.cnsng.org/ (enlace en Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria: http://www.cbcn-ng.org/ )
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Nigeria, faithful see the “miracle of the sun” like in Fatima
Posted on October 25, 2017 by Catholicism Pure & Simple
CP&S: Have you heard of this reported
‘miracle of the sun’ in Nigeria?
Over 50 thousand people, together with all the bishops, participated in the country’s re-consecration prayer to Our Lady: the phenomenon of solar dance considered a “confirmation”
Andrea Tornelli on VATICAN INSIDER WORLD NEWS
Exactly one hundred years have passed since the famous experience that took place during the last Marian apparition of Fatima, on 13 October 1917, when immediately after the three shepherdesses had seen Our Lady, a crowd of seventy thousand people flocked to the Cova from Iria during a violent rainstorm and witnessed the “miracle of the sun”, as they watched, with their naked eye, the star that seemed to come closer, change color and dance around the sky. Several non-believers also witnessed that “miracle”, such as the news-reporter of a professed secularist newspaper.
Now something similar seems to have happened in Benin City, Nigeria, on the occasion of the re-consecration of the country wanted by the bishops. In communicating the decision, the bishops recalled that Nigeria is going through “a period marked by tensions, unrest and a general sense of despair and dissatisfaction”. There are institutional problems, “cases of selective application of the rule of law”, as well as unequal distribution of resources, corruption and impunity.
On the morning of October 13th, at the re-consecration ceremony, led by the Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, president of the Nigerian Episcopal Conference, 53 bishops took part together with more than a thousand priests, two thousand religious and about 55 thousand faithful. In the afternoon, after the celebration, the witnesses tell us, there was a heavy downpour followed by the appearance of the sun changing color and “dancing”. According to father Chris N. Anyanwu, director of the episcopate’s social communications – this unusual phenomenon rejoiced the hearts of the pilgrims present at the celebration and many of them have attested that what they saw, recalls the experience of Fatima in 1917. Certainly, the great joy of the participants in seeing these signs showed thorough the enthusiasm of their faith that Nigeria will no longer be the same“.
The testimonies have been reported on the Facebook page of the Episcopal Conference and this has led to the thought of an explicit form of recognition of the event. However, that web space cannot be considered an official expression of the episcopate and there are no statements in this regard. The bishops took note of the account of the faithful and saw them rejoice for their experience. At a time when only negative news arrives from Nigeria – from the scourge of fundamentalist Islamist terrorism to abductions such as that of Italian priest Maurizio Pallù, who has been recently released – the solar phenomenon at the end of the storm has drawn attention to the act of consecration to Mary decided by the bishops of the country.
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Nigeria, faithful see the “miracle of the sun” like in Fatima
Over 50 thousand people, together with all the bishops, participated in the country's re-consecration prayer to Our Lady: the phenomenon of solar dance considered a “confirmation”
ANDREA TORNIELLI ROME Pubblicato il 22/10/2017Ultima modifica il 22/10/2017 alle ore 15:49 http://www.lastampa.it/2017/10/22/vaticaninsider/eng/world-news/nigeria-faithful-see-the-miracle-of-the-sun-like-in-fatima-x4vwOtGqpL8JwF3OyToYfI/pagina.html
Exactly one hundred years have passed since the famous experience that took place during the last Marian apparition of Fatima, on 13 October 1917, when immediately after the three shepherdesses had seen Our Lady, a crowd of seventy thousand people flocked to the Cova from Iria during a violent rainstorm and witnessed the "miracle of the sun”, as they watched, with their naked eye, the star that seemed to come closer, change color and dance around the sky. Several non-believers also witnessed that "miracle", such as the news-reporter of a professed secularist newspaper. Now something similar seems to have happened in Benin City, Nigeria, on the occasion of the re-consecration of the country wanted by the bishops. In communicating the decision, the bishops recalled that Nigeria is going through "a period marked by tensions, unrest and a general sense of despair and dissatisfaction". There are institutional problems, “cases of selective application of the rule of law”, as well as unequal distribution of resources, corruption and impunity.
On the morning of October 13th, at the re-consecration ceremony, led by the Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, president of the Nigerian Episcopal Conference, 53 bishops took part together with more than a thousand priests, two thousand religious and about 55 thousand faithful. In the afternoon, after the celebration, the witnesses tell us, there was a heavy downpour followed by the appearance of the sun changing color and "dancing". According to father Chris N. Anyanwu, director of the episcopate's social communications - this unusual phenomenon rejoiced the hearts of the pilgrims present at the celebration and many of them have attested that what they saw, recalls the experience of Fatima in 1917. Certainly, the great joy of the participants in seeing these signs showed thorough the enthusiasm of their faith that Nigeria will no longer be the same".
The testimonies have been reported on the Facebook page of the Episcopal Conference and this has led to the thought of an explicit form of recognition of the event. However, that web space cannot be considered an official expression of the episcopate and there are no statements in this regard. The bishops took note of the account of the faithful and saw them rejoice for their experience. At a time when only negative news arrives from Nigeria - from the scourge of fundamentalist Islamist terrorism to abductions such as that of Italian priest Maurizio Pallù, who has been recently released - the solar phenomenon at the end of the storm has drawn attention to the act of consecration to Mary decided by the bishops of the country.
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'Virgin Mary' reportedly appears in Benin City, during the National Marian Congress. (video)
According to reports on the Catholic Conference of Nigerian Facebook page, The image of Virgin Mary appeared in Benin City, Edo stste during the National Marian Congress. They shared photos from the event and wrote;
History has repeated itself here in Benin City, Nigeria during the National Marian Congress. Just like what happened 100 years ago at Fatima, Portugal reoccurred on 13th October, 2017. What a great miracle from our mother Mary, Our Lady of Fatima...
Miracle of the sun after re-consecration of Nigeria to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Benin City, Edo State, on Friday, October 13.
See the video: https://www.facebook.com/simeon.pinheiro/videos/1837344902960707/
by Linda Ikeji at 15/10/2017 1:34 PM|117 Comments