On April 30, in our continent,
we celebrate the feast of "Our Lady, Mother of Africa".
Below are some prayers for this day
* * * * *
Lord, as we honour the glorious memory
of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Africa;
we ask that by the help of her prayers
we too may come to share the fulness of your grace
and live in harmony and peace as one family.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son;
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen
You who were open to the Holy Spirit
to welcome Jesus within you
and give Him to the world,
obtain for many young people
a like openness and availability.
Our Lady of Africa, Queen of Peace,
obtain the gift of peace for all nations
torn apart by hatred, resentment and racism.
May your Son's law of Love
win over and unite all hearts,
so that together we may sing the Glory
of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Our Lady of Africa,
in whose maternal and immaculate heart
the whole human race finds refuge,
look with favour upon the Muslims,
who honour you as the mother of Jesus
and the most blessed among women.
Obtain for them the grace to seek
the fullness of Light and Truth,
until we may all share, as one people of God,
the revelation of His infinite Love for all men,
made manifest in the sacrifice of His only Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ.
And since you are the Mother of the Church,
preserve the local Churches of Africa
as true and fruitful Messengers of the Word,
proclaiming it always, in perfect communion
with the universal Church under Peter.
Obtain for them and for our Society
an increase of dedicated workers.
Sharpen our vision to discern
and our resolve to respond
to new and pressing apostolic needs.
Help us, O Lady and Queen of Africa,
to be effective witnesses to the Gospel.
Thus may we come to be worthy of our calling
and, as the Most Holy Name of God,
Father, Son and Spirit,
was glorified in you, O Mary,
so it may be in us, forever and ever. Amen
