As Catholics move to heal Nigeria… By REV. FR. CHRIS N. ANYANWU

Nigeria, as it is today, is a troubled country. As appropriately captured by Peter Cunliff e-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.
” Th e CBCN attributed the anomalies in the Nigerian system of governance “as a result of years of injustice, inequality, corruption and impunity.” 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 and 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 CBCN President, Most Rev Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, alongside 53 other bishops, over 1000 priests and 2000 religious. Also present at the ceremony was Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, his deputy, Mr. Philip Shaibu, their wives, and 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 Kaigama, had explained. 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.
Th e 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.
Tons of prayers were stormed to Heaven in the two days spirit-filled eventful programme with candle light procession for the specific intention of God’s intervention and healing for Nigeria. It must be noted that trusting Nigeria to Mary goes along with some serious responsibilities on the part of Christians, especially Catholics which include 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. Fr. Anyanwu is National Director of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja

 

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