His Eminence Charles Cardinal Bo, the Archbishop of Yangon, framed the Virgin Mary as a “Wounded Healer” and “Pilgrim of Hope” for Myanmar, directly linking the nation’s profound suffering to the sorrows of the Christian figure during the annual Feast of Our Lady of Health.

The celebration, marking both the 128th anniversary of the devotion and the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, culminated Monday morning with a Mass presided over by Cardinal Bo at a packed St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Kandawkalay.

The event was the finale of a nine-day novena that drew thousands of pilgrims to the church and was live-streamed to a global audience.

A Homily for a Nation’s Wounds

Cardinal Bo’s homily, titled “Mother Mary – Wounded Healer, Pilgrim of Hope,” served as a poignant spiritual commentary on the ongoing national crisis. He began by praising the congregation’s enduring faith and generosity in the face of repeated disasters, drawing a parallel to the miraculous origins of the Vailankanni devotion in India.

The Cardinal then masterfully wove together two central biblical narratives: the Seven Sorrows of Mary and the Miracle at the Wedding at Cana. He stated that just as a sword pierced Mary’s soul, “seven swords pierce the heart of our nation,” and just as the wedding party in Cana had no wine, Myanmar is bereft of essential graces.

“Myanmar too is crying: ‘We have no wine!’” Cardinal Bo proclaimed, listing the nation’s profound absences:

• No wine of peace.
• No wine of reconciliation.
• No wine of justice.
• No wine of health.
• No wine of opportunities for our youth.
• No wine of protection for millions of our migrant workers.
• No wine for millions of displaced to return home.

The Seven Jars of Hope

Cardinal Bo paired each of Mary’s Seven Sorrows with a specific prayer for Myanmar, symbolically lifting an “empty jar” for the Lord to fill.

1. Mary fleeing to Egypt: Praying for refugees and the displaced, he asked for the “wine of peace, the wine of safe shelter, the wine of homecoming.”
2. Mary searching for her lost Son: For a “lost generation” of youth, he pleaded for the “wine of reconciliation, the wine of purpose, the wine of new dreams.”
3. Mary meeting Jesus carrying the Cross: For families burdened by poverty, hunger, and sickness, he sought the “wine of strength, the wine of endurance, the wine of courage.”
4. Mary standing at the Cross: For parents watching their children suffer from violence, he asked for the “wine of healing, the wine of protection, the wine of new life.”
5. Mary holding Jesus’ lifeless body: For a nation mourning “too many lifeless bodies,” he requested the “wine of consolation, the wine of dignity, the wine of holy memory.”
6. Mary seeing Jesus laid in the tomb: For buried hopes and a sealed future, he begged for the “wine of resurrection, the wine of courage, the wine of new beginnings.”
7. Mary waiting in prayer with the early Church: For a “broken, divided, weary—but still yearning” nation, he called for the “wine of faith, the wine of unity, the wine of enduring hope.”

“We want the Cana Miracle to be performed in our country,” the Cardinal stated, expressing unwavering faith that through Mary’s intercession, Christ could “save a people—by turning wounds into hope, sorrows into songs, and empty jars into overflowing grace.”

Concluding his homily, Cardinal Bo delivered a message of steadfast resilience. “Myanmar, the Lord is with you. Mothers of Myanmar, the Lord is with you. Families of Myanmar, the Lord is with you,” he asserted. “This is your strength, your dignity, your hope.”

A Celebration of Resilience

The theological message was underpinned by a vibrant display of public faith. The novena began on August 29 with the hoisting of the Marian flag. Each day featured well-attended Masses in both Burmese and Tamil, afternoon processions, and blessings.

The parish reported a continuous flow of pilgrims throughout the nine days.

The final Mass on September 8th was a grand spectacle of devotion.

A special statue of the child Mary held by her mother, St. Anna, was placed beside the altar. Following the Mass, which was celebrated by Cardinal Bo, the entire congregation joyfully sang “Happy Birthday” to the Virgin Mary before embarking on a solemn procession through the city streets for a final blessing.

By RVA Sgaw Karen Service