TFP Student Action Members Join Rosary Rally in Germany
Recently, a group of TFP Student Action volunteers travelling across Europe for the annual student conference hosted by the Polish TFP (known also as the Father Peter Skarga institute) participated in a public square rosary rally in the center of Mainz, Germany – a regional capital and the home of the first public square rosary rally.
The event, which takes place monthly, was started by a group of local Catholics in order to pray for Europe and encourage devotion to the rosary and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Following a string of terrorist attacks throughout France and Germany – including the beheading of a Catholic priest in Normandy – as well as policemen arresting a priest for celebrating a mass, European Catholics feel that their faith is under significant threat. In view of these circumstances, Mr. Benno Hofschulte, director of the German Association for a Christian Culture and organizer of the German rosary rally, finds it essential for Catholics, especially the youth, to make public manifestations of their faith in order to challenge the persecution of the Church in an increasingly secular culture.
The rally itself took place on a Sunday afternoon at 4:00 PM. Two American TFP volunteers carried a statue of Our Lady of Fatima through the streets and placed it on a popular monument next to the cathedral. Because those present were from a variety of countries (including Brazil, France, and the Philippines), the prayers were said in Latin.
Locals and tourists alike were somewhat stunned to see a group of Catholics of all ages. One older man approached the rally, bowed his head, and after hearing the “Salve Regina” told one of the German TFP members amid tears: “To see so many young people praying and honoring Our Lady… it left me speechless.”
Another gentleman in his mid-twenties who was riding by on his bike said, “I was born in Mexico and I’m a Catholic. In all my time here in Germany, I’ve never seen anything like this.” Afterwards, he asked for more information and rode away, thanking everyone.
A group of tourists from Spain asked to take a picture beside the statue, while talking about their fears of the decline of Catholicism in Europe.
During this turbulent time, please pray for the Church in Europe and our young TFP volunteers travelling abroad. It is our hope that the messages foretold by Our Lady at Fatima will be fulfilled and the world will soon convert and live consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.