Cardinal Vlk Blessed Statue of Our Lady of Aparecida

Today (17 Sep 2007) at 12.00 pm in the church of Our Lady Victorious – Infant Jesus of Prague, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk of Prague and Archbishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis of Aparecida, Brazil, blessed a statue of Our Lady of Aparecida. Pope Benedict XVI sent his address to the participants of the event.HERE you can find some photos.CZECH

Prague: After Portugal, the Czech Republic is the second European country to have the Our Lady of Aparecida statue installed. The event was a climax of efforts of Brazilian Ambassador to the Czech Republic Affonso Massot. He asked several Brazilian businessmen to provide a copy of Brazilian patroness saint for the church of Our Lady Victorious – Infant Jesus of Prague, where thousands of Brazilian pilgrims come every year.

Among those who took part, there were several politicians and personalities of the public life: the first lady Livia Klausova, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, and Vice-Prime Minister Jiri Cunek. Among the heads of diplomatic corps were Apostolic Nuncio Diego Causero and Brazilian Ambassador Affonso Massot.

Pope Benedict XVI sent his letter to the event and expressed his hope that the statue will encourage the Brazilian pilgrims in Prague. Cardinal Miloslav Vlk of Prague underlined the encounter of Our Lady of Aparecida and Infant Jesus of Prague – Mother and Son – in one church.

The statue from Aparecida, Brazil's most significant place of pilgrimage with some 7 million pilgrims every year, was fished out in 1717. Almost 30 years later, the village of Aparecida was founded and in 1930, Pope Pius XI declared Our Lady of Aparecida patroness saint of Brazil.