Lebanon: The Annunciation of Mary is a National Holiday
In Lebanon, the March 25 Marian solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord has been recognized a national holiday since 2010. Even today, in various Lebanese churches and sanctuaries, Christians and Muslims will together experience acts of veneration for the Virgin Maria, reported Fides News Agency.
Sunni Sheikh Mohamad Nokkari, who teaches in the faculty of law in Beirut, Dubai, and Strasbourg, wanted to further national reconciliation and inter-communal friendship, by raising the profile of the Virgin Mary, who is a point of reference for both Christians and Muslims.
During a trip to Lebanon … Noccari told Fides-: “My wife and I, who is French, had a statue of the Virgin Mary at home and there was a relative who every time he came to visit us would insult her, hid her in the bathroom, and once he broke the statue in two. I bought another one, made of heavy metal so that it could no longer be damaged”.
That family incident helped give the Sunni professor the idea that Mary was to be celebrated together by Christians and Muslims. “I talked about it in Lyon with Jesuit Father Louis Boisset,” remembers Mohamad Nokkari, “and we verified that there were no obstacles of a doctrinal nature for an initiative of this kind.
Who, better than the Virgin Mary, can bring Christians and Muslims together?”
… The political forces did not show opposition to the shared celebration of Mary. While among religious communities, at first, some were wary because they feared that it was an expression of syncretism. “But very soon, the Sunni Shaykh adds, it was evident to everyone that everyone celebrates Mary according to their faith and their Tradition.” The only oppositions remained those expressed by Salafist and Wahabite groups. And someone also implemented forms of intimidation, damaging the professor’s car. “I thought that sometimes, to follow Mary, we have to suffer, but she» adds Nokkari «is a mother who embraces us all: by following her, and also going through moments of suffering, good things can flourish for everyone.”… due to word limit on CAF I cannot post the entire article, but you can read the rest of it
HERE
