Red Wednesday – Prayer for threatened, persecuted and discriminated Christians
By: Father Lothar Herter.
Religious freedom is severely violated in 62 out of 196 countries, home to more than 5 billion people. Worldwide, more than 340 million Christians face high to extreme levels of persecution. The number of Christians killed worldwide because of their faith has risen sharply in recent times. The Global Persecution Index 2021 of the humanitarian organization Open Doors draws attention to this. Since 2015, the “Red Wednesday” campaign has brought this reality to light.
Around November 23, churches and public buildings will be illuminated in red. In prayer, Christians unite with their persecuted brothers and sisters in the faith and remember the many martyrs of our time. An exhibition of the organization “Aid to the Church in Need” on “Persecuted Christians around the world” in the Schoenstatt Pilgrims’ Church has made many visitors aware of this topic.
The exhibition on Father Franz Reinisch ends on “Red Wednesday”.
The current exhibition on Father Franz Reinisch, who as a Pallottine and Schoenstatter refused to pledge allegiance to Adolf Hitler on principles of conscience and was executed for it, fits perfectly and focuses on a martyr of our country’s (Germany) recent history.
The exhibition ends with Red Wednesday. What must remain, however, is an awareness of solidarity with all Christians, especially the persecuted. Prayer should support them and also strengthen Christians who are not persecuted in their faith and witness.
Solidarity Prayer in the Original Shrine
– The Schoenstatt Movement will participate in Red Wednesday on November 23, 2022 and will illuminate the Original Shrine in red during the evening. Starting at 7:30 pm. (German time) all those interested are invited to join in the prayer in solidarity, in person or via the Internet (webcam).
– The prayer will be followed by the evening blessing at the usual time (7:50 pm – 8:00 pm).
We are approaching the 2024 edition of the “24 hours for the Lord”, which will take place from Friday night, March 8th, until Saturday night, March 9th. The Original Shrine offers the possibility for everyone to participate in this time of profound prayer, meditation, and community experience.
Sometimes we need to “clean up” our lives – move furniture, remove dust, arrange some flowers, decorate the rooms. How can we do this in our inner realm?
On this “Sunday of the Word of God”, follow some tips to begin or go deeper into the reading of the Bible. Father Marcelo Cervi, Doctor of Theology and member of the Secular Institute of Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests, coordinates an online Bible study group and offers some suggestions.
