He explained the relevance of the Encyclical Letter, saying, “The significance of today's event is to remember the publication of this letter and use it as an occasion to renew our belief and faith in the kindness, mercy, and compassion of Jesus Christ.”
The Archbishop emeritus of Johannesburg said that the virtues of kindness, mercy, and compassion remain essential for Catholics. “These virtues have been present in the tradition of the Catholic Church, but this allows us to reemphasize the Holy Father’s message and promote it among all Catholics in the Archdiocese,” he further said.
Credit: Kati Dijane
He went on to call on Catholics to obtain a copy of the Encyclical Letter, describing it as a companion for their faith journey.
In his homily at Our Lady of Mercy Shrine that was officially launched on 27 April 2024 located not too far from South Africa’s world heritage site, the Cradle of Humankind, Archbishop Buti said that the shrine in Johannesburg Archdiocese aimed to help deepen Marian devotion among pilgrims.
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Credit: Kati Dijane
The South African OMI Archbishop, whose retirement Pope Francis accepted in October 2024 went on to highlight the importance of the enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, saying, the event “is intended to invite us and bring us closer to the person of Christ.”
“The enthronement celebrates our knowledge of the person of Jesus who went about doing good, preaching, teaching and healing people,” he said, adding, “The enthronement refocuses our minds and imaginations on the mission of Jesus and, in turn, on our own mission as His disciples. It means re-energising, rededicating and reawakening our hearts to imitate the heart of Jesus.”
Credit: Kati Dijane
For the Apostolic Administrator of Johannesburg, the enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was inspired by Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter on the human and divine love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ.
The January 18 celebration, he said, was one of “adoration and veneration of Jesus, our brother and king, our redeemer and saviour, our Lord and master.”
Credit: Kati Dijane
“Pope Francis says the heart is the symbol used to express the love of Jesus Christ. Our thoughts and feelings proceed from the heart, a place of sincerity where deceit and disguise have no place. The heart is the place of truth about ourselves. It is also the heart that seeks forgiveness and reconciliation and leads to spiritual growth,” Archbishop Buti said, adding that the heart of Jesus Christ is the symbol of boundless love and a source of our salvation.
On the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose statue was also unveiled and blessed during the January 18 celebrations, the Catholic Archbishop said that her acceptance of God’s request led to her bodily maternity to Jesus and by extension her spiritual motherhood to all of us, God’s children.
Credit: Kati Dijane
“Mary represents Jesus Christ’s love and becomes the mother of all of us baptized in the name of Jesus. Through the enthronement of the statue of our Mother, we continually understand her role of interceding on our behalf to her Son, Jesus Christ,” Archbishop Buti added.
Kati Dijane in South Africa contributed to this story
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