As the faithful anticipate the celebration of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Thursday, Sept. 8, Military Ordinariate of the Philippines (MOP) Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio encouraged the faithful particularly the priests and chaplains of the MOP and men and women in uniform to foster devotion to the Virgin Mary.
“Pray the holy rosary as one nation. Offer your prayers as a family to the Blessed Mother,” the Church leader said over Radio Veritas.
Bishop Florencio cited the need especially for men and women in uniform to have a strong devotion to the Holy Mother because of the nature of their job.
“It is very important for us, especially for our uniformed personnel to have this strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary which reassures us of her maternal protection. Mary is our mother too and as Catholics, we must foster a deep and strong devotion to her,” the prelate said.
The Military Ordinariate of the Philippines looks after the spiritual needs of the members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC).
The military diocese led by Bishop Florencio has about 160 priests in 75 parishes around the country.
Meanwhile, holy masses, novenas, special prayers, and floral offerings are set to be held on Thursday in Catholic churches around the country in celebration of the Nativity of Mary.