Swiss Bishops entrust their country to the Blessed Virgin

Swiss bishops were glad to meet again in person at their General Assembly on June 8-10, 2020, and to pray together after three months of stay-at-home because of Covid 19. The bishops met at the Abbey of Einsiedeln in the canton of Schwyz.

The episcopal conference opened with the bishops entrusting Switzerland to the protection of the Mother of God at Vespers on June 8th.Saint John Paul II had already said the following prayer during Lauds in front of the statue of the Black Madonna in Einsiedeln, on June 15, 1984:

"Hail Mary, Our Lady of Einsiedeln! ... I commend you today, Holy Mother of God, this country, Switzerland... I join the crowd of the many pilgrims who venerate you and seek refuge with you here and in other shrines. I entrust them all to your Motherly hands and to your protection, just as I entrust to you the whole Church and all people.

"Swiss Bishops' President Bishop Felix Gmür, renewed this recommendation after the final blessing of Vespers and a procession to the Chapel of Graces with the following words:

"We salute you, Holy Mary, Our Lady of Einsiedeln! In you God has offered us the original face of the Church and of true humanity. We entrust to you our country, Switzerland, and all those who live in it. Help all of us to follow your example and to turn our lives completely to God! We are going through a time of insecurity and fear. Make us more and more like Christ by his example. Make us truly children of God!"

Adapted from: Zenit