by Nirmala Carvalho

In Mumbai, more than 50,000 people were expected for the celebration of the Nativity of the Virgin. The city's archbishop, Card Oswald Gracias, noted that on this date the Church in India also celebrates the Day of Girl Child. Too often, girls are "defenceless, their existence threatened by female foeticide and infanticide." He also called for a prayer for "the children of Mary who suffer intense atrocities in Iraq and Syria."

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - More than ten Masses were celebrated today in Mumbai, in the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Bandra, to mark the Nativity of Our Lady. More than 50,000 people were expected at the services, the first of which began at 5:30 am (local time).

Card Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai, celebrated Holy Mass at 8:30 am. In his homily, the cardinal called on the community of faithful to reflect on the value that Mary has in their daily life and that of India.

"Mary," he said, "brings harmony and integration between the people's religions and cultures and our country needs such gifts."

"Venerated by all," he noted, "she can heal social, ethnic and religious divisions, announcing a new world order based on justice, peace and dignity for the last and the marginalised of our beloved motherland. "

Card Gracias also said that on the day of Mary's Nativity, the Church in India celebrates the Day of the Girl Child.

Girls are "helpless, so discriminated and vulnerable, their existence threatened and at times snuffed out through the scourge of female foeticide and infanticide and, later, malnutrition and domestic violence. Mary is our hope for the girl child of our country. "

Finally, the bishop addressed a prayer for "Mary's children who suffer intense atrocities in Iraq and Syria. The heart of our Mother aches for the victims of injustice, which is manifested in all its demeaning forms."

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