Victorine Biy Yongka
18 August 2008
The Archbishop of the Yaounde Archdiocese, Mgr Victor Tonye Bakot, last Friday 15 offered his first Mass and Holy Communion to catholic faithfuls at the Our Lady of Victory Cathedral in Yaounde at the occasion to celebrate this year's feast of Assumption.
While addressing the congregation, Bishop Bakot called on the Cameroonian woman to assume her responsibilities. He said that the ascension of the Virgin Mary to heaven body and soul was a triumph and women should take that as a challenge and go to walk despite their professional diversities.
He exalted them to be veritable women, peaceful, courageous and remain faithful. Bakot emphasised on the need for women to be humble and God-fearing. To him, once a woman adopts a humble attitude, it is possible for her to brave life and spiritual challenges. He also called on them to follow the footsteps of the Virgin Holy Mary so that they can become models like her.
The Yaounde cathedral was full to the beam with catholic Christians who came to witness celebrations marking the ascension of the Virgin Mary Magdalene, the mother of Jesus to heaven. Amongst other things, the activities marking the day were characterised by the administration of Holy Communion, baptism, sacrament and confirmation to some Christians.
All dressed in immaculate white, many were very elated sharing God's body and blood for the first time and with Bishop Bakot.
It was the first time the Bishop is chairing a magnificent church event since his heroic comeback from Paris where he was administered surgery after the awful accident at Mbankomo that almost took away his live.
According to Catholic theology, Mary is the pledge of the fulfilment of Christ's promise.
However, many theologians disagree with the interpretation of the scripture and believe that Christ was speaking about preparations of the Calvary and crucifixion for the remission of sins. To Roman Catholic theology and catechism, the Virgin Mary having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.
The feast day recognising Mary's passage into heaven is celebrated as the solemnity of the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Roman Catholics. Although the Catholic community was feasting, Protestant and Pentecostal Christians were indifferent to the feast for according to them, there is no scripture in the Bible to justify the day.
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Remember Catholic does not=Christian,no matter what they might say to the contrary.