Mary has long led SA’s way
From Ethne Stevens, Cape Town:
This month the question “Where were you when FW made that speech?” has been addressed to many people, but my memory goes back to an earlier speech. I remember sitting at home watching the evening news. It was a very sombre state president P W Botha who informed the nation that he was standing down. His final remarks went something like: “I shall no longer be the President of South Africa as from midnight.”
I was visibly shaken because he was speaking on August 14, 1989 and midnight would be August 15, feast day of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven. “Yes,” I thought, “Our Blessed Lady has heard the cry of her people.”
The speech made by FW de Klerk was made on February 2, feast day of the Purification of Mary and the day she presented her Son in the temple.
To cap all of that, Nelson Mandela was set free on February 11, feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes.
It is now 20 years on, and even though we have many problems in our country, I have always been and will remain hopeful that our Blessed Mother will watch over us and continue to intercede for us if we continue to honour her as our patron and mother.
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