Lesotho Re-Consecrated to Mary Immaculate in Historic Ceremony

by Daluxolo Moloantoa · July 11, 2023

Co-written by Lucy Thuto Matobo & Daluxolo Moloantoa – “Our nation was mostly evangelised by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI). Its Marian devotion was indeed amplified by the Oblates. What happened today creates awareness to still be and to be even more faithful to Mary, mother of Christ, ” Archbishop Tlali Gerard Lerotholi OMI of Maseru (Lesotho) said, delivering his message at the re-consecration of the land-locked Southern African country to Mary Immaculate on July 8.

The event took place at St Louis Mission in Matsieng village, 43 kilometres south of Maseru.

In attendance of the historic occasion were members of the country`s royal family including His Majesty King Letsie III, Her Majesty Queen Masenate Mohato Bereng Seeiso, Prince Bereng Seeiso and his wife Mabereng Seeiso. Also present were Fr Mothusi Sydney Boatile OMI, Oblates of Mary Immaculate Provincial in Lesotho, Fr Maine Phenethi, Vicar-General of the Leribe Diocese, Fr Constantinus Nthethe OMI, the St Louis Mission parish priest and his assistant Fr Clement Tsita OMI, Fr Tholang Lepheane and Fr Lawrence Moeketsi OMI, along with many other religious men and women and hundreds of the Faithful.

The occasion also marked the year-long of King Letsie III’s silver jubilee and his sixtieth birthday, which is on 17 July.

The celebrations began with a solemn Eucharistic celebration led by His Grace Archbishop Tlali Gerard Lerotholi OMI. In a wide-ranging homily, the archbishop highlighted the role of common purpose in the Church in Lesotho today. “We are the synodal church walking together with Jesus Christ. Suffice to say, we ought to walk forward in communion, to carry out our mission through the participation of each and every individual.

What message do the events and happenings of today convey to the Church in our present circumstances?” he asked.

He stated that the day`s celebration could be understood within the context of ten Rs. They are:

– Resetting our minds

– Reconciliation which at this point should be at a national level

– Return to one’s roots

– Release of those in captivity

-Repentance as a nation

-Regeneration (Moral regeneration)

– Renewal

– Revival

– Reform (introspection)

– Remember

The archbishop went on to offer some words to the organisers of the event, namely Thuto Lucy Matobo, Katleho Mary Tlali, Puseletso Anna Theko and Mamaliela Normisic Qhalehang, who are all members of the Sodality of the Daughters of Mary (Bana ba Maria). He congratulated the four, and encouraged them to “never to succumb, but to persevere (PERSEVERE)”, he said.

The consecration was the fourth consecration of the country also known as the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. The first consecration took place in 1865, three years after Blessed Joseph Gerard OMI first arrived in Lesotho. It followed a request made by then-reigning King Moshoeshoe I, who approached Blessed Joseph Gerard to seek his assistance in the wake of the Boer War. “This implies that King Moshoeshoe I had an understating of the power of prayer”, the archbishop said. Blessed Joseph Gerard recommended the consecration of Lesotho to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Lesotho was consecrated for the first time by Bishop Jean-Francois Allard OMI on 15 August 1865.

Demonstrating the significance of the day`s proceedings, Archbishop Lerotholi gave a brief run-down of past consecrations which have taken place in Lesotho. They happened thus:

– In 1862 Blessed Joseph Gerard arrived in Lesotho.

– The first consecration took place in 1865.

– The second consecration took place in 1945.

– The third consecration took place in 1988, during Pope St John Paul II’s visit to Lesotho, for the Beatification of Blessed Joseph Gerard OMI. On this occasion, Blessed Joseph Gerard OMI became the second patron of Lesotho after Mary Immaculate.

“Today, most of our churches in Lesotho are named after the Virgin Mary. It implies a Marian devotion emanating from our first Patroness,” he explained. In addition to this, each of the four dioceses of Lesotho has also been consecrated to the Virgin Mary. They are:

– The Archdiocese of Maseru – Immaculate Heart of Mary (Patroness)

– The Diocese of Leribe- Immaculate Heart of Mary (Patroness)

– The Diocese of Qacha’s Nek -Our Lady Of the Holy Rosary (Patroness)

– The Diocese of Mohale’s Hoek- Immaculate Heart of Mary (Patroness)

The archbishop announced that a NOVENA FOR PEACE would be proclaimed to pray for His Majesty King Letsie III. “It begins today, and it will end on the 16th of July, which is the day before the King’s birthday. The novena was specifically chosen because it is the only prayer written of the tombstone of King Moshoeshoe II, at Thaba Bosiu. In addition, if a nation is at peace, it also means the king is at peace,” he said.

After the Mass, the blessing of the king’s gifts and of the Royal Family took place. This was followed by the cutting of the birthday cake by King Letsie III. Following this was the exposition of the Holy Eucharist and the recitation of 1000 Hail Marys. The fourth consecration of Lesotho is part of the events leading up to the bigger jubilee and celebrations next year. The year 2024 marks two centuries since the founding of the Basotho Nation (1824 -2024).