The Fifth Anniversary of the 1000 Hail Marys Devotion in Lesotho

By Bokang Tsoanamatsie – On October 26, 2019, a significant event took place at the Oblates of Mary Immaculate conference centre in Maseru, Lesotho, marking a historic moment for the Catholic Church in the region

On this day, pilgrims gathered for the inaugural recitation of the 1000 Holy Rosary, achieving the remarkable feat of one thousand Hail Marys in a single day.

The Chapel was adorned with decorations, and the statue of Our Lady was honoured in a distinctive manner, underscoring the uniqueness of this occasion. The presence of numerous Basotho pilgrims, both young and old, indicated their eagerness to witness this extraordinary event.

These pilgrims are well-known for their devotion to the Marian Shrine of Fatima Ha Ramabanta and the Marian Shrine of Ngome in KwaZulu-Natal, where they typically recite the four Mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

One can only imagine the anticipation and curiosity they felt upon learning that this event would involve a thousand Hail Marys in one day.

The event culminated in a Holy Mass led by Fr Louis Mohlalisi OMI, with several priests from Lesotho, including Fr Phillip Ntsiki, the current Secretary-General of the Lesotho Catholic Bishops Conference, co-celebrating.

The pilgrims, who brought this cherished tradition from South Africa under the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference, hailed from the dioceses of Witbank, the Archdiocese of Pretoria, and predominantly the Archdiocese of Johannesburg.

They contributed decorations, including roses, to honour the statue of Our Lady. Throughout the prayer session, the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist was exposed, providing a rare opportunity for Basotho Catholics to spend an extended period in the presence of the Lord.

Following this introduction, Basotho Catholics took the initiative to promote this devotion across the nation. As the five-year anniversary approaches, the youth, particularly the Children of Mary, have embraced this mission, reaching out to even the most remote parishes and missions in Lesotho.

They also introduced the country’s royal family, headed by His Majesty King Letsie III and his wife Her Majesty Masenate Mohato Seeiso to the prayer sessions. The Basotho royal house has been staunchly Catholic since Lesotho’s founding father King Moshoeshoe I founded the landlocked nation.

On 8 July last year, Archbishop of the Metropolitan of Maseru His Grace Archbishop Gerard Tlali Lerotholi reconsecrated the country, also well-known as the Mountain Kingdom, to the Blessed Virgin Mary. “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 said, delivering his message at the occasion.

The consecration was the fourth consecration 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.

The 1,000 Hail Mary’s prayer devotion has now become widespread in Lesotho, and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm. For this, we thank our Blessed Virgin Mother Immaculate.