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February 22, 2018
Father Ghislain Bazikila
During my participation in the National Convention for Italian Deaf Catholics in Rome last Nov. 2-5, I was impressed by the way Italian deaf Catholics recited the ending-session community rosary. It was for me a time to experience a new rosary recitation method. I hope that there might be many around the world only known to each part or area of the planet.
The style of Italian deaf Catholics, in either large or small groups, is to arrange themselves into a closed circle. Depending on the number of deaf recitants, they will be broken into symbolic “beads” marked by candles. Someone (deaf faithful) may get one candle bead – that means that he/she will be the start or the end of a bead. If he/she gets two beads, that signifies he/she will be the start or the end of two rosary beads.
Everyone in the rosary recitation circle individually sang the “Ave Maria,” and then the entire circle responded to complete the second part (“Our Father” and “Hail Mary”). In the midst of the circle, a person holds a candle and moves it in the front of each recitant.
At the end of the rosary recitation, the National Italian Convention for Deaf Catholics in Rome, under the leadership of the “Movimento Apostolico dei Sordomuti” (“Apostolic Movement of Deaf,” ) announced that the first worldwide pilgrimage for all deaf Catholics will be held in Lourdes, Frances, from Sept. 10-14.
I was offered an inspiring book titled “Le Apparirizioni della Beata Vergine ai Sordomuti” (“The Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin to the Deaf,”) published in 2008 by Proja Battista in Rome. Battista wrote it for the unique purpose of accessing and encouraging Marian devotion to deaf families and deaf Catholics.
Indeed, the story of the apparitions, manifestations and miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary altogether has been a marvelous large epoch for 2,000 years. It has infinite wisdom of God for us, the world, the church and the family of humankind.
The Blessed Virgin, our spiritual mother, has always done her best to vary her apparitions to all with preference to the humble (little ones), poor, simple, disabled and marginalized persons that St. Paul calls “the infirm world” and who are the preferred by God and Mary, worthy of salvation and sanctification.
In this climate, God has extended his divine methods to deaf people, too.
We may no longer think that deaf faithful have no characteristics, human or spiritual, that can attract Mary. May families with deaf children cultivate inner docility to God and Mary, give passion and time for deaf children’s faith education and foster daily luminous hope.
Marian apparitions to deaf and hearing people are equal, but they may have a sober variation. They are intended not only for healing but to be and build the world and the church together.
Families of disabled members and families with deaf children who cannot attend the pilgrimage in September may send prayer petitions that we can bring to Lourdes.
Father Ghislain Bazikila is in residence at St. Benedict Parish at St. Francis Xavier Parish for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. He may be reached by writing St. Benedict Parish, 1801 Octavia St., San Francisco CA 94109.