Washington D.C., Nov 28, 2017 / 19:26 pm
In observance of a week promoting awareness of Christians persecuted internationally, the Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil offered a Mass in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday for victims of the Islamic State, stating that suffering offer opportunities for kindness.
"Is there a blessing in being persecuted for the faith?" Archbishop Bashar Warda asked Nov. 28.
"The grace of being persecuted: God shows his love and care through the solidarity being shown by those outside. Also, the suffering gives a chance to people of a good will to show their love."
Organized by Catholic agencies including Knights of Columbus and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Mass was held at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C. A day of prayer was held on the previous Sunday for Islamic State victims, all part of "Solidarity in Suffering: a Week of Awareness for Persecuted Christians."