“Emphasizing and enhancing the ‘dual citizenship’ of each Christian: member of the Church and called to the Kingdom and, at the same time, called to responsible participation in the social and political life of the country”: that’s how Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevicius, President of the Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference (LBC), explained the significance of the prayer intention “For civil and Christian consciousness”, chosen for the octave of indulgence held in Lithuania’s famous Marian sanctuary of Siluva in recent weeks. As usual, each day during the octave was dedicated to a particular social group: youth, families, the armed forces, the sick, the personnel assigned to their care and assistance, politicians, and professionals in the media. “I am concerned about the high level of emigration, the declining birth rate and the spread of consumerism among the young, said Tamkevicius during the octave, which attracted the participation of some 40,000 pilgrims. The indulgence is linked to the apparition of the Virgin Mary at Siluva in 1608; its 4th centenary will be celebrated in 2008.
