Archbishop encourages prayer to entrust Nigeria to Mary amid threats of continued violence

His Excellency the Most Reverend John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, addressed a pastoral letter to his faithful in which he warned of text messages

that threaten the existence of plans by some Muslim groups to massacre Christians in the North on a specific night. Many people have been seriously shaken by such utterances. Given the experience of the past, it is understandable that one would not dismiss such texts as empty threats. We cannot take chances with what has become a matter of life or death.

While encouraging his faithful to count on the protection of the civic authorities - which he says Christians have a right to expect - Archbishop Onaiyeken also said Christians in the north of Nigeria must "be vigilant and security conscious all around us: in our homes, places of work and above all in our places of worship."

He also instructed two prayer to be prayed at the conclusion of each celebration of the Holy Mass: a Prayer for Nigeria in Distress and the Memorare.