U.S. BISHOPS RENEW CONSECRATION OF OUR NATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY TODAY

At a noon Mass today held at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., the United States renewed its consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of our nation. The Papal Nuncio to the U.S., Archbishop Pietro Sambi celebrated the Mass and Father Andrew Apostoli gave the homily. I had the good fortune of viewing and participating in this historic event via EWTN.

This consecration of the nation included the special mention of the immaculate and sorrowful heart of Mary, the mission of the World Apostolate of Fatima. A special medallion has been created in honor of this new addition to Our Lady's title. The inscription reads, "O Sorrowful and Immaculate Mary, be our advocate."

In his homily, Fr. Andrew Apostoli quoted Pope John Paul, who after his attempted assassination on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima on May 13, 1981, examined all the Fatima documents, stated, "Fatima is more important today than it was in 1917."

John Paul II's would-be assassin Mehmet Ali Agca told him, "I am a professional assassin and I don't miss. Whose feast day is it in your church today? That person saved you."

Fr. Apostoli went on to describe the history of the consecration, stating that in 1984, Pope John Paul II, along with the Bishops of the world, consecrated the world and Russia to Mary. Five years later, the Berlin Wall came down. In 1992 - 1993, the Soviet Block disintegrated and the countries of the Soviet Block gained their independence.

On May 13, 1846, the bishops unanimously chose Mary, under the title of Immaculate Conception, to be our patroness.

In 1959, this was reaffirmed when the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception was dedicated in Washington. Only the Bishops of a country can write the prayer of consecration because they represent the faith of that people.

Why a Renewal of Consecration to Mary at this time?

1. Threats to our Peace - Fr. Apostoli mentioned theAfghanistan conflict, the War in Iraq, and the threat of nuclear weapons.

At Fatima, Mary told us, "I am the only one who can help you!" She was referring to war and terrorism.

2. America's fabric of society is threatened - Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are threatened today by secularism. Some of these threats include: embryonic stem cell research, therapeutic euthanasia for the disabled, the elderly, and the unwanted, suicide (which is the leading cause of death among teens), couples cohabitating together without the benefit of marriage, same-sex marriage, and the scandal in the priesthood.

Fr. Apostoli emphasized, "The key to reform in the Church is the renewal of the priesthood." Quoting Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, he stated, "The struggle of our time is secularism. The spirit of the world is in the Church today."

Jesus has placed the peace of the world in the heart of His Mother and "the rosary will bring us peace", Fr. Apostoli revealed. He said that we need to "Get with Mary's program." He recommended the First Five Saturday Devotions for all. "Mary bore the stigmata in her heart" (St. John Eudes) and plays a co-redemptive role with Jesus. She was "an accomplice to redemption."

During World War I, Cardinal Francis Bourne, primate of England, consecrated the nation to the sorrowful and immaculate heart of Mary on November 11 and the armistice for the world war was the same day chosen for the consecration Mass.

Portugal was consecrated to Mary and was spared the horrors of World War II, Fr. Apostoli concluded.

Consecration Prayer

The prayer for the consecration used for this Nov. 11 event is the same one that was composed by the U.S. bishops in 1959 for the dedication ceremony of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Conception.

Prayer for Consecration Renewal

Related Post: ANNOUNCEMENT: RENEWAL OF OUR COUNTRY'S CONSECRATION TO OUR PATRONESS, THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

~ by Jean M. Heimann, copyright 2006
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