Consecration and entrustment to Mary

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Blessed Virgin Mary venerated as The Virgin of the Navigators, 1531–1536, with her protective mantle covering those entrusted to her[1]

The consecration and entrustment to the Virgin Mary is a personal or collective act of

Consecration is an act by which a person is dedicated to a sacred service, or an act which separates an object, location or region from a common and profane mode to one for sacred use.[3] The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments clarifies that in this context, "It should be recalled, however, that the term "consecration" is used here in a broad and non-technical sense: the expression is use of 'consecrating children to Our Lady', by which is intended placing children under her protection and asking her maternal blessing for them".[2]

Consecration to the Virgin Mary by Catholics has taken place from three perspectives: personal, societal and regional, and under a number of different titles: the

Garrigou-Lagrange designated personal consecration to Mary as the highest level among Marian devotions.[citation needed
]

Pope

Totus Tuus ("totally yours"), reflected his personal consecration to Mary. He consecrated the entire world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.[6]

History and development

The beginnings of the notion of "belonging to Mary" can be seen in the writings of

Ildephonsus of Toledo in the 7th century, and Pope John VII also referred to it in the 8th century.[7]

The notion that consecration to Mary is linked with consecration to

Christ and has an ultimate Christocentric goal was already present in the 7th century writings of Ildephonsus, when he wrote: "What is delivered up to the Mother rebounds to the Son; thus passes to the King the honor that is rendered in the service of the Queen."[7]

In the 8th century,

John Damascene continued the theme of consecration to Mary, and when he wrote "to you we consecrate (anathemenoi) our minds, our souls and our bodies, in a word our very selves" he used the Greek term anathemenoi which indicates "the setting aside for sacred use".[7]

The act of consecration of cities and regions dates back at least to the 9th century, when

Medieval period, abbeys, towns and cities began to consecrate themselves to the Virgin Mary to seek her protection. In the 12th century Cîteaux Abbey in France used the motif of the "protective mantle" of the Virgin Mary which shielded the kneeling abbots and abbesses. In the 13th century Caesarius of Heisterbach was also aware of this motif, which eventually led to the iconography of the Virgin of Mercy.[7]

Although previous saints had discussed the notion of consecration, it was only in 11th century France that

Carmelites.[10]

The 17th century also saw the adoption of the custom of consecrating the month of May to the Blessed Virgin.[10] During the 18th and 19th centuries the traditions of Marian consecration grew and by 1860 First Communion in France included an act of consecration to the Virgin Mary.[11] By this time Marian consecrations had spread beyond continental Europe and in England Frederick Faber had composed a hymn of consecration to the Virgin Mary which included a petition to her motherly role.[12]

Since the 19th century, devotions and consecrations to the

John Paul II.[13]

Personal consecration

Sacred image used for the Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary
See also: Catholic devotions § Marian devotions

Theologian

Angelicum, analyzed various forms and stages of Marian devotions. He designated personal consecration to Mary as the highest level among these devotions. In his theological analysis, Marian devotions are categorized into stages, from beginner to advanced, as follows:[14]

  • Occasional prayer, e.g. praying the Hail Mary from time to time.
  • Regular and daily devotion, e.g. the devout recitation of the Rosary on a daily basis.
  • A formal act of consecration to Mary, and living in habitual dependence on her, as a means of uniting with Christ.

The theology of personal consecration to Mary was further explained by Pope

Apostle John as an example of how every Christian should respond to the gift of the spiritual motherhood of Mary.[15]

Louis de Montfort's Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary

Main article: Louis de Montfort

The practice of consecration to Jesus through Mary was further promoted in the 18th century following the rediscovery of the writings of the 17th century priest Louis de Montfort.

Interior Castle. Yet Montfort's view differs from Teresa's contemporary, John of the Cross in that Montfort sees the Marian path to Jesus as far more positive, encouraging and smooth than the path followed by John in the poem Dark Night of the Soul.[17]

Montfort's concept of consecration was influenced by Henri Boudon's book Dieu seul: le Saint esclavage de l'admirable Mère de Dieu (Only God, the Holy Slavery of the admirable Mother of God). By reading Boudon, Montfort concluded that any consecration is ultimately made to "God Alone", for only God merits the loving servitude of man. Later, "God Alone" became the motto of Montfort. Montfort's approach followed Boudon very closely, but differed on one element: while Boudon's consecration was founded on the Queenship of Mary, Montfort approach was based on the divine maternity.[18][19]

Pope

John Paul II stated that as a young seminarian he had read and reread Montfort many times and "understood that I could not exclude the Lord's Mother from my life without neglecting the will of God-Trinity".[20][21]

The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Main article: Immaculate Heart of Mary

Congregation of Rites approved the Office and Mass for the Immaculate Heart.[24]

Another driving force for devotions and consecrations to the Immaculate Heart of Mary appeared in the 1917 messages of

Marian apparitions at Fátima referred to the Immaculate Heart.[25] The third apparition reported at Fátima on 13 July 1917, specifically encouraged devotions and consecrations for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart. Although the reports of the Fátima apparitions were initially met with skepticism, they grew in popularity and were approved by the Holy See in 1930.[26]

On 13 May 1967, the 50th anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima, Pope

Fatima, Portugal, and issued the Apostolic Exhortation Signum Magnum ("a great sign") in which he asked "all sons of the Church to renew their consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary".[27] In 1986, when addressing the participants in the 1986 International Theological Symposium on the Alliance of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Pope John Paul II stated: "Our act of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary refers ultimately to the Heart of her Son, for as the Mother of Christ she is wholly united to his redemptive mission. As at the marriage feast of Cana, when she said 'Do whatever he tells you', Mary directs all things to her Son, who answers our prayers and forgives our sins."[28]

The Immaculata

Fr. Maximilian Kolbe 1939

In 1854 Pope Pius IX defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus. This greatly helped the spread of devotions and consecrations to the Immaculata.[29][30]

In the early part of the 20th century, Maximilian Kolbe began his efforts to promote consecration to the Immaculata, partly relying on the 1858 messages of Our Lady of Lourdes. He argued that since Mary is Immaculate, by her very nature she is the perfect instrument of the Holy Spirit in the mediation of all graces, given that "every grace is a gift of the Father through his Son by the Holy Spirit".[31][32]

Kolbe founded the monastery of

Auschwitz concentration camp. Kolbe's efforts in promoting consecration to the Immaculata made him known as the "Apostle of Consecration to Mary".[4][33]

Societal consecration

Brown scapular has been worn by Carmelites for centuries as a sign of their consecration to Mary.[34]

For many centuries, the

Brown Scapular as a sign of their consecration to Mary, and her protection over them.[35] In the year 1304, the Servite Order (Servants of Mary), whose focus was on the sorrows of Mary, was approved by the Holy See.[36]

Over the centuries, a number of

Bis Saeculari Pope Pius XII encouraged Marian consecrations by the Marian societies such as Sodality of Our Lady.[38]

On Sunday, 8 October 2000, upon the completion of the ceremonies for the Jubilee of the Bishops, Pope

John Paul II and the bishops consecrated and entrusted themselves and the Catholic Church in the new millennium to Mary.[39][40]

On 12 May 2010 at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Fátima, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the beatification of

Benedict XVI consecrated all priests to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.[41][42]

Consecration of locations and regions

Further information: Immaculate Heart of Mary § Consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Statue of Pope Pius XII in Fátima, Portugal, representing the Marian consecration

The consecration of cities and regions to the Virgin Mary dates back at least to the 9th century, and during the feuding

Medieval period, abbeys, towns and cities began to consecrate themselves to the Virgin Mary to seek her protection.[7][8] In the 17th century France was consecrated to the Virgin Mary by Louis XIII and a number of other countries such as Portugal followed that trend.[43]

In the 1917 purported apparitions of

Our Lady of Fatima, the Virgin Mary is said to have specifically asked for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart.[44]

Main article: Pope Pius XII 1942 consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

On 31 October 1942, Pius XII made a solemn act of consecration of the Catholic Church and the whole world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, joined by the bishops of Portugal, gathered at the Cathedral in Lisbon.

Sacro Vergente.[48][49]

According to author Edward Sri, given the emphasis Pius XII had placed on the

Queenship of Mary, the consecration emphasized the importance Pius XII placed on the powerful role of Mary as an intercessor and a protector of humanity.[50] Mariologist Gabriel Roschini wrote that the 1942 consecration of humanity to Mary can be viewed as an apex for Marian culture.[51][52]

On 13 May 1982 in Fatima Portugal, Pope John Paul II again consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and said: "Consecrating the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary means drawing near, through the mother's intercession, to the very fountain of life that sprang from Golgotha. This fountain pours forth unceasingly redemption and grace. In it reparation is made continually for the sins of the world. It is a ceaseless source of new life and holiness".[53]

On 25 March 1984, Pope John Paul II again performed the solemn consecration of the world to the

Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City for the ceremony. In his "program of Marian consecration and entrustment" John Paul II considered consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as Divinely intended to complement the consecration to the sacred Heart of Jesus.[54][55]

Pope Pius XII's two consecrations were made in October 1942 and July 1952 and those of John Paul II in May 1982 and March 1984.

Leo XIII, discussed in the encyclical Annum sacrum of May 1899.[56][57]

On 28 June 2003 John Paul II entrusted Europe to the Virgin Mary, and renewed that entrustment again on 31 August 2003.[58][59]

During the ongoing conflict, on 25 March 2022

consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in union with bishops from all over the world to implore an end to the war.[60]

Canada

Early Jesuit missionaries consecrated their missions to Mary Immaculate. In 2017, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops suggested local ordinaries consecrate their respective dioceses to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on 1 July (or another date "that might better suit the local pastoral situation") to mark the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation.[61] Those taking part included:

All the bishops of Canada participated jointly in the consecration of the country to the Blessed Mother during the CCCB Plenary Assembly on 6 September 2017. On 1 May 2020, members of the CCCB consecrated Canada to Mary, under the title Mother of the Church.[63] Bishops were invited to participate in a 1 May 2020 re-consecration of their dioceses. Among those participating was Bishop Mark Hagemoen of Saskatoon.[62]

England and Wales

Our Lady of Walsingham

The title of "Mary's Dowry" as applied to England dates back to Edward the Confessor, and was formally proclaimed in 1399 by Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Arundel. Eight years before, during the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, the fourteen-year-old King Richard II of England had entrusted his kingdom to the Virgin Mary in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey. The bishops of England consecrated the country to Mary in 1893. The re-dedication of England as the "Dowry of Mary" took place 29 March 2020 at the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.[64][65]

Latin America and Caribbean and the Americas

"In 1945, at the urging of bishops from the U.S. and Canada, Ven. Pius XII bestowed on her the title Empress of the Americas."[66] On Easter Sunday 2020, CELAM, the Latin American and Caribbean bishops’ conference, consecrated Latin America and the Caribbean to Our Lady of Guadalupe "asking her for health and an end to the pandemic."[67][63]

United States

In 1792,

Bishop Carroll of Baltimore, consecrated the United States to Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception.[69] In 1846, bishops attending the Sixth Provincial Council
in Baltimore chose Mary under that title as the country's patroness.

Like the Canadian bishops, on 1 May 2020, Archbishop José Horacio Gómez, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, led a "Renewal of the Consecration of the United States of America to the Blessed Virgin Mary" under the title "Mary, Mother of the Church"[70] at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in Los Angeles. That same day, a rite of consecration was similarly held by Archbishop Gregory at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.[71][72]

Archbishop Gomez also sent a letter to the U.S. bishops inviting them to join in the consecration. Among those joining in the consecration to Mary, Mother of the Church was Bishop Glen Provost of the Diocese of Lake Charles,[73] and Bishop Lawrence T. Persicoof the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie.[74]

On 6 May 2018, Bishop Gregory Parkes of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg renewed a dedication of the diocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary previously done by Bishop Thomas Larkin on Friday, 13 May 1983 "in response to a request from the Holy Father, John Paul II."[75]

Separately, Pope Pius XII gave the title "Empress of the Americas" to the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe on October 12, 1945, which naturally includes the United States of America.[76] [77] Pope Pius XII both in Spanish as well as in English clearly stated that she is Empress of the Americas, (for reference please read further) not just for Latin Americans or for any particular nation but for all people in the South and North American continents.

Consecration of Russia and Our Lady of Fatima

Main article:
Consecration of Russia

Pope Pius XII, Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, and Pope Francis have consecrated Russia to the Immaculate Heart.

Consecration of the Holy Land and the Middle East

During the

war between Israel and Hamas, on 29 October 2023 Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa consecrated the Holy Land and the Middle East to the Immaculate Heart of Mary imploring the gift of peace[78]

Dioceses consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Holy See

North-America

United States

Canada

Mexico

Europe

Poland

  • All the 42 Polish dioceses (9 September 2017, Abp. Stanisław Gądecki together with all the bishops of Poland)

Netherlands

  • All the Dutch dioceses (13 May 2017, Card. Willem J. Eijk together with all the bishops of the Netherlands)

Italy

France

Spain

Germany

Austria

England

Scotland

Finland

  • Diocese of Helsinki
    (8 December 2005, Bp. Józef Wróbel)

South-America

Venezuela

  • Archdiocese of Maracaibo (13 October 2017, Abp. Ubaldo Ramón Santana Sequera)
  • Diocese of Machiques (8 December 2017, Bp. Ramiro Díaz)

Colombia

  • Archdiocese of Barranquilla (9 June 2018, Abp. Pablo Emiro Salas Anteliz)

Uruguay

Brazil

Argentina

Oceania

Australia

New Zealand

  • John Atcherley Dew
    )

Samoa

Asia

Philippines

  • All the 89 Filipino dioceses (4 May 2018, Card. Romulo Valles together with all the bishops of Philippines)

India

Africa

Angola

Prayers of consecration

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A number of different prayers may be used as part of the consecration to the Virgin Mary. The "Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary" appears in the official Raccolta book of indulgenced prayers.[81]

The prayer originally composed by Louis de Montfort is as follows:[82]

Today, I, a faithless sinner, renew in your hands my Baptismal vows; I renounce Satan forever, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, and will carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and will be more faithful to Him than I have ever been. With the entire heavenly court as my witness, I choose you this day for my Mother. I deliver and consecrate myself to you, my body and soul, myself, both interior and exterior, and the worth of my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to you the total right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, according to your wish, for the greater glory of God in time and in eternity.

The prayer used by Pope John Paul II as his act of entrustment of all Bishops to Mary was considerably longer. It began with John 19:26 and included the entrustment as follows: "Here we stand before you to entrust to your maternal care ourselves, the Church, the entire world. Plead for us with your beloved Son that he may give us in abundance the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth which is the fountain of life."[39][83]

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b "Consecration and Entrustment to Mary", § 204, Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, Vatican
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  77. ^ Empress of the Americas a priest Father Johann Roten, S.M.answered question on when Pope Pius XII declared on the radio as empress of the America's]
  78. ^ "Act of Consecration of the Holy Land to the Immaculate Heart of Mary". Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
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Sources

  • Joseph Jaja, 2005, The Mystical Experience and Doctrine of St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, Ignatius Press.
    ISBN 978-88-7839-030-0

Further reading

External links

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