Consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Pope Francis has called for all Catholics around the world to join him in prayer today, Friday 25 March. Today is the feast of the Annunciation which celebrates Mary’s acceptance of God’s plan for her to be the mother of Jesus. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president, Archbishop Mark Coleridge, explained that the feast of the Annunciation, when the Church celebrates Mary’s “yes” to the call of God, is a good day for the consecration, a day when the world says “yes” to the call of peace. On “Friday we stop and turn to Jesus the Prince of Peace, who tells us that peace is possible in a world so badly wounded by war in Ukraine and elsewhere,” he said.
The love of Mary’s heart is meant to be a model for the way we should love God. The fact that her heart is immaculate, that is sinless, means that she is the only fully human person who is able to really love God in the way that he should be loved.
The aim of the devotion is to unite humankind to God through Mary's heart, and this process involves the ideas of consecration and reparation. A person is consecrated to Mary's Immaculate Heart as a way of being completely devoted to God. This involves a total gift of self, something only ultimately possible with reference to God; but Mary is our intermediary in this process of consecration.
Therefore, the Pope is consecrating the people of Russia and Ukraine to Mary’s Immaculate Heart and is doing so in communion with bishops and their priests from all over the world. In being completely devoted to God, a person works towards God’s desire for peace. The act of consecration places the warring countries under the protection of Mary, the Mother of Christ, trusting in the power of her intercession. Such an act looks towards God, the source of all peace, and seeks God’s peace through Mary.
Pope Francis will perform the act of consecration in Rome at 5pm, which will be the middle of the night in Australia. People are urged to spend part of their day on 25 March in prayer—attending Mass, praying with family or friends, in silent prayer at a local parish or chapel or in whatever way they can. The Religious Studies and Studies of Religion classes will say the following prayer during classes on Friday.
God of peace and justice,
who change the hardened heart and break the power of violence,
we entrust the people of Ukraine to you.
Protect them in this time of peril;
let them know not death but life, not slavery but freedom.
You are Father of all;
we are brothers and sisters.
Give us the strength to live that truth in love,
choosing peace not war.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Louise Barry - Religious Studies Coordinator