March 25 marks the first anniversary of the consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by Pope Francis.
Earlier this week, the Pope encouraged "every believer and every community, especially prayer groups" to renew the consecration of the entire world each March 25, the solemnity of the Annunciation. But what does all this mean? Here is what you need to know.
What does consecration mean?
To consecrate is to set aside for a sacred purpose. The word "entrust" is often used as a synonym for "consecration."
The Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship defines consecration to Mary as a clear recognition of the "singular role of Mary in the mystery of Christ and of the Church, of the universal and exemplary importance of her witness to the Gospel, of trust in her intercession and of the efficacy of her patronage."
Saint John Paul II—who consecrated the Church and the entire world to Mary three times during his pontificate—taught that in consecrating ourselves to Mary, we accept her help to offer ourselves fully to Christ.
Colin Donovan, Vice President for Theology at EWTN, told CNA that consecration "is an entrustment and also a cry to God. The entrustment here is that we place ourselves, our hearts, our prayers, our desires at the feet of Our Lady, and that serves God's purposes because it elevates Our Lady in the mind of the Church, and, hopefully, in the mind of the world. And it is a cry to God for our particular needs."
What is the Immaculate Heart of Mary?
The Immaculate Heart of Mary is an object of devotion, as it symbolizes her perfect will expressed in her "fiat." Mary's heart is typically depicted with seven wounds and pierced by a sword. Early devotion to Mary's heart was illustrated by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, but the modern devotion was founded by Saint John Eudes, a 17th-century French priest.
The feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was first observed by Eudes and began receiving papal approval in the early 19th century. The feast was inscribed in the General Roman Calendar in 1944, to be celebrated on August 22, the octave day of the Assumption.
What was Pope Francis's consecration of Russia and Ukraine about?
A little over a month after Russia's massive invasion of Ukraine began, Pope Francis stated that he wished to entrust the warring nations to the Virgin Mary in response to the "many requests from the people of God."
"Nearly a month has passed since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, which is inflicting immense suffering on its sorely tried people and threatening world peace every day," Pope Francis said in a letter dated March 21, 2022.
"In these dark hours, the Church is urgently called to intercede with the Prince of Peace and to show her closeness to those directly affected by the conflict."
On March 23, the Pope issued another letter asking all Catholics to gather in their parishes that Friday to pray the act of consecration. Catholics worldwide, including from all U.S. dioceses, participated.
In his homily last year before the consecration, the Pope said the prayer "is not a magic formula, but a spiritual act."
"It is an act of total trust on the part of children who, in the midst of the tribulations of this cruel and senseless war that threatens our world, turn to their Mother, depositing all their fears and pains in her heart and abandoning themselves to her," he said.
What am I being asked to do now?
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Here is what Pope Francis said:
"Let us not grow weary of entrusting the cause of peace to the Queen of Peace. I therefore wish to invite all believers and all communities, especially prayer groups, to renew each March 25 the act of consecration to Our Lady, so that she, who is our Mother, may keep us all in unity and in peace. And let us not forget, in these days, troubled Ukraine, which suffers so much."
This article was originally published by the National Catholic Register (Article link). It is republished and translated with the author's permission.