Archbishop Jose Gomez, president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, is inviting all U.S. bishops to join him on May 1 in reconsecrating the U.S. to the Blessed Virgin Mary in response to the pandemic. The reconsecration is timed to coincide with the bishops of Canada consecrating their own country to Mary at the same time.
Archbishop Gomez, who is the Archbishop of Los Angeles, said in a letter sent to all American bishops April 22, that the Marian reconsecration would be done under the title of “Mary, Mother of the Church.” He invited all the bishops of the country to join him in prayer on May 1 at 12 p.m. PDT, or 3 p.m. EDT.
“Every year, the Church seeks the special intercession of the Mother of God during the month of May. This year, we seek the assistance of Our Lady all the more earnestly as we face together the effects of the global pandemic,” he said in his letter.
The announcement follows similar plans made by the bishops of Canada, who will consecrate the Crown Dominion to Mary under the same title on the same day.
Full story at Catholic News Agency.
And Pope Francis needs to reconsecrate St. Peter’s Basilica after that pagan pachamama stunt. While he’s at it, how about finally consecrating Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as she requested in Fatima over a hundred years ago. Consecrate away Holy Father!
Kristin, we should be grateful that Archbishop Gomez and other bishops are doing and encouraging this. I missed any gratitude in your post. I agree with you about the need to repent of the pachamama idolatry. And, according to Sr. Lucia of Fatima, the 1984 consecration by St. John Paul II satisfied the request Heaven made in 1929 for the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart. I’ll go with Sister Lucia, who was there, and Saint John Paul on this one.
Anonymous, in correction, Our Lady made the request for the consecration of Russia on July 13, 1917. Perhaps you are unaware that while there are those who believe this request was fulfilled, others believe it has not. The ongoing controversy is well worth investigating.
Naturally, one is grateful for this latest consecration plan, though it is a side dish as compared to the banquet of blessings promised by Our Lady. When hungry we appreciate edification but we also look to the feast with hope and jubilation.
Why is this necessary? Did the original consecration not take or wear off? What good was it if it has to be redone? And if the original consecration wasn’t any good, then what good will a reconsecration do? Isn’t this voodoo stuff that isn’t in the Gospels? Archbishop Gomez needs to seem relevant, so he cooked this up?
Take a breath Jodie. Haven’t you ever heard of people renewing their wedding vows? Same principle.
Catholic civilization celebrated May as of the month of the Virgin Mary starting with May 1, and the Communists took over the day to celebrate the rise of Communism, since they want to wipe out Christianity and all religion. In Communist countries there is a big celebration on May Day (May 1).
In Genesis 3 & in Revelation (Apocalypse) 11 – 12, it is prophesied that Mary is the one who helps the Lord Jesus crush the head of the serpent. St. John saw the Ark of the New Testament coming down from heaven, which was the Virgin Mary, who had carried God the Son, just as the Old Testament Ark carried the presence of God.
Kristin, you sound like the Communists who say that Communism is good and true and works, it just has never been done the right way.
Henry, really! Those who question whether the consecration of Russia are not Commie apologists, duh. Shame on you!
Anonymous, I encourage you to dig deeper into the ’84 consecration. God has enemies, even in His Holy Church. Seek the truth. Have the errors of Russia (communism, socialism, secularism) continued to spread around the world?
I hear you, but, like I said, I’ll go with Sister Lucia, who was there, and Saint John Paul on this one. They’re both holier than I am and Saint John Paul is also immensely smarter (and wiser) than I am. I haven’t heard of anyone with near the sanctity or wisdom saying that it was not done. Saint John Paul gave himself to Our Lady, dedicated his papacy to her and was saved from death by her. He’s going to do what she says.
Paranoid trads like some who post on this website think every Catholic who doesn’t agree with them is wrong. So it doesn’t matter what Sr. Lucia or JPII said or did. All that matters is what the traddies think. They have a magical view of religion.
Jodie,in a sense it has worn off.the last consecration of Canada was 1947 since then Canada has seen abortion and euthanasia surge forth and acted against God’s will. The consecration of both countries will allow Mary to assist in bringing our countries back to God. All such consecration is always to Jesus through Mary.
Anonymous, gratitude I have a little , but it is tempered by gomez’s lack of advocacy and leadership in this crisis, bishop Strickland of Texas is a good example of masculine leadership. Where will this be held is TBD but since it will not be open to the public , what should be a opportunity for holiness and growth will be what ? look at the belief levels of what the Eucharist is , do most Catholics know the significance of this reconsecration ?.His poor leadership and SJW advocacy is documented on this site and others. I also believe that this is a ploy to reassure the faithful , that he is doing something, and to mitigate the crisis that will fallow reopening.
Archbishop Gomez, other U.S. bishops and Canadian bishops are calling for a reconsecration to Mary (this is not connected to Fatima). (It’s somewhat similar to a renewal of wedding or baptismal vows or telling one’s spouse that you love them. It’s not just “once and done.”) My bishop and our diocese (eparchy) are on it. I received this today from our chancery: “Bishop John would like every cleric and parish to consecrate themselves to the Blessed Virgin Mary on May 1 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and he is inviting all of the Eparchy to join him in prayer on May 1 at 12 p.m. PDT, or 3 p.m. You may schedule a service, distribute this memo to your congregations and use your social media outlets to get as many as possible to pray with us.”
Deacon , you would be the best here to explain how this would work , is it a devotion that we all would do at the same time ?, would it be live streamed ?. What is required as far as prayers and any associated devotions, i.e chaplet, rosary , etc.. I am all for it , but I am suspicious of the timing and the source , that it will be used as obfuscation for some other agenda.
If your bishop and diocese are participating, I suggest checking your diocesan website or your parish website. As you can see from what I posted above, my bishop is asking us to join him, if possible, in praying at the same time. Our diocesan office will likely send out more prayers specifically for this time. That said, our parishes may livestream the service at the same or another time. And, families may pray it in their homes, either at the same time or a time that works for them. I think the point is that as many of us as possible reconsecrate ourselves to the Mother of God and ask her powerful intercession. There are various prayers of consecration to Our Lady. The praying is more important than the specifics of the prayer or time. As a cleric, I’m directed to reconsecrate myself to Our Lady as are all of our parishes. I hope that helps.
Does this have to be done simultaneously all over the united states or else it won’t work?
Kacey, while praying at the same time might be ideal, rest assured Our Lord and Our Lady hear our prayers at any time and from any place. God is beyond time and space. While we live in such constraints, the Risen Lord, the God of the universe (and beyond), does not. Thank you for praying during this challenging time.
If anyone wants to pray the consecration with Archbishop Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, maybe especially if your bishop and diocese are not participating, you can go to their FaceBook page. He’ll be leading prayer from their main chapel at noon Pacific (3 Eastern) on Friday. BTW, the Archdiocese for the Military Services has some great priests and does excellent work. No other diocese has as many young adults (of course, given the demographics of the armed forces; a great opportunity and at times when young people may be forced to consider eternal things). They receive no financial support from the government, so feel free to make a donation, if you’d like.
If any of you prayed along with Archbishop Gomez and (re-)consecrated yourself to Our Lady, you’ve experienced that it was done prayerfully, reverently and appropriately. And, please, don’t blame him for the way the cathedral looks, he did not build it.
Anonymous Clergyman , I caught parts of it , very well done from what I can see , this is a much needed devotion , I hope he will make it a traditional event. Can you tell me has he done anything else since the closing of the church’s to rally the faithful ? to be the Shepard he is supposed to be ?, I have not heard or seen anything except this event.
Rick, that I do not know, as that is not my diocese. That said, I went to the archdiocesan website and under the archbishop’s pastoral priorities, life is listed first. I see they’re leading a “live” online Mothers’ Day Rosary. It also states, “There is something unique — beautiful and sacred — about the relationship between man and woman in marriage. Their union creates new life, a new generation of society.” So, while I cannot answer your question, I will continue to pray and hope for the best for the archdiocese, including all of its lay faithful and clergy.
Another example includes the archbishop live streaming a meeting with Helen Alvaré, a law professor based at George Mason University who is an advocate for women and families; Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, a psychiatrist, Catholic ethicist, and professor at the University of California Irvine School of Medicine who specializes in children and families and others. These are solid Catholics, working together. I find that encouraging.