The Pope has consecrated the warring countries Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary last Friday. Though Russia is not Catholic or Christian, a lot of Ukrainians pray to God and to Mama Mary, as evidenced by numerous photos being posted of soldiers on their knees begging for an end to the war.
Pope Francis formally consecrated all humanity—especially Russia and Ukraine—to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25. What does it mean?
“The countries aren’t even Christian,” is what some are asking online upon hearing the news.
Consecration is an act “to dedicate to a sacred purpose” and is often used in the Christian faith.
Just as the faithful consecrate oneself to Christ, or attend the consecration of the Eucharist, the consecration of cities and countries is a common tradition and often brought by wartime or disaster.
In October 1942, Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary during the Second World War in the name of peace and humanity.
More recently, 24 countries were consecrated in 2020 asking for the protection of Mary and Jesus as the world faced the Covid-19 pandemic.
Consecration can also be done to Christ or to the other saints. The consecration of Ukraine and Russia is done to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Pope Francis, in his homily, said the consecration “is no magic formula but a spiritual act.”
“It is an act of complete trust on the part of children who, amid the tribulation of this cruel and senseless war that threatens our world, turn to their Mother, reposing all their fears and pain in her heart and abandoning themselves to her.”
Joined by bishops around the world, the Holy Father is praying that under the loving eyes of the Mother, the nations will not commit acts that would bring her sadness.
It can be remembered that three children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917 witnessed a Marian apparition where the Lady shared three secrets, the second of which is the prediction of the end of WWI, the beginning of WWII, and a request for the consecration of Russia.
“I wish to renew to her the consecration of the Church and the whole of humanity and to consecrate to her in a particular way the Ukrainian people and the Russian people who, with filial affection, venerate her as a Mother,” Francis said.
Tags: #faith, #Catholic, #religion, #PopeFrancis, #Russia, #Ukraine