Tomorrow, Friday 25 March, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, Pope Francis will lead a ceremony of prayer in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, to consecrate and entrust Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In welcoming the Act of Consecration, Archbishop Eamon Martin invites the faithful and all people of goodwill to join with religious, clergy and bishops to pray for peace on this solemn occasion.
Archbishop Martin said, “The Catholic Church in Ireland will join wholeheartedly with Pope Francis to pray a solemn Act of Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In pastoral leadership, Pope Francis will unite the universal Church in prayer for peace and asks us to do so from our homes, churches, cathedrals, and Marian sanctuaries. Together, with the bishops of Ireland, I invite everyone to join in this powerful global act of prayerful solidarity for peace in the world, and especially between Russia and Ukraine.
“I wish to assure the Archbishops in Ukraine that the thoughts and prayers of the people of Ireland are with them, and their people, in the midst of the horrific turmoil impacting their country. It is heartening to hear that the clergy of Ukraine are continuing to celebrate Mass and the sacraments on the streets and in the bunkers and shelters, doing their best to bring to their fearful people the love and compassion of Christ.
“One reality of the terror in Ukraine is that we can never take peace for granted. The appalling scenes of suffering compel us to always work for peace, pray for peace and make sacrifices for peace.”
Archbishop Martin concluded, “I ask everyone to generously support the Special Collection for Ukraine which will take place at Masses across the country this weekend.”
Act of Consecration Prayer
For those who may wish to join the Holy Father, in consecrating and entrusting ourselves, the Church, all of humanity and in particular Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary – the text the Holy Father will use can be found below.
Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Basilica of Saint Peter, 25 March 2022
O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, in this time of trial we turn to you. As our Mother, you love us and know us: no concern of our hearts is hidden from you. Mother of mercy, how often we have experienced your watchful care and your peaceful presence! You never cease to guide us to Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Yet we have strayed from that path of peace. We have forgotten the lesson learned from the tragedies of the last century, the sacrifice of the millions who fell in two world wars. We have disregarded the commitments we made as a community of nations. We have betrayed peoples’ dreams of peace and the hopes of the young. We grew sick with greed, we thought only of our own nations and their interests, we grew indifferent and caught up in our selfish needs and concerns. We chose to ignore God, to be satisfied with our illusions, to grow arrogant and aggressive, to suppress innocent lives and to stockpile weapons. We stopped being our neighbour’s keepers and stewards of our common home. We have ravaged the garden of the earth with war and by our sins we have broken the heart of our heavenly Father, who desires us to be brothers and sisters. We grew indifferent to everyone and everything except ourselves. Now with shame we cry out: Forgive us, Lord!
Holy Mother, amid the misery of our sinfulness, amid our struggles and weaknesses, amid the mystery of iniquity that is evil and war, you remind us that God never abandons us, but continues to look upon us with love, ever ready to forgive us and raise us up to new life. He has given you to us and made your Immaculate Heart a refuge for the Church and for all humanity. By God’s gracious will, you are ever with us; even in the most troubled moments of our history, you are there to guide us with tender love.
We now turn to you and knock at the door of your heart. We are your beloved children. In every age you make yourself known to us, calling us to conversion. At this dark hour, help us and grant us your comfort. Say to us once more: “Am I not here, I who am your Mother?” You are able to untie the knots of our hearts and of our times. In you we place our trust. We are confident that, especially in moments of trial, you will not be deaf to our supplication and will come to our aid.
That is what you did at Cana in Galilee, when you interceded with Jesus and he worked the first of his signs. To preserve the joy of the wedding feast, you said to him: “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3). Now, O Mother, repeat those words and that prayer, for in our own day we have run out of the wine of hope, joy has fled, fraternity has faded. We have forgotten our humanity and squandered the gift of peace. We opened our hearts to violence and destructiveness. How greatly we need your maternal help!
Therefore, O Mother, hear our prayer.
Star of the Sea, do not let us be shipwrecked in the tempest of war.
Ark of the New Covenant, inspire projects and paths of reconciliation.
Queen of Heaven, restore God’s peace to the world.
Eliminate hatred and the thirst for revenge, and teach us forgiveness.
Free us from war, protect our world from the menace of nuclear weapons.
Queen of the Rosary, make us realize our need to pray and to love.
Queen of the Human Family, show people the path of fraternity.
Queen of Peace, obtain peace for our world.
O Mother, may your sorrowful plea stir our hardened hearts. May the tears you shed for us make this valley parched by our hatred blossom anew. Amid the thunder of weapons, may your prayer turn our thoughts to peace. May your maternal touch soothe those who suffer and flee from the rain of bombs. May your motherly embrace comfort those forced to leave their homes and their native land. May your Sorrowful Heart move us to compassion and inspire us to open our doors and to care for our brothers and sisters who are injured and cast aside.
Holy Mother of God, as you stood beneath the cross, Jesus, seeing the disciple at your side, said: “Behold your son” (Jn 19:26). In this way he entrusted each of us to you. To the disciple, and to each of us, he said: “Behold, your Mother” (v. 27). Mother Mary, we now desire to welcome you into our lives and our history. At this hour, a weary and distraught humanity stands with you beneath the cross, needing to entrust itself to you and, through you, to consecrate itself to Christ. The people of Ukraine and Russia, who venerate you with great love, now turn to you, even as your heart beats with compassion for them and for all those peoples decimated by war, hunger, injustice and poverty.
Therefore, Mother of God and our Mother, to your Immaculate Heart we solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves, the Church and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine. Accept this act that we carry out with confidence and love. Grant that war may end and peace spread throughout the world. The “Fiat” that arose from your heart opened the doors of history to the Prince of Peace. We trust that, through your heart, peace will dawn once more. To you we consecrate the future of the whole human family, the needs and expectations of every people, the anxieties and hopes of the world.
Through your intercession, may God’s mercy be poured out on the earth and the gentle rhythm of peace return to mark our days. Our Lady of the “Fiat”, on whom the Holy Spirit descended, restore among us the harmony that comes from God. May you, our “living fountain of hope”, water the dryness of our hearts. In your womb Jesus took flesh; help us to foster the growth of communion. You once trod the streets of our world; lead us now on the paths of peace.
Amen.
Dioceses joining in prayer with Pope Francis
The following moments of prayer are being offered in dioceses tomorrow. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and will be updated as more information becomes available. Check out your local parish/diocesan website for local information:
Achonry
Bishop Paul Dempsey will lead prayers and the Act of Consecration at 4.00pm in the Cathedral of Saint Nathy, Ballaghaderreen, on 25 March.
Ardagh and Clonmacnois
The Act of Consecration will be prayed in Saint Mel’s Cathedral, Longford at Masses.
Armagh
Archbishop Eamon Martin will pray the prayers of consecration in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral on Friday at 12noon and people can unite with Pope Francis in prayer in Saint Malachy’s Church Armagh on Friday at 4.00pm.
Bishop Michael Router will pray the prayers of consecration at 4.00pm in Saint Patrick’s, Dundalk.
Cashel and Emly
The Act of Consecration will be prayed throughout the day at Masses in the Diocese of Cashel & Emly on Friday 25 March.
Clogher
This Friday, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, Bishop Duffy will join Pope Francis, bishops and priests around the world in the Act of Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Join Bishop Duffy from Saint Lawrence’s Church, Fintona as he prays the prayer of consecration during the celebration of Confirmation, which begins at 6.00pm, via the Church webcam: https://bit.ly/saintlawrencefintona
Clonfert
On Sunday 27 March, Bishop Michael Duignan will travel to the Shrine of Our Lady of Clonfert at 6.00pm to recite the prayers of consecration
Cloyne
Bishop William Crean will lead the Diocese in prayer from St Colman’s Cathedral Cobh on Friday 25th March at 6.00pm as he leads the Diocese in this Act of Consecration.
The liturgy will also be live-streamed on https://cobhcathedralparish.ie/mass-streaming/
In churches and parishes, people are also invited to spend time in prayer on Friday for peace in Ukraine.
Cork and Ross
People are invited to join Bishop Fintan Gavin in-person in the Cathedral of St Mary and St. Anne, Cork, on Friday afternoon at 4pm as he leads the Diocese in this Act of Consecration. The liturgy will also be live-streamed on www.corkcathedral.ie
In churches and parishes, people are invited to spend time in prayer on Friday for peace in Ukraine. Some parishes may have a scheduled time of Adoration on that day.
Derry
Bishop Donal McKeown will preside at a prayer service at 5.00pm in Saint Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry.
Down and Connor
Bishop Noel Treanor will lead prayers of Consecration at 4.00pm, this Friday 25 March, in St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast.
Dromore
Archbishop Eamon Martin will pray the prayers of consecration at 4.00pm in the Cathedral of Saint Patrick and Saint Colman, Newry.
Dublin
This Friday, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell will join Pope Francis in the consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The ceremony will be held at 4.00pm in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook. Archbishop Farrell invites the priests, deacons and faithful of the Archdiocese to join him on Friday in prayer for peace in the world, especially between Russia and Ukraine.
Elphin
On 25 March Bishop Kevin Doran will pray the Act of Consecration in Saint Mary’s Church, Ballygar at 5.00pm. https://www.churchtv.ie/ballygar/
On the same evening, Father Declan Boyce SPS, Administrator of the Cathedral, will pray the Act of Consecration in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo at 5.30pm. https://sligocathedral.ie/live-feed-from-cathedral/
Ferns
On Friday 25 March at 4.00 pm, in St Aidan’s Cathedral Enniscorthy, Bishop Ger Nash will lead a service of prayer for Peace in the Ukraine and join with Pope Francis in the prayer of Consecration of Russian and the Ukraine to Our Lady.
Galway
Bishop Brendan Kelly will be joining the Holy Father in making the Consecration at 6pm mass in the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven.
Priests in all parishes will also proclaim the Act of Consecration at Masses.
Kerry
The Act of Consecration will be prayed throughout the day at Masses in the Diocese of Kerry on Friday 25 March.
Kildare and Leighlin
At 6.30pm on Friday 25 March, on behalf of the faithful of the Dioceses of Kildare & Leighlin and Ossory, Bishop Denis Nulty will pray the Rosary for Peace and the Act of Consecration for Peace in Russia and Ukraine in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow. www.carlowcathedral.ie/webcam
Killala
Bishop John Fleming will pray the Act of Consecration at 10.00am Mass on Friday 25 March in the Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Killala.
Killaloe
Bishop Fintan Monahan will pray the Act of Consecration at 5.00 pm in Cathedral of Saint Peter & Paul, Ennis, followed by 2 hours of Exposition & Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, praying for peace
Kilmore
On Friday 25 March, Bishop Martin Hayes will celebrate the 10.00am Mass in the Cathedral of Saint Patrick & Saint Felim, Cavan, and proclaim the solemn Act of Consecration in conjunction with prayers for peace in Ukraine.
Limerick
On Friday 25 March, Bishop Brendan Leahy will be joining in the Act of Consecration in Saint John’s Cathedral, Limerick at 5.15-5.45pm in the context of the Stations of the Cross devotion and this will be followed by Mass at 5.45pm.
Parishes and communities of the religious orders and congregations and movements have been invited to join the Holy Father in the act of consecration.
Meath
On Friday 25 March, Bishop Tom Deenihan will offer the Act of Consecration in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, during Holy Hour from 6.00pm to 7.00pm.
Ossory
At 6.30pm on Friday 25 March, on behalf of the faithful of the Dioceses of Kildare & Leighlin and Ossory, Bishop Denis Nulty will pray the Rosary for Peace and the Act of Consecration for Peace in Russia and Ukraine in the Cathedral of the Assumption,
Raphoe
Bishop Alan McGuckin will pray the Act of Consecration in Saint Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny at 4.00pm on Friday 25 March,.
Tuam
On Friday 25 March, Archbishop Francis Duffy will celebrate the 7.30 p.m. Mass in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Tuam, during which the Prayer of Consecration will be prayed, and prayers for peace will be offered.
Father Richard Gibbons, Rector of the International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine at Knock, will celebrate the 7.30 p.m. Mass in Knock and pray the Prayer of Consecration.
Consecration explained
Consecration refers to “entrusting” the person consecrated to Our Lady. Consecration “is a conscious 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, of the many maternal functions she has, since she is a true mother in the order of grace to each and every one of her children.” The act of consecration is made “to the Father, through Christ in the Holy Spirit, imploring the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom we entrust ourselves completely, so as to keep our baptismal commitments and live as her children.”
ENDS
