Solemnity of the Annunciation
Consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
March 25, 2022
Cathedral of Mary Our Queen
Pope Francis’ Initiative
As the tragic events in Ukraine began to unfold, Pope Francis called upon the Church throughout the world to join in prayer for end to that grossly unjust war and to mobilize the Church’s charities in response to the humanitarian crisis which that war has created. The Holy Father sent emissaries to Ukraine to offer comfort and assistance, and spoke with world leaders by phone and in person. Pope Francis also heard voices from every corner of the globe asking him to take another step – to consecrated Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This evening, here at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, we join him spiritually in that solemn Act of Consecration.
Mary, Consecrated to the Lord
On this Solemnity of the Annunciation, we celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary’s own consecration to the Lord. Foreseeing from all eternity her unique role in salvation history, God kept her free from the stain of original sin and created in her heart a fitting dwelling place for his Incarnate Son. Today, God’s plan unfolds as the Angel announces this news to Mary. With majestic freedom, her sinless heart responds, “Let it be done to me according to Thy Word.” Thus, Mary Immaculate, entirely consecrated to the Lord and his purposes, brought into the world the One whom we acclaim the Prince of Peace.
Before us is a beautiful image of Mary – Our Lady of Fatima – bathed in the blue and gold that are colors of the Ukrainian flag. It was at Fatima that Mary revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception and in her maternal love, she drew close to a suffering world. Now, in this perilous hour, we ask Mary’s powerful intercession as with the successor of Peter we consecrate Ukraine and Russia to her, under her title of the Immaculate Conception. We, her children, are asking that the pure rays of her maternal love shine on war-torn Ukraine, on its suffering people, and even on the hearts of those who are leading this unjust aggression. We are entrusting our war-torn world to Mary’s maternal embrace. As this Act of Consecration resounds from every corner of the earth, surely Mary, our Mother, will hear our prayer.
As we join in this Act of Consecration, let us pray that we ourselves we will consecrated anew to the Lord, so that in the challenges and setbacks of life, we may respond as did Mary, “be it done to me according to Thy Word”. Thus will we be those peacemakers whom Jesus commends in the Beatitudes. May God bless us and keep us always in his love.