In union with Pope Francis and Roman Catholic bishops throughout the world, the Diocese of Columbus celebrated a Mass on Friday, March 25 at St. Joseph Cathedral that included a recitation of the consecration prayer for Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Msgr. Stephan Moloney, diocesan administrator and vicar general, presided over the noon Mass on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.
The consecration was offered at the request of Pope Francis in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine that began last month.
Msgr. Moloney led the consecration prayer, which was made public by the Vatican this week, while kneeling before a statue of Our Lady of Fatima on the altar of the cathedral near the beginning of the Mass. A congregation of approximately 250 recited the consecration along with him. Many attendees had arrived well before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to pray the rosary.
Concelebrating the Mass with Msgr. Moloney were Fathers Robert Kitsmiller, cathedral rector; and Fathers Joseph Klee, Anthony Carvalho, Donald Franks, Elias Udeh, Stephen Ondrey, Christopher Tuttle and Michael Hartge. Also participating was Bishop Emeritus Frederick Campbell.
In Msgr. Moloney’s homily, he pointed to the significance of the consecration taking place on the Solemnity of the Annunciation, when “God came to dwell among the human race.”
“God has established a solidarity with us, who also dwell in this world of fragile peace and broken promises,” he said. “How fitting then that we consecrate the world, and especially Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on this Feast of the Annunciation.”
He noted that Pope John Paul II consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart on the same day in 1984.
“We, along with Pope Francis and the faithful throughout the world have joined together with one focus and one will to consecrate the whole of humanity to Mary’s Immaculate Heart,” Msgr Moloney said.
“We hold up the whole human race in an act of solidarity, as one, as the body of Christ, as the body of humanity in every part of this troubled world. Our consecration is prayer for the conversion of heart, for an end to war in all forms, a prayer that the madness of oppression may be crushed.
“Immaculate Heart of Mary, we consecrate ourselves and our world to intercede for us to your Son, the Prince of Peace, and secure for us peace in our days.”
Other churches throughout the diocese and the lay faithful also recited the consecration prayer at various points throughout the day, as did dioceses throughout the state.
The Catholic bishops in Ukraine had requested the consecration after war broke out in their homeland in February. Since then, millions of people have fled the country to escape the destruction taking place in cities and towns. Many of the displaced citizens have fled into neighboring Poland, a predominantly Catholic nation.
Long before the conflict broke out in Ukraine, the Blessed Virgin Mary had requested the consecration of Russia when she appeared to three shepherd children – Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco – at Fatima, Portugal in 1917.
During the apparitions, Our Lady told Lucia, the oldest of the three children who later became a nun, that she requested the consecration of Russia to avoid war and destruction of the world. The Blessed Mother had foretold to Lucia the Second World War, which came to pass years later.
Again in 1929, Our Lady of Fatima appeared to Sister Lucia in her convent in Portugal asking for the pope, in union with the bishops of the world, to consecrate Russia.
Pope Pius XII and Pope John Paul II attempted the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1952 and1984, respectively, but both times the formula requested by Our Lady was not followed exactly as she had conveyed to Lucia. In 1952, the bishops of the world did not join Pius XII, and in 1984 John Paul II did not mention Russia.
On Friday at the Vatican, Pope Francis’ recitation of the consecration prayer added the words “humanity” and “the Church,” which raised some concerns that he might be deviating from the formula. But Russia and Ukraine were prominently mentioned.
The Holy Father additionally requested that all bishops throughout the world join him, and it appeared that most participated in the consecration.
The consecration prayer, which was recited at the Vatican at approximately 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, is as follows:
“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 people’s 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 neighbors’ 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.’ (John 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.”
