Many of us are still basking in the glow of two very powerful prayer experiences over the past ten days. This week we had a huge turnout from both parishes and beyond for our Lenten Retreat at St. Martha with Fr. Dan O’Connell. Parishioners called it “Totally amazing…overflowing with God’s spirit” and appreciated the “great and joyful group” attending. I am extremely grateful to Fr. Dan, our music ministers, staff, and especially Linda Olsen for coordinating all of our efforts to make this mission/retreat the great success it was. If you missed any part of it, the videos are available on our YouTube and Facebook pages (links on our website).
The other powerful prayer experience was the Consecration of Ukraine, Russia, and the World to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by Pope Francis, many bishops, priests, and God’s people around the world. One thing that struck me about this prayer was the consistent use of the pronoun “we” throughout, referring to all of humanity. With so many divisions of nations at war, political ideologies, and social ghettoing of those who think alike, I found it refreshing to hear both our faults and our aspirations being attributed to all of us. Ultimately, we are all in the same boat, facing the same human challenges. We implore the Blessed Mother to help us face these challenges together, with more mutual understanding and compassion. Here are just a couple of highlights from the Act of Consecration prayer: Excerpts from the Consecration of Ukraine & Russia to Mary’s Immaculate Heart
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, …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 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. … 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” [yes, let it be done] 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. … You once trod the streets of our world; lead us now on the paths of peace. Amen.