On Tuesday, March 15, Pope Francis announced that he will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary during the Celebration of Penance on March 25.
Statement from the Vatican:
“On Friday 25 March, during the Celebration of Penance at which he will preside at 17.00 in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The same act, on the same day, will be carried out in Fatima by His Eminence Cardinal Krajewski, Apostolic Almoner, as envoy of the Holy Father.”
Statement from Archbishop Aquila:
“I am grateful for Pope Francis’ announcement that he will publicly consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and thankful that he has responded to the calls from the bishops in Ukraine.
I will join the Holy Father in prayer that day and I am encouraging the priests and the faithful of the archdiocese to also pray in support for his intentions, as we seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, the Queen of Peace, in bringing conversion and peace to this region. Mary’s deepest desire for every country and human being is to come to know her Son, Jesus, who alone can bring true and lasting peace.
As we begin our Surrender Novena on March 17 prior to our March 25 start of our 3-day Archdiocesan synodal event here in Denver, we can bring the intentions of our Holy Father and pray for peace through the intercession of Mary each day. The Surrender Novena may be found here, and I encourage the faithful to pray the rosary each day, praying for peace, and consecrating Ukraine, Russia, and the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
As we entrust our whole life to God through our total surrender to Him, may our faith in Divine Providence console our hearts in these difficult times. Jesus is our only hope!
Preparatory Novena prayer for the Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary:
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, Holy Mother of God and our most tender Mother. Look down upon the distress in which the Church and all humanity finds itself due to the spread of godlessness, materialism and the persecution of the Catholic Faith, errors of which you warned in Fatima.
You are the Mediatrix of all graces. Obtain for us the grace that all the bishops of the world, in union with the Pope, may consecrate Russia and Ukraine to Your Immaculate Heart on March 25, 2022. By this consecration we hope — as you told us in Fatima — that, at a time appointed by God, Russia will be converted, and mankind will be granted an era of peace.
We hope that by this consecration, the triumph of Your Immaculate Heart will soon draw near and the Church will be authentically renewed in the splendor of the purity of the Catholic Faith, the sacredness of the liturgy and the holiness of the Christian life.
O Queen of the Holy Rosary and our most tender Mother, turn Your merciful eyes toward the Pope, the bishops and each of us, and graciously hear our fervent and trusting prayer. Amen.
