I just returned from School Mass where our pastor prayed the full Consecration of Russia prayer. I wasn't prepared for it. It was beautiful, sad, and powerful. It reminded me of the times in the Old Testament when the Israelites repented and returned to God. I urge you this day to pray this prayer with your family & friends. Here is an excerpt with the a link to the full prayer below:
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 neighbor’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!
Today we remember the Annunciation. Let us proclaim "fiat" to the Lord at every moment of our lives just as Mary, Our Mother, did! Many of the great saints of the 19th and 20th century had a strong devotion to Mary. Her example influenced every aspect of their lives, and this was only possible by developing a relationship with her. For me, it was through the rosary and reading the Mystical City of God that I got to know Mary. Through that relationship I got to know her son, Jesus Christ. If you are sick, if you are lost, if you are lonely, if you are discerning a major life decision... CALL YOUR MAMA!
