At the end of each of our three Masses on the Feast of the Annunciation, we prayed together the Act of Consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On that very day, millions of people also watched prayerfully on their screens Pope Francis' solemn entrustment of the world to Mary.

Many parishioners let me know how much they appreciated the power of the Pope's words at this crucial time. These words filled two entire pages. They were not only powerful, but also most timely, and most relevant to the current situation of the world: on the one hand, imminent danger to the whole world of an escalation of the war between Ukraine and Russia (already one-month long and with increasing atrocities against civilians) and on the other hand, the devil's continuous, relentless and increasing attack on the family and life throughout the world: abortion, contraception, cohabitation, sexual promiscuity, pornography, gender confusion, transgender agenda, homosexual acts, same-sex marriage.

You can read the entire two pages of the printed version of the Consecration (click here to read), on our website or our FLOCKNOTES of last week. I assure you that you will find it inspirational.

For those of you that have not yet read the Consecration Prayer or heard it, I would like to reiterate some of the specific comments and key quotes I made in my homilies last Friday (March 25):

1. The Consecration goes much beyond the countries of UKRAINE and RUSSIA. It is much needed everywhere, including in our own hearts. Here is a quote from the last two paragraphs: “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... In your womb Jesus took Flesh; help us to foster the growth of communion...Lead us now on the PATHS OF PEACE. AMEN".

2. It is clear that the Consecration includes THE ENTIRE HUMANITY; it includes the entire United States. It also includes our own state Maryland, and our entire Waldorf community, both Catholics and non-Catholics. It is clear that it is not limited to praying only for an end to wars, but it includes the need to pray for the entire CONVERSION of the world, away from its SINFULNESS. This applies to our own country, to the Catholic Church and to each one of us: we are all sinners, and we have all turned away from God. GOD is always ready to come and forgive us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). We all need to repent and convert. Yes, we should pray for the Conversion of Mr. Putin and all his associates at this crucial moment in the history of the world. But let us not forget to pray for the conversion of all sinners, including ourselves, as recommended by Our Lady of Fatima 105 years ago. If you have not gone to Confession recently, this is the TIME FOR EACH OF US TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AND GO TO CONFESSION BEFORE THE HOLY WEEK!!!

3. "We turn to Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, in this TIME OF TRIAL...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!"

4. "To preserve the JOY of the WEDDING FEAST, you said to JESUS: " THEY HAVE NO WINE" (John 2:3). Now, O Mother, repeat those words and that prayer, for in our day WE HAVE RUN OUT OF THE WINE OF HOPE, JOY HAS FLED, Fraternity HAD 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,"

5. Let us pray together the CENTRAL part of the CONSECRATION:

"STAR OF THE SEA do not let us be shipwrecked in the tempest of war.

ARK OF THE COVENANT, inspire projects and paths of RECONCILIATION...

QUEEN OF HEAVEN Eliminate hatred and the thirst for revenge, teach us forgiveness

QUEEN OF THE ROSARY, make us realize our need to PRAY AND LOVE.

QUEEN OF PEACE, obtain Peace for our world.”

Many of you may remember that following the tragic attack on our country on September 11, 2001, people came back to church to pray for peace in our country. In this most challenging time, let us pray for peace but also let us pray for people to come back to church. Let us pray to the HOLY SPIRIT that each of one of us may be an inspiration to those close to us to turn toward God and return to the Church!

One in Christ,
 

Father Alain