Day 17 or 18 of the 33 Day Consecration to Mary - Praying for America and the World

Today is day 17 or 18 of the 33-day consecration to Mary, depending on whether you were ending on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Happy Second Sunday of Advent! In today’s second reading, Saint Paul writes to the Philippians with great affection. I was very struck by his words, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus (1:6).” I read this in great hope for myself and for you, but also for the world. Sometimes, I am very hopeless about the way I see the world going. There are so many terrible, unthinkable, unholy things happening in our nation, among other nations and in our church. There are many days I have cried before the Lord in despair. But Saint Paul says in Romans, “All creation is groaning in labor pains (8:2).” And Jesus said, “A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world (John 16:21).” As bad as it seems at times, this pain is going to yield to a new life, a magnificent joy. Joy is coming. The Lord began a great work in the world and He’s going to bring it to completion. You and I are to remain in faithful hope that His victory is assured. Today, we consecrate to Mary ourselves, our families, our nation and our church. (And in particular, I pray for the United States, as yesterday was the feast day of our patron saint, Mary, the Immaculate Conception.) A Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of Your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to You, all the people of our country and all the world. Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as You wish to accomplish Your designs in the world. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully. We come with confidence to You, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed Your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes Your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home. Amen. --Venerable Pope Pius XII