On March 25, in communion with Pope Francis and the entire Church, Carmelites and laity from around the world joined together to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The ceremony in the Carmelite basilica in Naples, Italy, was called for by the Archbishop Domenico Battaglia. He chose the Carmelite church as the place to celebrate the rosary and to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to Mary. The Archbishop himself led the prayer. He was assisted in the liturgy by the young men at the archdiocesan seminary. All the various groups of the diocese participated.
The sanctuary was crowded and reached its capacity with of around 500 people. Among those participating were the civil authorities and various other dignitaries. There were many intense reactions to the moments to the prayer. Those participating agreed that the beautiful Mother of Carmel looked down on her children with tender affection and that all those present felt enveloped by her maternal protection.
The sanctuary of Carmine Maggiore is the center of Neapolitan Marian devotion, the place of particular preference for the people who have invoked Our Lady down through the centuries, in all of their lives’ circumstances, calling Mary by the caring title “Mamma del Carmine.”
“We Carmelites were honored to have celebrated this important moment for the diocese under the loving gaze of the Madonna La Bruna,” said Alfredo Cerbo, commissary general. “We are confident that she will listen to our prayers at this very difficult moment in the entire world.”
At St. Agnes Parish and School in Phoenix, Arizona (USA)--where Carmelites have served since 1972--the whole community has been very concerned since the war began in Ukraine. At Sunday and weekday Masses the faithful have been encouraged to pray for peace. At the regular Friday School Masses, the children are asked to pray to God who loves everyone in the world to pray peace for the children and the parents of Ukraine. “The children from pre-school to eighth grade have taken this prayer in the church and their classrooms very seriously,” said Bradley Peterson, Carmelite pastor of the active parish.
When word came that Pope Francis would be consecrating all of humanity and especially Russia and the Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and asking her to obtain for us the grace of peace, this seemed like a very concrete way for the children to join in prayer with the Pope and the Church throughout the world. The pastor shared the text of the consecration with the principal, Mrs. Kelly Aranowski, asking that the teachers use it prepare the students by praying a portion of prayer that Pope Francis would use as their daily meditation.
On the Solemnity of the Annunciation, many parishioners joined with all the students and teachers for Mass at 8:30 AM, with Jorge Monterroso, O. Carm. presiding. After Holy Communion, turning to the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Fr. Bradley led everyone present in the prayer of consecration.
When the students returned to their classrooms, their teachers joined the livestream from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and were able to pray along with Pope Francis. The 5th-8th grade students were together in the parish hall, each with the text of the consecration prayer so they could pray with the Pope on the big screen up above.
“We have continued to afford the children more time to pray by having them come to the church one day a week for silent prayer and adoration during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament while the older children are participating the sacrament of reconciliation in preparation for Easter,” said Fr. Bradley.
On Friday, March 25, during the celebration of the feast of Annunciation, the Indonesian Carmelites participated in the consecration of Russia and the Ukraine to Mary. As the Indonesian Bishop Conference urged the Indonesian Catholics to participate in the consecration, all Carmelite houses and parishes in the province dedicated the day to the consecration. In the Eucharistic celebration in every Carmelite house and parish, the prayer of the consecration was said.
The Indonesian province also had a special celebration of the Annunciation which was combined with the consecration. It took place at the Carmelite Prayer Garden in Malang. The celebration was started with the Via Dolorosa Devotion with the intention for peace in Russia and the Ukraine. After finishing the devotion, the Carmelites and the people walked to the hall to have a Eucharistic celebration. Beside the altar, they had put a painting of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with baby Jesus in front of her womb. At the opening of the Eucharistic celebration, the people offered candles to Mother Mary and prayed for the peace of Russia and Ukraine. The celebrants of the Eucharistic celebration were F.X. Hariwan Adji, the prior provincial of the Indonesian Province and Alexander Agung Prasetyo O. Carm.
At the end of the celebration, the prayer of the consecration was said together. Many people and Carmelites took the opportunity to participate in the celebration.
