ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Special consecration of the country to the Blessed Mary

Saturday, 9 May 2020 coronavirus marian devotion prayer

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Manila (Agenzia Fides) - The Virgin Mary is the safe haven to protect the Philippines and heal the country from the disastrous COVID-19 pandemic: with this spirit all the dioceses of the Philippines, will be consecrated to the care of the Blessed Mother Mary in a nation fighting the virus and still in solitary confinement until May 15.
As Fides learns, the bishops are expected to lead the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in their respective cathedrals on May 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. The heart of the initiative will be the national shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in the city of Valenzuela, near Manila.
"I think this is a wonderful initiative", said Archbishop Romulo Valles, president of the episcopal conference, stated in his letter to the dioceses, recalling that also in 2013, during the Year of Faith, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) also consecrated the country to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In Manila, Bishop Broderick Pabillo will lead the prayer of consecration at the cathedral on May 13, in the presence of the mayors of the five cities covering the archdiocese: Manila, Mandaluyong, Pasay, Makati and San Juan. From May 10, the archdiocese will start a "triduum" of daily penance and rosary, which will culminate on the common act of consecration .
"All the people of God, led by their civil and religious leaders, put themselves under the protection of the Blessed Virgin", said Pabillo. "We want to implore the protection of the powerful intercession of our Blessed Mother in this difficult time, especially as we move to the transition to a new way of life after the quarantine", added Pabillo. "We need strength from above, and we have a powerful intercessor in Mama Mary to get that heavenly help", he also said, noting that the Church in the Philippines listened to Pope Francis' invitation who encouraged the faithful to pray the rosary throughout the month of May.
The archdiocese will also hold a series of catechetical instructions on the meaning and implication of such consecration.
Repeating the words of the Pope, Mgr. Pabillo said that "contemplating the face of Christ will make us even more united in facing the pandemic". (SD-PA) (Agenzia Fides, 9/5/2020)