Consecration of Ireland – Introductory Words – Feast of the Annunciation – March 2020
Introductory Words of Bishop Fintan
If we had a euro for the number of times we have heard the phrase “we live in unprecedented times” we would all be very rich indeed!
It is a time of deep challenge and crisis and this is something much bigger than what we can manage and cope with just by ourselves.
We need to move, while not physically – metaphorically and spiritually beyond ourselves and even beyond our families and immediate friends to be able to cope.
We often reflect on the words of John Donne that “no man is an island” or the Irish phrase “Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine”.
We thank God at this time for the help of the community and communities around us and the way they help us survive and flourish – the medical profession, the caring profession, all in the service industry our political leaders who look out for others in so many ways.
At times of challenge and difficulty our needs and desire is often drawn beyond even beyond that to the community of faith, the Church and specifically to God above to appeal for help, guidance, blessing, courage, faith, fortitude and hope.
As part of our rich Catholic Tradition we have profound faith and belief in the Prayer and Protection of Mary, Mother of God and at this time of deep crisis we pray to her today and seek her blessing and protection.
In this special prayer time on the feast of the Annunciation we Consecrate Ireland to her Immaculate Heart, to her care. We appeal and plead to her motherly instinct to look out for us today and in the near future as we journey together during this difficult time.
Mary, Mother of God, intercede for us in our hour of need!
Act of Consecration of Ireland to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for protection from the Coronavirus
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, 25 March 2020
The Act begins with the recitation of The Angelus
The Angelus
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, ………..
Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Be it done unto me according to Your Word.
Hail Mary, ……
And the Word was made flesh
And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, ……..
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech You, O Lord,
Your Grace into our hearts;
that as we have known the incarnation of Christ,
your Son by the message of an angel,
so by His passion and cross
we may be brought to the glory of His Resurrection.
Through the same Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
The Apostles Creed
I believe in God,
the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of Saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
The First Joyful Mystery of the Rosary: The Annunciation of the Lord
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said: “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women”. And when she saw Him, she was troubled at His saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.And the angel said unto her:” Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest”… And Mary said:” Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”. And the angel departed from her. (Luk 1,26-38)
Oh Mary with Your “yes” You have opened heaven’s ways, You have achieved the will of the Father. You will be blessed for ever: Your intercession is heard in Heaven, because You have accepted God’s plan. Let us pray that we can say “yes” to the Father in every instance He ask it of us. Mary help us to be humble and obedient to God’s will.
As we begin this decade of the Rosary we do so in solidarity with Pope Francis who has asked us to join together today in praying the Our Father to implore God to rid the world of the coronavirus pandemic:
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
o 10 Hail Marys
o Glory Be
Prayer of Consecration
Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Health of the Sick,
at this time of great challenge to our country from the coronavirus,
we consecrate to Jesus through your Immaculate Heart:
ourselves, our family, the members of our parish of Ennis, our Pastoral Area of Abbey, Diocese of Killaloe, and the people of Ireland.
O Mary, Queen of Ireland, when you appeared at Knock,
you gave hope to your people in a time of distress,
and brought them comfort in a time of sorrow.
Be with us now as a sign of salvation and hope,
as we entrust ourselves to your loving care.
We renew the promises of our Baptism and Confirmation
and ask your intercession that we may be always faithful to Christ and to His Church.
Bring under your mantle of protection all those who are suffering because of the coronavirus, and those who care for the sick and minister to their needs,
as your Son implores us to do for one another.
O Loving Mother,
at the foot of the Cross, with steadfast faith,
your Immaculate Heart was pierced by grief at the suffering of your Son.
You know what we need during these difficult days.
Help us, O Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us –
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection.
O Blessed Mother, Our Life, our Sweetness and Our Hope,
we wish that this Consecration be for the glory of God and that it lead us safely to Jesus your Son.
A Naomh-Mhuire, a Mháthair Dé, guigh orainn na peacaigh, anois agus ar uair ár mbáis.
Amen.
Blessing
May your servants be shielded, O Lord
By the protection of your loving-kindness,
That, doing what is good in this world,
They may reach you, their highest good.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
May Almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.