By On Saturday, May 13, 2017, the world will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three young children in Fatima, Portugal. Our Lady told the three children, “My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge, and the way that will lead you to God.”
I am pleased to inform you that on this day, at a Mass celebrated at 4:30 p.m. at the Chapel of Sts. Peter and Paul to conclude our Diocesan Marian Conference, I will entrust the Diocese of Tyler to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I invite you to join me at the conference and the Mass.
I have decided to make this consecration so that we, as individuals, families, and parishes, can grow in holiness and fruitfulness under the special protection of the Mother of God, who continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of the body of Christ. In this way, we look to Mary’s Immaculate Heart as a remedy against the evil and darkness that seem to be growing each day.
We make consecrations like this, which are self-offerings that have God as the object, because, as St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Monfort says, our Lord Jesus came into the world through the Blessed Virgin Mary and He wishes the world to come to Him through her as well. “Seen in the light of Christ’s words (cf. John 19:25-27), the act of consecration is a conscious recognition of the singular role of Mary in the Mystery of Christ and of the Church, of the universal and exemplary importance of her witness to the Gospel, of trust in her intercession, and of the efficacy of her patronage, of the many maternal functions she has, since she is a true mother in the order of grace to each and every one of her children.” The act of consecration is made to the Father, through Christ in the Holy Spirit, imploring the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom we entrust ourselves completely, so as to keep our baptismal commitments and live as her children.[1] Our consecration is merely a willing, loving act of devotion which recognizes this filial relationship we have with our Heavenly Mother.
It is important that we have a proper understanding of consecration to Mary. We can see clearly that the Immaculate Heart of Mary is the image of discipleship; her heart is completely conformed to the Sacred Heart of her Son, on fire with the love of God. It is a model for the kind of heart which we ought to have, the living heart which replaces our hearts of stone (cf. Ezekiel 36:26). Mary is a sure and certain path toward union with the will of God and union with her Son. Consecration to Mary deepens and strengthens our commitment to Christ. For this reason, consecration to Mary must explicitly state that our ultimate end and goal is God and His will. We entrust and commend ourselves to her Immaculate Heart, for she leads us to the Sacred Heart of Jesus without fail.
Mary is not God; She is not the fourth person of the Holy Trinity. Her role is in no way a rival to her Son, but is always meant to magnify the Lord for the marvels He has worked through her. Nevertheless, it was God’s will that Mary play a significant part in our Christian lives and, in particular, with our sanctification. Mary is perfectly honored when we associate ourselves with her heart and embrace her words, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
I also take this occasion to strongly encourage each of us individually, and our families together, to take up those specific acts commended to us by Our Lady at Fatima: wearing the Brown Scapular of Mount Carmel, performing acts of reparation and sacrifice, practicing the devotion of the Five First Saturdays, and, most especially, praying the Holy Rosary daily.
It is my prayer that this act of devotion will be an opportunity of grace for all and that it will be pleasing to the loving Son of the Virgin Mary, our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and honor forever.
Prayer of Consecration
O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you chose the Blessed Virgin Mary as the fairest of your daughters, as your own Mother and as your holy spouse. In union with Mary, we magnify you and worship your complete dominion over all things. Almighty God, we ask that you hear our prayers that we present to you through the hands of our Blessed Lady, as we consecrate ourselves freely to her Immaculate Heart.
Glorious Queen of Heaven and Earth, ever mindful of the great love which you have for all of the souls redeemed by the Precious Blood of your divine Son, to you do we come, before you we offer ourselves, all the Faithful of the Diocese of Tyler.
Gather under the protection of your mantle the Bishop and all the priests and deacons who serve in union with him in the Diocese of Tyler. Under your special care, we place all the consecrated religious and all the lay Faithful of Christ. We ask that you stir the hearts of all so that more will answer the call to offer themselves in service in Christ’s holy priesthood and the consecrated life. We place before you all of our families. We especially beg your maternal care for all unrepentant sinners, the sick, the poor, the tempted and all who are in particular need of your intercession.
Draw us, O Immaculate Virgin, more intimately into the Eucharistic Heart of your Son, offered for us in sacrifice on Calvary and now waiting for us in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. May the love of the Heart of Jesus, which enflames your Immaculate Heart enflame, too, our tepid souls so that we may truly proclaim by our words and by our lives the Kingdom of Heaven, the Reign of the Sacred Heart of your divine Son.
May we always remain faithful to your motherly care for us. We confidently hope in your love and in the power of your intercession, now and at the hour of our deaths.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
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El sábado 13 de mayo de 2017, el mundo celebrará el centenario aniversario de la primera aparición de la Virgen María a tres niños pequeños en Fátima, Portugal. Nuestra Señora dijo a los tres niños: "Mi Inmaculado Corazón será su refugio y el camino que los llevará a Dios".
Quiero informarles que en este día, en la Misa celebrada a las 4:30 p.m., en la Capilla de los Santos Pedro y Pablo, y para concluir nuestra Asamblea Diocesana Mariana, confiaré la Diócesis de Tyler al Inmaculado Corazón de María. Los invito a que me acompañen en la asamblea y en la misa.
He decidido hacer esta consagración para que nosotros, como individuos, familias y parroquias, podamos crecer en santidad y fecundidad bajo la protección especial de la Madre de Dios, que continúa en el cielo ejerciendo su función maternal en nombre de los miembros del cuerpo de Cristo. De esta manera, miraremos al Corazón Inmaculado de María como un remedio contra el mal y la oscuridad que parecen estar creciendo cada día
Hacemos consagraciones como esta, que son ofrendas que tienen a Dios como el objetivo, porque, como dice San Luis María de Monfort, nuestro Señor Jesús vino al mundo por medio de la Santísima Virgen María y desea que el mundo venga a Él a través de ella también. "Visto en la luz de las palabras de Cristo (cf. Juan 19: 25-27), el acto de consagración es un reconocimiento consciente del papel singular de María en el Misterio de Cristo y de la Iglesia, de la importancia universal y ejemplar de su testimonio del Evangelio, de la confianza en su intercesión y la eficacia de su patrocinio, de las múltiples funciones maternas que tiene, ya que ella es una verdadera madre en orden de gracia para todos y cada uno de sus hijos". El acto de consagración se hace al Padre, por medio de Cristo en el Espíritu Santo, implorando la intercesión de la Santísima Virgen María, a quien nos encomendamos completamente para mantener nuestros compromisos bautismales y vivir como sus hijos. Nuestra consagración es simplemente un acto voluntario y amoroso de devoción que reconoce esta relación filial que tenemos con nuestra Madre Celestial.
Es importante que tengamos una comprensión propia de la consagración a María. Podemos ver claramente que el Corazón Inmaculado de María es la imagen del discipulado; Su corazón está completamente conformado al Sagrado Corazón de su Hijo, ardiendo con el amor de Dios. Es un modelo para el tipo de corazón que debemos tener, el corazón vivo que reemplaza nuestros corazones de piedra (cf. Ezequiel 36:26). María es un camino seguro y cierto hacia la unión con la voluntad de Dios y la unión con su Hijo. La consagración a María profundiza y fortalece nuestro compromiso con Cristo. Por esta razón, la consagración a María debe declarar explícitamente que nuestro último fin y meta es Dios y Su voluntad. Nos confiamos y encomendamos a su Inmaculado Corazón, pues ella nos lleva al Corazón de Jesus sin falla.
María no es Dios; Ella no es la cuarta persona de la Santísima Trinidad. Su papel no es rival al de su Hijo, sino que siempre está destinado a magnificar al Señor por las maravillas que Él ha trabajado a través de ella. Sin embargo, fue la voluntad de Dios que María desempeñara un papel importante en nuestra vida cristiana y, en particular, con nuestra santificación. María es perfectamente honrada cuando nos asociamos con su corazón y abrazamos sus palabras: "He aquí, la sierva del Señor. Que se haga conmigo conforme a tu palabra"(Lucas 1:38).
Aprovecho también esta ocasión para animar fuertemente a cada uno de nosotros, y a nuestras familias, a que adoptemos los actos específicos que nos ha recomendado Nuestra Señora de Fátima: ponernos el escapulario del Monte Carmelo, realizar actos de reparación y sacrificio, ser devotos a los cinco primeros sábados y, sobre todo, orar diariamente el Santo Rosario.
Es mi oración que este acto de devoción sea una oportunidad de gracia para todos y que sea agradable al Hijo amoroso de la Virgen María, nuestro Señor Jesucristo, a quien sea la gloria y el honor para siempre.
Joseph Strickland
Bishop Joseph E. Strickland was named the fourth bishop of Tyler in September of 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. Prior to being named bishop, he served a number of roles in the diocese, including vicar general, judicial vicar, and pastor of the Cathedral parish. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1985. 