Philippine Catholic bishops will consecrate the country to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on May 13.
It is actually a “reconsecration” as the Philippines has been consecrated before after the country’s church leaders approved the annual “National Consecration” in 2013.
Since then, the Philippines has been consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in preparation for the celebration of the 5th Centenary of the arrival of Christianity in the country.
Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, president of the bishops’ conference, said this year’s consecration aims to “implore the grace and mercy of the Lord to end the pandemic … and to seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the healing and recovery of all those who are infected, and for strength and protection of the front-liners and our fellow citizens.”
The prelate said that due to the extraordinary times other countries are also doing the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary with a “sense of urgency.”
“We pray as one. We heal as one. We renew the world as one through this Act of Consecration,” said Archbishop Valles.
The Act of Consecration is also being held in observance of the 103rd anniversary of the Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima.
The celebration will start at 8:30 a.m. with the praying of the Holy Rosary followed by the Act of Consecration and then the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
Dioceses across the country will participate in the simultaneous national consecration. The center of the nationwide activity will be at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Valenzuela City.
In the Archdiocese of Manila, Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the prayer of consecration will be done by the faithful of the archdiocese to be led by mayors of the five cities that comprise the archdiocese.
“It will be beautiful when all the people God, led by their civil and religious leaders, put themselves under the protection of the Blessed Virgin,” he said in a pastoral statement.
The Act of Consecration will be aired live via TV Maria Philippines and in various Catholic social media platforms all over the country.
