Most people know that Our Lady of Fatima requested the collegial consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart. (Collegial means in union with all of the bishops of the world). Pope Francis probably knows what Our Lady requested. Previously, he consecrated his papacy to Our Lady of Fatima. On Sunday, October 13, the anniversary of the last apparition at Fatima in 1917, he consecrated each one of us to her for her to entrust everyone to her Son.
He did not collegially consecrate Russia. We don’t know why he didn’t, but we should trust that Our Lady of Fatima is leading him and inspiring him because of the consecration of his papacy to her.
On March 24, 2004 Blessed John Paul II said, “I remember especially March 25, 1984, the Holy Year. Twenty years have gone by since that day when in spiritual union with all the bishops of the world I entrusted all of mankind to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in response to Our Lady’s plea in Fatima.” He did not literally do what Our Lady requested either because, although his consecration was collegial, he too didn’t mention Russia.
However, he read all about Fatima after his assassination attempt on May 13, 1981, the anniversary of Our Lady’s first apparition at Fatima. He knew what he was doing and he knew what Our Lady requested at Fatima, but he broadened his collegial consecration to include all of mankind. He said, as in the quote above, that he did it “in response to Our Lady’s plea in Fatima.” Perhaps Blessed Pope John Paul II thought that he had fulfilled her request and Pope Francis thought the same and decided to do his own personal consecration.
In any event, our mission is not to criticize either of them for “not doing the job right.” Our mission is to practice Our Lady of Fatima’s message to each one of us to consecrate ourselves to her and to make reparation for the sins of the world by our prayer, especially the daily rosary, and the practice of the First Saturday Devotion.
Pope Francis’ complete, short and sweet consecration to Our Lady of Fatima is contained below.
Click here to learn more from my book, The Call to Total Consecration.
Pope Francis’ Consecration
Holy Mary Virgin of Fatima, with renewed gratitude for your maternal presence
we join our voice to that of all the generations who call you blessed.
We celebrate in you the works of God,
who never tires of looking down with mercy upon humanity,
afflicted with the wound of sin, to heal it and save it.
Accept with the benevolence of a Mother the act of consecration
that we perform today with confidence,
before this image of you that is so dear to us.
We are certain that each of us is precious in your eyes
and that nothing of all that lives in our hearts is unknown to you.
We let ourselves be touched by your most sweet regard
and we welcome the consoling caress of your smile.
Hold our life in your arms: bless and strengthen every desire for good;
revive and nourish faith; sustain and enlighten hope;
awaken and animate charity; guide all of us along the path of holiness.
Teach us your own preferential love for the little and the poor,
for the excluded and the suffering, for sinners and the downhearted:
bring everyone under your protection and entrust everyone
to your beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus.
Amen.
