MAY 1, 2020. [ABOVE ILLUSTRATION, FROM PIXABAY]

This is from the announcement at the Catholic News Agency, an affiliate of EWTN:

The EWTN network will air Friday the consecration of the U.S. and Canada to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which will take place in a liturgy celebrated by U.S. bishops’ conference president Archbishop Jose Gomez.

Time and Location:

Here’s how to tune in, courtesy of the same CNA article:

EWTN will broadcast the brief liturgy and prayer of re-consecration at 3 p.m. ET, Friday, May 1, live from Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in Los Angeles. The event will also be aired live on EWTN’s Facebook page.

Prayers/Resources:

The image below links to the prayers that will be used today in the consecration. These resources come from the USCCB. They offer variations to the prayers so that people may consecrate their families and parishes.

A Second Lent?

As the prayers indicate, we are asking for the Blessed Mother’s assistance and protection during this pandemic. Our situation is not so different from that of Nineveh in the days of Jonah. And so it might do us some good to reflect on that story:

Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he cried, “Yet forty days, and Nin’eveh shall be overthrown!” 

And the people of Nin’eveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. 

Then tidings reached the king of Nin’eveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, and covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 

And he made proclamation and published through Nin’eveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, or drink water, 

but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them cry mightily to God; yea, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence which is in his hands. 

Who knows, God may yet repent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we perish not?” 

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did not do it.  Jon. 3: 4–10, RSV

The Ninevites repented of their sins and fasted in the hopes that God would relent and show them mercy. And He did show them mercy. Perhaps we should follow the example of the Ninevites. Indeed, we should.