Cardinal Nichols consecrates England & Wales to Immaculate Heart of Mary

On Saturday, 18 February, on the occasion of the visit of the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, in the centenary year of the apparitions, to Westminster Cathedral, His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols consecrated England and Wales to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

In the Act of Consecration, a modified version of the one used by Cardinal Griffin in the Abbey grounds in Walsingham on 16 July 1948, he said: 'To your Immaculate Heart, in this centenary year of the apparitions at Fatima, we re-consecrate ourselves in union not only with the Church, the Mystical Body of your Son, but also with the entire world'.

The consecration took place at the end of Mass which began with the procession of the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue, borne by Knights of St Columba and accompanied by children dressed as Lucia dos Santos and Blessed Jacinta and Francisco Marto, carrying the crown and the relics of Bl Jacinta and Franciso, and joined by members of the World Apostolate of Fatima.

Immediately following the procession, Cardinal Nichols crowned the statue with a silvergilt crown presented by Jorge Leitão of the firm of Leitão and Irmão who created the original crown in Fatima in 1942.

Catholics from across England and Wales filled the cathedral for the Mass, which was celebrated by Cardinal Nichols along with priests from several dioceses.

In his homily, the Cardinal referred to the words of Pope St John Paul at the beatification Mass of Francisco and Jacinta when he told the children present that Jesus 'needs your prayers and sacrifices for sinners'. Reflecting on these words which he called a 'considerable challenge', the Cardinal asked 'How well do we express our discipleship of Christ every day?'

The answer, he affirmed, lies in 'what we know of Our Lady of Fatima and what she has to say to us', explaining that she 'has a strong relevance to us today'.

He focused on the devotion to the Immaculate Heart, saying that it offers us 'an attitude of heart that accords with Our Lady's, and so opens up pathways, fresh and sure, towards Christ'.

The Cardinal also spoke of the bullets from the assassination attempt on the life of Pope St John Paul in 1981, of which one has been placed in the crown in Fatima, referring to its journey 'from an instrument of death to a beacon of reconciliation and hope' as 'a wonderful allegory of how the prayers of Our Lady and the faith of believers are far, far more than a nice idea. They can truly change the world.'

Noting that the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue was on a journey around the cathedrals of England and Wales, he said: 'I pray that this will be a time of grace for many, as they honour Our Lady of Fatima in this centenary year.'

The Mass was followed by veneration of the relics of Bl Jacinta and Francisco.

See also: ICN 19 February 2017 - Text: Cardinal at visit of National Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, Westminster Cathedral www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=31962 - with the pilgrimage dates.