On the Critics of Pope Francis’ Consecration to the Immaculate Heart (Catholic Caucus)

Catholic Culture ^ | October 15, 2013 | Dr. Jeff Mirus

[RBStealth]

When Pope Francis consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on October 13th, he followed a tradition of pontifical consecrations established by Pope Pius XII and continued by Pope John Paul II, each of whom made the consecration twice. These consecrations are certainly occasions of grace, even if many in the world have no wish to be so consecrated.

The official use of the term “consecration” in this context will, I hope, give pause to some who insist the word cannot be used properly except in direct reference to God. While as a precise theological term, “consecrate” does refer to God, in ordinary usage it can refer to any supreme commitment to a religious value which, as it were, draws us very close to God, enabling us to participate in some way in His holiness.

No less an authority than Christ Himself purposefully consecrated Himself so that his disciples “may be consecrated in truth” (Jn 17:19). In view of the sacrifice He was about to make, of course, the connection with the Father in this consecration is very clear, almost palpable in its intensity. To take another example, in his Gettysburg address, a far more ordinary Abraham Lincoln referred to the consecration of a battleground by the sacrifice of the Union soldiers. No matter what we think of the sentiment, this suggests that in normal use the term can and does refer to a kind of immersion in a deep value closely connected with the Divine. “To consecrate” means, in effect, “to make sacred”.

[RBStealth]

In fact, the insistence that the popes are guilty of serious fault for not following the instructions of Our Lady at Fatima turns the authority of the Church on its head. It is of the essence of Christianity that Christ Himself was the full revelation of the Father, and that the deposit of faith—the Revelation on which the mission of the Church was based—was closed with the death of the last apostle. Subsequent locutions and apparitions may be given to individuals, but they are essentially private in character, not part of the public Revelation committed to the Church. It belongs to the Church to judge these private revelations, and not for these private revelations to be used to judge the Church.

[mlizzy]

What do you think about the Pope[s] not definitively following the request of Our Lady, that Russia be consecrated?

[RBStealth]

I think the article points out the flaws in your thinking.
One of which is that we must think with the mind of the Church(the Pope, Bishops,Magisterium) and not use apparitions to pronounce our judgement on the Church. The church pronounces judgement on apparitions.

Your thinking is a form of populism against the church.
Which is not to say that your thinking is the dominant view, it isnt.

[mlizzy]

It’s not necessarily my thinking that the Church should have followed to the letter what Mary requested, but I have wondered about it. I was mostly interested to hear what your take was on it; if you agreed with the article, etc. Thanks!

[RBStealth]

What do you think about the Pope[s] not definitively following the request of Our Lady, that Russia be consecrated?

The way this is framed to me is that you dont believe the consecration was performed properly. Unless, of course your a news reporter posing a theoretical....However, your no news reporter and this is no interview.

To be more open to you, I think with the mind of the church. Pope JPII and the Vatican and the Magisterium teaches this was done. I think with the mind of the Church or I think that the Church is gravely mistaken or liars. ...I think with the mind of the Church. The consecration was done, its a mere fact.

I'm not looking for debate on this topic but I have a small bit to add:

People say the consecration was not done because of their sense of what 'converted' or 'conversion' means(as in Russia will be converted).

Some people have a preconceived definitive version of conversion in their head that is inviolate. This extends to what they hope to see in a converted Russia, and if they dont see that then Russia hasn't converted, therefore there was no valid consecration.

Fatima occured in 1917. NewAdvent.org has a Catholic Encyclopedia from 1917 listed on its webpage.

Catholic Encyclopedia 1917 "Conversion": http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04347a.htm

The BVM talked of the spreading of the errors of Russia, from these(Communism,Atheism) Russia has been converted and they are on a journey toward the Lord. It is my belief that currently Russia is a more Christian country than the U.S. We the U.S. have been exporting our errors around the world since the 60's,70's: abortion, population control(sterilizaiton, contraception, abortion), anti-humanism, atheism. These are accomplished in tandem with the World Bank, the U.N. and the E.U. Is Russia more sinful today than the U.S....I dont think so! Russia has been getting better, we are getting worse.

Some people also have an incomplete understanding of either consecration or the understanding of silent prayer and its efficiacy is no less than verbal prayer or a verbal consecration.

"Consecrate" is another word in this 1917 Catholic Encyc. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04276a.htm

[RBStealth]

Consecration is not a sacrament.
A sacrament requires form, matter and intention.

Many liberal priests/Catholics ignore the form part(the operative words) of a sacrament, change the words, dont fulfill all the requirements but have the intention. This is flawed.

However, a consecration is not a sacrament. People criticize the Consecration of Russia because of its form(the operative words). Even though the matter and intention are 100% there. The form(operative words) is not flawed, silent prayer, silent consecration is valid.

[HoosierDammit]

Good stuff. I’m with you, RB - Bl. JPII loved the Our Lady and loathed Communism in equally strong measure, so I doubt he would willfully disregard the intentions of Her instruction. BXVI’s agreement in the matter is just icing on the cake.

Blessed John Paul II, pray for us!

[Oratam]

"The BVM talked of the spreading of the errors of Russia, from these (Communism, Atheism) Russia has been converted and they are on a journey toward the Lord. It is my belief that currently Russia is a more Christian country than the U.S. We the U.S. have been exporting our errors around the world since the 60's,70's. . . ."

Evil fled the Kremlin and took up housekeeping in New York and Hollywood, the twin propaganda capitals, and in Chicago where the flame was kept burning and DC where the Constitution has been set alight.

[RBStealth]

http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/FatimaConsecration.htm

March 25, 1984
Pope John Paul II, "united with all the pastors of the Church in a particular bond whereby we constitute a body and a college," consecrates "the whole world, especially the peoples for which by reason of their situation you have particular love and solicitude." Both the Pope and Sr. Lucia initially seemed uncertain that the consecration has been fulfilled, but shortly thereafter Sr. Lucia tells the papal nuncio to Portugal that the Consecration is fulfilled.

May 13, 1984
One of the largest crowds in Fatima history gathers at the shrine to pray the Rosary for peace.

May 13, 1984
An explosion at the Soviets’ Severomorsk Naval Base destroys two-thirds of all the missiles stockpiled for the Soviets’ Northern Fleet. The blast also destroys workshops needed to maintain the missiles as well as hundreds of scientists and technicians. Western military experts called it the worst naval disaster the Soviet Navy has suffered since WWII.

December 1984
Soviet Defense Minister, mastermind of the invasion plans for Western Europe, suddenly and mysteriously dies.

March 10, 1985
Soviet Chairman Konstantin Chernenko dies

March 11, 1985
Soviet Chairman Mikhail Gorbachev elected

April 26, 1986
Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident

May 12, 1988
An explosion wrecked the only factory that made the rocket motors for the Soviets’ deadly SS 24 long-range missiles, which carry ten nuclear bombs each.

August 29, 1989
Sr. Lucia affirms in correspondence that the consecration "has been accomplished" and that "God will keep His word."

November 9, 1989
Fall of the Berlin Wall

Nov-Dec 1989
Peaceful revolutions in Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania

1990
East and West Germany are unified

December 25, 1991
Dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

[johngrace]

Great article. Thanks.