Dedication To Mary

Dedication to Mary BISHOP’S REFLECTIONS

By Bishop Francis I. Malone

The bishops of the United States are joined together in a “conference” of bishops which provides a dynamic of cooperation among all the bishops of the country. The official name of this group is “the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,” or the “USCCB” for short. As a group, the bishops meet twice a year: in the fall, the meeting takes place in Baltimore; in the spring at an alternate site. There are officers elected by the body of bishops, and they organize the workings of the entire body of bishops. The current president of the USCCB is Archbishop José Gómez of Los Angeles. We bishops receive emails from the USCCB on a regular basis, and regularly, we hear from Archbishop Gomez.

Last month he wrote to us about the current state of affairs and suggested that, among other things, we as the Church in the United States join the Canadian Conference of Bishops in dedicating the Church in America to “Mary, the Mother of the Church.” He set May 1st as the day in which he would lead this formal dedication, and asked all dioceses to do the same. We did this from the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans on May 1st. Hopefully, you were able to join us as the event was live-streamed. If you missed it, you can access it on the Cathedral’s website at: www.sjbcathedral.org.

Since the United States is already consecrated to Mary in her Immaculate Conception, why is a “rededication” so important? I suggest that there are a number of reasons for us to do this, and the timeliness of this dedication beginning on May 1st as we did.

First, you will remember the scene of Jesus hanging on the cross, and His words to His mother and to His disciple, John. To John He said, “behold your mother;” to Mary, Jesus said, “behold your son.” Throughout the centuries, the entrusting of John to Mary was seen as Jesus entrusting the world to His mother. Mary has been given many different titles over the centuries. There is even the famous “litany of Loretto,” (which I encourage you to pray) which lists many of these. “Mother of the Church,” is not an entirely new title given to her – and so it begs the question, “why this title, and why now?”

The month of May has traditionally been devoted to our reverence of Mary as our spiritual mother. There is no more perfect month in which to recall the place she occupies as our mother. As such, she does what any good and holy mother does: she watches over us, she prays for us, she intercedes for us – because we are her spiritual children. And other than the powerful devotion of the Rosary, the beautiful prayer, “The Memorare,” underscores our petition that she continues to do this for us, needy as we are, especially now.

Given the terrible time in which we have been living, with the pandemic causing sickness and death, impacting the way we worship, and gather, and interact with one another, and work – the Church is confident that Mary is our protector, as a good and holy mother would be for her children. The “Memorare” emphasizes that she has never failed us in the past, and we place our confidence in her now more than ever.

So I ask you as May gives way to June that you revisit the Cathedral website, that you research on your own the “Memorare,” that as the Church in the United States rededicates itself to her, that each of us do that as well.

May Mary, the “Mother of the Church,” intercede on our behalf and that of our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Needing Prayers?

Bishop Malone wants you to know he prays for you and your intentions daily in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. If you have a special intention, please feel free to email Bishop Malone at: prayerrequests@dioshpt.org