Fr. Timothy Shea

Blog #6: Family Consecration

May 5, 2020

Last week Archbishop Mulhall informed all the churches that Pope Francis had designated May 1st as the day for every Catholic parish in the world to be consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of the Church. The message included a format of prayers for me to use to consecrate our parish to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Therefore, last Friday at my private Mass I celebrated the consecration of our parish with words that included a prayer of “protection from the ravages of the coronavirus, healing for those who are ill, wisdom and courage for health care workers, and eternal life in heaven for those who have died". Our parish benefits from these blessings.

I have changed some of the consecration prayer so that you can use it to consecrate your family to the Blessed Virgin Mary. My suggestion is that at a family meal you lead your family in praying the Lord’s prayer, three Hail Marys and then this prayer:

“Together let us entrust our family to the care and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We ask that she intercede with her son Jesus to hear our prayers as we seek protection from coronavirus; for healing, wisdom and courage during this difficult time...

Let us pray: Loving God, you chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to be our spiritual Mother. Grant that with her loving help our family may be blessed. We pray for faith, hope and perseverance. Deliver us from the dangers of this pandemic. Watch over those who are vulnerable, and all those who give of themselves to care for the sick. Grant to our family health, safety and peace; calm our minds and hearts. May almighty God bless us in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”