OTTAWA (CCN)—Canada’s three cardinals led their fellow bishops in re-consecrating Canada to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sept. 26.
Kneeling by the painting of Our Lady of Canada by the late Quebec artist Marius Dubois, Cardinal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect for the Congregation for Bishops in Rome and former Archbishop of Quebec, and Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, led more than 80 bishops and eparchs from across Canada and hundreds lay faithful in the consecration prayer at Ottawa’s Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica.
“May the Cross of your Son, planted on Canadian soil and in Canadian hearts, be known as the Tree of Life, whose fruit is visible and available to all in the garden of this world,” the cardinals, bishops and lay faithful prayed.
“Mary our Mother, we place our country Canada in the sanctuary of your Holy Heart for we know that there we will find Jesus, who lives and reigns with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.”
The consecration marked Canada’s 150th birthday as well as the 70th anniversary of the 1947 Marian Congress in Ottawa when Canada was first consecrated to the Immaculate Heart. That congress, which drew several hundred thousand pilgrims to Ottawa, was among the largest religious events in North America of its time.
“By this prayer of consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary, we pray that our country may be protected from the horrors of war and that our people may be more open to welcome into their lives the Good News which is not a doctrine or a philosophy, but is someone: Jesus Christ,” said Cardinal Lacroix in his homily during the Mass preceding the consecration. “We also pray that we may become missionary disciples, available and willing to share the treasure of our faith.”
Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of Ottawa celebrated Mass for the Feast of the Canadian Martyrs. Concelebrating with him in red vestments were the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Douglas Crosby of Hamilton, and CCCB vice president Bishop Lionel Gendron of Saint-Jean-Longueuil.
“What a moving event it was to share with more than 80 of my brother bishops in the act of consecrating Canada – and all that we Canadians aspire to be – to Mary’s Immaculate Heart!” said Archbishop Prendergast. “And the enthusiasm of the faithful – especially that of the university students – in their love of our country and our faith! Wow! It’s an experience I shall not forget but treasure for years to come.”
“In a way, what can the Church offer the country on this 150th anniversary?” asked Bishop Crosby. “There’s nothing more beautiful than the prayer of consecration to Our Lady. I’m very happy about it.”
“Many people across the country have written or have expressed to me personally how grateful they are they were that we were going to do this,” Bishop Crosby said.
“Certainly, the sentiment I heard among the bishops, especially given our day and age here in Canada, we need to renew this, we need to call on the Blessed Mother to watch over and guide us as a people,” said Archbishop Gerard Pettipas of the Grouard-McLennan diocese in Northern Alberta.
As the bishops had gathered the previous day for their annual plenary gathering Sept. 25-29 in Cornwall, Ont., Canada’s apostolic nuncio told them he was pleased they make the consecration.
“May this consecration make our hearts aflame with that love that shines forth from the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of Jesus,” Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi said.
“The consecration of Canada to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the feast of the Canadian Martyrs was arguably the crowning event of the year’s sesquicentennial anniversary celebrations of Confederation,” said Dennis Girard of CatholicinCanada.com.
Girard and his wife Angela had been promoting lay involvement in the re-consecration, including a novena leading up to the event, ever since he came across a film of the 1947 Marian Congress late last year.
The Mass also marked another milestone in Canada, the 50th anniversary for the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (Caritas Canada)—the Canadian bishops’ overseas development agency. Development and Peace was founded in 1967 on Canada’s 100th anniversary year.
“Development and Peace has supported thousands of local initiatives in areas such as agriculture, education, community action, peace-building, and human rights advocacy in 70 countries,” Cardinal Lacroix said. “It supports women in their quest for social and economic justice.”
“Today, in this golden jubilee, we give thanks to God for so many people who have worked and who continue to be committed to building a more just world,” he said.
At a wine and cheese reception following the Mass and the consecration, the bishops and those attending the Mass had an opportunity to see Development and Peace’s 50th anniversary quilt pilgrimage.
