Archbishop J. Michael Miller will consecrate the Archdiocese of Vancouver to the Blessed Virgin on May 1, joining bishops conferences around the world who are uniting to seek Mary’s maternal protection during the coronavirus pandemic.
Archbishop Miller will consecrate the archdiocese, pray the Rosary, and offer Mass from Holy Rosary Cathedral at 12:10 p.m. Friday. Watch live here.
May 1 marks the beginning of the month traditionally devoted to honouring the Blessed Virgin, an observance taking on even greater significance this year as Catholics around the world turn to Mary, seeking her guidance and support as the pandemic disrupts their daily lives.
With Catholic churches closed across Canada, Catholics are being asked to turn to their love for the Mother of the Church during the Marian month of May as a way of dealing with the social upheaval that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused.
“Under the circumstances this year, we are encouraging the whole church to mark the month of May and celebrate Mother Mary in a special way,” Archbishop Richard Gagnon, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, told Canadian Catholic News.
“Traditionally, the Marian month of May is when we honour Christ’s mother who is our mother and the mother of the Church, and at this particular time with all the challenges we are facing spiritually as well as social and economic challenges, it is a special time in the way the Church can honour Mary,” said Archbishop Gagnon, who is Archbishop of Winnipeg).
On May 1 the Canadian bishops will join with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in consecrating the two countries to the Blessed Virgin Mary, seeking her protection in response to the pandemic.
Archbishop Gagnon will participate a ceremony in Winnipeg at the same time the president of the USCCB Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles does the same at his diocese in the United States.
“May is the month dedicated in a special way to the Mother of Christ. We believe that she is, in a spiritual but real sense, our mother too,” Archbishop Gagnon said.
“We turn to her and ask for the help of her powerful and maternal prayers to God for us,” he said. “To consecrate ourselves to Mary means to be united with her in entrusting our lives entirely to God.”
Archbishop Gagnon said that that even though Catholic churches across Canada are closed for public health reasons, dioceses across the country will be celebrating Mother Mary in their own ways throughout the month.
Pope Francis also issued a call to Catholics around the world to look to Mary for spiritual support by praying the Rosary as often as possible during the May.
“Contemplating the face of Christ with the heart of Mary, our mother, will make us even more united as a spiritual family and will help us overcome this time of trial,” the Pope said in a letter addressed to all Catholics and released by the Vatican April 25.
With B.C. Catholic files