Fr. Alonso on Consecration of Russia

Meaning of the «Consecration» of Russia. I

1. What is a consecration

… The consecration is an interior act of the moral virtue of religion, as a potential part of justice, which totally delivers man to the service of God. … a “justice” which we owe God … places us in a personal relationship of love with God…

… “Devotion” and surrender are nothing more than the expression of that religious attitude which in its excellence we call “consecration.”

… The consecration… of whatever social structure, like that of a state or a nation, can be done by the Supreme Pontiff. Such an act is within the power that Christ gave to St. Peter and his successors. …

2. Conditions for the Consecration of Russia

… [Pope] should do it [consecration] “in union with all the bishops.” This condition … does indeed affect an essential condition demanded by Heaven.

Here are some texts of Sister Lucy:

“The moment has come in which God asks that the Holy Father make the Consecration of Russia, in union with all the bishops of the world” (June 13, 1929). “… if the Holy Father deigns to make and command that the bishops of the Catholic world do it likewise.” (May 29, 1930).

“… if Your Holiness deigns to make and commands that all the bishops of the Catholic world do it likewise …” (Petition of the Bishop of Leiria-Fatima to the Holy Father in April 1937).

“… in union with Your Holiness, and at the same time all the bishops of the world do it also.” (December 2, 1940).

… this text of the celebrated letter of Lucy to the Pope, it is clearly determined that it deals with a simultaneity of time. Otherwise the attempted finality, that is, that solemn and public act, would not be obtained.

Responding to Father Jongen, Lucy cannot be more explicit.

“The exact petition of Our Lady was for the Holy Father to make the Consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart, commanding that at the same time and in union with His Holiness, all the bishops of the Catholic world should do it.”

Father Fonseca in a conversation with Lucy, in July of 1946, clearly grasped the reason for that condition which scandalized so many people:

“The Consecration of Russia — according to Lucy, Our Lady wanted the Pope to consecrate Russia, and at the same time She wanted the bishops of the world to consecrate it (Russia), thus promoting a solemn Crusade of prayer and reparation (like the consecration of the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus).”

Thomas Walsh, the writer, grasped the fact that a special circumstance brought out further the quality of solemnity.

“What Our Lady desired,” (Lucy is speaking), “is that the Pope and all the bishops of the world consecrate Russia to Her Immaculate Heart on one special day.”

… the conclusion is clear: the union of the bishops with the Pope for the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary must occur at the same time. Obviously it need not be “mathematical,” but it must indeed be one which brings about solemnity and publicity.

3. The Consecration of Russia, not of the world

… In the text of July 1917 only Russia is mentioned. Several times Lucy has warned that this text should never be changed, putting in “world” instead of “Russia”.

… It is certain that Lucy prays for Spain, Portugal, Russia and the whole world, but when consecration is mentioned, the word Russia is the only word. It can be believed, Lucy explains, that the consecration of those nations and of the world, will draw down great graces … but the promise of conversion as such, has only been made for Russia.

Meaning of the «Consecration» of Russia. II

1. The consecration of the world. Special mention of Russia

It is absolutely certain, we can say, that in the writings of Sister Lucy appears "another" communication from Heaven, distinct from those made in July 1917 and June 1929 and it proceeds from Our Lord — not from the Blessed Virgin. It asks for the consecration of the world with special mention of Russia, and attached to it is a distinct promise, already now completed, of the shortening of the war of 1939-45.

… [On October 22, 1940] recollecting herself in prayer, she [Lucia] receives the following communication from Heaven.

"His Holiness will obtain the shortening of these days of tribulation, if they attend to My desires, making the act of consecration of the entire world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary with special mention of Russia."

Let us observe carefully the important literary changes between this text and that already quoted in June 1929.

1. It is Our Lord Who speaks, not the Blessed Virgin.
2. It demonstrates a desire, not a requirement.
3. To the consecration of the world is added the special mention of Russia.
4. What is promised is not the conversion of Russia, but the shortening of the war.

… Once, the sculptor of the great Statue of Our Lady of Fatima on the facade of the basilica, Father McGlynn, asked Sister Lucy:

"Would you consider the consecration of individuals, dioceses and nations, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as an adequate expression of devotion to the Immaculate Heart?"
"Such consecrations were not expressly asked for, but I think that they would be agreeable to Our Lady and that they would attract special graces to the dioceses and nations."

2. Conditions not fulfilled:

… the Consecration of Russia. Have the conditions that we have just finished studying been fulfilled?

Our response has to be in the negative.

Here are the reasons why:

The acts of the Pontifical Magisterium which up to now have been carried out, and which it is claimed have some relationship with a Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary are the following:

1. Pius XI, on March 19, 1930, makes a solemn Act of Reparation to the Lord for the injuries that He receives from Russia. This act, evidently, would not respond to the petitions of Heaven at Fatima.

2. Pius XI in the beginning of 1937, receives the petition for the Consecration of Russia which the Bishop of Fatima makes at the request of Sister Lucy. But nothing was done to fulfill this specific request.

3. In May 1938, the Portuguese Episcopacy makes the petition to the Pope of the consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary without result.

4. Pius XII, in the summer of 1940, finally receives two indications about the Consecration of Russia that Heaven requests by means of Sister Lucy. Nothing is done.

5. October 31 and December 8, 1942, Pope Pius XII makes the consecration of the world with special mention of Russia. But this act was neither the particular Consecration of Russia, nor was it made in union with all the bishops of the world.

6. July 7, 1952, in the Encyclical Letter Ad universos Rusiae populos, Pope Pius XII seemed to satisfy all the conditions:

  a) The consecration of all the Russian people was the complement of the consecration of the world and it was done as a result of the Pope being moved by numerous petitions.

  b) The Pope clearly made the distinction between the condemnation of the errors of atheistic communism, that he rejects, and the "erring" whom he calls paternally to the truth.

  c) And after pointing out the uniquely spiritual purposes of his act, he then makes the act of consecration in the following words:

… "We therefore, in order that Our and Your prayers and supplications may be heard more easily, and in order to give You a special proof of Our benevolence toward You as of a few years ago, we consecrated the whole human race to the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of God, thus now we dedicate and we consecrate in an absolutely particular manner to the same Immaculate Heart, the people of the Russias …"

… Only one condition was lacking: the explicit and formal union with the bishops of all the world.

7. The same servant of God, Pope Pius XII, in his Encyclical Ad coeli Reginam of October 11, 1954, says:

We, by our Apostolic Power, decree and institute the feast of Mary as Queen to be celebrated throughout the entire world every year on May 31. And likewise We command that on that same day there be renewed the consecration of the human race to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Upon this there is founded a great hope that there may arise an era of happiness that will rejoice in the triumph of religion and in Christian peace.

… fulfilled one of the conditions: the union with all the Bishops. … But the other condition which is essential is evidently lacking: the express Consecration of Russia. …

8. Finally, Pope Paul VI on the 21st of November, 1964, in a discourse at the closing of the third session of the Second Vatican Council, made a renewal of the consecration of the whole world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and certainly in union with the date, hour, and even the place with all the episcopacy united in the Council … but that consecration erred in something essential: the Consecration of Russia specifically.

3. "It will be late"

… Sister Lucy received the order for the Consecration of Russia in June 1929, in a time in which Stalinist terror ruled over Russia. All the attempts of Sister Lucy to obtain the act of Consecration of Russia have resulted inefficaciously. And very quickly in August 1931, the secret judgments of God were illuminated thus:

"Make it known to My ministers, given that they follow the example of the King of France in delaying the execution of My command, they also will follow him into misfortune. It is never too late to have recourse to Jesus and Mary."

See also

• Fatima. Apparition of Our Lady. 13 July 1917
• Fatima. Apparition at Tuy (1929-06-13)
• Fatima. Russia. Heaven speaks

Links

• Father Joaquin Maria Alonso, Meaning of the "Consecration" of Russia. Part I (FC 50), Part II (FC 51).
• Wikipedia: Consecration of Russia (англ.)
• Wikipedia: Consecration and entrustment to Mary (англ.)
• The Consecration of Russia (англ.)
• YT: Putin wishes to consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Bibliography

• Frere Michel de la Sainte Trinite, The Whole Truth About Fatima, Vol.III.
  — Immaculate Heart Publications. — Buffalo, New York, 1990.
• "Consecration of Russia" Fatima on Google Books