Patriarch Pizzaballa of Jerusalem Consecrates the Holy Land to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Feast of their Patroness - FULL TEXT Prayer



On Sunday, October 29th, 2023, H.B. Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over the Solemn Mass for Our Lady Queen of Palestine and the Holy Land, main patroness of the diocese, at the Shrine of Our Lady. Several Bishops, and priests also concelebrated; In the presence of the Religious sisters, and the few faithful, who managed to come to the monastery amidst these difficult times.
Due to the current situation that is on-going in our beloved Holy Land, great number of faithful who yearly come from different parts of the Holy Land to celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lady, in the Shrine of Deir Rafat, which was built in 1927, unfortunately, were not able to come. Yet they celebrated in their parishes and asked Our Lady to intercede for the people of this Holy Land and its peace. (The Latin Patriarchate Video below is from 3 years ago )

In his homily, Mgr Pizzaballa, said: “Thanks to Our Lady, who loves to gather her children around her, we meet here today. As we consecrate again our beloved diocese and land to her care, we also entrust ourselves to God. Meaning to not worry and have full confidence and trust in His divine care and wisdom, especially in the current times we are living in, where hope seems hard to find. He also emphasized the importance of reading the Word of God in these hard times, especially the Gospels:
After Communion, Mgr William Shomali, General Vicar, recited the Act of Consecration (See below) reconsecrating the Holy Land to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, asking Our Lady for the peace and protection of her beloved homeland.
The traditional procession was also held in the monastery yard, chanting Marian hymns and prayers for the peace of our country.
Act of Consecration of the Holy Land to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Available in the following languages:Arabic, Español, Français, Italiano

O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, Queen of Palestine and of the Holy Land, in this time of trial we turn to you because you love and know us: No concern of our hearts is hidden from you. Mother of mercy, how often we have experienced your watchful care and your peaceful presence! You never cease to guide us to Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Yet humanity has strayed from that path of peace. It has forgotten the lessons learned from the tragedies of the recent past, the sacrifices of the millions who fell in wars.
By our sins we have broken the heart of our heavenly Father, who desires us to be brothers and sisters. Now with shame we cry out: Forgive us, Lord!
Holy Mother, amid our struggles and weaknesses, amid the mystery of iniquity that is evil and war, you remind us that God never abandons His people, but continues to look upon us with love. He has given you to us and made your Immaculate Heart a refuge for the Church and for all humanity.
We now knock on the door of your heart. We are your beloved children. We are confident that, in the most troubled moments of our history, you will not be deaf to our supplication and will come to our aid.
That is what you did at Cana in Galilee, when you interceded with Jesus. To preserve the joy of the wedding feast, you said to him: “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3). Now, O Mother, repeat those words, for in our own day we have run out of the wine of hope, joy has fled, fraternity has faded. We have forgotten our humanity and squandered the gift of peace. How greatly we need your maternal help!
Queen of the Rosary, make us realize our need to prayer and to do penance. Guide the world leaders and those who decide the destiny of the nations, so that they decide according to justice and truth, and work for the common good.
Our Queen and mother, show the inhabitants of your homeland the path of fraternity. Amid the thunder of weapons, turn our thoughts to peace, and our swords into plowshares. May your maternal touch soothe those who suffer and flee from the rockets and bombs. May your motherly embrace comfort those who are wounded or forced to leave their homes, those who have lost their family members, the prisoners and those who are lost and captives.
Holy Mother of God, as you stood beneath the cross, Jesus, seeing the disciple at your side, said: “Behold your son” (Jn 19:26). In this way, He entrusted each of us to you. To the disciple, and to each of us, he said: “Behold, your Mother” (Jn 19:27). Mother Mary, we now desire to welcome you into our lives and our history.
At this hour, while the people of the Holy Land turn to you, your heart beats with compassion for them and for all the peoples decimated by war, hunger, injustice, and poverty.
Therefore, Mother of God and our Mother, to your Immaculate Heart we solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves, our Church, all humanity, the peoples of the Middle East, and especially the people of the Holy Land, which belongs to you, since you have graced it with your birth, your virtues and your sorrows, and from there hast given the Redeemer to the world. Grant that war may end, and peace be spread throughout our cities and villages.
Through your intercession, may the mercy of God be poured out on the earth and the gentle rhythm of peace return to mark our days.
You once trod the streets of our land; lead us now on the paths of peace. Amen.
Source: Combined releases from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

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