Above: A statue of Mary is visible among the vivid spring buddings May 1, 2019, at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y. The U.S. and Canadian bishops announced April 23, 2020, they will consecrate their nations to Mary during the coronavirus pandemic May 1. (CNS photo/Chaz Muth)
On Friday, May 1, Archbishop Gomez will lead the country in a prayer, which consecrates the United States to Mary, Mother of the Church. Canada, too, has chosen this day to offer prayers and to consecrate their country to Mary, Mother of the Church.
“This will give the Church the occasion to pray for Our Lady’s continued protection of the vulnerable, healing of the unwell, and wisdom for those who work to cure this terrible virus,” said Archbishop Gomez in a letter to the U.S. bishops. Each year, the Church seeks the special intercession of the Mother of God during the month of May. “This year, we seek the assistance of Our Lady all the more earnestly as we face together the effects of the global pandemic,” he continued.
More information: USCCB | Catholic News Service
On behalf of the bishops, the priests, the deacons and the faithful of the United States, Archbishop Gomez will lead a brief liturgy with the prayer of re-consecration on Friday, May 1, at 3:00 pm EDT. The faithful may join this live-stream event and pray as one nation by tuning into the USCCB’s social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A worship aid can be found in both English and Spanish at: usccb.org/consecration.
EWTN will also air the liturgy and prayer of re-consecration at 3 p.m., both on its network and on its Facebook page.
Note: This prayer entrusts the country to Mary, Mother of the Church, it does not change the fact that our official national patroness is Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception. Our national patronal solemnity remains December 8.