Re-Consecration and May Crowning at Benedictine College

The Holy Mother and ChildThe bishops of the United States and Canada re-consecrated their countries to Mary, Mother of the Church, on Friday, May 1. Benedictine College participated in the consecration prayer and included the traditional May Crowning in Mary’s Grotto on campus. Click here to watch the recording of the Facebook Live event.

Here is a link to the national service.

Here is the order of events at Benedictine College:

Renewal of the Consecration of the United States of America, St. Benedict’s Abbey, and Benedictine College to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church - May 1, 2020

OPENING REMARKS

President of Benedictine College Stephen D. Minnis

INTRODUCTION

Abbot James:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. R. Amen.

When our Risen Lord appeared to his disciples on Easter Sunday he said: “Peace be with you.” We can be confident that he desires this same peace for all the members of his body, the Church, and for the people of the entire world.

In this difficult time we turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and Queen of Peace, to ask that she intercede with her Son for all those who are affected in any way by this pandemic. As we renew the consecration of our Abbey, our College, our country and of ourselves to the Mother of the God, we implore her maternal care for her children. On this first day of the month of Mary, we also crown with a floral corona this holy image of Our Lady of Lourdes, set at the center of our campus.

In 1858, Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette at Lourdes, France. St. Bernadette described the Lady as clothed in white, with a blue ribbon sash and a Rosary hanging from her right arm. When Bernadette asked what her name was, the Lady responded, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Mary then asked St. Bernadette to begin placing a lighted candle in the Grotto. She also requested that people of faith begin making a pilgrimage to that spot.

From this grotto Mary will watch over and powerfully intercede for all in our communities who take refuge under her maternal care. May Our Heavenly Queen’s floral corona be a sign of her victory over the coronavirus.

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray.

O God, Father of mercies,
whose Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross,
chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother,
to be our Mother also,
grant, we pray, that with her loving help
your Church may be more fruitful day by day
and, exulting in the holiness of her children,
may draw to her embrace all the families of the peoples.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 19:25-27)

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

The Gospel of the Lord. R. Thanks be to God.

[REFLECTION]

DECADE OF THE ROSARY

Abbot James:

Recalling Jesus’ words as he hung on the cross – “Behold, your mother” – we meditate on the fifth sorrowful mystery of the Rosary, The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord.

Our Father…

10 Hail Marys…

Glory Be…

O my Jesus…

BLESSING OF CROWN & CROWNING OF MARY

Abbot James:

Heavenly Father, we praise you for the gift of your Mother, Mary. Bless + this crown. May it remind us of Mary’s Coronation in Heaven when you crowned her Queen of Heaven and Earth. Through the prayers of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, whom you have given us for our Mother and Queen, grant that we too may share in the fullness of your grace. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

(At this time, Rachel Doerneman will receive the crown and begin to climb the ladder to crown the statue. Jack Lind begins the Ave Maria as Rachel begins to ascend the ladder.)

PRAYER OF RENEWAL OF OUR CONSECRATION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Abbot James:

Let us now entrust our Monastery, our College and ourselves once again to the Virgin Mary’s care:

Most Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, you are the fairest fruit of God’s redeeming love; you sing of the Father’s mercy and accompany us with a mother’s love. In this time of pandemic we come to you, our sign of sure hope and comfort. Today we renew our act of consecration and entrustment to your maternal intercession.

With the love of a Mother and Handmaid,
embrace our Benedictine communities which we entrust and consecrate once again to you, together with ourselves and our families.

In a special way we commend to you
those particularly in need of your maternal care.

Mary, Health of the Sick,
sign of health, of healing, and of divine hope for the sick, we entrust to you all who are infected with the coronavirus.

Mary, Mother of Consolation,
who console with a mother’s love all who turn to you,
we entrust to you all those who have lost loved ones in the pandemic.

Mary, Help of Christians,
who come to our rescue in every trial,
we entrust to your loving protection all caregivers.

Mary, Queen and Mother of Mercy,
who embrace all those who call upon your help in their distress,
we entrust to you all who are suffering in any way from the pandemic.

Mary, Seat of Wisdom,
who were so wonderfully filled with the light of truth,
we entrust to you all who are working to find a cure to this pandemic.

Mary, Mother of Good Counsel,
who gave yourself wholeheartedly to God’s plan for the renewing of all things in Christ, we entrust to you all leaders and policymakers.

Accept with the benevolence of a Mother
the act of consecration that we make today with confidence, and help us to be your Son’s instruments for the healing and salvation of our country and the world.

Mary, Mother of the Church,
you are enthroned as queen at your Son’s right hand:
we ask your intercession for the needs of our country, our community, our college, and our families that every desire for good may be blessed and strengthened, that faith may be revived and nourished, hope sustained and enlightened, charity awakened and animated; guide us, we pray, along the path of holiness.

Mary our Mother,
bring everyone under your protection
and entrust everyone to your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Bestow the grace of your kindness
upon your supplicant people, O Lord,
that, formed by you, their creator,
and restored by you, their sustainer,
through your constant action they may be saved.

R. Amen.

And may the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son,
and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain with you for ever.

R. Amen.

CLOSING REMARKS

Abbot James:

This concludes the May Crowning and Re-Consecration ceremony.  St. Benedict’s Abbey and Benedictine College thank you for participating on-line. Now join with me in the praying of the Memorare:

Remember O Most Gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to Thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence we fly unto thee O Virgin of Virgins our Mother. To thee do we cry, before thee we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer us. Amen.

The Lord be with you.

R. And with your spirit.

May the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son,
and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain with you for ever.

R. Amen.

REGINA CAELI

Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia;
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia:
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
The Son you merited to bear, alleluia,
Has risen as he said, alleluia.
Pray to God for us, alleluia

Location