Managua, 20 Mar Nicaraguan Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes reported this Sunday that they will join Pope Francis who will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in a liturgy for peace on March 25 in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The Archdiocese of Managua, which Brenes presides, indicated in a statement that the Argentine pontiff addressed an invitation to the Nicaraguan Episcopate to join him next Friday “in his intention to consecrate the nations of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” “We all understand and share the Pope's conviction that prayer can transform the minds, wills and attitudes of human beings so that, by abandoning acts of violence and death, we can live together in respect of the rights of individuals and peoples,” said that diocese. “On that day when we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation, the day of the unborn child in Nicaragua, let us also pray for respect for human life from the moment of conception,” he continued. NICARAGUA WILL CELEBRATE MASSES In the document, Cardinal Brenes explained that they will join the Holy Father's initiative through the media and social networks of the Nicaraguan Catholic Church, which will be linked “virtually and spiritually to the consecration prayer of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary” from 10.00 local time next friday. Also at noon, in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Managua, the chief will celebrate a mass, during which they will pray the prayer of consecration in communion with the Pope and with the Nicaraguan bishops, who will also do so from their respective dioceses. Brenes also invited the archdiocesan clergy to offer the prayer and meditation of the Holy Way of the Cross, “the evening mass for the intentions of the Pope, as well as with their parish communities also make the prayer of consecration”. On the night of that day, the Catholic channel of Nicaragua will publish the prayer of consecration so that from the “homes, before an image or picture of the Virgin”, they will also pray as a “family for peace in the suffering nation of Ukraine and for the intentions of the Bishop of Rome in consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary,” he added. “THE MYSTERIES OF FATIMA” The Argentine pontiff, who has repeatedly expressed his concern about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, will preside over the consecration in the Vatican Basilica at 16.00 GMT, according to the Holy See. Another event will take place on the same day at the Portuguese shrine of Fatima, presided over by the papal almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, sent for the occasion and who recently visited Ukraine. The Ukrainian Episcopal Conference had asked the pope to consecrate the Immaculate Heart of Mary to the two contending countries “as requested by the Blessed Virgin at Fatima”. The petition has to do with what is known as “Mysteries of Fatima”, the alleged revelations that Our Lady gave to three young shepherds in the Portuguese town of Fatima in 1917. Our Lady, according to the second mystery, demanded the consecration of Russia, which that year began the revolution that would lead to its Soviet era, or else the country would “spread its mistakes around the world by promoting wars and persecuting the Church”. “The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have to suffer a lot, and several nations will be destroyed,” the message ended. In any case, it will not be the first time that the country has been consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Pope Pius XII already did so on 7 July 1952 in his Apostolic Letter “Sacro vergente anno”. On November 21, 1964, Paul VI renewed the consecration of Russia, within the framework of the historic Second Vatican Council, and two decades later, in 1984, John Paul II extended that blessing to the whole world. CHIEF lfp/jrh
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