Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle led the faithful of Manila during the consecration rites last June 8.
LIPA City, August 14, 2013—The country’s June 8 consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary may be over, but for one lay group, they are only getting started — organizing a special formation track to promote individual consecration.
Beginning with an initial run on August 16, from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. in Our Lady of Carmel church, Lipa, Batangas, the Confraternity of Mary Mediatrix of All-Grace is promoting “The Journey to Jesus Through Mary” track, which aims to prepare individuals for consecration to the Blessed Virgin as prescribed by St. Louis Grignion de Montfort.
Consecration until 2021
“This is again the continuation of the call of the CBCP for our country to totally consecrate themselves individually,” Confraternity head Brenda Padilla said in an interview yesterday, referring to the decision of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines to make consecration and catechesis about the former vital, on-going preparations for the faithful for 2021, the 500th anniversary of the Christian faith in the Philippines.
Padilla added the “Journey” talks will also “prepare the people’s hearts” for the National Pilgrimage to Lipa happening on September 12.
An estimated 1,000 people from Metro Manila-based groups and nearby parishes in Batangas are expected to undergo the formation track this Friday.
Mary’s army
The four talks, which will be given by Fr. Melvin Castro and Fr. Julito Ignacio, are “The Spirit of the World”; “Knowledge of Self”; “Knowledge of Mary” and finally, “Knowledge of Jesus Christ.”
According to Padilla, the rise of consecration to Mary is a sign of the times, an answer to a “dark world” that promotes secularism, moral ambiguity and even blatant evil.
“So St. Louis says, if we consecrate ourselves to [Mary], we become her army. God is forming an army consecrated to her who will defeat the enemy,” she explained further.
For more information on August 16 run of “The Journey to Jesus Through Mary”, please contact Frieda Fernandez at 0917-890-0008.
The Confraternity of Mary Mediatrix of All-Grace is a private association promoting true devotion to Our Lady as taught by St. Louis de Montfort. [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz]
