Fr. Iannuzzi led the act of consecration together with other Filipino clergy last June 8 with more than a thousand faithful in attendance.
QUEZON City, June 10, 2013—A Rome-based theologian, who was in the country during the national consecration of the Philippines, expressed his admiration for Filipinos’ decidedly Marian faith as seen through the June 8 consecration.
“Your great faith testifies to the Virgin Mary’s faith in our Lord. If only other countries would do what you’re doing,” Fr. Joseph Leo Iannuzzi said during his homily last June 8 at the Marian auditorium of Miriam College.
Consecrate your families
Fr. Iannuzzi, who was in the Philippines to give a theological presentation on the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, also led the consecration rite with other Filipino priests with more than a thousand faithful present.
At around 10:26 a.m., a few minutes after the simultaneous nation-wide consecration, rain began to pour, leading Fr. Iannuzzi to remark,” Our Lady is very happy that you are consecrating your country!”
He also said, the Philippines’ consecration to the Immaculate Heart is but a “first step” and that believers are exhorted to consecrate themselves and even their families to bring about “a global reality where [Mary] is honoured by all her children, not just a few.”
No devotion to Christ without Mary
Fr. Iannuzzi talked about Mary’s “pivotal place in the economy of salvation”, as described by leading Mariologists, St. Louis de Montfort and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
Simply put, “there is no true devotion to our Lord without devotion to Mary,” Fr. Iannuzzi of the Gregorian Pontifical University of Rome explained.
After the holy mass, the act of consecration was recited by the attendees, some of whom came with their families.
“We have just consecrated your country to the Blessed Virgin Mary and entrusted it to her as well. It is the first step towards the Eucharistic reign of Jesus,” Fr. Iannuzzi said.
Last June 8 at 10 a.m., bishops and priests simultaneously consecrated the country to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in all the parishes, cathedrals, shrines and chapels. [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz]
