Pope Francis’ consecration to Russia is an ecclesiastical earthquake | National Catholic Register

why now?

Why, 105 years after the apparitions of Fatima, and 93 years after the confirmation of Our Lady Lucia’s message to Sister Lucia in 1929, does the Holy Father explicitly consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in union with the bishops of the world?

War is the cause, not just the fighting in Ukraine.

Kyiv is still standing but Kirill Moscow has already fallen.

On Wednesday, the Holy See issued the text of the consecration law that Pope Francis will present in Rome on the occasion of the Feast of the Annunciation, and his envoy, Cardinal Conrad Craiocci, in Fatima at the same time. It would be truly universal – translations were made in Tigrinya, the main language of Eritrea, and Malayalam, the language of St. Thomas the ancient Christians of Kerala.

The relevant part says: “To your Immaculate Heart we entrust and solemnly consecrate ourselves, the Church and all mankind, especially Russia and Ukraine.”

Since 1929, Roman pontiffs have repeatedly consecrated in honor of the Immaculate Heart, and Sister Lucia decreed the consecration of Saint John Paul II in 1984 at the request of Our Lady of Fatima.

However, this time is different. Russia was explicitly mentioned, and all bishops, as well as parish priests, were asked to unite in the work of the Holy Father.

The request to Sister Lucia, the only surviving visionary of Fatima by 1929, specified an explicit dedication to Russia, so that Russia would be “transformed” and peace would be achieved.

However, even in 1984, Saint John Paul II did not mention Russia beforehand or in his official text. It is said that he did so at the actual consecration.

The Vatican was reluctant to be too candid for two reasons.

One was to avoid fanning any superstitious feelings that seemed to regard the dedication as a shamanic incantation, or as a pious but depraved practice, such as burying a statue of Saint Joseph upside down in order to sell property.

Another reason was Russian Orthodox sensibilities.

Russia is the de facto home of world Orthodoxy. The Catholic Church recognizes the Orthodox as valid sister churches with an authentic episcopate and sacraments, not to mention an enormous spiritual, theological and liturgical legacy dating back to the early Christian centuries.

If the eastern “lung” of the Church is the Greek Orthodox tradition, then its modern language is often Russian.

So the action of the Pope, one of whose titles was Patriarch of the West (Benedict XVI is believed to have refused to use it), to consecrate Russia so that it “can be transformed”, can be received poorly. Convert from what? For catholic?

While it was widely believed in the West that “transformation of Russia” referred to communism – which was followed by a peaceful dismantling shortly after the consecration of 1984 – it would not be unreasonable for Russian Orthodoxy to be concerned.

After all, what if an Orthodox patriarch, in response to a Marian apparition, dedicates Italy to the heart of Mary, so that she could be converted? What might Catholics and Bishop of Rome think?

Given Russian Orthodox sensibilities, Rome proceeded brilliantly and cautiously.

And now? The consecration of Friday is not only critical in itself as a spiritual act, not only important in its immediate goal, which is peace, but extremely important in what follows, that is, the downfall of Kirill.

The Patriarch of Moscow, a man of great culture who was so endangered by both the Soviet and Russian state, was no longer, in a few weeks, a worthy religious authority. Now widely seen as personally corrupted by power, Putin is more of a propagandist than a priest whose flock – in his self-understanding – includes Ukrainians.

In less than a month Pope Francis received the explicit request for consecration, approved it, announced it and invited the entire church to participate in it. Such an ecclesiastical earthquake has historical proportions.

The religious landscape of the twenty-first century has changed significantly. The Moscow Patriarchate – which calls itself the “Third Rome” – no longer commands the respect, appreciation and influence that once routinely occurred. Pending its purification of Putinism, and the assimilation of the state in general, Russian Orthodoxy was no longer a credible ecumenical partner.

This will have repercussions in Russia, where Russian Orthodoxy may finally be in crisis forcing it to free itself from the shackles imposed by Stalin in 1941. It will have repercussions in global orthodoxy, where the outsized influence of Russia (half of all Orthodox believers are Russian) will diminish. Now drastically. It has already had repercussions in Rome, where Cyril’s concerns are simply not worthwhile at this time.

Patriarch Kirill himself knows this. For generations, the dance of Rome and Moscow has followed an ancient pattern. Rome will take the lead. Moscow will respond angrily.

In 1988, John Paul wished to commemorate the millennium of the baptism of Kievan Rus’; The Moscow Patriarch Beymin made it clear that he was not welcome. (John Paul showed his appreciation for his Slav brother to the East by sending a delegation to Moscow that included the Cardinal’s Secretary of State, as well as the Archbishops of Vienna, Warsaw, Munich, Milan, New York, Riga, and Hanoi.)

In 1991, John Paul announced “apostolic administrations” for the pastoral care of Catholics in Russia, and Patriarch Alexy responded with cold anger.

John Paul was offering to return to Russia, their most sacred symbol, the Madonna of Kazan, who came out of Russia to save and who appeared in France before making her way to the Vatican. Russia was shrugging its shoulders and telling the Holy Father that he could send her if he wished, but he was not welcome. In 2004, he sent it anyway.

this time? Not a peep from Cyril denouncing Rome’s “spiritual imperialism” and other conjured outrages. Spiritual imperialism is hard to denounce when you bless old-fashioned military-style imperialism.

The Kirill scandal would prove to be an obstacle to the gospel and inflicted a serious wound on world Christianity, as all counter-witnesses do. However, from the days of the Bible onwards, God often uses the scandal of sin and its consequences to cleanse His people.

Hence, prayers for Russia today include the purification of the Moscow Patriarchate, so that Russia may again offer spiritual gifts without which the universal Church is not fully complete.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos