Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

A friend of mine sent me the following prayer intention by email... I'm sure she won't mind it going out on the blog.

It is vital that you continue to pray, do penance and offer your Communions, for the intention that the Bishops of England and Wales consent to re-consecrate our country to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, following the example of the act carried out by the US Bishops on 11th Nov 2006.

The position now is that Mgr Keith Barltrop of CASE (Catholic Agency for the Support of Evangelisation), who has excellent relations with all our Bishops, has drafted a letter, which it is proposed will be sent out jointly with Mgr Graham Leonard, the former Anglican Bishop of London, to the Apostolic Nuncio, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor and Archbishop Nichols of Birmingham.

Mgr. Barlthrop is awaiting the response of Mgr. Leonard, who has agreed in principle - hence the urgency of offering prayer, penance and the sacrifices involved in fulfilling the ordinary duties of one's state, for this intention.

I am sure I do not need to tell you how greatly we need the intercession of Mary Immaculate in our country, to raise up the Church and avert present evils.

If the three prelates then agree to make the consecration, the intention is that all other Bishops will be invited to join in the act by sending in a signed copy of the prayer to be recited in the act, which will be placed on the altar, as was done in the USA.

May hearts everywhere be raised up in prayer to the merciful Lord for this intention.