Archbishop José H. Gomez, the Archbishop of Los Angeles and president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) with the bishops of the United States joined the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in renewing the consecrations of the two nations to the care of our Blessed Mother.

Following the same liturgy of the bishops, Father Jim with parishioners Gail Rizzo, Barbara Tamburri, Karen Kula, and Sandi Miles made a video recording of the prayer service for Prince of Peace Parish. You will find the Renewal of the Consecration of the United States of America to the Blessed Virgin Mary worship aid if you wish to follow along or offer a similar prayer service in your household using the prayer to be said by “Families, groups or individuals.”

Archbishop Leonard P. Blair also presided over a similar prayer service specifically for the Archdiocese of Hartford. A video of this liturgy will be available on the Archdiocese of Hartford Facebook page on Friday evening. 

Maria Salus Populi Romani at the Basilica of St. Mary Major

Pope Francis’ special devotion to Our Lady Salus Populi Romani is well-known. He visits her icon on major Marian feast days, and makes a point to stop in for a prayer both before and after his international Apostolic Journeys.

In 593 Pope St. Gregory the Great carried the icon in procession to stop a plague. In 1837 Pope Gregory XVI invoked her to put an end to a cholera epidemic.