St John Paul II

Act of Consecration to the Mother of GOD Mother of the Church

Jasna Gora (Poland), June 4 1979

"Great Mother of GOD made Man, Most Holy Virgin, Our Lady of Jasna Gora..."

How meaningful for me always have been the words that Your SON, born from You, JESUS CHRIST, the Redeemer of man, spoke from the height of the Cross, pointing out John, apostle and evangelist: "Woman, behold, Your son!" (Jn 19:26). In these words I always found the place for every human being and the place for myself.

Therefore, I entrust to You, Mother of the Church, all the problems of this Church, the whole of her mission and of her service, while the second millennium of the history of Christianity on earth is about to draw to a close.

Spouse of the HOLY SPIRIT and Seat of Wisdom, it is to your intercession that we owe the magnificent vision and the program of renewal of the Church in our age that found expression in the teaching of the Second Vatican Council. Grant that we may make this vision and program the object of our activity, our service, our teaching, our pastoral care, our apostolate—in the same truth, simplicity and fortitude with which the HOLY SPIRIT has made them known through our humble service. Grant that the whole Church may be reborn by drawing from this new fount of the knowledge of her nature and mission, and not from other foreign or poisoned "cisterns" (cf. Jer 8:14).

Help us in the great endeavor that we are carrying out to meet in a more and more mature way our brothers in Faith, with whom so many things unite us, although there is still something dividing us. Through all the means of knowledge, of mutual respect, of love, of shared collaboration in various fields, may we be able to rediscover gradually the Divine Plan for the unity into which we should enter and bring everybody in, in order that the one fold of CHRIST may recognize and live its unity on earth. Mother of unity, teach us constantly the ways that lead to unity.

Allow us in the future to go out to meet all human beings and all peoples that are seeking GOD and wishing to serve HIM on the way of different religions. Help us all to proclaim CHRIST and reveal "the power of GOD and the Wisdom of GOD" (I Cor 1:24) hidden in His Cross. You were the first to reveal HIM at Bethlehem, not only to the simple faithful shepherds but also to the wise men from distant lands.

Mother of the Church, grant that the Church may enjoy freedom and peace in fulfilling her saving mission and that to this end she may become mature with a new maturity of Faith and inner unity. Help us to overcome opposition and difficulties. Help us to rediscover all the simplicity and dignity of the Christian vocation. Grant that there may be no lack of "laborers in the LORD's vineyard". Sanctify families. Watch over the souls of the young and the hearts of the children. Help us to overcome the great moral threats against the fundamental spheres of life and love. Obtain for us the Grace to be continually renewed through all the beauty of witness given to the Cross and Resurrection of Your SON.

How many problems, Mother, should I not present to you by name in this celebration! I entrust them all to you, because You know them best and understand them.

I entrust them to you in the place of the great consecration, from which one has a view not only of Poland but of the whole Church in the dimensions of countries and continents—the whole Church in Your maternal Heart.

I who am the first servant of the Church offer the whole Church to You and entrust it to You here with immense confidence, Mother. Amen.