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My Dear People of God,
As we welcome the month of May, we are reminded of the annual celebration of Mother’s Day. It is a time to give thanks to God for our moms, and for the gift of “motherhood.” It is a time to reflect on all that motherhood entails: selflessness, sacrifice, commitment and the nourishing love that only a mother can give.
It is amazing to see, in the plan of God the Father, that “motherhood” would be intimately connected to the gift of salvation. It was through the cooperation of the faith and humility of a young girl, Mary of Nazareth, that the Son of God would become incarnate, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in the sanctuary of her womb.
Her “call” was to be mother, to be the Eve of the “new creation.” It is she, who was to bring into this world, for you and me, the “New Adam,” Jesus. This Mother, blessed among all women, would nourish and care for his basic needs with all the love of her Immaculate Heart.
We also know, as Queen and Mother of the Apostles, Mary was present on the day of the birth of the Church on Pentecost. This event of the descent and empowerment of the Holy Spirit gave the Church the ability to fulfill its purpose and mission to proclaim the Gospel of the Risen Christ to the world.
As the Church moved forth from the Cenacle out into the world, Our Lady, as Mother of the Church, protected and encouraged the Apostles through her maternal presence and prayerful intercession. Her presence and intercession continues to be present to us as we are sent as the missionary disciples of the 21st century.
Because of the importance of the presence and role of Mary in the life of the Church, we are grateful to Pope Francis for acknowledging the Monday after the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, as a new Memorial in honor of the Blessed Virgin: “Mary, Mother of the Church. May Pope Francis’ proclamation of this new Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grace us as the Body of Christ, the Church, with her motherly prayers of comfort and protection.
As we acknowledge this special day, I ask the prayers of Our Lady as I begin my episcopal duties as your bishop. On Monday, May 21, I invite you: the clergy, religious and laity of the Diocese of Stockton, to offer a prayer of consecration of our Diocese of Stockton to the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady, “Mary, Mother of the Church”.
May we, throughout this month of May, and along with this year’s annual celebration of Mother’s Day, be mindful of the maternal presence of Our Lady. May she intercede for all women, especially, those called to the sacred role of motherhood.
Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.________________________________
On Monday, May 21, Bishop Myron Cotta invites all Catholics in the Diocese of Stockton to pray the Prayer of Consecration to Mary, Mother of the Church.
To “consecrate” is to set aside for a sacred purpose. Mary’s life was set aside for the sole purpose of serving our Lord. Similarly, we consecrate ourselves to her in order to be more devoted to the Lord, as through Mary, we draw closer to her Son. Being consecrated to Mary as a diocese places the Church under Mary’s care and protection in a particular way, and acknowledges Mary as our model for Christian living. By this action, we grow in holiness and increase our faith, hope, and love, as individuals and as the People of God.Prayer of Consecration
Holy Mary Mother of the Church, with renewed gratitude for your maternal presence we join our voice to that of all the generations who call you blessed.
We celebrate in you the works of God, who never tires of looking down with mercy upon humanity, afflicted with the wound of sin, to heal it and save it.
Accept with the benevolence of a Mother the act of consecration that we perform today with confidence.
We are certain that each of us is precious in your eyes and that nothing of all that lives in our hearts is unknown to you.
We let ourselves be touched by your most sweet regard and we welcome the consoling caress of your smile.
Hold our life in your arms: bless and strengthen every desire for good; revive and nourish faith; sustain and enlighten hope; awaken and animate charity; guide all of us along the path of holiness.
Teach us your own preferential love for the little and the poor, for the excluded and the suffering, for sinners and the downhearted: bring everyone under your protection and entrust everyone to your beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus. Amen.
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El Lunes, 21 de Mayo, el Obispo Myron Cotta invita a todos los Católicos de la Diócesis de Stockton a rezar La Oración de Consagración a María, Madre de la Iglesia.
“Consagrar” es apartar a una persona o cosa para un propósito sagrado. La vida de Maria fue reservada para el único propósito de servir a nuestro Señor. De manera similar, nosotros nos consagramos a ella para ser mas devotos del Señor, a través de Maria nos acercamos a su hijo. Consagrarse a Maria como una Diocésis, coloca a la Iglesia bajo el cuidado y pretección de Maria de una manera particular, y reconoce a Maria como nuestro modelo para la vida Cristiana. Por esta acción crecemos en santidad y aumentamos nuestra fe, esperanza, y amor, como individuos y como pueblo de Dios.Oración de Consagración
Santa María Madre de la Iglesia, con renovada gratitud por tu presencia maternal unimos nuestra voz a la de todas las generaciones que te llaman bienaventurada.
Celebramos en ti las grandes obras de Dios, que nunca se cansa de inclinarse con misericordia hacia la humanidad, afligida con la herida del pecado, para sanarla y salvarla.
Acoge con benevolencia de Madre el acto de consagración que hoy hacemos con confianza.
Estamos seguros de que cada uno de nosotros somos valiosos ante tus ojos y que nada de lo que habita en nuestros corazones es ajeno a ti.
Nos dejamos tocar por tu dulce mirada y recibimos la consoladora caricia de tu sonrisa.
Protege nuestra vida entre tus brazos: bendice y fortalece todo deseo de bien; aviva y alimenta la fe; mantiene e ilumina la esperanza; despierta y motiva la caridad; guíanos a todos por el camino de la santidad.
Enséñanos tu gran amor y tu preferencia por los pequeños y los pobres, por los excluidos y los que sufren, por los pecadores y los pobres de corazón: lleva a todos bajo tu protección y encomiéndalos a todos a tu amado Hijo, Nuestro Señor Jesús. Amén.
