Archbishop Gregory to participate in livestream Renewal of Consecration of the United States to the Blessed Mother

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, May 1, Washington Archbishop Gregory will join a special international dedication liturgy at 3 p.m. EDT via livestream from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

To begin May, the month of Mary, Archbishop Gregory will join Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and bishops throughout Canada and the United States, in renewing the consecration of our nation to our Blessed Mother.

The goal of this dedication is to remind the faithful of the Blessed Mother’s unfailing intercession and to renew trust in her aid during the nation’s present struggle against COVID-19.

“May is traditionally considered a Marian Month. We often have held special ceremonies declaring our love and devotion to the Mother of God,” Archbishop Gregory said. “We will do so once again on this first day of May as we ask Her protection and comfort during these unsettling times caused by the coronavirus and its impact on the life of people everywhere.”

Archbishop Gregory continued, “I will join with Archbishop Gomez, our USCCB President and bishops throughout the USA and Canada, in petitioning Our Blessed Mother to gaze favorably upon us in our need.  At the Basilica the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, I will offer a common prayer that rededicates our country to Her maternal care and loving protection.”

The consecration first took place in 1792, when the first bishop of the United States, Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore, placed the nation under Mary’s protection in a pastoral letter. This devotion has been renewed on various occasions throughout the centuries, including in 1847, when Our Lady, under her title of the Immaculate Conception, was named Patroness of the United States of America.

Livestream link and more information available at www.nationalshrine.org/mass and on the Catholic Standard website here.

###