O Mother of God, obtain mercy for us

Tomorrow, using a prayer inspired by the Act of Consecration composed by Berthe Petit (1870-1943), the Bishops of Syria will make a solemn consecration of the Church in Syria, of their nation and of all its peoples, to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Here is the same prayer slightly adapted for the use of those who may want to pray it in communion with the Bishops of Syria on Saturday, 7 September.

O Lord Jesus, Who on Calvary and in the Holy Eucharist hast shown Thyself to us as God of Love and Mercy, kneeling humbly at Thy feet we adore Thee and beg once more for Thy forgiveness and Thy divine pity. And remembering that by Thine own act on Calvary, the human race, represented by Thy beloved disciple John, gained a Mother in the Virgin of Sorrows, we desire to honour the sufferings and woes of our Mother’s Heart by devoting ourselves to it in solemn Consecration.

It is but just O Mary, that our souls should strive henceforth to venerate thee with special homage under the title of Thy Sorrowful Heart, a title won by sharing in the whole Passion of thy Son and thus co-operating in the work of our redemption – a title due to thee in justice, and dear, we believe, to Jesus and to thine own Heart, torn by the wound in His.

We consecrate therefore, O Mary, to thy Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart the Church in Syria, and all the peoples of Syria and the Middle East. Have pity on them; see their tribulations, and the anguish of their hearts in the midst of the mourning and calamities that lay waste their land. Deign, O Mother of God, to obtain mercy for us that, being converted and purified by sorrow, and made strong in faith, we may henceforth be devoted servants of Jesus Christ and His Church, for whose triumph we pray. O Mary Immaculate, we promise to be faithful clients of thy Sorrowful Heart. Intercede for us, we beseech thee, with thy Son that, at the cry of thy Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, His divine Power may speedily bring to pass the triumph of right and justice.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have pity on Syria.

Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for Syria and save its peoples.