ORLANDO, Fla. (OSV News) — In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. bishops are consecrating the country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus June 11 in Orlando.
The special Mass of consecration will be livestreamed from the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ YouTube channel, starting at 4 p.m. EDT.
“The bishops’ livestream event is intended to be a catalyst to encourage parishes and individuals to participate in the America 250 commemoration by contributing to 250 Hours of Adoration and/or 250 Works of Mercy,” said a USCCB news release.
In addition, the relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque — the French Visitation sister who experienced visions of Jesus revealing his Sacred Heart — will be present with the U.S. bishops in Orlando at the Mass of consecration.
The relics were flown from Paris to New York June 2 and will remain in the U.S. until September. The Knights of Columbus escorted the historic relics to Orlando for the consecration Mass.
The act of consecration is a significant matter. In consecrating the nation, several theologians said, the bishops aim to place the U.S. under the care of Jesus Christ’s Sacred Heart and renew the country’s orientation toward God.
“Consecration is something that is first and foremost a sacred act,” said Scott Hahn, a biblical scholar at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio.
“Secondly, it relates our whole life to our Lord and to the communion of saints. And so it also is something that is rooted and grounded in the notion of covenant,” he said.
Hahn added, “It seems to me that we’ve got to recover the notion of covenant in terms of the sacred kinship bonds that unite us to God, not just as our creator, but as our father.”
Timothy O’Malley, a theology professor at the University of Notre Dame, emphasized that consecration is “not some sort of magic,” but is “actually to make something sacred, quite literally, to bring it to God.” R. Jared Staudt, a Catholic educator, also said consecration “orders something to God, to help it to realize its purpose.”
He said all creation is meant to give glory to God, and consecration directs people toward that end.
The USCCB also has encouraged Catholics to participate in initiatives including a collective 250 hours of Eucharistic adoration and 250 works of mercy. To celebrate the occasion, “America 250,” the initiatives encourage prayer for the unity and healing of the U.S., according to a USCCB resource guide.
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