" Queen of Peace, give to the world now at war the peace for which ail
peoples are longing . give peace to
the peoples separated by error or by discord, and especially to those who pram such singular devotiun to they and in whose homes ail honoured place was ever accorded thy venerated icon (to-day perhaps often kept hidden to
await better days) . . obtain peace and complete freedom for the Holy Church of God; stay the Spreading Hood of modern paganisrn . . . enkindle in the faithint an epostolic zeal."
(From the Pope's Indulgenced prayer by which he has consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary).
pRACTICALLY the last wish made
known to his people by the late Cardinal was that they should, following the example set by the Holy Father. consecrate themselves to the Immeculate Heart of Mary. His Lenten Pastoral orders the Consecration to be made next Thursday, Feast of the Annunciation, at Benediction, and to be repeated on the Feasts of the Assumption and the Immaculate Conception.
It will be noted that the Popes Consecration prayer contains references to Russia. Our Lady. in her apparitions at Fatima in 1917, called for epepiel supplications to be made for that country.
Bishop Poskitt, of Leeds, last Sunday consecrated his diocese to Our Lady's Immaculate Heart. The Bishop is hoping to obtain leave for the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady, Mediatrix of all Graces. This feast, as yet not generally observed, falls on May 31, and is held in special honour by the De Montfort Fathers. Asked to comment on the proposal to introduce to England the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady, Mediatrix
of All Graces, the Rev. J. C. Heenan, D.D., National Director of the Legion of Mary, told THE CATHOLIC HISALD:
WHAT DR. HEENAN SAYS " The Legion of Mary is naturally delighted to know that some dioceses in England are going to introduce this Feast as a likely feature of the liturgical year. " It is to he hoped that people will learn the true meaning of the title, ' Mediatrix of AR Graces.' Even Catholics sometimes imagine that this title of Our Blessed Lady in some way infringes on the prerogative of her Divine Son.
" The true meaning of the title Is just as it was through Mary's fiat that the Word of God became incarnate, so through her Intercession the brethren of Jesue may obtain the graces which He came to bestow.
" It may be opportune to mention that it is incidental in the Legion of Mary to honour Our Blessed Lady as Mediatrix of All Graces, The main object of the Legion is to provide an apostolate of active work, not a lay contemplative order."