Pope Pius XII Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

thumb|180px|right|To you and to your Immaculate Heart in this tragic hour of human history We entrust and consecrate the whole world torn by bitter strife. 
Pope Pius XII Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary took place on October 31, 1942 just before major turning points in World War Two. Pope Pius consecrated to Mary not only the Church but the whole human race, as “Father of Christianity” as representative of Christ, who has all power in heaven and on earth.” Math28,18
==Historical context==
The solemn consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was pronounced at a critical phase of World War Two on October 31 1942. At that time, German troops under General Rommel had conquered strategic parts of North Africa and were advancing towards the Suez Canal. In the Pacific, following Pearl Harbor, the Imperial Japanese forces occupied ever increasing territories, and in Russia experienced an ever expanding German invasion. In this situation, Pope Pius XII, like his predecessors, put his trust in prayer. On October 31, 1942, he calls for a prayer crusade to the queen of peace, because only she can help now. He then dedicates the whole human race and especially Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
==Military victory ==
The consecration is noteworthy, because it contains a specific reference to military victory. 
* Peace in truth, justice and the charity of Christ. Give them peace of the arms and peace of mind he asks from the “Conqueress in God’s battlefields” 
Supporters of Pope Pius and his Marian views point out, that indeed the battlefield situation improved markedly for the allies. Shortly afterwards, in the battle of El Alamein, British forces achieved a major break through. According to Winston Churchill, not known as a Marian devotee, one can almost say, before El Alamein, we did not have a single victory, and after not a single defeat.Winston Churchill War memoirs, Volume IV, 2 In the Pacific, a crucial battle of Salomon Island was won by the US forces a few days after the consecration. The downfall of Stalingrad began a few days later as well with the encirclement November 19, 1942. Stalingrad surrendered on the Marian feast day, February 2, 1943. This view is not shared by everyone but popular among Marian devotees of Pope Pius XII.J Zeitler, die Marien Welt-Weihe eine dogmatisch zeitgeschichtliche schau, Kaldenkirchen, 1956,Johannes Maria Höcht, der große Ruf, München, 1956,Johannes Maria Höcht Fatima Pius XII Wiesbaden, 1956
==Interpretation==
The noted Mariologist Gabriel Roschini called the 1942 consecration of the human race to the Immaculate Heart of Mary the greatest honour, which anyone can imagine. It is the highest manifestation of the Marian cult. Quoted in Höchst, 265. It opens new perspectives for salvation history. He and others see the consecration as a new “Marian way”, a new definition of what human means between the collectivism and unlimited liberalism. The consecration to Mary by Pope Pius means “that an age of the Church” had begun: Through Mary we understand the super-natural destiny of mankind and every human being.Zeitler, 93
==Relation to Fatima ==
==The act of consecration==
Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
:Queen of the Holy Rosary, 
:Help of the Christians, 
:Refuge of the human race,
:Conqueress in God’s battlefields,
:To You and to Your Immaculate Heart
:In this tragic hour of human history
:We entrust and consecrate ourselves,
:And the Holy Church.
:She is the Mystical Body of Your Jesus,
:Suffering and bleeding in so many parts 
:And tormented in so many ways, 
:We consecrate to You the whole world torn by bitter strive
:And consumed by the fire of hatred
:The victim of its own wickedness.
:Look with compassion to all material and moral destruction
:To the suffering and fears of fathers and mothers
:Of husbands and wives, of brother and sisters and innocent children.
:Look at the many lives cut down in the flower of youth
:So many bodies torn to pieces in brutal slaughter
:So many souls tortured and troubled 
:And in danger of being lost eternally.
:Oh, Mother of Mercy, obtain peace for us from God!
:Obtain especially those graces, which can convert human hearts quickly.
:Those graces, which can prepare, establish and insure peace. 
:Queen of Peace, pray for us;
:Give the world at war the peace for which all are longing,
:Peace in Truth, Justice and the Charity of Christ. 
:Give them peace of the arms and peace of mind,
:That in tranquillity and order
:The Kingdom of God may expand.
:Grant Your protection to infidels
:And to those still walking in the shadow of death;
:Give them peace and permit that the sun of truth may raise upon them;
:And that together with us
:They may repeat before the Only Saviour of the World:
:Glory to God in the highest
:And peace on earth among men of good will (Lk2.14)
:Give peace to the people separated by error and schism,
:Particularly those, who have special devotion to You
:And among whom there was no home,
:Where Your venerable Icon was not honoured,
:Though at present it may be hidden
:In the hope for better days.
:Bring them back to the One Fold of Christ,
:Under the One True Shepherd.
:Obtain peace and complete liberty for the Holy Church of God,
:Check the spreading flood of neo-paganism,
:Arouse within the faithful love of purity
:The practice of Christian life and apostolic zeal,
:So that the people who serve God,
:May increase in merit and number.
:All of humanity were once consecrated to the Heart of Your Son.
:All our hopes rest in Him, Who is in all times 
:Sign and pledge of victory and salvation. 
:Forever we consecrate ourselves to You
:And to Your Immaculate Heart,
:Oh, Mother and Queen of the World!
:May Your love and patronage hasten the victory of the Kingdom of God,
:May all nations, at peace with each other and with God, proclaim You Blessed
:And sing with You from one end of the earth to the other,
:The eternal Magnificat of glory, love and gratitude
:To the Heart of Jesus, in which alone,
:They can find Truth, Life and Peace.
==See also==
* Our Lady of Fátima
* Consecration of Russia
==References==
==External links==
* Sanctuary of Fátima — Official Website
* The Chapel of Apparitions (Live 24h) — Official Website
* Official Vatican Statement releasing "The Message of Fátima"
Category:Roman Catholic Mariology
Category:Pope Pius XII mariology
Category:Pope Pius XII theology
pt:Consagração do mundo ao Imaculado Coração de Maria