We are approaching the one-year anniversary of the novena and consecration that we did last year, imploring Our Lady’s help to preserve the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) and the Traditional Latin Mass. As you will recall, in the months following the issuance in July 2021 of the moto proprio "Traditionis custodes," many were rightly afraid that our parish here at St. Lawrence could be disbanded. This concern was echoed around the world in other similar places. Fr. Komorowski, FSSP superior general, asked the priests of the FSSP and all of the Faithful at our parishes to seek Our Lady’s help.
We were all amazed when it was announced a couple of weeks later that the Holy Father had met with two FSSP priests, and had subsequently signed a special decree protecting the work of the FSSP, preserving it’s right to keep the Traditional Latin Mass. When we saw that the date of Pope Francis’s signature on the decree was Feb. 11—the Feast of Our Lady Immaculate of Lourdes, and the day that we all consecrated ourselves to her—we saw the work as due to her intercession.
This year, as an act of thanksgiving as well as of petition to protect us from future problems, our superiors have asked us to repeat the Consecration at the High Mass on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 9 am. We will also prepare for that consecration with a novena beginning on Feb. 2.
For our novena of preparation, we will pray a decade of the Rosary followed by the Memorare after each Low Mass (and after the sermon of each High Mass):
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
We will use the following prayer as our Act of Consecration on February 11, 2023:
O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Help of Christians, behold this day before thy feet, the priests and seminarians of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, together with all those who, united with us as a spiritual family, place their hope and trust in thee.
O Queen and Mother of all priests, it was by thee that Jesus, the High Priest and Victim, was given unto the world, and He in turn has given thee as Mother to us.
Intercede, therefore, we implore thee, for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the Cross. Look with favor upon the work we seek to do for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Obtain for us by thy prayers the graces we need as members of the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, to be instructed and enlightened by her Magisterium, to be devoutly zealous for the graces of her Sacraments, and to be unfailingly loyal in our unity with the Vicar of thy Son.
The rest of the text is recited only by priests and seminarians of the Fraternity:
Conscious of our own frailty, and of the hatred of the world for the works of light, we offer this day to thy Immaculate Heart our Priestly Fraternity and beg thee to take it under thy patronage. We chose thee, this day and evermore, as our advocate and Queen, and devote ourselves and all those souls who seek our priestly care, together with all our works and all we have and are, to thy loving protection.
To thee and to thy Immaculate Heart, we entrust and consecrate ourselves. Assist us in our endeavors to spread the Kingdom of thy Son, so that those who have strayed from the truth may once more attend to the teaching of the Church; those separated from her unity may return to the one true fold; those in sin may be restored to a state of grace; and those who have abandoned the Sacraments may return with fervor to receive them.
O Virgin Most Pure, do thou, together with Saint Peter, and all the angels and saints, pray for us all in these times of trial. May thy love and protection be ever upon our Fraternity, so that we may faithfully proclaim the Holy Gospel and bring the Sacraments to ever more souls. Obtain for us by thy prayers that we may persevere in grace until death, when we may be united with thee, our loving Mother, in the house of the Father.
Amen.