John Paul II – Act of Commitment to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (December 8, 1983 and March 25, 1984)
On December 8, 1983, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, within the context of the Extraordinary Holy Year of Redemption (1983-1984), Pope Saint John Paul II addressed a letter to all the bishops of the world, inviting them to join him on March 25, 1984 (the feast of the Annunciation) to perform a solemn consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The letter includes the full text of the Act of Entrustment.
| Coleção | Enchiridion Vaticanum vol. 9, parágrafos 554-558 |
| Papa | São João Paulo II |
| Documento | Carta aos bispos sobre a consagração e ato de affidamento ao Coração Imaculado da Virgem Maria |
| Data da carta | 8 de dezembro de 1983 |
| Data do Ato | 25 de março de 1984 (em união com Fátima de 13 de maio de 1982) |
Carta aos bispos, texto em italiano
Cari fratelli nel ministero episcopale,
On March 25, 1983, we began the extraordinary jubilee of redemption. I thank you once again for joining me in inaugurating, on that very day, the year of redemption in your dioceses. The solemnity of the Annunciation, which recalls throughout the liturgical year the beginning of the work of redemption in the history of humanity, seemed particularly suitable for such an inauguration…
On this day, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the Church reflects on the saving power of Christ’s redemption in the conception of the woman destined to be the Mother of the Redeemer.
Ato de Afidamento à Virgem Maria, texto em italiano (Excerto)
n. 556, «Sotto la tua protezione cerchiamo rifugio, santa Madre di Dio»! Pronunciando le parole di questa antifona, con cui la Chiesa di Cristo prega da secoli, ci troviamo oggi dinanzi a te, Madre, nell’anno giubilare della nostra redenzione.
We find ourselves united with all the pastors of the Church in a particular bond, forming one body and one college, just as by Christ’s will the apostles formed one body and one college with Peter.
In the bond of such unity, we utter the words of this act, in which we wish to encompass once again the hopes and anxieties of the Church for the contemporary world.
Forty years ago, and then ten years later again, your servant, Pope Pius XII, having before his eyes the painful experiences of the human family, entrusted and consecrated to your Immaculate Heart the entire world, particularly the peoples who were the object of your love and solicitude.
Tradução portuguesa do Ato de Consagração
n. 556, «Debaixo da tua protecção buscamos refúgio, Santa Mãe de Deus»! Pronunciando as palavras desta antífona, com a qual a Igreja de Cristo reza há séculos, encontramo-nos hoje diante de ti, Mãe, no ano jubilar da nossa redenção.
We find ourselves united with all the pastors of the Church in a special bond, forming one body and one college, just as by Christ’s will the apostles formed one body and one college with Peter.
Within the bond of such unity, we pronounce the words of this present act, in which we wish to summarize once more the hopes and anxieties of the Church for the contemporary world.
Forty years ago, and ten years later still, your servant Pope Pius XII, with the painful experiences of humanity before his eyes, entrusted and consecrated the whole world, especially the peoples that were the object of your love and care, to your Immaculate Heart.
Context: The Tradition of Consecration to Fátima
John Paul II explicitly indicates that the text of the Act “corresponds, with minor changes, to what I proclaimed in Fátima on 13 May 1982”. The consecration of 1982 was carried out a year after the attack on his life on 13 May 1981. The Pope attributed his survival to the intervention of Our Lady of Fátima.
The line of Immaculate Heart dedications:
- 1942, Pius XII: Consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart (radio broadcast on 31 October)
- 1952, Pius XII: Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart
- 1981, John Paul II: First consecration following the attack
- 1982, John Paul II in Fátima: Consecration of 13 May 1982, anniversary of the attack and the apparitions
- 1984, John Paul II in Rome: Collegial consecration with all bishops worldwide on 25 March
- 2000, John Paul II in Fátima: Revelation of the Third Secret
- 2017, Francis in Fátima: Centennial of the apparitions, canonization of Saint Francis and Saint Jacinta Marto
- 2022, Francis: Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart (in the context of war)
Ecclesiastical Significance
The Act of 25 March 1984 is theologically unique because it was made by the Pope in communion with ALL the bishops worldwide, fulfilling what Fátima’s request required (“the Pope in union with all the bishops of the world”). This collegiate dimension is fundamental: Mary is not a personal devotion but a global communion of the Church.
Further Reading
Redemptoris Mater | Aparições (Fátima) | Year of Mary 1987-1988 | Rosary of the Virgin Mary
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