"Consecration” means being set aside for a holy purpose.
Perhaps, you may or may not have heard of the concept of consecration before. A person or nation consecrated is set aside for a holy purpose.
Sometimes the word “entrustment” is used synonymously with consecration.
The Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship defines consecration to Mary as an overt recognition of the "singular role of Mary in the Mystery of Christ and of the Church, of the universal and exemplary importance of her witness to the Gospel, of trust in her intercession, and of the efficacy of her patronage."
By consecrating oneself to Mary, one accepts her help in offering oneself fully to Christ.
Pope St. John Paul II during his pontificate consecrated the entire Church and the world to Mary three times.
Consecration as an entrustment is an appeal to God, laying ourselves, our hearts, our prayers, our desires at the feet of Our Lady for our particular needs.
Marian consecrations are important because they signify our love and trust in Our Blessed Mother and we beseech her protection as her children in a special way.
Why the Russia and Ukraine?
The 1917 apparitions at Fatima in Portugal are some of the world’s most famous Marian apparitions.
In the course of her appearances, Mary revealed three secrets, the second of which was a statement that World War I would end, as well as a prediction of another war that would start during the reign of Pius XI if "people continued to offend God, and if Russia was not consecrated to Mary’s Immaculate Heart."
Mary specifically asked that Russia be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart.
Sister Lucia, one of the three Fatima visionaries, said that Mary told her: “If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated.”
But She promised that “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she shall be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world."
In the years following the revelation of the secret, there was some controversy as to whether various consecrations of Russia performed by subsequent popes fulfilled the requirements set forth by Mary.
But in a letter written in 1989, Sister Lucia confirmed that Pope St. John Paul II satisfied Mary’s request for Russia's consecration in 1984. At the time, Ukraine and Russia were both part of the Soviet Union.
Other authorities, including the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, also have affirmed the consecration was completed to Sister Lucia's satisfaction.
Both St. John Paul II and the mystic, Sister Lucia, were at first uncertain because Pope John Paul 11 did not mention Russia by name but by allusion. However, Lucia did confirm it with Our Lady, who said, "Yes, God had accepted it and He would keep His promise." Sister Lucia confirmed multiple times, including in person, that Our Lady's request had been satisfied.
Indeed that period of peace was granted to the world, which accounts for the momentary peace the world has enjoyed until February 24, 2022, when relationship between Russia and Ukraine degenerated into open armed conflict, with heavy death toll.
In fact unless something extraordinary is done and quickly so to assuage the burning hearts of hatred between these two countries, there is prospect of it snowballing into a global conflagration.
His Holiness, Pope Francis, should, therefore, be commended for taking the urgent steps to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Instead of war, let the two Nations atune their hearts to world peace and stability.
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