On 31 October, 1942, on the 25^th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima, Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Dom Dominic Nogues, acting as interim Abbot General after the death of Dom Smets, decided to consecrate the Order to the Virgin Mary. He used the pontifical text as a basic text, but shortening and adapting it. It appears that several communities renew this consecration every year, using the text of Dom Nogues.

This text is somewhat dated, not only in style but also by the tragic situation of the world war. It seemed necessary to modify it.Therefore the Abbot General today will use a new text, more suited to our times and to our General Chapter. However, some phrases from the old text and also some words of Saint Bernard will be used. On the other hand, although we have authority to consecrate to Mary only the Order of the Strict Observance, we can pray the Virgin to keep under her protection all the members of the Cistercian Family.

This consecration will be made after the concluding prayer, before the final blessing. We will then sing the Salve Regina. Then the president will give the blessing and dismiss the assembly.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redeemer,

who showed yourself in this same place to Bernadette as the Immaculate Conception,

look with kindness on all of us who present ourselves to you.

For almost nine hundred years

generations arising from the humble seed

sown by the Founders of the New Monastery

have truly sought God under the shade of your mantle.

We come to bring to you and consecrate to you in a special way

ourselves and all our communities

of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance,

represented here by their superiors, come from the four corners of the earth

to celebrate their General Chapters.

We do not count on our own merits, on which we know we cannot presume,

but solely on the goodness of your maternal Heart.

Conform us to your Son, according to the Cistercian grace.

O Mother, you desire the spiritual and apostolic renewal of your sons and daughters

by a response of love and total offering to Christ.

We pray to you with confidence:

Keep under your protection the sons and daughters of the Cistercian Family

as you have done for hundreds of years,

and receive our thanks for the special favours poured out on them in abundance,

especially for that devotion to you which is the precious heritage left us by our Fathers.

We love to take up the words of your singer, our Father Saint Bernard,

to beg you, our Advocate:

"Reconcile us with your Son, conform us to your Son,

stand for us in the presence of your Son".

By the grace you have obtained, by the favour you alone were able to obtain,

by the mercy to whom you gave birth,

grant that, he who, through you, chose to share our weakness and our misery,

will make us also sharers in his glory and blessedness, through your intercession"⁽¹⁾.

Obtain from your divine Son - the perfect Image of the Father in the Holy Spirit -

that all who receive the gift of following him in the Cistercian life

"may be enabled to bear witness to that gift by their transfigured lives,

as they joyfully make their way with all their brothers and sisters

towards our heavenly homeland and the light which will never grow dim"⁽²⁾.

We ask you that in all of us He may be glorified, blessed and loved,

Who is sovereign Lord of all things, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

for ever and ever. R. AMEN.

1. Cf. St. Bernard, Sermon 2,5 on Advent

2. Cf. Vita Consecrata 112