On October 2nd, while their Guardian Angels invisibly exulted, 38 parishioners pronounced their consecration to the Immaculata and signed their enrolment sheet.
A few days ago, a number of Fijian Catholics became members of the Militia Immaculatae. Suva, the capital of the Fiji Islands, is home to our priory, St Michael’s, where the SSPX apostolate started more than 20 years ago. There, Our Lady has acquired a number of privileged children. They have been promoted to knights following the MI fashion.
When I arrived from Melbourne, the only remote preparation had been a poster on the wall indicating the opportunity for consecration and enrolment, in the context of the Rosary Crusade and of the Centenary of Fatima. The little booklet, from the very beginning of its distribution, proved very popular. Through it the Immaculata touched many hearts, before the booklets ran out, and more hearts were left longing to be touched. Our good Mother saw to this and found some other ways to touch them, like old-fashioned word of mouth.
Not only had the booklets run out, but the time to go through the 13-day preparation was also too short. However, without a doubt, the Immaculata covered with Her benevolent smile the holy rush which seized the congregation. On October 2nd, while their Guardian Angels invisibly exulted, 38 parishioners pronounced their consecration and signed their enrolment sheet. Some of them had come to Mass every night after a long day of work or school to get their hearts as ready as possible. In Fiji, they know how to treasure the Holy Sacrifice, because the priest visits only 6 times a year. The Immaculata will include these thirsty faithful more deeply in the Sacrifice of Her Son, which is celebrated in other locations around the world.
After the Mass and the extra ceremonies, I had to rush to another congregation in the “bush”, before getting a 3-hour ride in a fast car and catch a plane in the evening. Alas, the faithful there had to do a consecration of desire and a spiritual enrolment, because however seriously they had prepared themselves, Fiji Airways was not going to wait for a hurrying priest. However, pilots would be well advised to facilitate our Marian apostolate. Mere, the young lady who made her first Communion that Sunday, would remind her fellow-villagers that as Jesus comes to them through the practice of spiritual Communion in the absence of priest, the Blessed Mother certainly would likewise oblige. “Fr Elias will enrol you on Sunday 20th November”. No doubt the delay will be used wisely and in holy expectation.
Some souls in Rotuma are also expected to enrol soon, so as to extend the Immaculata’s reign around the Pacific. In the meantime it is with gratitude that we entrust all Fijians and Rotumans to the powerful Mother. In a country mostly given away to the Methodist Protestant churches, we now know Mary has taken a step further in looking out for those souls’ best interests. She has been at work since 1844, Her standard being brought into these lands by the heroic priests of the Society of Mary. Most humbly, the Society of St Pius X carries on, sub nomine Mariae ‘the Marists’ motto’.
Fr. Raphael du Chazaud
