Day 5: Consecreated

Statue of St. Louis deMontfort, inside St. Peter’s

Today our family is beginning the preparation to make a total consecration to Jesus through Mary. The preparation time lasts 40 days and we will make the consecration on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th.

The book we have follows a consecration reading and prayer plan based on the writings of St. Louis deMontfort and Blessed Pope John Paul II. St. Louis wrote the book (no, he literally did) on being consecrated to Jesus through Mary. The book is titled True Devotion to Mary and was written in the 18th century. In it he details a 33 day prayer and meditation plan which prepares one to make an act of total consecration to Jesus through Mary.

What does that mean?

I was a little confused when I first heard about it, and frankly, a little freaked out.

But once I did more reading I realized that it makes so much sense.

The first dimension of the consecration is “totus tuus” or totally yours, meaning that we offer everything we have to Jesus through Mary. The consecration helps you to become Mary’s “consecrated spiritual child” whom she can mold more easily into the image of her Son.

Blessed Pope John Paul II wrote about it in his book, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, saying, “Thanks to St. Louis deMontfort, I came to understand that true devotion to the Mother of God is actually christocentric, indeed, it is very profoundly rooted in the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, and the mysteries of the Incarnation and Redemption.”

The consecration I am following has 12 preliminary days in which to rid ourselves of those attachments which are more “of the world” than they are of Christ. This is followed by three weeks of prayer and meditation meant to make our souls strive for better knowledge of self, of Mary, and of Jesus. On the 34th day, the act of Total Consecration is made, and then there is another six days of prayer and reflection on living the consecrated life, focusing on union with St. Joseph during that time.

The daily structure employs a reading from Pope John Paul II and from St. Louis’ True Devotion to Mary, followed by a family rosary whenever possible.

I am very excited to begin the consecration with Atticus, and very grateful to the wonderful couple from our church who gave us the book, which is a great resource for many prayers in addition to the consecration.

What are your grateful for today?