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Monday, August 15, 2011

———————— Total Consecration to Mary ————————

     “God the Holy Spirit, who does not produce any divine person, became fruitful through Mary whom he espoused. It was with her, in her and of her that he produced his masterpiece, God-made-man, and that he produces every day until the end of the world the members of the body of this adorable Head. For this reason the more he finds Mary his dear and inseparable spouse in a soul the more powerful and effective he becomes in producing Jesus Christ in that soul and that soul in Jesus Christ.”  These words of St. Louis Marie de Montfort (1673-1716) are the theological foundation of why we make an act of Total Consecration to Mary. He explains further: “...this devotion consists in surrendering oneself in the manner of a slave to Mary and to Jesus through her, and then performing all our actions with Mary, in Mary, through Mary, and for Mary” (Secret of Mary, n.26). Consecration to Mary produces in the soul a more intimate union with Our Lady and through her a more perfect union with God the Holy Spirit and with Jesus.

 

     At heart of the Consecration is trust in Mary on the highest level. Many devotional practices involve striving to allow Mary to guide one’s actions and invoking her protection. Total Consecration, however, involves surrendering the value and merits of all prayers and good works (including indulgences) to the Blessed Virgin, trusting that her protection and provision is greater than anything we can do for ourselves.

 

     The benefits of this consecration are:

— It purifies and embellishes our good works, giving honor to Jesus.

— Grace is increased in our soul through Mary’s intercession and provision, rendering the soul free, enabling us to walk in the way of God's commandments.

— It establishes Mary's life in the soul, so that she may work in us and through us.

 —————— Preparation for "Total Consecration" ——————

     St. Louis de Montfort tells us that “those who desire to take up this special devotion [Total Consecration to Mary], should spend at least twelve days in emptying themselves of the spirit of the world, which is opposed to the spirit of Jesus. They should spend three weeks imbuing themselves with the spirit of Jesus through the most Blessed Virgin” (True Devotion to Mary, n.227).

———————— Initial Practices ———————— 

1. Obtain one of the following books on the “Total Consecration to Mary” for prayerful study in preparation to making this commitment:

 

     The Secret of Mary, by St. Louis Marie de Montfort.

     True Devotion to Mary, by St. Louis Marie de Montfort.

     Preparation for Total Consecration according to Saint Louis Marie de Montfort.

 

2. Period of Preparation prior to making Consecration.

 

    a) First Period:

          12 preliminary days on the theme of “Renouncement of the World”

 

     b) Second Period:

          1st Week: Knowledge of Self.

          2nd Week: Knowledge of Our Lady:

          3rd Week: Knowledge of Christ.

 

3. Choose a feast of Our Lady on which to make the consecration (preferably on a major feast) then begin the period of preparation so that it will conclude on or near that feast day. Below is a list of all the feasts of Our Blessed Mother during the Liturgical Year, with the major feasts high-lighted:

Below are some suggested schedules for consecration based on some of the major feasts:

———————— How To Make Your Consecration ————————

     At the end of three weeks, we should go to Confession and Holy Communion with the intention of giving ourselves to Jesus Christ in the quality of slaves of love, by the hands of Mary. After Communion, we should recite the consecration prayer; we ought to write it, or have it written, and sign it the same day the consecration is made. It would be well that on this day, we should pay some tribute to Jesus Christ and our Blessed lady, either as a penance for our past unfaithfulness to the vows of Baptism, or as a testimony of dependence on the dominion of Jesus and Mary. This tribute should be in accordance with your fervor, such as a fast, mortification or alms, or a candle. If but a pin is given in homage, and given with a good heart, it will be enough for Jesus, Who loves only the good will.

 

     Once a year at least, and on the same day, we should renew this consecration, observing the same practices during the three weeks. (True Devotion to Mary, nn. 231-233).

ACT OF CONSECRATION

TO JESUS CHRIST THE INCARNATE WISDOM

THROUGH THE HANDS OF MARY

 

     Eternal and incarnate Wisdom, most lovable and adorable Jesus, true God and true man, only Son of the eternal Father and of Mary always Virgin, I adore you profoundly, dwelling in the splendor of your Father from all eternity, and in the virginal womb of Mary, your most worthy Mother, at the time of your Incarnation.

 

     I thank you for having emptied yourself in assuming the condition of a slave to set me free from cruel slavery of the evil one. I praise and glorify you for having willingly chosen to obey Mary, your holy Mother, in all things, so that through her I may be your faithful slave of love. But I must confess that I have not kept the vows and promises which I made to you so solemnly at my baptism. I have not fulfilled my obligations, and I do not deserve to be called your child or even your slave. Since I cannot lay claim to anything except what merits your rejection and displeasure, I dare no longer approach the holiness of your majesty on my own. That is why I turn to the intercession of the mercy of your holy Mother, whom you yourself have given me to mediate with you. Through her I hope to obtain from you contrition and pardon for my sins, and that Wisdom whom I desire to dwell in me always.

 

     I turn to you, then, Mary Immaculate, living tabernacle of God, in whom Eternal Wisdom willed to receive the adoration of both men and angels. I greet you as Queen of heaven and earth, for all that is under God has been made subject to your sovereignty. I call upon you, the unfailing refuge of sinners, confident in your mercy that has never forsaken anyone. Grant my desire for divine Wisdom and, in support of my petition, accept the promises and the offering of myself which I now make, conscious of my unworthiness.

 

     I, an unfaithful sinner, renew and ratify today through you my baptismal promises. I renounce forever Satan, his empty promises, and his evil designs, and I give myself completely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him for the rest of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have been till now.

 

     This day, with the whole court of heaven as witness, I choose you, Mary, as my Mother and Queen. I surrender and consecrate myself to you, body and soul, as your slave, with all that I possess, both spiritual and material, even including the value of all my good actions, past, present and to come. I give you the full right to dispose of me and all that belongs to me, without any reservations, in whatever way you please, for the greater glory of God in time throughout eternity.

 

     Accept, gracious Virgin, this little offering of my slavery to honor and imitate the obedience which Eternal Wisdom willingly chose to have towards you, his Mother. I wish to acknowledge the authority which both of you have over this pitiful sinner. By it, I wish also to thank God for the privileges bestowed on you by the Blessed Trinity. I declare that for the future, I will try to honor and obey you in all things, as your true slave of love.

 

     O admirable Mother, present me to your dear Son as his slave, now and for always, so that he who redeemed me through you, will now receive me through you. Mother of mercy, grant me the favor of obtaining the true Wisdom of God, and so make me one of those whom you love, teach and guide, whom you nourish and protect as your children and slaves.

 

     Virgin most faithful, make me in everything so committed a disciple, imitator, and slave of Jesus, your Son, Incarnate Wisdom, that I may become, through your intercession and example, fully mature with the fullness which Jesus possessed on earth, and with the fullness of his glory in heaven. Amen.

 

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