33 Day Journey soon to begin

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

God willing, as promised, I hope to begin a series of threads on St. Louis De Montfort’s 33 Day Preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, (or renewal of that Act of Total Consecration for those who have already consecrated themselves). Although I made my first Act of Consecration as a teenager on June 10 many, many years ago, I like to renew my Consecration not only on that date but especially on the Feast of the Annunciation, each year. Going on this 33 Day Journey has been a unique blessing each time, because by God’s Grace we are enabled to grow spiritually everyday and so we are never really the “same” person as we make the journey.

Let me review for anyone who is unfamiliar with the method of St. Louis De Montfort. In his treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary he wrote:

1. Those who desire to take up this special devotion, … should spend at least twelve days in emptying themselves of the spirit of the world, which is opposed to the spirit of Jesus, as I have recommended in the first part of this preparation for the reign of Jesus Christ. They should then spend three weeks imbuing themselves with the spirit of Jesus through the most Blessed Virgin.

On this Sunday, Feb. 21, we’ll begin our 12 days of seeking to empty ourselves of the spirit of the world. Of course, we realize this is something that must be ongoing; we can’t completely rid ourselves of the spirit of the world in 12 days! Nevertheless, St. Louis de Montfort is following in the footsteps of Christ who told his followers that if anyone desires to follow Him, they must deny themselves. (cf Luke 9:23).

If you have never read the little treatise on True Devotion, you may want to read what De Montfort has written. You can read it online HERE. In the quote above, St. Louis mentions “the first part of this preparation for the reign of Christ”. This may have been the original title of his treatise. On the title page of My copy, is printed:“True Devition to the Blessed Virgin” and below as a subtitle “Or Preparation for the Reign of Jesus Christ”.

After the 12 days, during each of the following weeks, St. Louis helps us to seek: in Wk 1) true knowledge of our own spirit, in order that we may seek to empty ourselves of selfishness and whatever God reveals to us as opposing His Holy Spirit. In Wk 2) true knowledge of Mary’s spirit which is the spirit of Christ, and finally in Wk 3) to seek true knowledge of Christ Himself.

After the 33 Days, we consecrate or re-consecrate ourselves to Jesus through Mary, and this year the Annunciation, March 25, falls on Good Friday. The Feast of the Annunciation will not of course be celebrated liturgically that day but will be transferred to April. Still Good Friday seemed to me a perfect day to give ourselves totally, when Jesus and Mary gave themselves so totally on Calvary for us. I hope you will join me on the journey. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to ask on this thread.

 

[dshix]

Hello Maria,

You have correctly observed that the feast of the annunciation ends on Good Friday this year. I spoke to my priest about the question of whether I should do my 33 days to end on March 25th or if I should change it to end on the day to which the feast is transferred. He said it would be proper to do the latter, and since the Ordo says the feast is transferred to April 4th, that’s the day I’ll be aiming for.

 

[MariaChristi]

Hello Maria,

You have correctly observed that the feast of the annunciation ends on Good Friday this year. I spoke to my priest about the question of whether I should do my 33 days to end on March 25th or if I should change it to end on the day to which the feast is transferred. He said it would be proper to do the latter, and since the Ordo says the feast is transferred to April 4th, that’s the day I’ll be aiming for.

Dear dshix,

With all due respect to your priest, I believe we are free to choose either date, especially if we are making our consecration or renewal privately. If you were to have some sort of ceremony as it is done in some places with one or more persons making the Act of Consecration publicly and signing it in the presence of others, it would certainly be more proper to wait.

Since this is intended to be a private renewal for most of us and only a very few for the first time and that in private, it seems to me perfectly consistent with The True Devotion written by St. Louis De Montfort. Thanks for your reply. It may help anyone who was wondering about any ceremony other than the solemn liturgy of Good Friday. The Consecration or renewal of the Consecration is a solemn and beautiful offering which can be made after receiving Holy Communion.

May your celebration of the liturgical Feast of the Annunciation be a most joyful one on April 4. May all of us who have consecrated ourselves to Jesus through Mary, live our Total Consecration by God’s Grace for His Glory and Honor.

 

[dshix]

Dear dshix,

With all due respect to your priest, I believe we are free to choose either date, especially if we are making our consecration or renewal privately. If you were to have some sort of ceremony as it is done in some places with one or more persons making the Act of Consecration publicly and signing it in the presence of others, it would certainly be more proper to wait.

Since this is intended to be a private renewal for most of us and only a very few for the first time and that in private, it seems to me perfectly consistent with The True Devotion written by St. Louis De Montfort. Thanks for your reply. It may help anyone who was wondering about any ceremony other than the solemn liturgy of Good Friday. The Consecration or renewal of the Consecration is a solemn and beautiful offering which can be made after receiving Holy Communion.

May your celebration of the liturgical Feast of the Annunciation be a most joyful one on April 4. May all of us who have consecrated ourselves to Jesus through Mary, live our Total Consecration by God’s Grace for His Glory and Honor.

I understand that it is not objectively improper to do the consecration on any day, regardless of the feast of that day, so of course I wasn’t trying to tell you that you were doing it wrong.
I was offering as an alternative the choice of celebrating the feast on the day the Church will celebrate it this year by completing the consecration on that date. There is, of course, no wrongdoing in choosing one way or the other.

 

[MariaChristi]

I understand that it is not objectively improper to do the consecration on any day, regardless of the feast of that day, so of course I wasn’t trying to tell you that you were doing it wrong.
I was offering as an alternative the choice of celebrating the feast on the day the Church will celebrate it this year by completing the consecration on that date. There is, of course, no wrongdoing in choosing one way or the other.

Yes, dshix, I understood, but I wanted to clarify ia bit more in case there was any lingering confusion in anyone’s mind. Thanks again for your reply. It is good always to make clear that alternatives are possible in some instances.

We will all, God willing, be celebrating the beautiful Feast of the Annunciation liturgically on April 4th with the Universal Church. May it always be a special date for you as the date on which you consecrated yourself totally to Jesus through Mary.

I think this is the first time I remember March 25 being on Good Friday. Perhaps in previous years I waited and renewed my consecration on an alternate date but I honestly don’t remember. I just thought this year it was significant for me to offer myself again totally on Good Friday. Persons are free of course to choose any date they wish. It is more a matter of the heart than a matter of calendar date, it seems to me,

 

[Pythagoras]

Hello Maria,

You have correctly observed that the feast of the annunciation ends on Good Friday this year. I spoke to my priest about the question of whether I should do my 33 days to end on March 25th or if I should change it to end on the day to which the feast is transferred. He said it would be proper to do the latter, and since the Ordo says the feast is transferred to April 4th, that’s the day I’ll be aiming for.

You passed God’s test. I think it would be better to be obedient to your priest, after all this Consecration is about renouncing your self-will

 

[dshix]

You passed God’s test. I think it would be better to be obedient to your priest, after all this Consecration is about renouncing your self-will

Heh, a true statement, though I shouldn’t take credit for a virtue of obedience in this case, since it was, in fact, my will in the first place to do whatever the priest suggested. There wasn’t much self-mortification or denying of my own will in that.

But I thank you for the sentiment.