Apprehension about Total Consecration

[redbaron162]

Hello,

I have been doing the Preparation for Total consecration according to St. Louis de Montfort (I am on day 30) and have run into a snag where I am hesitant to go on. I have found some of the language challenging especially some of the readings where it says things like, “And shall I not be entirely hers? My dear Savior, send me death rather than such a calamity, for I would rather die than live without entirely belonging to Mary” Don’t get me wrong I am all for the Blessed Virgin but not entirely sure it would be prudent to wish for death than not be entirely hers? We are still alive in Christ of course right?

Now I have often heard it said that the Total consecration is not to be taken lightly and I am hesitant whether I should continue despite this apprehension or whether I should persevere?

Now before you reply keep in mind I have a very deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin even from before I became Catholic back in 2007. I wear the MM and Brown Scapular everyday, pray the rosary with joy and fully believe every Marian doctrine. I know the manual I have has a Imprimitur and Nihil Obstat and I trust the authority of the Church that there is nothing in it that would hurt me but I don’t know if I would be disingenuous with preceding even with this nagging concern or if I should stop and maybe come back to it some other time. I don’t want to miss out on spiritual growth because I was overly scrupulous but I don’t want to do a disservice either because I had a apprehension.

Thank you

 

[Maximilian75]

Have you read 33 days to Morning Glory? It’s a bit of an easier read

 

[Tis_Bearself]

If you already had a deep devotion to Mary, that explains why you have even hung in there this long with St. Louis de Montfort. I find him a bit scary myself and I’ve been practicing Marian devotions since I was a child.
He means well, though.

You could either switch over to 33 Days to Morning Glory, or else just keep going and ask Mary to please help you with anything you’re apprehensive about.

Also, keep in mind that Satan hates Marian devotion and is probably trying to knock you off the path. Maybe try saying the prayer to St. Michael before you read the devotion and ask him and Mary to help you especially.

By the way, I had a lot of apprehension about Total Consecration too before I just bit the bullet and did it last year. I felt that most people doing it were not taking it seriously enough.
I did the 9 day Maximilian Kolbe consecration (you can find it on the web, search for Militia of the Immaculata) but I used some of the Montfort stuff to renew this year.
Since I did it, it’s been fine. No worries. I actually wonder why it took me so long. Mary is very kind and helpful and there is nothing to fear.

 

[Deditus_Domina]

I too found de Montfort to be too much - my first go around. I read everything for the consecration and prayed a lot. I had both objections with individual statements he makes and a gut feeling I couldn’t buy into all that.

About a year later and after begging God to help me understand and open my heart, I read 33 days to Morning Glory. That book did not get me to the point of making a Marian consecration but it did prepare my heart to go back to de Montfort.

I know lots of people love 33 Days and have benefited by it. It just isn’t radical though and I truly feel a total consecration has to be radical. There are still individual statements of de Montfort’s that I don’t hold with and we don’t have to parrot every word to accept the massive challenge he puts to us: giving all of ourselves and our actions over to Mary.