Consecrating myself to Mary

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CountrySteve

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Well, im confused, idk rather to consecrate myself under St. Louis de Montfort’s method or St. Maximilian method. So why I’m posting this thread is to ask you CAF members which one you prefer/ have done, and why. God bless.
 
I did the St. Louis method - it has been powerful for me.

Just be ready to give your life to Christ, 100%, (0% for you) when you do this. I was surprised how wonderful that is. While I was going through the process of laying down my life in service to Christ through Mary, I was a little queasy since it seems like a total surrender with no turning back. But, in retrospect, how wonderful it has been in my life.

When I finished it, I was thinking, “Hmmm… I don’t feel any different.” One year later… big difference.
 
I am in the process of renewing my Consecration to Mary. I am on day 23 and using Father Michael E. Gaitley’s book 33 DAYS TO MORNING GLORY: A DO IT YOURSELF RETREAT IN PREPARATION FOR MARIAN CONSECRATION. Father Gaitley uses the writings of St Louis de Monfort, St.Max Kolbe, Blessed John Paul, & Blessed Mother Teresa.
 
I am working on renewing my consecration using St. Louis de Montfort’s method. I chose that for several reasons:
  1. It just happened to be the one I found first.
  2. Mother Teresa, Blessed John Paul II, and many other saints have done the Montfort consecration; I don’t know of any great saints who have used St. Maximilian Kolbe’s method (other than himself).
  3. From what I understand, Kolbe didn’t exactly had a method. With Montfort, you are given specific readings and prayers for 33 days, and then the consecration prayer; Kolbe just has the consecration prayer. I don’t know about you, but I found it very helpful to have a structured time of preparation.
 
I’m on Day 9 today and just realized I never checked to see if it was OK to do the consecration if I haven’t been confirmed yet. I’m currently in RCIA to be confirmed March 30th. Is this OK to do?
 
sanchopanza said:
I’m on Day 9 today and just realized I never checked to see if it was OK to do the consecration if I haven’t been confirmed yet. I’m currently in RCIA to be confirmed March 30th. Is this OK to do?
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My opinion and a dollar will buy a soda these days - so take it for what it’s worth…

I am not aware that the total consecration is restricted to Catholics. I would be stunned to learn that it is. My impression is that this is something that you’re doing on your own with Mary.

The Catholic Church doesn’t get to say what others can and cannot do in their devotion to Mary. However, I do not find much support for a devotion to Mary outside the Church. I’d love to hear otherwise, by the way.

Keep going is my advice - we need all the warriors for the Kingdom we can get!!! I give you my heartfelt congrats on multiple levels, too!
 
sanchopanza said:
I’m on Day 9 today and just realized I never checked to see if it was OK to do the consecration if I haven’t been confirmed yet. I’m currently in RCIA to be confirmed March 30th. Is this OK to do?
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Dear sanchpanza,

Anyone can pray this Act of Consecration with a sincere and contrite heart. One does not need to be Catholic. I have a friend in the UK who is not Catholic but has totally given herself to Jesus through Mary using St. Louis De Montfort’s method.

May Jesus and Mary give us all we need to continue this beautiful journey together! 🙂
 
sanchopanza said:
I’m on Day 9 today and just realized I never checked to see if it was OK to do the consecration if I haven’t been confirmed yet. I’m currently in RCIA to be confirmed March 30th. Is this OK to do?
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Which consecration?

What about Catholics who aren’t confirmed, can they do St. Max’s Consecration?
 
I was Baptized and received my First Communion, but after a long lapse I’m going back to be Confirmed, so I am Catholic, just not Confirmed.

Thanks for the responses!
 
sanchopanza said:
I was Baptized and received my First Communion, but after a long lapse I’m going back to be Confirmed, so I am Catholic, just not Confirmed.

Thanks for the responses!
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Well, welcome back to the faith, God be praised
 
CountrySteve said:
Well, im confused, idk rather to consecrate myself under St. Louis de Montfort’s method or St. Maximilian method. So why I’m posting this thread is to ask you CAF members which one you prefer/ have done, and why. God bless.
Click to expand...
I have done the 33-day preparation and then the Total Consecration according to the teaching of St. Louis de Montfort. I love it because the Church loves it and because our blessed Pope John Paul II did it himself and spoke very nicely about it.

“The act of consecration in the manner of a slave indicates a singular dependency and an unlimited trust. In this feeling, the slavery, the absence of freedom, expresses the fullness of freedom, just like the Gospel speaks of the necessity of losing life in order to find it in its fullness.” John Paul II, June 4, 1980 (from “El Secreto de Maria”, Presentacion, by Fr. Francisco de P. Sola’, S.I.)

Please do read “Treatise on the True Devotion”. I cannot believe how little I knew Our Lady before having read it.

I am trying to be very devout, knowing that devotion becomes colder after a while, praying the Rosary daily as well as the Little Office, whenever possible. It has definitely benefited me. I think it is perhaps the most effective way to live the little way described by St. Therese of Lisieux in Story of a Soul.

Oh so somebody will soon be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit 👍 I still remember how that felt! First, the renewal of the baptismal vows (amazing experience), then the bishop and the concelebrating priests will lay their hands upon the candidates, and then the bishop will anoint you with the Chrism. And then your life changes, and you find strength you did not know you’d ever have against sin, and increase in the gifts of the Spirit according to God’s wisdom. I am very happy for you!
 
CountrySteve said:
Which consecration?

What about Catholics who aren’t confirmed, can they do St. Max’s Consecration?
Click to expand...
Dear CountrySteve,

I have consecrated myself both using St. Louis de Montfort’s method, (and re-consecrated myself using this method for many years) and also more recently, I have prayed the shorter but also very beautiful and powerful Act of Consecration composed by St. Maximillian Kolbe,

The reason I decided to use both Acts of Consecration is that when I first consecrated myself as a teenager, I had a much more “self-centered” approach. As I grew older I began to appreciate the Truth that the Church exists to evangelize. I need not only to consecrate myself and become holy as St. Louis de Montfort helps us to do, but I also need to be concerned about sharing Jesus, through Mary, with others. When I began to read about St. Maximilian and read his Act of Consecration, I was moved to pray that prayer and felt that it gave me an added “evangelistic thrust” that I needed.

I am also a member of the Legion of Mary, whose founder was greatly influenced by St. Louis de Montfort. Servant of God Frank Duff was inspired with great insights into the Mystery of the Body of Christ and the goals he set for the Legion were personal holiness and the extending of the reign of Jesus through Mary.

For anyone interested in reading De Montfort see HERE

For more on St. Maximilian’s Act of Consecration see HERE

For Frank Duff’s thoughts on “True Devotion” see HERE

We do not need to be confirmed to make either of these consecrations, but surely the sacrament of Confirmation gives an increase in grace to live what we pray. 🙂
 
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