Consecration for everyone

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shakuhachi
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Shakuhachi

Guest
Long ago when I was a religious I had a naive sense that just being a religious somehow consecrated my life. But I do miss that feeling of consecration. But consecration is really what Christian life is all about. What does it mean practically? I have been thinking about it and trying to come up with a few short concrete commitments.

Like:
  1. Surrender my will offering daily small sacrifice
  2. See others as Christ
  3. Exercise awareness of God’s presence
  4. Exercise awareness of a God working through me
  5. Surrender the outcome of my work
  6. Maintain equanimity, happy acceptance, peace
  7. Be willing to see everything as part of a greater plan
  8. Be patient
  9. Be kind
  10. Be generous
  11. Be available
  12. Sit in silence
Any thoughts? additions?
 
Have you ever heard of True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort or 33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley? They are based on something similar to this with an emphasis on the Blessed Mother.
 
I have heard of St. Louis de Montfort but not that devotion,
 
Shakuhachi said:
I have heard of St. Louis de Montfort but not that devotion,
Click to expand...
You should look into it. Nothing short of the sacraments has had such a positive impact on my spiritual life. Be careful with True Devotion though. St. Louis uses some unusual terminology that could easily be seen as heretical. The book is approved though.
 
Sure do. I think though that many of us give ourselves free passes when it comes to reacting when things don’t go our way. Such moments are the richest for our own surrender and growth.
 
Shakuhachi said:
Sure do. I think though that many of us give ourselves free passes when it comes to reacting when things don’t go our way
Click to expand...
Quite right.
Sometimes I wonder how much grace I waste on “freaking out” rather than patiently carrying my cross…
 
Experiencing a normal human emotion is not the same as “giving yourself a free pass.”
I have days where emotionally I do pretty well staying calm, patient, kind etc.
I have other days when it is a struggle all day to not have a meltdown. Often there’s some reason why, like too many tasks on my queue/ unexpected stress, not getting a good night’s sleep the night before, not having a chance to eat or not having the right food available, or being suddenly struck by some grief or upset. This doesn’t mean I run around screaming at everyone and saying I’m entitled to do so because I’m having a bad day. It does mean I spend a huge amount of the day praying Help me Lord and Can’t you take this cross from me Lord. I may have to slip away and cry, I may slip and get angry with someone, I may need to lay on the couch all day and pray that tomorrow is better.

I don’t see these things as anything shameful. I see them as human. Beating ourselves up because life got in our way is not productive. We need to just do the best we can and keep trying.
 
I am not for beating anyone up. I am for a committment to a more vigilant spiritual lifestyle.
 
That’s fine. Which brings us back to the comment I often make on here: namely that the people who post on this forum are already by and large pursuing these good practices.

Many people who post here have consecrated themselves in some way as well, such as consecration to Mary, to the Angels, to a third order, etc.
 
Yes. And so I was considering what is right for me as daily practice. What it looks like and what practical difference does it make. And I was thinking also that surrender is not the same as passive helplessness. There is so much in life that we ought to exert our influence. But sometimes we only have power over our reactions. Do you remember the story of St Francis and “Perfecrt joy”?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top