Consecration to Mary?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TimothyH
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

TimothyH

Guest
Is anyone out there consecrated to Mary?

I don’t really know what I want to ask. I’d be interested in any and all comments from those that are consecrated to Mary including:
  • Was there a period of discernment or discernment process? How did you know this is what you wanted to do?
  • What was preparation like from a practical or spiritual perspective?
  • What has it done for you spiritually?
  • What has it meant to you practically?
  • How do you live it out on a daily basis?
  • Do you struggle to maintain devotion?
The last two or three questions are important to me. Like any Christian, I would be fearful of committing to something and not being able to fulfill the obligation of that commitment. Is this a legitimate concern or am I off base?

Sincere comments will be appreciated more than you will know.

-Tim-
 
TimothyH said:
Is anyone out there consecrated to Mary?

I don’t really know what I want to ask. I’d be interested in any and all comments from those that are consecrated to Mary including:
  • Was there a period of discernment or discernment process? How did you know this is what you wanted to do?
  • What was preparation like from a practical or spiritual perspective?
  • What has it done for you spiritually?
  • What has it meant to you practically?
  • How do you live it out on a daily basis?
  • Do you struggle to maintain devotion?
The last two or three questions are important to me. Like any Christian, I would be fearful of committing to something and not being able to fulfill the obligation of that commitment. Is this a legitimate concern or am I off base?

Sincere comments will be appreciated more than you will know.

-Tim-
Click to expand...
Well, I went through the 33-day Consecration to Jesus through Mary According to St. Louis De Montfort and basically it was 33 days of intensive prayers and readings. It is a very profound devotion and is not for the light of faith. The prayers involve various litanies, devotions, and full rosaries. After going through the consecration my faith deepened much faster and it has helped me so much. I basically use Mary as the ultimate intercessor and I belong completely to her as a Holy Slave. Basically all of my prayers are through her and I also pray a rosary daily (not required) and go to daily mass as often as possible (also not required). It’s most definitely an extreme faith booster and it is said that the quickest way to becoming a saint is through Mary. Here’s a good website for more info: rosaryarmy.com/?page_id=16

Also, if you have any more questions feel free to ask me! =]
 
Also your concern about not fulfilling the obligation is enough to let you know that you’d probably be fine in that regards.
 
RyanK said:
Well, I went through the 33-day Consecration to Jesus through Mary According to St. Louis De Montfort and basically it was 33 days of intensive prayers and readings. It is a very profound devotion and is not for the light of faith. The prayers involve various litanies, devotions, and full rosaries. After going through the consecration my faith deepened much faster and it has helped me so much. I basically use Mary as the ultimate intercessor and I belong completely to her as a Holy Slave. Basically all of my prayers are through her and I also pray a rosary daily (not required) and go to daily mass as often as possible (also not required). It’s most definitely an extreme faith booster and it is said that the quickest way to becoming a saint is through Mary. Here’s a good website for more info: rosaryarmy.com/?page_id=16

Also, if you have any more questions feel free to ask me! =]
Click to expand...
Your reply means more to me than you know. And thank you for the link. I’ll print it up and read it this evening.

Was there a discernment process? How did you know it was what you wanted to do?

Also, is there an element of a vow involved? What I mean is, a vow such as one taken by a priest or religious is broken only under the penalty of sin. Is this the case with consecration to Mary? Is there an element of responsiblity - spiritual or practical - on your part that carries consequences if you do not fulfill those responsiblities?

What if one has prayed for increased devotion to Mary and has given intellectual assent to it but it is not yet firm in his heart? Is devotion to Mary a prerequisite or a result? Or both?

-Tim-
 
TimothyH said:
Your reply means more to me than you know. And thank you for the link. I’ll print it up and read it this evening.

Was there a discernment process? How did you know it was what you wanted to do?

Also, is there an element of a vow involved? What I mean is, a vow such as one taken by a priest or religious is broken only under the penalty of sin. Is this the case with consecration to Mary? Is there an element of responsiblity - spiritual or practical - on your part that carries consequences if you do not fulfill those responsiblities?

What if one has prayed for increased devotion to Mary and has given intellectual assent to it but it is not yet firm in his heart? Is devotion to Mary a prerequisite or a result? Or both?

-Tim-
Click to expand...
Absolutely! I’m glad to help! Well, in regards to discernment I pretty much knew I wanted to be consecrated through Mary because she is, after all, the Most Holy Virgin Mother Of God! All I knew was that I wanted to deepen my faith and get to know Mary more so I figured this would be a great way to do it! In regards, to a vow, there’s no real punishment if you don’t fulfill responsibilites. I mean basically this consecration is you giving yourself completely over to Mary as a Holy Slave to do with you as she will and the thing she wants most is to lead you to her son, Jesus Christ. So there’s not a whole lot you have to do, just things that you will notice start happening. Whether you want to or not, Mary will start leading you deeper and deeper into the faith at the speed she sees is most appropriate for you. Devotion to Mary is a little bit of both. The fact that you have interest is pretty much a prerequisite. The result though is much more substantial. I would have never thought that I would have such an extreme devotion to Mary such as I do now. Whether you think you’re ready or not doesn’t matter, Mary will show you whether you truly are or not as you go through the process.
 
I just want to add that I have made this consecration to our Blessed Mother many years ago, and have repeated it many times over the years. It has been most beneficial to me.

St. Louis Marie de Montfort mentions this in his book “True Devotion to Mary”: I am paraphrasing…
He says if you want to be made in the image of Christ would you rather be chipped away at by a hammer and chisel, or be poured into a mold?

Mary is the mold of Christ, and if we become putty in her hands she will help us become like her Son.
 
TimothyH said:
Your reply means more to me than you know. And thank you for the link. I’ll print it up and read it this evening.

Was there a discernment process? How did you know it was what you wanted to do?

Also, is there an element of a vow involved? What I mean is, a vow such as one taken by a priest or religious is broken only under the penalty of sin. Is this the case with consecration to Mary? Is there an element of responsiblity - spiritual or practical - on your part that carries consequences if you do not fulfill those responsiblities?

What if one has prayed for increased devotion to Mary and has given intellectual assent to it but it is not yet firm in his heart? Is devotion to Mary a prerequisite or a result? Or both?

-Tim-
Click to expand...
Hey Tim…

Good questions. I will wait for the answers too. You sound like me. I am thinking we don’t need a period of discernment. I don’t think there are anything amounting to religious vows. I have a good friend who is kind of an apostle if you will, for the consecration. So he hassles me a bit about it once in a while. I keep putting it off for no good reason. And then what happens? Out of nowhere I find out my wife is doing it. And then you make a post that sounds just like me. I think I need to do this thing.

It doesn’t seem to be like joining some religious order. The one poster who has done it says even daily Mass and the Rosary are optional. I get the impression that we simply choose to forfeit our wills to that of our Blessed and Holy Mother. Why would we need to delay doing that?

According to some…there does seem to be an emphasis on doing the consecration in connection with the culmination at one of our Lady’s great feasts. But who knows if we will live to see one of those again is the question I have? Thanks for the thread. I think I want to take my next opportunity seriously. I love our Blessed Mother. She is so good. If it will make her happy, we should do it.

PP
 
Dorothy said:
I just want to add that I have made this consecration to our Blessed Mother many years ago, and have repeated it many times over the years. It has been most beneficial to me.

St. Louis Marie de Montfort mentions this in his book “True Devotion to Mary”: I am paraphrasing…
He says if you want to be made in the image of Christ would you rather be chipped away at by a hammer and chisel, or be poured into a mold?

Mary is the mold of Christ, and if we become putty in her hands she will help us become like her Son.
Click to expand...
Oh Dorothy…that is a wonderful wonderful paraphrase/quote! One way or the other? Hammer and chisels or our Lady? That seems like an easy choice. Thank you for your encouragement!’’

PP
 
Planty_Pall said:
Oh Dorothy…that is a wonderful wonderful paraphrase/quote! One way or the other? Hammer and chisels or our Lady? That seems like an easy choice. Thank you for your encouragement!’’

PP
Click to expand...
You are welcome!

There is no need to put off the consecration, thinking you are not ready. The Lord and His mother takes us from where we are.

The consecration has 12 preliminary days in it. That will suffice for a preparation.
 
Really great discussion here, not much I can add that’s not been said. If you read de Montford’s ‘True Devotion to Mary’ and pray you can’t go wrong.

I read the book twice before beginning and then spent extra time in the process. I renew it on the anniversary of my first devotion but I also daily renew it in a brief form!

For me it wasn’t such a big leap as I’m also a Servite so I live my life in service to Our Sorrowful Mother. I made private vows with the consecration. A Servite brother in my Community is currently doing the process and will finish Monday on the feast of the Assumption. He is making his consecration in our Chapel and with our Priest Advisor.

You can sort of dress it up or down according to how you feel called. It may change over your lifetime, you may want to increase your devotions. I’d not worry about falling away any more than you’d worry about falling away from your faith journey. Upkeep in the spiritual life is ongoing, as is formation. You just keep praying and The Spirit and Our Lady keep leading!

As for being ready, you’ll know. Just remember not often do Jesus or Mary go around calling the ‘ready’ or the ‘qualified’… they do however qualify and make ready those whom they call.😉

Blessings and may Our Beautiful Mother be ever at your side, leading you to her Son…

MaryTeresa, OSSM
 
I’m consecrating myself on Monday!! I cannot wait to belong fully to my Mom.
 
I’ve been thinking of doing this for some time, but I just don’t feel comfortable from it yet. It’s probably a hangover from when I used to be a protestant 😛
 
DeAquin said:
I’ve been thinking of doing this for some time, but I just don’t feel comfortable from it yet. It’s probably a hangover from when I used to be a protestant 😛
Click to expand...
Here is the first sentence, and the last short paragraph that begins on page 65, the 27th day of the preparation:

“Jesus Christ our Savior, true God and true Man, ought to be the last end of all our devotions, else they are false and delusive…”

“If then, we establish solid devotion to our Blessed Lady, it is only to establish more perfectly devotion to Jesus Christ, and to provide an easy and secure means for finding Jesus Christ. Devotion to our Lady is necessary for us, as I have already shown, and will show still further hereafter, as a means of finding Jesus Christ perfectly, of loving Him tenderly, of serving Him faithfully.”
 
Dorothy said:
Here is the first sentence, and the last short paragraph that begins on page 65, the 27th day of the preparation:

“Jesus Christ our Savior, true God and true Man, ought to be the last end of all our devotions, else they are false and delusive…”

“If then, we establish solid devotion to our Blessed Lady, it is only to establish more perfectly devotion to Jesus Christ, and to provide an easy and secure means for finding Jesus Christ. Devotion to our Lady is necessary for us, as I have already shown, and will show still further hereafter, as a means of finding Jesus Christ perfectly, of loving Him tenderly, of serving Him faithfully.”
Click to expand...
I know, I’ve read through ‘True Devotion to Mary’ a few times, its a problem with me not so much the Doctrine. I’m sure I’ll come round to it with time 😃
 
Planty_Pall said:
Hey Tim…

Good questions. I will wait for the answers too. You sound like me. I am thinking we don’t need a period of discernment. I don’t think there are anything amounting to religious vows. I have a good friend who is kind of an apostle if you will, for the consecration. So he hassles me a bit about it once in a while. I keep putting it off for no good reason. And then what happens? Out of nowhere I find out my wife is doing it. And then you make a post that sounds just like me. I think I need to do this thing.
Click to expand...
Yea, first there’s an article in a magazine about consecration to Mary and you think, “That’s interesting.” Then some guy in the convenience store with a miraculous medal mentions it. The someone leaves a pamphlet on it in the adoration chapel, right under the sign which reads, “Please do not leave books or pamphlets in the chapel.” Then I’m chatting with a Franciscan Friar who says, “Your conversion to Christ was a gift given to you by Mary. You really ought to consider consecrating yourself to her.”

And I’m like… uh… um…
And God’s like… well?
And I’m like… I’m scared.
And God’s like… Of what?
And I’m like… of falling short again.
And God’s like… Of course you are scared. You are human. Don’t you trust me?
And I’m like… Yea, but… I’m scared.
And God’s like… I’ll be here. You know how to reach me. Let me know.

And August 15 comes and then goes and I’m not getting any younger. (takes a deep breath)

-Tim-
 
Mary is our Mother already, by Jesus’ gift in His dying breath from the Cross. I found it a wonderful way to tell her thank you for all she has done for us and to let her know that I acknowledge her gift of intercession and motherhood by affirming that I am her child. Not scary at all.

No, it’s not something that will lead you to sin (as in sort of forgetting the commitment accidentally in your busy day to day life) it’s not that sort of vow. Rather the opposite, it’s like getting up each morning and giving yourself to God, thru and with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, she kinda gives you a little boost to wards her Son each day!

I used to be afraid of committing more and more, would I let God down by my own slothfulness? Would I get discouraged again? But when I DID commit more, the graces flowed that made those commitments easier and easier. God calls, we answer, He sends graces, we recieve… we serve better! And on it goes… He’s waiting for you to accept His gift.😉

My Queen, my Mother, I give myself entirely to Thee, and to show my devotion to Thee, I consecrate to Thee this day, my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore good Mother as I am thine own, keep me, guard me, as thy property and possession. Amen.
 
This beautiful thread might just encourage me to ‘bite the bullet’ so to speak, read ‘True Devotion to the Virgin Mary’ and eventually consecrate myself to the Virgin Mary.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top