Consecration to Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart

[OnWings]

I’ve been wanting to do these consecrations for a long time, but I feel like I’m not entirely sure what they entail and what’s required of me. Some recommend doing some kind of preparation before making the consecration and saying the prayer for consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on one of her feast days. Is that necessary?

Some people seem to say these consecrations are a big responsibility and not something you just casually do. What does that really mean? Will I have certain responsibilities and obligations after making the consecrations, and would it be sinful if I don’t fulfill them for whatever reason? For instance, is the First Fridays devotion required for those who are consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus? Or is it just something you can do?

 

[Justin_Mary]

Some recommend doing some kind of preparation before making the consecration and saying the prayer for consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on one of her feast days. Is that necessary?

Not necessary.

Will I have certain responsibilities and obligations after making the consecrations, and would it be sinful if I don’t fulfill them for whatever reason?

You make a promise to faithfully fulfill your Baptismal promises. But not to the point of sin. Religious & consecrated make vows, solemn oaths that would incur sin if not followed through.

But we’re just making promises.

For instance, is the First Fridays devotion required for those who are consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus? Or is it just something you can do?

I can’t imagine how I could regularly receive communion on the first Friday of every month, so I haven’t consecrated myself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. So… I don’t know.

But even if you did, it wouldn’t be a sin if you didn’t receive communion or participate in Mass on a 1st Friday.

 

[Lucy_1]

As far as consecration to the Immaculate heart, I think that would be the same as consecration to Mary? If so, there is a book by St. Louis De Montfort that most people follow. It goes through the process step by step and takes 33 days.

I know you’re supposed to wear the brown scapular (or medal), say the rosary every day, and all of your intentions and penances go through Mary. For example if you offer your communion or fasting for your Aunt Sarah, instead you would offer it to Mary to use as she sees fit.

I would like to do it, but I have trouble saying my rosary every single day (or doing anything every single day!) and I don’t want to break my promises.

 

[ThomasMT]

Religious & consecrated make vows, solemn oaths that would incur sin if not followed through.

But we’re just making promises.

What does suck a lukewarm attitude towards promises even mean? Mehh, it’s just a mere promise… no biggie if you dont follow through. I mean, it’s an oath but not like a “solemn oath.” Yeaaa… no. I can appreciate what you are trying to say, but I dont think that that is how I would say it.

 

[ThomasMT]

For example if you offer your communion or fasting for your Aunt Sarah, instead you would offer it to Mary to use as she sees fit.

Could you elaborate on this please. I heard that sacrifices and offerings were directed to God alone. I’m under the impression that this is the defining distinction between worship and veneration. I have also been given the impression that the sacrifice of the Mass is the only offering that is reserved for God alone. The blurred boundries of some devotions leave me with a deep struggle for clarity.

 

[Lucy_1]

I’m not clear on your question. Are you referring to offering up your communion or penances on behalf of other people? Or are you referring to commitment to offer your penances Mary if you consecrate yourself to her?

 

[ThomasMT]

All those points…

Are you referring to offering up your communion

Don’t I offer it to God, perhaps with intentions that I pray God fulfills?

Or are you referring to commitment to offer your penances Mary if you consecrate yourself to her?

A penance is a sacrifice, as are any sufferings that I may offer. I can offer petitions for prayer and intercession on my behalf, but how am I able to offer my sacrifices… my “body, heart, and soul,” as some consecration prayers put it.

I understand that the Church allows me to entrust these things to our Blessed Mother because she will in turn offer them to our Lord, on our behalf. However, I’m still not clear on how this is not a contradiction of Church doctrine that sacrifices are offered to God alone. Unless of course, the sacrifice of the Mass is the only one in that is off-limits. Even if that is the case, would offering my communion be a bit of a walk along the edge?

 

[Justin_Mary]

but I dont think that that is how I would say it

Then don’t.

 

[Lucy_1]

Don’t I offer it to God, perhaps with intentions that I pray God fulfills?

Yes, you offer it to God. Jesus gives us his body, blood, soul and divinity, and then we give it back to Him. As far as offering the graces that you receive from the Eucharist on behalf of other people, yes, you’re right. I was using the phrase more colloquially or figuratively. It can’t be offered up exactly. Here is a good explanation of “offering” communion

how am I able to offer my sacrifices… my “body, heart, and soul,” as some consecration prayers put it.

I think much of the language of St. Louis de Montfort and other saints who encourage consecration is poetic rather than theological. It’s like when a love song says “you’re the air that I breathe, you’re my life, my everything” it’s just romantic language.

My understanding, and I’m no theologian, is that we are only sacrificing to God, we offer ourselves to Jesus, but through Mary. But I have issues with this too. However, I Iook at all the saints who have consecrated themselves to Mary, and they credit much of their holiness to her, so I think, well, can they all be wrong? I’m still parsing the theology myself, so hopefully this wasn’t unhelpful. You may want to read John Paul II - Redemptoris Mater.

 

[ThomasMT]

Thank you for taking the time to address my concerns and offer your perspective. I have come to accept that I dont need to question the teachings of the Church on the matter. However, there are aspects of Marian devotion that I would find myself struggling to explain to a Protestant, or even an Eastern Orthodox Catholic. Indeed you points are helpful (especially the first part about offering communion) but they do raise another concern… if the wording of some consecration prayers is poetic rather than theological, is it not necessary for the person reciting them to have a well grounded understanding of that point? Otherwise there could be risk of falling into error, an error so well hidden in the heart that it would be difficult to recognize.

But alas, I’m content to submit to the teachings of the Church on the matter albeit I do find myself shying away from some of the prayers that do strike me as a bit over the top… or are those simply stumbling blocks that the devil is happy to throw before me, as our Blessed Mother is his enemy!? Furthermore, I agree with your deferment to the wisdom of the saints.

You may want to read John Paul II - Redemptoris Mater.

I’ll check it out, thank you

 

[Lucy_1]

if the wording of some consecration prayers is poetic rather than theological, is it not necessary for the person reciting them to have a well grounded understanding of that point? Otherwise there could be risk of falling into error, an error so well hidden in the heart that it would be difficult to recognize.

Yes, absolutely.