Consecration to the Virgin Mary Bracelet

[Maxim1982]

Hi, everyone. I should start by saying that although I was born, baptised, and grew up Roman Catholic, I converted to Orthodoxy last year. But the particular problem I have, I hate to say, I am having so much difficulty fighting, even with saying Jesus Prayer and Rosary. I still can’t seem to fight off the temptation to self-abuse/self-pollute. I have however given up pornography, but the urges to self-abuse just don’t stop nagging me. my body has been so used to it for all these years of not really having a truly active faith and prayer life until this past year.

Thats where the consecration bracelets come in. Now obviously this is something my church does not do and most Orthodox priests would not endorse, but I don’t know what else to do. The consecration to the Virgin Mary doesn’t seem like something that would be heretical to me, as we too venerate her. And having this specific sacramental is really my only option it seems, nothing else seems to be helping me to eradicate this habit!! My questions are this:

1. After you finish the 33 days of prayers and acquire a bracele, do you have to get a priest to bless this bracelet? Virtually nothing online seems to say this, or pehaps it is already assumed.
   2. Is it ok that I do these prayers and have this sacramental even though I am now Orthodox? I would assume so but I don’t know.

I really just am at my wits end here. This has been so, so very difficult for me and I really do want to conquer this awful sin that modern culture perpetuates and even encourages, but I have literally tried everything. I feel like this might help. Thoughts please?

 

[Shelion]

I am consecrated to Virgin Mary, but I don’t possess the bracelet. I did the 33days at home, the consecration I read silently in church, but didn’t talk to my priest at that time. What I did do, was to write to a very well known place here, and said I did that, and I got the consecration Act (a nice piece of paper) and my name was added to a list they have.

I did all this not for the concrete reason you mention, but more generally, because I believe she can purify my intentions and offerings to God. So whatever I offer to God, I now automatically offer through her, and often, I deliberatelly do that.

I think that’s ok, even if you are Orthodox, still I hope you go back Home…

Last but not least - all things take time, growing in holiness too. Be patient and keep fighting, praying and often think of the Passion of Christ.

 

[phil19034]

• After you finish the 33 days of prayers and acquire a bracele, do you have to get a priest to bless this bracelet? Virtually nothing online seems to say this, or pehaps it is already assumed.
• Is it ok that I do these prayers and have this sacramental even though I am now Orthodox? I would assume so but I don’t know.

You don’t have to get the bracelet blessed. I didn’t get mine blessed because it was/is a cheap one and the paint is starting to fade. But when I eventually get a good one (sterling silver) I will get it blessed.

I don’t see how having this sacramental would be an issue.

But I’m looping in some of our Eastern Catholics to weigh in here.

@dochawk
@Casilda
@Margaret_Ann
@DeniseNY

 

[Camehome4john6]

I chose to wear my late mom’s Marian medal on a necklace when I consecrated myself. People who did it through my parish were invested in the brown scapular. Some people wear a chain around there wrist.
I seem to recall that St. De Montfort wrote a chain around his ankles. Those more knowledgeable can confirm.
It’s a symbol…a holy reminder. I think the consecration is more important than the symbol.

 

[Casilda]

It’s a symbol…a holy reminder. I think the consecration is more important than the symbol.

I agree. I grew up in a family where the wearing of sacramentals was not practiced. That said, I wear them now. I was gifted a medal of Our Lady of Lebanon by a friend and my Maronite priest promptly blessed it. Its all I wear now, under Our Lady’s protection.

If you want a symbol as a reminder I suggest a Miraculous Medal bracelet. I have seen Orthodox wearing bracelets with saint icons.

https://www.easterngiftshop.com/Item/WBR

 

[Brian_K]

It sounds like you’re headed in a very good direction. I began doing the True Devotion reflections last week and noticed that particular temptation along with some others has decreased, though not completely gone away, which gives me a sense of the true effectiveness of this devotion. If I just didn’t have any temptations all of a sudden I’d likely get puffed up and presumptuous, so I feel like Mary is guiding me slowly and steadily to a holier life.

Also, our capacity to resist a sin affects our culpability. Like you, this has been a habit for me for most of my life. Yes, physically it can be avoided. But we’re talking about one of the most powerful drives in our human nature, and God knows that because He designed us. Not that we shouldn’t try to improve ourselves, but we do well to remember we’re seeking improvement more so that we can spend eternity in love with God, and not just so that He doesn’t punish us.

 

[Justin_Mary]

I really just am at my wits end here. This has been so, so very difficult for me and I really do want to conquer this awful sin that modern culture perpetuates and even encourages, but I have literally tried everything. I feel like this might help. Thoughts please?

Peace

Brother I feel for you & I’m pretty sure I’m dealing with the same thing. However, I don’t know if consecration to Jesus through Mary is what you are looking for.

Don’t get me wrong. I did the consecration Jan 2018. & while I’m sure it helped, I don’t think it’s going to help the way you expect.

I still fall from time to time, but she helps pick me back up.

Confession. That’s the key I think. Frequent confession. Bathe in the blood of the lamb often. I’m talking twice a week if you can. Then weekly. Then monthly. I don’t recommend going less often than once a month.

Confess this particular problem. & any other sins you are truly contrite for.

I’ll also add since I practice the First Saturday Devotion, I go to confession monthly regardless. But I do believe Our Lady helped me get to confession weekly or more often when it was that bad.