Consecration? Why?

[KEP1983]

Hello all,

I have a question. As a former Protestant the concept of “consecrating” something to God or a Saint was pretty much non-existent.

But just recently Pope Francis consecrated the Vatican to Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint Joseph. He also consecrated his papacy to Our Lady of Fatima. There’s also discussion about the Consecration of Russia to Our Lady. I also saw a video of Michael Voris consecrated his apostolate to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. youtube.com/watch?v=aYZYAjYCP_o#at=25

(I’m not asking if the specific act of Consecrating Russia to Our Lady was accomplished and I’m not asking what people think about Michael Voris. I’m just asking about consecration in general).

What is the purpose of consecrating yourself to a particular saint? Do you consecrate “yourself” or is it specifically some “thing” (ie Voris’ apostolate, the Vatican, the Pope’s papacy, etc). Can anyone consecrate themselves or some “thing” of theirs? To any Saint? How does that work? Why would someone do this?

 

[Trishie]

The basic thought is to place the person or institution under the special patronage of a particular saint, the Mother of Jesus, or the Lord himself.

St Michael is an apt choice for patronage of the Vatican as he is guardian of the Church, and St Joseph, because he was the protector of the Infant-and-Child Jesus.
A Saint or devotion may be chosen for the particular virtues emphasized through that devotion.

The consecration of persons usually entails a regular form of commitment and prayer that does help those who are faithful to grow in piety and in Christian virtue.

newadvent.org/cathen/11562a.htm

newadvent.org/cathen/12275b.htm

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P58.HTM
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Popular piety

1674 Besides sacramental liturgy and sacramentals, catechesis must take into account the forms of piety and popular devotions among the faithful. the religious sense of the Christian people has always found expression in various forms of piety surrounding the Church’s sacramental life, such as the veneration of relics, visits to sanctuaries, pilgrimages, processions, the stations of the cross, religious dances, the rosary, medals,178 etc.

1675 These expressions of piety extend the liturgical life of the Church, but do not replace it. They "should be so drawn up that they harmonize with the liturgical seasons, accord with the sacred liturgy, are in some way derived from it and lead the people to it, since in fact the liturgy by its very nature is far superior to any of them."179

1676 Pastoral discernment is needed to sustain and support popular piety and, if necessary, to purify and correct the religious sense which underlies these devotions so that the faithful may advance in knowledge of the mystery of Christ.180 Their exercise is subject to the care and judgment of the bishops and to the general norms of the Church.

At its core the piety of the people is a storehouse of values that offers answers of Christian wisdom to the great questions of life. the Catholic wisdom of the people is capable of fashioning a vital synthesis… It creatively combines the divine and the human, Christ and Mary, spirit and body, communion and institution, person and community, faith and homeland, intelligence and emotion. This wisdom is a Christian humanism that radically affirms the dignity of every person as a child of God, establishes a basic fraternity, teaches people to encounter nature and understand work, provides reasons for joy and humor even in the midst of a very hard life. For the people this wisdom is also a principle of discernment and an evangelical instinct through which they spontaneously sense when the Gospel is served in the Church and when it is emptied of its content and stifled by other interests.181"

I hope that this begins to answer your questions.

Kind wishes,
Trishie

 

[MichaelHowling]

To consecrate means to set aside for a holy and specific purpose.

It is entrusted to God.

 

[KEP1983]

The basic thought is to place the person or institution under the special patronage of a particular saint, the Mother of Jesus, or the Lord himself.

Very interesting information. Thanks!

Say someone wanted to place themselves or their institution under a specific Patron Saint. Let’s just say you were blind and wanted to consecrate yourself to Saint Thomas the Apostle, since he’s a Patron Saint of blind people.

Could you consecrate yourself to Saint Thomas the Apostle? How and why would one do this? What’s the difference between consecrating oneself to Saint Thomas and just regularly asking for his intercession?

I’m just speaking hypothetically-- I have no particular devotion to him and am not blind. I just randomly picked him from a list right now.

 

[Trishie]

You can choose any Saint you wish as a Patron., for his or her particular intercession if inspired by their example, their particular virtues, or for a need or situation in your life.
Those in heaven are your family, and you can choose to ask the intercession and patronage of any whom you choose.

God bless you

 

[KEP1983]

You can choose any Saint you wish as a Patron., for his or her particular intercession if inspired by their example, their particular virtues, or for a need or situation in your life.
Those in heaven are your family, and you can choose to ask the intercession and patronage of any whom you choose.

God bless you

Ah yes, that’s very true. But what’s the difference between simply asking for intercession from a particular Patron Saint, and consecrating yourself or your institution to the same Patron Saint?

 

[Ad_Orientem]

what’s the difference between simply asking for intercession from a particular Patron Saint, and consecrating yourself or your institution to the same Patron Saint?

Asking intercession is usually for a particular intention or occasion (e.g. for a conversion, for the repose of someone’s soul, for an upcoming meeting). Consecrating implies something more general and ongoing. Sort of like asking a friend for $20, versus asking him to manage your affairs.

Consecrating yourself usually involves some form of commitment or resolution on your part (e.g. to try to become holier and do what is pleasing to your patron). Consecrating *other *persons besides onself (say, a father his children, or a priest his parish), is, I think, no different from asking their patronage.