Consecration?

[godisgood77]

I’ve been hearing a lot about Consecration to Mary according to the Montfortian formula… most frequently using “33 Days to Morning Glory” by Father Gaitley.

My question is for those that have done this consecration… do you consecrate yourself to Mary? Or to Jesus through Mary?

I would say that there is a big difference between being resigned to the divine will and be being resigned to something other than the divine will.

Thoughts?

pax

 

[bben15]

I’ve been hearing a lot about Consecration to Mary according to the Montfortian formula… most frequently using “33 Days to Morning Glory” by Father Gaitley.

My question is for those that have done this consecration… do you consecrate yourself to Mary? Or to Jesus through Mary?

I would say that there is a big difference between being resigned to the divine will and be being resigned to something other than the divine will.

Thoughts?

pax

You consecrate yourself to Jesus through Mary.

 

[steymard]

St. Louis de Montfort says this:

1. Jesus, our Saviour, true God and true man must be the ultimate end of all our other devotions; otherwise they would be false and misleading. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and end of everything. “We labour,” says St. Paul, “only to make all men perfect in Jesus Christ.”

…

1. If then we are establishing sound devotion to our Blessed Lady, it is only in order to establish devotion to our Lord more perfectly, by providing a smooth but certain way of reaching Jesus Christ. If devotion to our Lady distracted us from our Lord, we would have to reject it as an illusion of the devil. But this is far from being the case. As I have already shown and will show again later on, this devotion is necessary, simply and solely because it is a way of reaching Jesus perfectly, loving him tenderly, and serving him faithfully.

1. Here I turn to you for a moment, dear Jesus, to complain lovingly to your divine Majesty that the majority of Christians, and even some of the most learned among them, do not recognise the necessary bond that unites you and your Blessed Mother. Lord, you are always with Mary and Mary is always with you. She can never be without you because then she would cease to be what she is. She is so completely transformed into you by grace that she no longer lives, she no longer exists, because you alone, dear Jesus, live and reign in her more perfectly than in all the angels and saints. If we only knew the glory and the love given to you by this wonderful creature, our feelings for you and for her would be far different from those we have now. So intimately is she united to you that it would be easier to separate light from the sun, and heat from the fire. I go further, it would even be easier to separate all the angels and saints from you than Mary; for she loves you ardently, and glorifies you more perfectly than all your other creatures put together.

From “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary” - fisheaters.com/totalconsecrationmontfort.html

We indeed practice consecration to Jesus through Mary. But it can truly be spoken of as consecration to Mary, because wherever Mary is, there is Christ; indeed, just as Christ did not come into the world without Mary, Christ does not come into our hearts without Mary, though we know it not. Mary is in no place other than the divine will, for her will is entirely to do the will of Jesus. It is not a zero-sum affair; it is not Christ or Mary, but Christ and Mary. So we can say that the safest place to be is in the arms of Mary, for in her arms she cradles Christ - Christ the infant and Christ after being let down from the Cross.

 

[godisgood77]

St. Louis de Montfort says this:

We indeed practice consecration to Jesus through Mary. But it can truly be spoken of as consecration to Mary, because wherever Mary is, there is Christ; indeed, just as Christ did not come into the world without Mary, Christ does not come into our hearts without Mary, though we know it not. Mary is in no place other than the divine will, for her will is entirely to do the will of Jesus. It is not a zero-sum affair; it is not Christ or Mary, but Christ and Mary. So we can say that the safest place to be is in the arms of Mary, for in her arms she cradles Christ - Christ the infant and Christ after being let down from the Cross.

Very confusing… and seems to be a contradiction. I’m not the smartest guy around, so I’m probably missing something…I don’t think you can use “Consecration to Jesus through Mary” interchangeably with “Consecration to Mary” without dramatically changing the theology associated with it.

 

[steymard]

Very confusing… and seems to be a contradiction. I’m not the smartest guy around, so I’m probably missing something…I don’t think you can use “Consecration to Jesus through Mary” interchangeably with “Consecration to Mary” without dramatically changing the theology associated with it.

The theology is the same; similar examples may help:

• Consecrated religious pledge absolute obedience to their religious superiors in everything but sin. This is their way to demonstrate obedience to God.
• All Catholics owe allegiance to the Pope. This does not mean that they do not owe allegiance to God. It means that God has put this man in authority and given him the grace of state to perform his duties.
• In 1942 Pope Pius XII consecrated the Catholic Church and the entire human race to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. If a Pope’s doing it, it should be all right.
• We are saved by our obedience to God’s commandments. But our obedience is ultimately the work of God, and the supernatural grace conveyed at Baptism is none of our own. There is no dichotomy between the two.
• We make requests of the saints. But this is not incompatible with making requests of Jesus, because the saints are our perfected intercessors before the throne of God IN Jesus.
• St. Athanasius said, “God became man that man might become God”. This is theologically correct, because man, through the sanctifying grace bestowed by Jesus in his Passion, become divinized - partaking of the divine nature. It does not mean that God ceases to become God, or that man becomes omniscient.
• Jesus said to the apostles, “Whoever hears you hears me”. That means that there is no opposition between trusting absolutely the words of the apostles and trusting the words of Christ. Trusting the apostles - and, for us now, the words of the Pope when he speaks ex cathedra is the SAME THING as trusting God. It is a part of trusting God - indeed, a necessary part of trusting in God.

We were created to be drawn up into the life of the Trinity; to participate in it. Our salvation consists in it. As the Body of Christ we participate in the mission of Jesus to the world as intercessors. The Holy Spirit prays in us and we in Christ. Christ makes us able to give up our own wills and let Christ’s will shine through. The one who did this perfectly was Mary. Her will IS the will of Christ.

I hope that helps!

 

[glendab]

Hello Steymard.

St. Louis de Montfort says this:

We indeed practice consecration to Jesus through Mary. But it can truly be spoken of as consecration to Mary, because wherever Mary is, there is Christ; indeed, just as Christ did not come into the world without Mary, Christ does not come into our hearts without Mary, though we know it not. Mary is in no place other than the divine will, for her will is entirely to do the will of Jesus. It is not a zero-sum affair; it is not Christ or Mary, but Christ and Mary. So we can say that the safest place to be is in the arms of Mary, for in her arms she cradles Christ - Christ the infant and Christ after being let down from the Cross.

You said this very beautifully. Thank you for sharing.

And to the OP, yes, we go to Jesus through Mary, with Mary, in Mary and by Mary in all that we do once we’ve made our Consecration.

About Father Gaitley’s version. Although there is an Imprimatur, it isn’t the original formula and I doubt if the actual Consecration has been made if one uses his revision. Only the Montfort Family has the Papal approval necessary to give the Authority to authenticate such material, etc. And the Indulgences and favors that are attached to the original aren’t transferrable to a copycat edition. Not to disrespect Father Gaitley. His is more of “retreat” as he speaks of it taken to enhance ones spiritual life but his has no Papal approval nor is he part of the Montfort Family.

Glenda

 

[godisgood77]

Hello Steymard.

You said this very beautifully. Thank you for sharing.

And to the OP, yes, we go to Jesus through Mary, with Mary, in Mary and by Mary in all that we do once we’ve made our Consecration.

About Father Gaitley’s version. Although there is an Imprimatur, it isn’t the original formula and I doubt if the actual Consecration has been made if one uses his revision. Only the Montfort Family has the Papal approval necessary to give the Authority to authenticate such material, etc. And the Indulgences and favors that are attached to the original aren’t transferrable to a copycat edition. Not to disrespect Father Gaitley. His is more of “retreat” as he speaks of it taken to enhance ones spiritual life but his has no Papal approval nor is he part of the Montfort Family.

Glenda

Thanks for the replies… Your replies have helped and I think I understand. Personally, I will stick with consecration to Jesus’ Sacred Heart, but I hope your consecrations to Jesus through Mary are fruitful.

Pax

 

[Richca]

I’ve been hearing a lot about Consecration to Mary according to the Montfortian formula… most frequently using “33 Days to Morning Glory” by Father Gaitley.

My question is for those that have done this consecration… do you consecrate yourself to Mary? Or to Jesus through Mary?

I would say that there is a big difference between being resigned to the divine will and be being resigned to something other than the divine will.

Thoughts?

pax

The Monfortian consecration to Mary is consecrationg oneself to Jesus through Mary. We do not consecrate ourselves to Mary as if she is our last end. Jesus and the Trinity are our last end. The most perfect means and way to Jesus is the consecration to Mary as taught by St Louis de Montfort, St Maximilian Kolbe, and other saints. This is simply how God has ordained our way and sanctification to Him. The Holy Spirit uses Mary as His instrument in our sanctification as Mediatrix of all graces whether we are aware of it or not.

God’s will and Mary’s will are so intimately united that Mary does nothing contrary to the divine will. Doing Mary’s will is the same thing as doing God’s will.

 

[godisgood77]

The Monfortian consecration to Mary is consecrationg oneself to Jesus through Mary. We do not consecrate ourselves to Mary as if she is our last end. Jesus and the Trinity are our last end. The most perfect means and way to Jesus is the consecration to Mary as taught by St Louis de Montfort, St Maximilian Kolbe, and other saints. This is simply how God has ordained our way and sanctification to Him. The Holy Spirit uses Mary as His instrument in our sanctification as Mediatrix of all graces whether we are aware of it or not.

God’s will and Mary’s will are so intimately united that Mary does nothing contrary to the divine will. Doing Mary’s will is the same thing as doing God’s will.

Thanks for the reply.

Yikes!!! I think your last sentence represents the quintessential problem many Catholics have with the personal beliefs of some Catholics. As noted Marialogist Johann Rotan said, ‘‘It seems to put her on an equal footing with Christ. That just won’t do.’’ Or Rev. Rene Laurentin, world renowned Marian scholar… ‘‘Mary is the model of our faith, but she is not divine. There is no mediation or co-redemption except in Christ. He alone is God.’’

 

[Richca]

Thanks for the reply.

Yikes!!! I think your last sentence represents the quintessential problem many Catholics have with the personal beliefs of some Catholics. As noted Marialogist Johann Rotan said, ‘‘It seems to put her on an equal footing with Christ. That just won’t do.’’ Or Rev. Rene Laurentin, world renowned Marian scholar… ‘‘Mary is the model of our faith, but she is not divine. There is no mediation or co-redemption except in Christ. He alone is God.’’

Religious take a vow of obedience to their superiors. When a superior orders the inferior to do something, the inferior obeys because he/she believes this is God’s will. I don’t know of any religious who would believe that the superior of a religious community is on an equal footing with Christ. Mary is a creature of God, Jesus is God made man. Who in their right mind would hold that Mary and Christ are on an equal footing? On the other hand, God chose, in the second person of the Trinity, to become incarnate and redeem the world through Our Lady.

The great apostle of Mary and canonized saint, St Maximilian Kolbe said: " Our soul’s degree of perfection depends on the union of our will with that of God. Because the most Blessed Virgin surpasses in perfection all the angels and saints, her will is united with and made one in the closest manner with the will of God. She lives and acts solely in God and through God. Hence, by accomplishing the will of the Immaculate we accomplish by that very fact the will of God.
When we say that we wish only to accomplish the Immaculate’s will, we do not at all intend to diminish God’s glory; on the contrary, we increase it considerably, because in this way we recognize and venerate God’s almighty power which has called so sublime and perfect a creature into existence…Therefore, we can affirm without any fear that the sole and highest desire of our hearts is to accomplish the will of the Immaculate in the most exact way possible…"

 

[godisgood77]

Religious take a vow of obedience to their superiors. When a superior orders the inferior to do something, the inferior obeys because he/she believes this is God’s will. I don’t know of any religious who would believe that the superior of a religious community is on an equal footing with Christ. Mary is a creature of God, Jesus is God made man. Who in their right mind would hold that Mary and Christ are on an equal footing? On the other hand, God chose, in the second person of the Trinity, to become incarnate and redeem the world through Our Lady.

The great apostle of Mary and canonized saint, St Maximilian Kolbe said: " Our soul’s degree of perfection depends on the union of our will with that of God. Because the most Blessed Virgin surpasses in perfection all the angels and saints, her will is united with and made one in the closest manner with the will of God. She lives and acts solely in God and through God. Hence, by accomplishing the will of the Immaculate we accomplish by that very fact the will of God.
When we say that we wish only to accomplish the Immaculate’s will, we do not at all intend to diminish God’s glory; on the contrary, we increase it considerably, because in this way we recognize and venerate God’s almighty power which has called so sublime and perfect a creature into existence…Therefore, we can affirm without any fear that the sole and highest desire of our hearts is to accomplish the will of the Immaculate in the most exact way possible…"

I understand and respect your point of view. Thanks.

 

[sancte_joseph]

Reading some of these replies… something came to mind. One of our most recent Pope’s motto “Totus Tuus” or totally yours… Mary.

The Pope himself says of Mariology… “I could not exclude the Lord’s Mother from my life without neglecting the will of God-Trinity”

Yes, devotion to Mary may be difficult and off putting especially to protestant converts to the faith, but it by no means should be seen as devotion to Mary for Mary’s sake, but for God. In all things Mary points us to Christ, and having greater devotion to her can only increase our faith in her Son.