Day 7 - on 33 Day Preparation for Christmas Consecration

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Hopefully, all who are reading these threads on the 33 Day Preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary are beginning to appreciate God’s Work in the lives of His saints. St. Louis de Montfort was given tremendous gifts from God, and he totally gave himself to receive from God especially the gift of Mary, our Mother. Not only did St. Louis receive gifts from God for his own sanctification but to build up the Church in love, and his little treatise, "True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin has continued to help many persons to “build up the Body of Christ in love” (cf Eph 4) for centuries now. How grateful I am to the dear nun who taught me in High School and invited me and others to consecrate ourselves!

St. Louis’ words are steeped in Scripture and based on the Truth he heard and pondered in his heart, just as Mary did, from the Word of God. As we continue this preliminary period of 12 days: “emptying ourselves of the spirit of the world, which is opposed to the spirit of Jesus”, by God’s Grace let us keep praying to the Holy Spirit whom the Father and Son sent to the Church to bring us into all truth. (cf Jn 16:13). Let us also seek our Mother’s intercession. Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Kibeho. This is an approved apparition and you may read more HERE .

In this Apparition in Africa, Mary revealed herself as “Mother of the Word”. That title of Mary has been very precious to me from the first time I read of this apparition and Mary’s use of those words to identify herself. Just as Mary revealed to Bernadette : “I am the Immaculate Conception” and to the children of Fatima, “I am Our Lady of the Rosary”, it seems to me that Mary reveals herself in specific ways for specific reasons.

Each of these three titles has significance for us “as we seek to empty ourselves of the spirit of the world”. The spirit of the world does not recognize the beauty of God in the conception of any child – and particularly in His creation of Mary as Immaculate. The spirit of the world spurns, opposes, distorts and ridicules “God’s Word” or ignores it completely. Even many in the Church are now giving very little attention to the Rosary, a powerful prayer which so honors God and Mary.

By God’s grace, may we continue to grow in our knowledge of what to “empty” from our hearts that we may open them wide to receive Jesus through Mary.

 

[bastetsha]

Thank you for the information on Our Lady of Kibeho. I have recently added the Our Lady of Sorrows rosary (or chaplet) to my daily prayers and was unaware that today was the Feast of Our Lady of Kibeho. I found this on that site really resonated with me:

Mary begs us to pray with greater zeal and purity of heart.

and

“A child of Mary does not reject suffering.”

They really spoke to me, especially as I suffer with my illnesses. I will be sure to offer them up for the Holy Souls in Purgatory and the conversion of sinners (especially my continued conversion ).

I think the words to pray with a greater zeal and purity of heart is needed in this day and age when a lot of the people I know do not pray. We must pray for them, for their conversion and renewal of prayer. Mother Mary will take their prayers to Her Son if they but start. I know that when I hold my rosary and pray, it is like I can feel a warmth come through my hands and I know that Mother Mary is listening and will take them to Her Son.

I am continuing to find ways that the spirit of the world has attached itself to me during these 12 days. I know I can’t get rid of it completely but I want to loosen the hold it has on me.

Lord Jesus, I trust in you!
Come Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Your faithful!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear bastetsha,

Yes, Mary repeats the words the Holy Spirit gave her, recorded for us in Jn 2:5:

His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”

In all her apparitions, she wants us to be obedient children of Our Father, and she points us to Her Son Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

How very much we need receive His Grace: to pray with greater zeal and purity of heart!
Yes, also a child of Mary does not reject suffering because Jesus and Mary did not reject suffering. St. Louis de Montfort is guiding us on this 33 Day journey in stages that we might grow into the maturity of faith in Christ.

It seems to me we may cling to the world, more than the world clings to us, and only God can enable us to empty ourselves! Mary will help us.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Thanks for letting us know this is the day of Our Lady of Kibeho. I knew it was a Vatican approved apparition but didn’t realize there was a feast day for her.

I decided to do the 9 day Maximilian Kolbe “Total Consecration to Mary” Militia Immaculata consecration. I start tomorrow so I can do the consecration on Dec. 8, Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Fr. Heilman wanted everybody to do the consecration on Oct. 7 when his Novena for our Nation (USA) ended and I said the prayer at that time but did not feel up to actually registering with the Militia Immaculata because my schedule at that point was just nuts and I was not really able to pray or prepare very well. I finished all the Rosaries for his 54-day novena on time (barely) but only yesterday did I finally finish the additional prayers and such that we were supposed to say, almost 2 months late I hope Mary still was pleased with late bouquets.

Anyway, i think I can manage the 9 days now as things are a bit calmer although still hectic.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks, dear Tis_Bearself,

The Act of Consecration by St. Maximilian Kolbe is very beautiful. I prayed that Act of Consecration on his Feast Day some years ago when I was moved to do so. I have admired his life and writings for a long time but since I was already an Active Member of the Legion of Mary, it did not seem necessary to register or join the MI. The Legion and the Militia Immaculata are similar in many ways, it seems to me.

In fact I think I read somewhere that the Founder of the Legion of Mary, Servant of God Frank Duff corresponded with Father Kolbe before Kolbe was imprisoned and died a martyr’s death.
Have you ever read St. Maximilian’s commentary on his Act of Consecration. It was very helpful to me. It seemed to me that my praying the Act of Consecration by St. Maximilian in some way completed my Act of Consecration by St. Louis de Montfort.

Both men were “missionary” in their priesthood but my Montfort Consecration was for me a more “interior” one and my Kolbe Consecration, seemed to give me an apostolic thrust. I keep my copies of both Acts of Consecration together but renew them at different times. Here is the commentary by Kolbe on his Act of Consecration. May you be blessed in very special ways as you consecrate yourself on the Feast of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. It is the “perfect day” to pray that Act of Consecration to the “Immaculata” as St. Maximilian affectionately called our Blessed Mother.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Thanks for the link to the Kolbe commentary. I found the 9 days of prep for free on Fr. Heilman’s website but I don’t think he had the commentary linked anywhere I could find.