Day of Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary

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MariaChristi

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

St. Louis De Montfort in outlining this Day of Total Consecration gives us an “ideal” that is sometimes not easily followed, but can be adhered to, in ways a person’s circumstances allow. For instance, if circumstances do not permit a person to receive the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion directly before their Consecration, they can always “renew” their prayer of Total Consecration offered today, after receiving those sacraments later, and especially during their thanksgiving after Holy Communion. Choose a time and place when you can be truly attentive and devoted in praying your Act of Consecration today, knowing God is present wherever you are, within you, and He is gazing upon you with His Infinite Love.

St. Louis de Montfort wrote in “True Devotion”:
  1. At the end of these three weeks they should go to confession and Holy Communion with the intention of consecrating themselves to Jesus through Mary as slaves of love. When receiving Holy Communion they could follow the method given later on. They then recite the act of consecration which is given at the end of this book. If they do not have a printed copy of the act, they should write it out or have it copied and then sign it on the very day they make it.
  1. It would be very becoming if on that day they offered some tribute to Jesus and his Mother, either as a penance for past unfaithfulness to the promises made in baptism or as a sign of their submission to the sovereignty of Jesus and Mary. Such a tribute would be in accordance with each one’s ability and fervour and may take the form of fasting, an act of self-denial, the gift of an alms or the offering of a votive candle. If they gave only a pin as a token of their homage, provided it were given with a good heart, it would satisfy Jesus who considers only the good intention.
  1. Every year at least, on the same date, they should renew the consecration following the same exercises for three weeks. They might also renew it every month or even every day by saying this short prayer: “I am all yours and all I have is yours, O dear Jesus, through Mary, your holy Mother.”
Each renewal of Consecration, like each reception of any grace, increases grace in us, as we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit with increasing attention and devotion to receive all He desires to give us.

HERE is the Act of Total Consecration we each can pray today. You can pray the prayer, at your computer, print it out and sign it or you can print it out, pray it and sign it. Choose a time and place that is best for you.

May this be a truly blessed day for all of us in giving ourselves totally for the first time, or renewing it after countless times. God and Mary are never outdone in generosity, as St. Louis De Montfort wrote. God is faithful to His promises and will give us grace upon grace to be Holy as He is Holy, and He will enable us to “Behold our Mother” as John did, taking her into our lives more and more!

If you wish, after praying your Act of Consecration, you can enroll in the “Association of Mary, Queen of all Hearts” which has been organized by the Montfort Fathers. See HERE to learn more.
 
Do we need a priest to be present for our consecration? Or is this something done totally by ourselves?
 
Can we have the Confession 14 Days before the Day of Consecration?
How about 7 Days After Consecration, is it still valid to have the Confession?
 
Do we need a priest to be present for our consecration? Or is this something done totally by ourselves?
No, dear brother, a priest is not necessary to be present.

I am just about to post a new thread today for the 33 Day preparation for Consecration on March 25, if you are planning to make your consecration for the first time or are renewing it, on that date. I hope it will be helpful to those like myself who’ll renew our consecration but also for those making it for the first time.

My first “Total Consecration” was made according to St. Louis De Montfort’s “True Devotion” at the invitation of a Dominican nun/Spritual Director of our Junior Legion of Mary many years ago. I count it as one of the great blessing of my life. I made my Consecration with a few other girls on June 10 – no special feast and no special ceremony – no priest. We did go to the Church next to the school where we held our Legion Meetings.

I try to renew my consecration often using the short form, but annually I try to renew on March 25 using the 33 day preparation. Some priests encourage this Consecration as a practice for their parishioners which is wonderful and in that case, the priest would want to be present. I’ve also heard of some Spiritual Directors who encourage the consecration and arrange to be present al, but St. Louis De Montfort never made a priest’s presence a “requirement”. That was providential because many places have few priests these days. Sad but true also many priests have little knowledge of De Montfort’s treatise.

Hope this long answer to your brief question is a help. Thanks for asking!
 
Here is a link to Fr. Gaitley’s 33 day’s to morning glory program built from St. Louis De Montfort consecration to Mary. Hope it helps.

33daystomorningglory.blogspot.com
Dear alphomega,

Fr. Gaitley’s book has helped some persons, but I strongly urge all to go to the “original” treatise of St. Louis de Motfort for the depth from which he draws his devotion. St. Louis de Motnfort is steeped in the Scripture. Online version of “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary” can be read at: ewtn.com/library/Montfort/TRUEDEVO.HTM
 
Dear alphomega,

Fr. Gaitley’s book has helped some persons, but I strongly urge all to go to the “original” treatise of St. Louis de Motfort for the depth from which he draws his devotion. St. Louis de Motnfort is steeped in the Scripture. Online version of “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary” can be read at: ewtn.com/library/Montfort/TRUEDEVO.HTM
Although I agree St. Louis de Motfort’s way is richer in the same way the extraordinary form of the Mass is richer than the ordinary form the simple fact is most catholics are not going to take the time.

I would disagree that “some” have been helped. Tens of thousands of Catholics have consecrated themselves to our mother through “33 days” that otherwise would not have and that is a very good thing.
 
Although I agree St. Louis de Motfort’s way is richer in the same way the extraordinary form of the Mass is richer than the ordinary form the simple fact is most catholics are not going to take the time.

I would disagree that “some” have been helped. Tens of thousands of Catholics have consecrated themselves to our mother through “33 days” that otherwise would not have and that is a very good thing.
Dear alphomega,

Forgive me if I offended you or anyone else helped by Father Gaitley’s book, by writing “some” instead of “many”. I read Father Gaitley’s book, but found St. Louis De Montfort’s treatise on True Devotion and his 33 Days preparation for Total Consecration to be a greater help in my life. I’ve read “True Devotion” many times and like Scripture I continue to find more depth each time I re-read it. I continue to urge people to read it and to re-read it often.

The fact that many Catholics do not take time to read Scripture, or the Catechism of the Catholic Church, or spiritual writers like St. Louis De Montfort is a very sad fact to me, because many Catholics miss so much more they might learn.

Yes, it is good that people read Fr. Gaitley’s book and consecrated themselves. Hopefully, they’ll keep renewing their Consecration and most importantly, live their Consecration, still I continue to urge people to read the “original” from which Fr. Gaitley drew. 🙂
 
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