Feb. 20 - Day 1 on our journey

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today, we begin our 33 Day Journey toward consecrating ourselves totally to Jesus through Mary following the method of St. Louis de Montfort in his treatise, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary:

1. Preparation and Consecration

1. Those who desire to take up this special devotion, (which has not been erected into a confraternity, although this would be desirable), should spend at least twelve days in emptying themselves of the spirit of the world, which is opposed to the spirit of Jesus, as I have recommended in the first part of this preparation for the reign of Jesus Christ. They should then spend three weeks imbuing themselves with the spirit of Jesus through the most Blessed Virgin.

In parenthesis, St. Louis lamented this devotion in his time had not yet “been erected into a confraternity”, however since then it has been. After you have made your Consecration, you may enroll online in the Association of Mary Queen of All Hearts. See HERE. Members of this Association have the opportunity to gain a plenary indulgence on numerous occasions each year.

St. Louis desribes these first 12 days as “emptying ourselves of the spirit of the world, which is opposed to Jesus”. Hopefully during Lent, we are already seeking to deny ourselves things, places or bad habits that can keep us in a “worldly spirit” and at a distance from God. During these 12 days we need to pray especially to the Holy Spirit to guide us in our determination to “empty ourselves of the spirit of the world”. He was sent to bring us into all Truth!

St. Louis makes mention of his treatise in the above quote also suggesting the “first part of this preparation for the reign of Jesus”. His treatise on True devotion has for its subtitle: “Preparation for the Reign of Jesus Christ”, so you may want to read Part One (as your time permits) from the online copy of True Devotion. I underlined the word “may” because it is good but not required reading. These first 12 days are intended for us prayerfully to seek God’s help in “emptying ourselves of the spirit of the world which is opposed to Jesus”. We need God’s help to be serious about this.

This is a life-long task, but we can begin by God’s Grace to see how much of the world has found its way into our lives and how different God’s Spirit is from that of the world. We cannot serve 2 Masters. We need to choose God above all. Without Him we can do nothing. (cf John 15). Whom do we choose as our Master?

 

[metanoia1]

May you and yours have good fortune in the deepening of your practices.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I’ll be reading these when Nineveh 90 starts its 33 day consecration (reconsecration for me) , which doesn’t begin until later this week because we are on the last few days of the 54-day Rosary Novena. Then we begin the 33 day Consecration exercise as a group, right after that.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Metanoia,

Thanks so much for your replies. Please pray for me and all those who undertake this journey. I prayed my first Act of Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary when I was only 15 years old and I count it as one of the greatest graces in my life. As I continue to renew my Consecration, I become more and more convinced of the importance of God’s graces given to St. Louis de Montfort and all the Saints for the growth of holiness in the Church.

Many years after reading and re-reading often St. Louis De Montfort’s True Devotion,, I became familiar with St. Maximillian Kolbe’s life and devotion to Mary whom he lovingly called his “Immaculata”. I was moved to pray his Act of Consecration also and felt that it was a completion for me of my first Consecration. It seemed to give me an “apostolic thrust” to augment the interior devotion I had begun when very young.

God works in mysterious ways , but always in ways more beautiful than we can imagine! I hope one day you may read both saints’ works. St. Louis de Montfort and St. Maximillian Kolbe and I would add St. John Paul II – such are great “Champions” of Our Mother Mary!!!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Tis_Bearself,

Wonderful! Thanks for sharing this good news.

May God bless all His Holy Church, enabling us all to grow in holiness through the power of His Holy Spirit and the intercession of Mary our Mother – as Jesus came into the world the first time through Mary He will come again in the same way!

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful; kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us. Jesus, we trust in You!