Hi Everyone, I'm new to this forum and after searching did not find a related thread. So here goes my first post! Perhaps this might generate conversation, not sure. Anyhoo, here goes: if one falls into mortal sin during the 33 days of preparation and also misses a few days of readings and prayers, then I think that one should NOT make the Act of Consecration as they did not seriously prepare themselves. Better luck next time, right? I'm curious if anyone would disagree. As for me, I missed the last 2 Sunday Mass services (kid's soccer games) and completely neglected last week's readings. My feeling is that I should try again next time...
Your post generates outrage from me. You are in mortal sin if you have prioritised a soccer game over your duty and responsibility not to mention the obligation you have before God to observe the Third Commandment. "Thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath Day." And what about the kids. What sort of example is that. Nough said
Okay, that's what I thought thanks. On to confession and keep trying! As for my kids, they are not yet 6 and have accompanied me to all Masses this year except for these last two, but still, I get it. No excuses (we are joining a league next year with no Sunday games). Hope your rage subsides Julia! God bless.
Hi Zack, Welcome to the forum. Glad to have you here. Please don't be scared off. God loves us all. Julia is a wonderful member, she is just full of spirit! I agree in essence with what she has said, though I would have worded it in a softer way The very fact that you have been called to make the consecration though is a great grace! Not many people even know about it, much less want to spend the 33 days preparing for it. I am inclined to agree with the idea to start over again. Especially since you have questions about it in your head. I think most of the time when we ask questions like that we already know the answer. The consecration is a large life altering thing. It is not for everyone, but if you are feeling called to do it I would suggest reading True Devotion To Mary by St. Louis DeMontfort. It should clarify any questions you may have and explain exactly what the consecration is and what is expected of you. There is no rush if you are not ready. It only needs to end on a Marian Feast and there are many of those throughout the year so you can really start almost anytime of the year. May Our Lord and Our Lady guide you through this process. Just remember if you fall a thousand times, Jesus and Mary will help you back up again. God loves you more that you can possibly imagine!
Thanks Praetorian, this is the way I feel too. I have been reading St Louis De Montfort's work and it has already been life changing in my understanding of Mary (I am a convert). Thank you and God Bless
You're welcome and congratulations on your conversion Zack! I am sure Mary is guiding you to her Son. That is what she does. And that is what the consecration is all about. Just do the best you can and keep trying. We are so glad you came home to the Church. God Bless.
Hi Zack and welcome. I agree with you and would spend some time in prayer about it before continuing on to the consecration. You might speak with your Deacon or Priest as well and ask them for their guidance. As Julia said and you know already, the Sabbath day is Holy and even in this busy world of ours we make it a priority to spend that day with our families and attending Mass and some reading, prayer together etc. That doesn't mean it will be easy, especially with kids and busy lives. It seems more and more also, that the world simply doesn't care at all for such things but we know that already too. So we have to lead our families and show them the right way. The sacrifices and the example you show them will stay with them a lifetime. I am a convert as well and a recent one at that. At times, I know that my teenage kids are wondering just what Dad and Mom have gotten them into. I am trusting that the Holy Spirit will work in them as it is in us.
Welcome to the forum, Zack! It must have taken some courage to admit to missing mass and being in mortal sin. Well, as I'm sure you know, you just have to go to confession, make reparation and then begin again. I too, am a convert to the faith. I guess it is somewhat more difficult to be faithful when one has not had the example and teaching from one's parents and family members, because they were/are not Christians. But this forum is a great place to learn and share about our faith. I will pray for you and your family at morning mass tomorrow. May our Blessed Mother guide you and yours.
It is annoying when kids' sports activities interfere with Sunday mass, I know all about that because I live in Ireland where sport has pretty much replaced religion! I don't know how your parish works but most parishes here offer a vigil mass on Saturday evening which is very handy in the case of a clash with sports or other events. Maybe something to check out. Anyway, onwards and upwards as they say.
Zack God bless you for your humility. You are on the right path to want to keep a pure heart as you make your consecration. I am sure as a convert you may have not realized the very serious obligation of Sunday Mass (or Vigil Mass Saturday night). And it might not have been stressed in RCIA. But now you know and you can take it from there. Welcome to the forum and God's blessings on you and your family. It is a hard but glorious journey.
Hi heavenly host!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm on this forum everyday, I just don't post. Everyone seems to be able to articulate their points so precisely, I'm over here all duh! Haha.
I had a situation recently where my children were in a music competition as part of a group. The competition started at 9.30 on Sunday morning and was supposed to end in time for Mass at 11. Ireland being still culturally Catholic makes a show of having some faith at times. At a few minutes before 11 they had two more sets to perform, so I left them and went to Mass alone. I was guilt stricken that my children were missing Mass and that I didn't put God first, but they had important parts in the group and it would have caused awful upset if I had removed them, I could have asked if they might have suspended the competition til after Mass..but I just don't have the nerve to make that much fuss. During Mass I was really upset and ashamed. However, as I prayed for a solution and a way out of my predicament I was inspired, perhaps there was a 12 noon Mass near by and I might still get them to Mass. I asked and was told there was in fact a 12 o'clock Mass at a convent not too far away. So I ran like a crazy person to get my kids, (they got first place in the competition) and raced down Irish country roads to the convent, only to catch the very end of Mass, it had started at 11, it was obviously a much longer ceremony than the one I had attended! A beautiful nun came straight to us very concerned that we had missed Mass. She arranged for the kids to receive Holy Communion, it was very special. Then she brought us outside to see their new pony and lambs, she spoke to the children with great interest in them and their music. It was a really blessed encounter. God is so kind, I was too shy and concerned for human respect to remove my children from the music and bring them to Mass, but He saved the day. I hope He will help me to be more courageous in future, and better organized.
Wonderful Jonah. Clearly God saw your predicament and provided a beautiful way to take care of it. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, you are all correct. I was overly blunt. Sorry Zack if it was harsh in the way I worded the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God. But you are guaranteed to share that mistake with heartfelt regret when you go to confession. And you already know Jesus is waiting with open arms to forgive you. Especially if you are new to the road I have travelled since my birth. I am one of those cradle Catholics, who thought everyone knew the ten Commandments. And for those who are new on the narrow path, it is harsh to be told so bluntly. On the other hand I am curious to hear if you were taught the ten Commandments when you were preparing for reception into the Catholic Church. Never worry as long as you are searching for the safest surest way, God will be with you. He loves you more than anyone, and I hope He is not disappointed in the way I responded to your question. God bless you now and always.
I will say, I found myself very inspired to begin preparing during May June and this first week of July, Covid shut down and after for my first total consecration to Jesus through Mary. I have been using the book by Fr Michael Gaitley. Granted there was about a week when I did not do any reading. Periodically throughout I missed a couple days & read 2 or 3 days together. I know I am being guided toward greater understanding and deeper love. I realized tonight, tomorrow being Day 33, I'll be joining my Dad for 1st Friday. I will pray my Consecration Prayer at Mass on 1st Saturday!!
Zack your post is so honest and replies so humble, Our Lady must love you very much and I'm sure that she wants you to continue with your consecration. Do you no longer want to give Her your life? If you still want to, then repent, confess as soon as you can and tell her that you want to keep going - maybe start with an act of contrition too. I don't see how falling into sin should detract anyone from giving our Fiat to Our Lady. Saying yes to her is the antidote to sin! The discouragement you feel is from the devil, not from her. If humans had to remain perfect all the time, no one would be consecrated! Give her your fiat again and again every day. A consecration is something that we should repeat daily anyway and she will work in our souls to raise us up over time. Our Lady sees your intentions and heart, so be sincere and tell her that you want to continue. Repentance washes away a great deal prior to confession. Souls who start to consecrate attract attacks from Satan which can increase in this time. If you want to stop the 33 day prayers, then just say a simple heart-felt consecration daily. But don't stop consecrating yourself to her, not now. I also suggest watching this video of Mark Mallett where he talks about the love and mercy he felt from Our Lady after having fallen in mortal sin too. Not only did our Lady not remove Graces, she added some - obviously after he repented sincerely about his sin. I have talked to priests about the Sunday conflicts too because it is not so obvious to handle. Our society is structured in a way that puts these activities on Sundays and reconciling this in families can be genuinely difficult, especially when you have children with a real passion for an activity. We went through this too and reconciling it all took organisation and for a few years, we could not all go together to mass and I had to drive out of our area to get mass at a particular time. Like Jonah did, could you also talk to your priest about this and see if you can get communion differently on some Sundays? I guess one of the benefits of the lockdown is that we know that we can also follow mass on TV or internet and do spiritual communion, so in the worse case, we can follow mass every day with technology.
Great story! I’m so glad you cared enough to go to the lengths that you did to get to mass. What a good example you set for your family!
