2016 Forum Consecration to Jesus through Mary

And so it begins...our journey to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Today 30 members of the forum begin our 33 day preparation for consecration to Mary on May 13th. Praise God for such a large and enthusiastic group! We are using different methods but the end game will be the same. I can't explain consecration any better than Fr. Michael Gaitely's comments below:

A new way of life in Christ. The act of consecrating oneself to Jesus through Mary marks the beginning of a gloriously new day, a new dawn, a brand new morning in one's spiritual journey. It's a fresh start, and it changes everything.

So let us hold our heavenly mother's hand and begin our journey and may she transform us and re-arrange our lives in ways that are pleasing to her. And may we follow her as she leads us directly to her son, praying and trusting all the way. May we lift each other up, encourage each other along the way, ask questions, post reflections, inspirations, challenges, or frustrations...and keep each other on track!

St. Louis de Montfort, pray for us!
Mother Angelica, pray for us!

And may our fellow forum members pray for us as well. Below is everyone in our consecration group. I hope I did not miss anyone!! Please let me know if I did.

Florida Panther
Torrentum
Dean
Clare A
Indy
Amazing Grace
Bflocatholic
Charity
Heidi
Josephite
Yellowcoffeecup
Fatima and family
DonnaS
Maryn
JAK
Denise P
Mario
Patty78
Woman Clothed with the Sun
Andree
Kathy K
Sterph
Harper
Maryrose
Julia
Mary-Lou
Katfalls
Madkatmomma
AllyinNY
Bernadette

 

Like the first day of vacation, I'm excited, full of anticipation and a little squencie-bit apprehensive. Mother Mary pray for us!

 

St. Louis de Montfort 33 day preparation for consecration from True Devotion to Mary.

Initial 12 Day Preparation - Emptying yourself of the spirit of the world

Examine your conscience, pray, practice renouncement of your own will; mortification, purity of heart. This purity is the indispensable condition for contemplating God in heaven, to see Him on earth and to know Him by the light of faith. The first part of the preparation should be employed in casting off the spirit of the world which is contrary to that of Jesus Christ. The spirit of the world consists essentially in the denial of the supreme dominion of God; a denial which is manifested in practice by sin and disobedience; thus it is principally opposed to the spirit of Christ, which is also that of Mary.

It manifests itself by the concupiscence of the flesh, by the concupiscence of the eyes and by the pride of life. By disobedience to God's laws and the abuse of created things. Its works are: sin in all forms, then all else by which the devil leads to sin; works which bring error and darkness to the mind, and seduction and corruption to the will. Its pomps are the splendor and the charms employed by the devil to render sin alluring in persons, places and things.

Day 1
Today's Reading - Matthew 5:1-19

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you. You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men. You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.

So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Prayers
Veni Creator Spiritus, Ave Maris Stella, Magnificat, Glory Be

Prayers can be found in this thread:

http://motheofgod.com/threads/prayers-recited-during-st-louis-de-montforts-consecration.9040/

 

Fr. Michael Gaitely's 33 day preparation for consecration from 33 Days to Morning Glory

Format:
Week 1 — St. Louis de Montfort
Week 2 — St. Maximillian Kolbe
Week 3 — Blessed Mother Teresa
Week 4 — St. Pope John Paul II

Note - the full introduction for this book can be found on this thread:
http://motheofgod.com/threads/33-day-consecration-to-jesus-through-mary.8329/

DAY 1: The Passionate Saint of Brittany


This week, we'll focus on the example and words of the first great prophet of Marian consecration. We'll begin by learning about his life, and then we'll ponder the essential aspects of his Marian teaching. [Please note: We do not have space here to cover every essential element of de Montfort's teaching. Omitted elements will be covered in later weeks.]

DAY 1
The Passionate Saint of Brittany

Take a look at a map of France. Now notice something about its shape. See how one part sticks way out almost as if it were running away from the rest of the landmass, ready to dive off into the Celtic Sea? That jutting arm in the northwest of the country is called "Brittany," and that's where St. Louis de Montfort grew up.

There's something special about Brittany that seems to have had an influence on St. Louis: its Celtic roots. Brittany is considered one of the six Celtic nations, meaning that the Celtic language and culture still survive. (So, scratch that part about Brittany being ready to dive into the Celtic Sea. It's already in and swimming.) And one part of Celtic culture seems to have seeped deeply into the heart of St. Louis: the high-spiritedness of its warriors.


From ancient times, Celtic warriors have struck terror in the hearts of their enemies. If you've ever seen the movie Braveheart, you know what I mean. Think of the fearless figure of Sir William Wallace (played by Mel Gibson) and his crazy crew of Scottish Highlanders who take on an English enemy many times their size. This shows something of the Celtic fighting spirit, but the real life version is even more intense.

Often wearing nothing but blue battle paint, real Celtic warriors would work themselves into a blood-thirsty frenzy, rush into combat screaming their heads off, and wildly slash, bash, and slice away at their enemies with huge, two-handed swords. These fierce fighting men, despite their lack of discipline, armor, and order, were extremely effective in battle because of their unmatched passion and ferocity. Throughout history, nobody has wanted to mess with the crazy Celtic warriors.

St. Louis's dad, Jean Grignion, must have been descended from these wild-men warriors, for nobody wanted to mess with him either. In fact, he was known for having the most fiery temper in all of Brittany. As one author puts it, "He was a volcano frequently erupting." St. Louis, on the other hand, was as gentle as a lamb, right? Wrong. He confessed that his temper was just as bad as his father's. But Louis channeled his fiery passion not to threats and violence but to laboring for the greater Glory of God — well, except for the time he knocked out a couple of drunks who wouldn't stop heckling him while he preached. We can get a better sense of Louis's remarkable zeal if we reflect on his short but incredibly productive priestly life.

When he died in 1716, St. Louis was just 43 years old, having been a priest for only 16 years. Tireless labors to bring souls to Jesus through Mary, especially by his preaching an endless succession of parish missions, brought about his early death. As if these life-sapping labors weren't suffering enough, Louis had to bear vicious persecution from the clergy and Jansenist heretics,10 even to the point of being physically attacked and poisoned by them. Despite all this, our indomitable warrior kept advancing on the battlefield, continuously preaching his trademark path to Jesus through Mary. In fact, when leaders in the Church in France thought they had put an end to his work, Louis walked the thousand-mile journey to Rome and asked the Pope for his wisdom and counsel. The Pope not only told him to go back to France and continue preaching but awarded him the title "Apostolic Missionary." Obediently and joyfully, our saint returned to France where he continued to preach, write, and patiently bear his many sufferings out of love for Jesus, Mary, and souls.

St. Louis's passion and zeal lit a fire in a young Karol Wojtyła, the future Pope John Paul II. A few years before his death, the Pope was able to realize a lifelong dream and visit de Montfort's tomb. He said on that occasion, "I am happy to begin my pilgrimage in France under the sign of this great figure. You know that I owe much to this saint, and to his True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin." Now what about us? Do we have a fire in our hearts as we begin this retreat? We should. Or at least we should strive for it. Desire and generosity are key ingredients to making a successful retreat. May Mary intercede for us, and may the Holy Spirit fill us with a passion to conscientiously make these days of retreat, despite any fatigue, distractions, or obstacles.

And let's remember that what we may have to endure in terms of the discipline of prayer is nothing compared to what St. Louis went through, and he'll be interceding for us. Relying on his intercession and that of the Mother of God, let's resolve right now to dedicate ourselves to this retreat with the intensity and zeal of a Celtic warrior — though without all the face-paint and screaming.

Today's Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit, living in Mary.
Help me to make this retreat with generosity and zeal.

 

yep...we are on our way!! Let the journey begin!

 

Today's Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit, living in Mary.
Help me to make this retreat with generosity and zeal.

Ah yes, zeal!

Zeal for your house consumes me!

That's a good question. Am I willing to be spent up for the sake of the kingdom? Hmmmm...I don't believe St. Louis would have paid much attention to modern day concerns about burnout.

Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!

 

I am doing a different Consecration retreat this year, one designed by the Company of Mary, who were founded by St Louis de Montfort. The retreat follows the themes set out by St Louis, so the first days are about ridding oneself of the stain of worldliness. Today's quote from him is worth sharing:

Chosen soul, living image of God and redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, God wants you to be holy like him in this life, and glorious like him in the next. It is certain that growth in holiness is your vocation. All your thoughts, words and actions, everything you suffer or undertake must lead you to that end. Otherwise, you are resisting God in not doing the work for which he created you and for which even now he is keeping you in being. What a marvellous transformation is possible! Dust into light, uncleanness into purity, sinfulness into holiness, creature into Creator, man into God! A marvellous work, I repeat, so difficult in itself, even impossible for a mere creature to bring about, for only God can accomplish it by giving his grace abundantly and in an extraordinary manner. The very creation of the universe is not as great an achievement as this.

God bless everyone who is making the Consecration this year! And thanks to Potatosack for her generosity in leading us.

 

Is it ok of we just stick with the st Montfort consecration?

 

We are all doing the St Louis de Montfort consecration retreat. There are different versions of it, but the consecration remains the same, to Jesus through Mary.

 

absolutely, use whatever you have planned all along. I am posting the consecrations from de Montfort's True Devotion to Mary and Fr Michael Gaitely's 33 Days to Morning Glory, but you can use just de Montfort's. It is up to you.

 

Thanks. I'm a newbie to consecration.

 

thank you for posting Clare! Please feel free to post as many of the daily reflections you want. I enjoyed that first reflection. Also, if it is a book anyone can purchase, it would be great if you put the information in the consecration resource thread. I might be looking to change mine up next year, as I will have done Gaitely and de Montfort two times each.

 

definately ask any questions at any time. I know I did not know much about it all my first time around. I pretty much went in blind, which I think has its advantages.

 

Yes, whether you use Gaitely or de Montfort's version, both continue to build up in different ways as the consecration goes on. Generosity of our time is required...but our lady, like her son, is never out-done in generosity.

 

True Devotion to Mary

Second Day
St. Matthew: Chapter 5: 48, 6: 1-15

Be ye therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect. Take heed that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you shall not have the reward of your Father who is in heaven. Therefore when thou dost an alms-deed sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honoured by men. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. And when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth. That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who sees in secret will repay thee. And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites that love to stand and pray in the synagogues and corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men; Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But thou, when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to the Father in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee. And when you are praying, speak not much, as the heathens. For they think that in their much speak. in, they may be heard. Be not you therefore like to them; for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before you ask him. Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our supersubstantial bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen. For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenlv Father will forgive you also your offences. But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences.

Prayers
Veni Creator Spiritus, Ave Maris Stella, Magnificat, Glory Be

Prayers can be found in this sticky:
http://motheofgod.com/threads/prayers-recited-during-st-louis-de-montforts-consecration.9040/

 

33 Days to Morning Glory

DAY 2: St. Louis's Influence on the Church

There's a story from St. Louis de Montfort's life that particularly expresses his passion, which we pondered just yesterday. In the town of Pontchâteau, St. Louis inspired the peasants to build a huge monument to the Passion of Christ on a neighboring hill. For 15 months, hundreds of peasants volunteered their skills and labor to build it. When completed, it stood as a massive structure, a real labor of love, and on the day before it was supposed to be dedicated by the bishop, word got back to Louis that his enemies had convinced the government to destroy it. (They had lied to the authorities, saying that the structure was actually meant to be a fortress against the government.) When Louis received this disappointing news, he told the thousands of people who had gathered for the blessing ceremony, "We had hoped to build a Calvary here. Let us build it in our hearts. Blessed be God."

One thing about doing the Lord's work: It doesn't always turn out according to our plans. For example, St. Louis surely had planned that his monument to Christ would last more than a day. Yet the saint obediently accepted the destruction of his plans and blessed God. Because of this kind of detachment from his own will and attachment to God's, Louis became an instrument used by God to accomplish even mightier works. So, although his physical monument was destroyed, Louis's teaching eventually became a huge edifice in the Church that exercised great influence on many Popes and on Catholic spirituality. Indeed, de Montfort's passionate labors paid off in the end, even if he didn't see the fruit himself.

As we are just beginning our preparation for consecration to Jesus through Mary, let's ponder some of the support various Popes have given to St. Louis's teaching. May the testimony of their support strengthen our resolve to journey on to Consecration Day, and may it help us to trust that our consecration truly will bear great fruit in our lives, even if we don't yet fully understand how.

• Blessed Pope Pius IX (1846-1878) stated that St. Louis's devotion to Mary is the best and most acceptable form.


• Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) not only beatified de Montfort in 1888 but granted a Church indulgence to Catholics who consecrate themselves to Mary using de Montfort's formula. Moreover, this Pope was reportedly so influenced by St. Louis's efforts to spread the Rosary that he wrote 11 encyclicals on this preeminent Marian devotion.

• Saint Pope Pius X (1903-1914), like Leo XIII, also recommended de Montfort's teaching on Mary to the faithful. In fact, he granted a plenary indulgence in perpetuum (in perpetuity) to anyone who would pray de Montfort's formula for Marian consecration, and he offered his own apostolic blessing to anyone who would simply read True Devotion. This Pope so strongly encouraged the faithful to follow de Montfort's path of Marian devotion because he himself had experienced its power. In fact, in his Marian encyclical Ad Diem Illum, the saintly Pope expressed his own dependence on de Montfort in writing it, which becomes obvious when one compares it with True Devotion. The Pope's encyclical continually reflects the tone and spirit of de Montfort's classic work as evidenced by sentences like this: "There is no surer or easier way than Mary in uniting all men with Christ."

• Pope Pius XI (1922-1939) simply stated, "I have practiced this devotion ever since my youth."

• Venerable Pope Pius XII (1939-1958) canonized St. Louis in 1947 and, in his homily for the Mass of canonization, referred to de Montfort's Marian teaching as "solid and right." Then, when the Pope addressed the pilgrims who had come for the canonization, he said that de Montfort leads us to Mary and from Mary, to Jesus, thus summarizing the meaning of Marian consecration.

• Saint Pope John Paul II (1978-2005) promoted de Montfort's teaching more than any other Pope. We'll learn more about this during the fourth week of the retreat. It's enough here to recall two amazing facts: First, that John Paul's papal motto was Totus Tuus ("totally yours"), which he took directly from de Montfort's shorter prayer of consecration; second, that John Paul described his reading of True Devotion to Mary as a "decisive turning point" in his life.

Today's Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit, living in Mary.
Prepare me to give myself fully to living out this true and solid devotion.

For all citations and endnotes, please see the book 33 Days to Morning Glory.

 

Me too

 

Does doing Father Gaitley's version still obtain the indulgences listed by the various Popes?

 

Just bumping it so it stays visible on the Forum front page.

 

I must share for any first timers that I remember on my first go at it, one of my hurdles was "letting go" completely to Mary all of my intentions, works, prayers and supplications for others for her to do with them what she desired- I always had entrusted and prayed to her through her heart to Jesus, but seeemd to always find my self adding my long list of names, groups, specific people to pray for. It is very freeing to give all to Her in this Consecration and now everyday as stated in the Morning offering, knowing She who's Heart is intertwined with His will know the best use of all of our offered prayers and sacrifices to save the most souls and bring the most Glory to God.
Happy Day 2!