TOTAL CONSECRATION TO MARY

“God the Holy Spirit, who does not produce any divine person, became fruitful through Mary whom he espoused. It was with her, in her and of her that he produced his masterpiece, God-made-man, and that he produces every day until the end of the world the members of the body of this adorable Head. For this reason the more he finds Mary his dear and inseparable spouse in a soul the more powerful and effective he becomes in producing Jesus Christ in that soul and that soul in Jesus Christ.”  These words of St. Louis Marie de Montfort (1673-1716) are the theological foundation of why we make an act of Total Consecration to Mary. He explains further: “...this devotion consists in surrendering oneself in the manner of a slave to Mary and to Jesus through her, and then performing all our actions with Mary, in Mary, through Mary, and for Mary” (Secret of Mary, n. 26). Consecration to Mary produces in the soul a more intimate union with Our Lady and through her a more perfect union with God the Holy Spirit and with Jesus.

At heart of the Consecration is trust in Mary on the highest level. Many devotional practices involve striving to allow Mary to guide one’s actions and invoking her protection. Total Consecration, however, involves surrendering the value and merits of all prayers and good works (including indulgences) to the Blessed Virgin, trusting that her protection and provision is greater than anything we can do for ourselves.

            The benefits of this consecration are:

—   It purifies and embellishes our good works, giving honor to Jesus.

—   Grace is increased in our soul through Mary’s intercession and provision, rendering the soul free, enabling us to walk in the way of God's commandments.

—   It establishes Mary's life in the soul, so that she may work in us and through us.

PREPARATION FOR “TOTAL CONSECRATION”

       St. Louis de Montfort tells us that “those who desire to take up this special devotion [Total Consecration to Mary], should spend at least twelve days in emptying themselves of the spirit of the world, which is opposed to the spirit of Jesus. They should spend three weeks imbuing themselves with the spirit of Jesus through the most Blessed Virgin” (True Devotion to Mary, n. 227).

INITIAL PRACTICES:

     1. Obtain one of the following books on the “Total Consecration to Mary” for prayerful study in preparation to making this commitment:

            The Secret of Mary, by St. Louis Marie de Montfort.

            True Devotion to Mary, by St. Louis Marie de Montfort.

            Preparation for Total Consecration according to Saint Louis Marie de Montfort.

     2. Period of Preparation prior to making Consecration.

            a) First Period: 12 preliminary days on the theme of “Renouncement of the World”

            b) Second Period:

                        1^st Week: Knowledge of Self.

                        2^nd Week: Knowledge of Our Lady:

                        3^rd Week: Knowledge of Christ.

     3. Choose a feast of Our Lady on which to make the consecration (preferably on a major feast) then begin the period of preparation so that it will conclude on or near that feast day. Below is a list of all the feasts of Our Blessed Mother during the Liturgical Year, with the major feasts high-lighted:

Below are some suggested schedules for consecration based on some of the major feasts:

HOW TO MAKE YOUR CONSECRATION:

       At the end of three weeks, we should go to Confession and Holy Communion with the intention of giving ourselves to Jesus Christ in the quality of slaves of love, by the hands of Mary. After Communion, we should recite the consecration prayer; we ought to write it, or have it written, and sign it the same day the consecration is made. It would be well that on this day, we should pay some tribute to Jesus Christ and our Blessed lady, either as a penance for our past unfaithfulness to the vows of Baptism, or as a testimony of dependence on the dominion of Jesus and Mary. This tribute should be in accordance with your fervor, such as a fast, mortification or alms, or a candle. If but a pin is given in homage, and given with a good heart, it will be enough for Jesus, Who loves only the good will.

      Once a year at least, and on the same day, we should renew this consecration, observing the same practices during the three weeks. (True Devotion to Mary, nn. 231-233).

ACT OF CONSECRATION

      The formula for the consecration is found in one of the works (mentioned above) by Saint Louis de Montfort, which should be carefully read and studied before making the consecration.