We (of JOYfilledfamily) invite you to make a Total Consecration for the first time or prepare to renew your consecration.
WHAT:
By making this consecration to Mary, you are placing yourself completely and totally in her hands. You are giving her permission to form you, discipline you, and mold you into a true follower of Christ. Do not be afraid, though, because she loves you. She will always take care of you, and knows better than anybody how to do so. It is always good to remember her words to St. Juan Diego in Mexico, “Hear and let it penetrate into your heart, my dear little son: let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you: let nothing alter your heart or your countenance. Also do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else that you need?”
WHEN & HOW:
Step 1 – Read “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary”
Read for about 12 days your discernment and preparation for Consecration.
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- True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin – by St. Louis De Montfort. This book is the “meat” of Montfortian Spirituality
- Secret of Mary – by St. Louis De Montfort. This is a letter describing Perfect Practice of True Devotion to Mary, also known as “slavery of the will.”
Step 2 – Choose a day for the Consecration
Chose the date of a Marian Feast on which to make the consecration. Now work backward to figure out when you will start your Consecration — whichever Feast you choose will determine the date to begin a 33-day period of spiritual preparation (you follow spiritual exercises for 33 days, and the next day will be the Marian Feast on which you consecrate yourself).
Below is a list of Marian Feasts which are the same on both the Traditional and Novus Ordo calendars so there will be no “issues” for traditionalists who decide to enroll in the confraternity associated with Montfort’s Total Consecration:
1 21 Feb when February has 29 days. The Feast of the Annunciation is the Feast that St. Louis de Montfort recommends most of all as it is this Feast that commemorates God Himself taking on flesh and, thereby, subjecting even Himself to trust in and dependency on Our Lady
Step 3 – Begin the 33-Day Preparation for Consecration
Now begins the 33-day period of exercises. St. Louis-Marie breaks these days into sections of days, each section having its own prayers, and each particular day having its own brief readings with which to fill the mind for that day (the readings come from Sacred Scripture, “The Imitation of Christ,” and “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary”). Don’t just read the readings, internalize them; don’t let your lips just mouth the prayers, truly pray them.
The Total Consecration is divided into themes:
Days 1-12: The Spirit of the World – preparation period that consists of emptying oneself of the spirit of the world in penance and mortification. For those 12 days, we pray the Veni Creator, the Ave Maris Stella, the Magnificat, and the Glory Be. Then follow 3 weeks, each week having a specific focus.
Days 13-19: Knowledge of Self –
Days 20-26: Knowledge of Mary – we ask the Holy Ghost to help us better understand the Blessed Virgin; we pray the Litany of the Holy Ghost, the Litany of Loreto, the Ave Maris Stellis, the prayer to Mary by St. Louis-Marie, and 5 decades of the Holy Rosary each day for assistance.
Days 27-33: Knowledge of Jesus – we seek to better understand Christ through meditation and the Litany of the Holy Ghost, the Ave Maris Stella, and the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, Montfort’s prayer to Jesus, and the prayer O Jesus Living in Mary.
Day 34: Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary
Below are links to the individual readings for each day, and accompanying prayers. You can also purchase the book, True Devotion to Mary with Preparation for Total Consecration, here.
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Step 4 – Day 34: Day of Consecration
On the day of consecration, either fast, give alms, or offer a votive candle for the good
of another (or all of the above); do some spiritual penance and approach consecration in the spirit of mortification.
Now go to Confession (or, if that is not possible, go during the 8 days prior) and then receive Communion with the intention of giving yourself to Jesus, as a slave of love, by the hands of Mary. Try to receive Communion per the method described in the Supplement of the book, “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary” above.
Now, pray the words of the consecration. Copy them and have them with you at church, read them after the Mass (in front of the tabernacle would be nice), and sign your copy of the Act of Consecration. You can get FREE printable here or here.
Step 5 – After Consecration
Once you have consecrated yourself to Jesus through Mary, live that consecration. St. Louis-Marie de Montfort recommended the following:
- Keep praying to develop a “great contempt” for the spirit of this world
- Maintain a special devotion to the Mystery of the Incarnation (e.g., through meditation; spiritual reading; focusing on Feasts centering around the Incarnation, such as the Annunciation and the Nativity, etc.)
- Frequently recite the Ave, Rosary, and the Magnificat
- Recite, every day if it is not inconvenient, the “Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin” — a series of Paters, Aves, and Glorias — one Ave for each star in the Virgin’s Crown. St. Louis has a special way of praying the Little Crown, which is recommended.
- Do everything through, with, in and for Mary for the sake of Jesus, with the prayer, “I am all thine Immaculate One, with all that I have: in time and in eternity” in your heart and on your lips
- Associate yourself with Mary in a special way before, during, and after Communion (see Supplement of the book, “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary” above)
- Wear a little iron chain (around the neck, arm, waist, or ankle) as an outward sign and reminder of holy slavery. This practice is optional, but very recommended by St. Louis. The appearance of this chain is not further specified.
- Renew the consecration once a year on the same date chosen above, and by following the same 33-day period of exercises. If desired, also renew the consecration monthly with the prayer, “I am all thine and all I have is thine, O dear Jesus, through Mary, Thy holy Mother.”
- Optional: Join the Confraternity of Mary, Queen of All Hearts. Their address:
Director, Confraternity of Mary Queen of All Hearts
26 South Saxon Avenue
Bay Shore, NY 11706
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Each meditation below is about 40min in length (after the Rosary) so we divide it over a 30-day period for about 6 minutes of listening each day. We adjust to fit the needs of our family.
- PART 2 — Total Consecration to Mary Part 5 of 5 – Starts after the Rosary 20.35
- PART 3 — Total Consecration to Mary Part 1 of 5 – Starts after Decade of the Rosary 4:20
- PART 4 — Total Consecration to Mary Part 2 of 5 – Starts after Decade of the Rosary 3:54
- PART 5 — Total Consecration to Mary Part 3 of 5 – Starts after Decade of the Rosary 4:28
- LAST Meeting Total Consecration to Mary Part 4 of 5 – Starts after Decade of the Rosary 3:28
- True Devotion to Mary – Links to FREE Online books
- Montfortian Religious – In these pages you can read about the life of St. Louis Marie, about his writings and his Spirituality, and you can obtain more information concerning the three Congregations.
- Jesus Living in Mary – Handbook of the Spirituality of St. Louis de Montfort
- Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin – St. Louis de Montfort
