Hopelessly Devoted

Part of the beauty of Catholicism is that no two of us live our faith in exactly the same way. Rich with varying devotions, our faith offers our souls nourishment in ways that seem uniquely suited to us. One particular devotion that, although centuries old, is gaining new momentum is the Consecration to Mary. When I was first approached to participate in a Consecration to Mary, I was reluctant. While I had developed a very deep devotion to our Blessed Mother and a reliance upon her intercession, I did not understand the concept of a consecration. What I thought I knew about it left me confused and a little afraid. My misunderstanding led me to believe that in consecrating myself to Mary, I was taking something sacred that belonged to God alone and giving it to someone else. As much as I love our Mother, I was concerned that my devotion to her through a consecration would place her in a position of competition with God. takes all that we are, wraps it in her prayers and offers it to Jesus. In return, she offers us grace and guidance. Thus, what we are actually doing is consecrating ourselves to Jesus through her Immaculate Heart. Why do a Marian Consecration? As Christians, our ultimate goal is cultivating the heart of God in us. We want to grow in holiness. We want our life’s aim to mirror God’s plan for us. We want to receive all the graces we can in order to love others more purely and deeply. There is no better way to that end than through Mary’s powerful intercession. When we contemplate Jesus as an infant, trusting in Mary’s care for him, we can more easily relinquish our fear of entrusting ourselves to her care as well. Marian consecration is separating ourselves for God with Mary’s help. Her entire life was a yes to God’s plan. Through her intercession, she leads us in that same abandonment to God’s will for us. How do I do a Marian Consecration? Through Mary’s Heart Understanding more about a Marian Consecration By Lisa Cooper

I was wrong.

What is Marian Consecration?

The act of consecration involves the separation of every aspect of our lives for the sake of something sacred. In the case of a Marian Consecration, we entrust all that we are—our hopes, plans, possessions, and merits—to the care and intercession of Mary. We commend our lives to her Motherly care for us, knowing of her perfect devotion to her Son and her desire only for God’s best for us. When we give our lives to her, we trust that she There are several methods of the consecration, but all involve days of prayer and a rosary with a final prayer on the day of consecration, which is traditionally a Marian feast day. To learn more about Marian Consecration and to find the best one for you, check out St. Louis de Montford’s “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary,” Fr. Anselm Romb’s Total Consecration to Mary (based on St. Maximillian Kolbe’s consecration) and the most recent book on consecration: Fr. Michael Gaitley’s 33Days to Morning Glory.