Our Consecration Journey

We Are Almost There....

On November 29th many members of the Children's Rosary began a 33 Day Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary.  Following in the footsteps of such spiritual giants as St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximillian Kolbe, Blessed Mother Teresa, and Bl. John Paul II we began a journey of contemplation and prayer which will end on the Feast of Mary Mother of God on January 1st.  Although the 33 Day Consecration can be done leading up to any Marian Feast members of the Children's Rosary were invited to join together in this spiritual journey leading up to the January 1st Feast.  In so many ways it seemed perfectly suited as this would be ushering in a new year. 

Pope John Paul II

The timing of the daily readings so beautifully mirrored the Church calendar as we spent several days appreciating the Immaculate Conception through the writings of St. Maximillian Kolbe and this perfectly coincided with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. These little gifts were like little sweet smelling flowers found along the way.

Members of the Children's Rosary were invited to join in a practice that saints and Popes have lauded as life changing.  One mother whose children are members of the Children's Rosary came up to me after Mass a week into the consecration. She said her children love the readings and they even wanted to read ahead.  They were doing it as a family. Her children are approximately 9 and 11.  Two of my own children who had done the St. Louis de Montfort consecration with me last spring began this re-consecration by doing the readings alone.  They are 9 and 13.  However, they came to me after just a few days and asked that I read it to them.  This began an evening routine of reading from our little consecration book.  The readings are short approximately one page.  We would do the readings after our rosaries and it was much more meaningful doing it together.

While I had hoped to successfully get the word out about this Consecration before Nov 29th I know there are many members who may not have seen the postings or had time to get the supplies.  Do not worry.  There are many more wonderful opportunities to do this 33 Day Consecration.  One could begin January 9th and conclude February 11th on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Another possible start date is February 20th which concludes March 25th on the Annunciation. Free materials for the consecration can be obtained within the US and Canada through www.myconsecration.org

For those of you unfamiliar with Consecration to Jesus through Mary it has been blessed and supported by Cardinal Justin Rigali, Bishops and Pope Benedict XVI. Blessed John Paul II urged Catholics to make this Act of Entrustment, which involves ten minutes of private prayer daily, for 33 days, in your home.  Many may be familiar with Totus Tuus which was John Paul’s papal motto. It is a Latin phrase meaning "totally yours" and expressed his personal Consecration to Jesus through Mary.

The book we used is called 33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley.This is just one of several consecration formats and if you feel more comfortable with another format this is fine.  
Other posts you may find interesting:
33 Days to Morning Glory