Consecration Journey

May I humbly thank all of you who joined us for a 33 Day Consecration journey that concluded on January 1st.  This is our third year joining together on this Consecration journey.  Following in the footsteps of such spiritual giants as St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximillian Kolbe, Blessed Mother Teresa, and St. John Paul II we began a jouney of contemplation and prayer which ended 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 a perfect way to usher in the New Year. 

For those of you unfarmiliar with Consecration to Jesus through Mary it has been blessed and supported by Pope Benedict XVI. St. 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 farmiliar with Totus Tuus which was John Paul's papal motto.  It is a Latin phraase meaning "totally yours" and expressed his personal Consecration to Jesus through Mary.

The Consecration preparation material we have been using is the 33 Days to Morning Glory book by Fr. Michael Gaitley MIC.  Although we encourage members to use what ever materials they feel most comfortable using.  

One of the reflections from Fr. Gailtey's book that was a highlight in my journey was a story from the life of St. Louis de Montfort.  As a gift to Our Lord, St. Loius, with the help of thousands of peasants, built a monument to the Passion of Christ.  The construction took 15 months.  When it was complete and one day before the dedication members of the government destroyed it believing their was some purpose for it that threatened the government.  Thus the blessing ceremony was not at all what St. Louis had hoped for yet he used the set back to praise Our Lord saying, "We had hoped to build a Calvary here. Let us build it in our hearts.  Blessed be God."  

There is something wonderful about this story as it shows us that had the Monument remained few might marvel as we do now hundreds of years later.  Yet to see a soul meet such adversity and still praise Our Lord stands the test of time and still has the ability to move our hearts.  It would seem that Our Lord has great wisdom in asking for such precious gifts of sacrifice.  At the time we may feel defeated but rather it is just the opposite.

Many of us find we come against road blocks even with starting or continuing a Children's Rosary prayer group.  Yet these struggles and trials may be great blessings for each of us and our path to holiness.  We also win great graces for our families and all those who are part of the Children's Rosary.  May I humbly thank all those that give so much from the heart in all they do to help spread the Children's Rosary.

Thank you also for joing us on this Consecration journey.  If you did not have a chance to pray along with us this year we will again do our re-Consecation next year beginning November 29th 2016.  One can also do the preparation leading up to any Marian Feast.  Some individuals may want to begin the Consecraiton January 9th and conclude on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.  

Other Posts You May Enjoy 
Gentle Women
How to Start a Children's Rosary
"Lord To Whom Shall We Go"