TOTAL CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
Tuesday, 8 May 2018
TOTAL CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
PART IV
31st Day (5th Day of the Third Week)
Theme: (2) Being Faithful to the Baptismal Promise
As a response to the love of Christ we must strive (secondly) to be faithful to our baptismal promise. In baptism we have confessed Jesus Christ for the first time. By a Solemn Vow we have consecrated ourselves to His service. But how quick we are to forget our engagement with Jesus! And yet we are Christ’s unlimited property.
Let us then acknowledge this total dependence by the conscious act of our Consecration. Our heavenly Mother will then help us to be ever faithful to our baptismal promise.
Consideration: (Picture for Meditation) Mary Magdalene at the feet of Our Lord!
Renewal of Baptismal Vows: (True Devotion – Nos., 126-133)
(1) The formula of the Baptismal Vow:
- What is your name? (name)
- Do you renounce Satan? I do renounce him!
- And all his works? I do renounce them!
- And all his allurements? I do renounce them!
- Do you believe in God the Father Almighty? Etc.,
(2) The Meaning of the Baptismal Vow:
(Nos., 127-130)
“Men vow in baptism to renounce the devil and all his seductions.” (St. Thomas) “This is the greatest and most indispensable of all vows.” (St. Augustine)
Before baptism every Christian was a slave of the devil because he belonged to him. At baptism he has either personally or through his sponsors, solemnly renounced Satan, his seductions and works. He has chosen Jesus Christ as his master and sovereign Lord and undertaken to depend upon him as a slave of love.
But does anyone keep this great vow? Does anyone fulfill the promises of baptism faithfully? Man’s forgetfulness of the promise and responsibilities of baptism – is the reason for the great disorder of Christendom! – The main cause of the universal moral breakdown! There is no better way of remedying this great evil than to encourage all Christians to renew the promises and vows of baptism!
“The parish priest shall exhort the faithful never to lose sight of the fact that they are bound in conscience to dedicate and consecrate themselves for ever to their Lord and Redeemer as His slaves.” (Council of Trent).
Is it not therefore reasonable to do this in our day and in a perfect manner by adopting this devotion with its Consecration to Our Lord through his Blessed Mother?
Yes in making this Consecration to Jesus we are adopting the perfect means of giving ourselves to Him – and the perfect means is the most Blessed Virgin Mary!
(3) Perfect Renewal of Baptismal Vow:
The Total Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary could be rightly called a perfect renewal of the vows and promises of Holy Baptism, because we give ourselves entirely to Jesus through Mary! In the act of Total Consecration, we not only renounce the Devil, the world, sin and self, but even do something more than what we at baptism.
1) In Baptism ordinarily our God-Parents speak for us and we are given to Jesus only by proxy. But in this devotion, we give ourselves personally and freely and we are fully aware of what we are doing.
2) In baptism we do not give ourselves to Jesus explicitly through Mary, nor do we give Him the value of our good actions; we remain still entirely free either to apply that value to any one we wish, or keep it for ourselves. But by this Consecration we give ourselves explicitly
to Jesus through Mary’s hands and we include in our consecration the value of all our actions!
3) But the fact that now the application of our good works depends on the will of Our Lady, does not in any way prevent us from praying for our friends and benefactors. On the contrary, it will make us pray with even greater confidence – because Our Lady knows how to apply our good works and their values in a better way!
(4) Practice of Baptismal promises:
Beware of the artifices of the devil to allure sinners to relapse!
1) When the devil again tempts you to sin, what will you do?
Will you now, for this miserable pleasure, forfeit the grace of God? Will you, yourself, write the sentence of eternal death, and condemn yourself to burn forever in hell?
No, you answer: I do not wish to damn myself, I wish to be saved, I wish to be a Saint! But, if I commit this sin, I will afterwards confess it. Behold the first delusion of the Devil!
You will afterwards confess it; but in the meantime you lose your soul! You hold in your hand the precious Jewel of your Soul which Jesus Christ has purchased with His blood, and now you voluntarily cast it into hell – because at the moment of every mortal sin, you are immediately condemned to eternal fire. And you say: you hope to recover that soul by a good confession!
Be assured that by this delusion the devil has brought thousands and thousands of Christians to hell. In committing sin, all sinners hope to repent and go to confession. Can you thus make “confession” a concession to commit sin? Should God not give you the grace of repentance, not allow you to go to confession, (remember that your sins may not be absolved always!) and should death overtake you, what will become of you?
2) But at present I cannot resist this temptation!
Behold the Second delusion of the Devil, who makes it appear to you that at present you have no strength to resist your passion! It is not true! “God never permits us to be tempted above our strength” (1Cor. 10:13)
If you are now unable to resist your passion, how will you be able to resist them hereafter? After you have yielded to one temptation, the devil is sure to tempt you to other sins; and by your consent to sin, he will have gained an increase of strength against you, and you will have become weaker. (Each sin makes you weaker and weaker)
If then you are now unable to extinguish the flame of passion, how can you expect to extinguish it when it has grown stronger?
You may say: God will give me His aid. If you have confidence in His aid, why don’t you ask for it now to avoid this temptation? “Ask and it shall be given you!” (Jn.16:24) Make use of God’s grace rather to conquer your passion than to fall a prey to your passion!
3) But God is Merciful!
Behold the third delusion of the Devil! By which an immense number of souls are lost! Yes, the so called “Mercy” of God has sent more souls to hell than to heaven! Sinners are induced by the devil for a rash confidence in the divine mercy, to continue in sin, and thus are lost! (Beware of the devotion of “Divine Mercy”) God is merciful! Who denies it? But remember, that the Lord “showeth mercy towards them that fear Him.” (Luke. 1: 50), not unto them that despise Him.
He is merciful to those who repent of their sins, not to those who abuse His mercy to offend Him the more freely.
God is merciful, but He is also Just; and therefore He is obliged to punish those who offend Him.
He executes His Justice on those who despise Him and insult Him.
God pardons sins, but He cannot pardon the will or the determination to sin!
Therefore he who sins with the intention of afterwards repenting is a mocker of God’s mercy and Majesty. It would be a mockery of God to insult Him as often and as much as you please – and as long as you can, and afterwards to expect heaven!
4) But as God has shown me so many mercies hither to, so I hope He will treat me with mercy hereafter!
Behold the fourth Delusion of the Devil!
Yes the Lord had compassion on you so far! But does that mean that He shows mercy forever and never chastises you? NO: the greater have been His mercies to you, the more you have reason to fear that, if you offend Him anymore, He will pardon you no more! The more He has waited for your repentance the more severe will be His punishment!
The patience and the great mercies which God has shown to you, ought to animate you not to offend him again, but to love Him, serve Him and make reparation for your sins! “Do not offend Our Lord anymore because He has been already offended very much” (Fatima).
5) But I am Young!
We are now at the Fifth Delusion of the Devil!
You are young! But how much more numerous you sins are than those who are of very advanced age. They have not been guilty of the tenth part of the sins which you have committed!
Do you not know that God counts not the years but the sins of each individual?
And do you not know that God has fixed the number and measure of sins which He will pardon each?
When the measure of sins is filled up, He pardons no more, but chastises the sinner by sending him a sudden death while in the state of damnation – and abandons him in sin! – which is a chastisement worse than death!
Tremble, lest God should treat you in a similar manner! If you continue to offend Him, you will gradually lose remorse of conscience, you will cease to think of eternity or of the salvation of your Soul! Behold your soul already abandoned by God!
6) It is true that If I commit this sin, I shall be damned; but it may also happen that I shall save my soul!
This is the last Delusion of the Devil in an obstinate sinner. You are exposing yourself to a very great danger of being lost forever. He that sows sins will reap nothing but pains and torments! When I called you, says the Lord, You mocked me; but I will mock you at the hour of your death!
St. Paul teaches our death to sin in Baptism (Rom. 6: 3-12)
- “Know you not that all we who are baptized in Christ Jesus are baptized in His death?”
- “Knowing this that our old man (sin) is crucified with Him, that the body of sin may be destroyed to the end that we may serve sin no longer.
- “So do you reckon that you are dead to sin, but alive unto God, in Christ Jesus, Our Lord.”
- “Let sin not therefore reign in your mortal body, so as to obey the lusts thereof.”
Prayer: (Oration: Blessing of the Baptismal Font – Easter Vigil)
Almighty Everlasting God, be present at these mysteries of Thy great goodness, be present at these Sacraments; and send forth the spirit of adoption to regenerate the new people Whom the font of Baptism bringeth forth to you, that what is to be done by thy humble ministry of us Thy servant, may be accomplished by the effect of Thy power. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is God, and liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
Spiritual ReadingImitation of Christ,
Book 2, Chapter 7,
CHAPTER VII Of loving Jesus above all things
1. Blessed is he who understandeth what it is to love Jesus, and to despise himself for Jesus' sake. He must give up all that he loveth for his Beloved, for Jesus will be loved alone above all things. The love of created things is deceiving and unstable, but the love of Jesus is faithful and lasting. He who cleaveth to created things will fall with their slipperiness; but he who embraceth Jesus will stand upright for ever. Love Him and hold Him for thy friend, for He will not forsake thee when all depart from thee, nor will he suffer thee to perish at the last. Thou must one day be separated from all, whether thou wilt or wilt not.
2. Cleave thou to Jesus in life and death, and commit thyself unto His faithfulness, who, when all men fail thee, is alone able to help thee. Thy Beloved is such, by nature, that He will suffer no rival, but alone will possess thy heart, and as a king will sit upon His own throne. If thou wouldst learn to put away from thee every created thing, Jesus would freely take up His abode with thee. Thou wilt find all trust little better than lost which thou hast placed in men, and not in Jesus. Trust not nor lean upon a reed shaken with the wind, because all flesh is grass, and the goodliness thereof falleth as the flower of the field.(1)
3. Thou wilt be quickly deceived if thou lookest only upon the outward appearance of men, for if thou sleekest thy comfort and profit in others, thou shalt too often experience loss. If thou seekest Jesus in all things thou shalt verily find Jesus, but if thou seekest thyself thou shalt also find thyself, but to thine own hurt. For if a man seeketh not Jesus he is more hurtful to himself than all the world and all his adversaries.
(1) Isaiah xl. 6.
32nd Day (6th Day of the Third Week)
Theme: (3) Transformation into Christ
If our knowledge (True and Supernatural) of Christ increases, if we follow Him ever more faithfully, and receive Him with greater love in Holy Communion, then we will gradually be transformed into Jesus Christ! But who would know more about the laws of interior growth of Christ in us, than the Mother of God Who experienced in herself perfectly the realization of the words of St. John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (Jn. 3:30)
Consideration: (Picture for Meditation) the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Transubstantiation!
Transformation of the Souls in Mary after the image of Jesus! (True Devotion, Nos. 218-221)
(1) The Immaculate path of Mary (218)
- “If Mary, the tree of life is well cultivated in our soul by fidelity to this devotion, she will in due time bring forth her fruit, which is none other than Jesus!
- Many devout souls searching for Jesus in one way or another, i.e.: some by one devotional way, some by another, and after they have labored much throughout the night, they can only say: “We have labored all the night and have taken (caught) nothing” (Luke 5:5) And to them we can make this answer, “You have labored much, and gained little.” (Aggeus 1:6), because Jesus Christ as yet is not strongly present in you!
- But by the Immaculate Way of Mary, and by the Divine practice of this devotion, i.e.: living the Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we work in the day light, we work in a holy place, we labor little and gain much!
- There is not night in Mary, no darkness, for in Her there was no sin, nor even a shadow of sin. Mary is a Holy Place, The Holy of Holies where saints are formed and molded!
(1) The Best Method of forming people into the Image of Jesus (219-220)
There is a vast difference between carving a statue by blows of hammer and chisel and making a statue by using a mould.
Sculptors and Statue makers work very hard and need plenty of time; but when they use a mould, their work is easy and they turn out their statues in a very short time.
St. Augustine calls the Blessed Virgin: “Forma Dei” - “The Mould of God.” She is the mould designed to form and shape God-like men (Men of God)
Whoever is cast in this divine mould is quickly formed and molded in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ in him! At little cost and in a short time, he will become like unto God, since he has been cast into the mould which has shaped God Himself!
Let us go on to apply this comparison.
First:
The sculptors representing those spiritual directors and devout persons trusting in their own ability, industry and art, issue blows of hammer and chisel on a hard stone, a badly prepared wood, in an effort to chip a formless block into an image of Jesus Christ! At times, they do not manage to produce a recognizable likeness, either through a lack of sufficient knowledge about the true person of Jesus Christ, or because of a clumsy stroke which has spoiled the effect of the whole!
Secondly:
The founders and molders, representing the Spiritual directors who embrace this little known Secret of Total Consecration, have discovered Mary, the perfect mould where in Jesus has been naturally and divinely formed. They do not rely on their own skill but on the perfection of the mold! They cast themselves and lose themselves in Mary in order that they may be transformed in the perfect image of Jesus Christ.
This is indeed a beautiful and convincing comparison. But how many understand it. I hope it may be you, my dear friend who would understand it and accept it by God’s grace!
** But remember that only molten and liquid substances may be poured into a mould. If you still remain adamant and hard heartened you will become totally unworthy to enter into this Consecration! Therefore you “must” crush and melt down the old Adam in you (the attachments), in order that you may become, in Mary like unto the New Adam, Who is Christ Jesus Our Lord.
(2) Special Interior practices for those who seek perfection in Mary (257-265)
Here are some “very sanctifying” interior practices – which consist in doing all our actions through Mary, with Mary, in Mary and for Mary, in order to do them more perfectly through Jesus, with Jesus, in Jesus and for Jesus!
1) Through Mary:
We must do everything through Mary, which means; we must obey the Blessed Virgin in all things, and be led by her spirit. The spirit of Mary is the spirit of God! And Mary was never led by her own spirit!
If you wish to be led by the spirit of Mary, therefore you must:
a) Renounce your own spirit:
Renounce your own counsels and desires; because if you were to follow the “dark counsels” of your own spirit, and the darkness of your own “self-will” and your own “Mode of acting”, however good they may seem to you, you would be placing an “obstacle” to the spirit of Mary.
b) Yield yourself to the Spirit of Mary:
You must give yourself up to be directed and led in whatever way pleases her. Deliver yourself into her Virginal hands, as an instrument in the hand of an artist. You must abandon yourself to Mary like a stone that is cast into the sea – by saying: “I renounce myself; I give myself to Thee, my dear Mother.” You must do this act of Spiritual Union frequently, even if you do not experience any emotional fervor.
c) From time to time, you must renew the same act of spiritual union during and after the performance of all your actions.
The more frequently you do this, the more will you be sanctified; and the sooner you will attain to union with Jesus Christ – a union which invariably and necessarily follows union with Mary, since the spirit of Mary is the spirit of Jesus.
2) With Mary:
You must carry out your actions with Mary: looking to her as a flawless model of every virtue and of perfection.
In everything that you undertake you must consider how Mary performed such an action, or how she would perform it, were she now in your place.
For this purpose you should study and ponder the great virtues which Mary practiced in her life and on earth namely: her lively faith, her profound humility and her divine purity. Just wish to be with Mary always.
3) In Mary:
You must perform your actions in Mary. The immaculate and Virginal womb of Mary is the true earthly paradise, wherein has been formed and nourished the new Adam without spot or stain.
Mary is called the “Sanctuary” of the Divinity, the resting place of the Most Blessed Trinity; the Throne of God; the City of God; the Temple of God; the World of God!
What riches! What glory! What joy! What happiness it is to be able to enter and dwell in Mary! – in whom God has set up the throne of His supreme glory!
But it is difficult for sinners like us to have the permission to enter into so great and so holy a place which is well protected, enclosed and sealed! We need a special grace of the Holy Ghost – a grace which we must merit.
Therefore when, by your fidelity (to your baptismal vows) you obtain this signal grace of entering into the Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, you must remain in the beautiful interior of Mary; you must rely on Mary with confidence; you must hide yourself trustfully in her and lose yourself completely – in order that in her virginal womb – you may be nourished with her grace and maternal compassion:
- You may be set free from troubles, fears and scruples!
- You may be shielded from all your enemies – the world, the devil and the flesh!
- You may be formed in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ in you.
“They that work in Me shall not sin.” (Ecclus. 24:30)
4) For Mary:
Finally, you must do all your actions for Mary as her domestics, her servants and her slaves.
You must not remain “idle”, but must undertake and carry out “great things” for this august Queen! (Not for you!)
What Great things?
- You must defend her prerogatives when they are questioned!
- You must uphold her glory when it is attacked!
- You must draw as many as you can to her service and to this true and solid devotion!
- You must speak out boldly against those who outrage her Son by making an abuse of her devotion (Fatima Message and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary), and at the same time you must labor to establish this true way of honoring her, but in reward for these little services, you must expect nothing from her, except the happiness of being united through her with Jesus!
What Jesus says (Mary also can rightfully say)
“He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood (Jesus is Mary’s Flesh and Blood!) abideth in me; and I in him.” (Jn. 6:57)
“Abide in Me; and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine (Tree of Life – Mary), so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
“I am the Vine: you the branches. He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without me (Mary) you can do nothing.”
“If anyone abide not in me (in Mary), he shall be cast forth as a branch and shall wither; and they shall gather him up and cast him into the fire; and he burneth.”
“If you abide in me (Mary) and my word abideth in you, you shall ask whatever you will; and it shall be done unto you.”
Prayer: (Collect: Octave day of the Epiphany, 13 Jan, Baptism of Our Lord)
O God, Whose only Begotten Son appeared in the substance of our flesh; grant we beseech Thee that as we confess Him to have been outwardly like unto us, so we may deserve to be inwardly created by Him anew. Who liveth and reigneth, with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Spiritual Reading:Imitation of Christ,
Book 3, Chapter 5,
CHAPTER V Of the wonderful power of the Divine Love
1. I bless Thee, O Heavenly Father, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, for that Thou hast vouchsafed to think of me, poor that I am. O, Father of Mercies and God of all comfort,(1) I give thanks unto Thee, who refreshest me sometimes with thine own comfort, when I am unworthy of any comfort. I bless and glorify Thee continually, with thine only begotten Son and the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, for ever and ever. O Lord God, Holy lover of my soul, when Thou shalt come into my heart, all my inward parts shall rejoice. Thou art my glory and the joy of my heart. Thou art my hope and my refuge in the day of my trouble.
2. But because I am still weak in love and imperfect in virtue, I need to be strengthened and comforted by Thee; therefore visit Thou me often and instruct me with Thy holy ways of discipline. Deliver me from evil passions, and cleanse my heart from all inordinate affections, that, being healed and altogether cleansed within, I may be made ready to love, strong to suffer, steadfast to endure.
3. Love is a great thing, a good above all others, which alone maketh every heavy burden light, and equaliseth every inequality. For it beareth the burden and maketh it no burden, it maketh every bitter thing to be sweet and of good taste. The surpassing love of Jesus impelleth to great works, and exciteth to the continual desiring of greater perfection. Love willeth to be raised up, and not to be held down by any mean thing. Love willeth to be free and aloof from all worldly affection, lest its inward power of vision be hindered, lest it be entangled by any worldly prosperity or overcome by adversity. Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger, nothing loftier, nothing broader, nothing pleasanter, nothing fuller or better in heaven nor on earth,
for love was born of God and cannot rest save in God above all created things.
4. He who loveth flyeth, runneth, and is glad; he is free and not hindered. He giveth all things for all things, and hath all things in all things, because he resteth in One who is high above all, from whom every good floweth and proceedeth. He looketh not for gifts, but turneth himself to the Giver above all good things. Love oftentimes knoweth no measure, but breaketh out above all measure; love feeleth no burden, reckoneth not labours, striveth after more than it is able to do, pleadeth not impossibility, because it judgeth all things which are lawful for it to be possible. It is strong therefore for all things, and it fulfilleth many things, and is successful where he who loveth not faileth and lieth down.
5. Love is watchful, and whilst sleeping still keepeth watch; though fatigued it is not weary, though pressed it is not forced, though alarmed it is not terrified, but like the living flame and the burning torch, it breaketh forth on high and securely triumpheth. If a man loveth, he knoweth what this voice crieth. For the ardent affection of the soul is a great clamour in the ears of God, and it saith: My God, my Beloved! Thou art all mine, and I am all Thine.
6. Enlarge Thou me in love, that I may learn to taste with the innermost mouth of my heart how sweet it is to love, to be dissolved, and to swim in love. Let me be holden by love, mounting above myself through exceeding fervour and admiration. Let me sing the song of love, let me follow Thee my Beloved on high, let my soul exhaust itself in Thy praise, exulting with love. Let me love Thee more than myself, not loving
myself except for Thy sake, and all men in Thee who truly love Thee, as the law of love commandeth which shineth forth from Thee.
7. Love is swift, sincere, pious, pleasant, gentle, strong, patient, faithful, prudent, long−suffering, manly, and never seeking her own; for wheresoever a man seeketh his own, there he falleth from love. Love is circumspect, humble, and upright; not weak, not fickle, nor intent on vain things; sober, chaste, steadfast, quiet, and guarded in all the senses. Love is subject and obedient to all that are in authority, vile and lowly in its own sight, devout and grateful towards God, faithful and always trusting in Him even when God hideth His face, for without sorrow we cannot live in love.
8. He who is not ready to suffer all things, and to conform to the will of the Beloved, is not worthy to be called a lover of God. It behoveth him who loveth to embrace willingly all hard and bitter things for the Beloved's sake, and not to be drawn away from Him because of any contrary accidents.
(1) 2 Corinthians i. 3.
33rd Day (7th Day of the Third Week)
Theme: (4) The Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary
We have come to the end of our preparation of the “Total Consecration.” All our reflections have shown us how beautiful and appropriate is this Consecration. The greatest deed of love here on earth is at the same time most obvious. Let us therefore with a generous heart, consciously and with full freedom perform this consecration which is the only adequate response to the love of God!
Consideration: (Picture for Meditation) the Presentation of Our Lord in the temple. (Luke. 2:22)
THE ESSENCE OF THE PERFECT CONSECRATION TO JESUS CHRIST!
(True Devotion, Nos., 120-125)
(1) A Most Perfect means for our Total Consecration: (120)
“Our perfection consists in union with Jesus. But the most perfect of all devotions (means of Union with Jesus) is that which conforms, unites and consecrates us most completely to Jesus.
“Now of all God’s creatures Mary is the most conformed to Jesus. It therefore follows that, of all the devotions, that which best consecrates and conforms us to Our Lord is devotion to the Blessed Virgin, the perfect model of holiness; and that the more we are consecrated to Mary, the more perfectly we are united with Jesus Christ.
Hence it is clear that the most perfect consecration to Jesus Christ is not other than a perfect and entire consecration of ourselves to the most Blessed Virgin; or in other words, a perfect renewal of the vows and promises of Holy Baptism!
(2) An Entire Belonging to Jesus in Mary: (121)
True Devotion therefore consists in giving ourselves entirely to the Most Blessed Virgin, that through her we may belong entirely to Jesus Christ.
We must give Her:
i) Our body with all its senses and members!
ii) Our soul with all its powers!
iii) Our material possessions and all that we may acquire!
iv) Our interior and spiritual possessions – our merits, our virtues and our good works, past present and future.
In doing so, we must claim and expect no reward other than the honor of belonging to Jesus Christ in Mary!
Anyone who in this way consecrates, and sacrifices himself voluntarily to Jesus through Mary, may no longer dispose of the values (satisfactory and meritorious) of any of his good words; because now all that he suffers, everything of good that he thinks, says or does belongs to Mary! (124)
This belonging or dependence however is without detriment to the obligations of one’s legal state of life now or at any future time. (Mass stipends; conjugal right over body; service to husband, wife, and children; material inheritance etc.)
(3) A Dedication even higher than a Religious Order (122-124)
In this devotion, everything is dedicated and given to Mary – even the right of disposing of interior excellence, and of the satisfactions which we gain daily by good works, this is something which is not done even in a religious order!
In Religious orders, the dedicated monks and nuns give God the goods of fortune through the vow of Poverty, the good of the body through the vow of Chastity, their own will by the vow of Obedience, and their freedom of movement by the Vow of Enclosure. And they do not hand over the right to dispose of the value of their good works, nor do they relinquish completely their own merits and satisfactions.!
But those who make this complete dedication, give all the value of their good actions to Mary, in order that she may dispose of it according to the will of Her Son and for His greater glory!
There are 2 aspects of every good work that we do. The satisfaction and the merit!
1) Satisfaction (Satisfactory and Impetratory Value)
A good action considered from the view point of its making satisfaction for the temporal punishment due to sin (Holy Mass for souls in Purgatory), or from the view point of its obtaining some grace (Prayer for conversion of a sinner)
2) Merit (Meritorious Value)
A good work which wins for us grace and eternal glory (Paying a tribute – alms deeds)
Now we give to Mary all the satisfactions and merits of all our good works, not in order that she may simply distribute them to others, since, strictly speaking, our merits, graces and virtues are inalienable (not transferable) – but that in order that Our Lady may faithfully preserve, augment, and embellish them. All the same we give her the right to communicate them to whomsoever she sees fit, and for the greater glory of God, and that we may not lose them.
(4) A Double Consecration: (125)
Lastly, we consecrate ourselves jointly to the Blessed Virgin and to Jesus Christ.
- To the Blessed Virgin: as to a perfect means which Jesus Himself has chosen to unite Himself with us and to unite us with Him!
- To Our Lord: as to our Last End, to Whom we owe all we are, as to our Saviour and to our God!
(5) An Unique Devotion!
“I have never known or learned of a devotion to the Blessed Virgin like this Total Consecration!”
- This devotion demands of the souls more sacrifices for God!
- This devotion more effectively empties the soul of “Self” and “Self-love”!
- This devotion more faithfully keeps the soul in grace, and keeps grace in the soul!
- This devotion unites the soul more perfectly and more easily with Jesus Christ!
- Finally this devotion renders greater glory to God, is more Sanctifying for the soul, and more helpful to the neighbor!
Many are called but few are Chosen!
As this devotion essentially consists in the interior disposition which it must create (gradually), it will not be understood to an equal extent by everyone.
The vast majority, indeed will, not get beyond the “exterior aspect” of this devotion.
A few will indeed penetrate to its inner reality, but only to the extent of its first stage.
Who will mount to the second stage?
Who will succeed in reaching the third?
Finally, who is he who will live in it as in a permanent state?
He alone will do so whom the Spirit of Jesus will reveal this secret! – “THE TRULY FAITHFUL SOUL”, whom the Holy Ghost Himself will guide to it in order that he may advance from virtue to virtue, from light to light, even to his transformation in Christ Jesus, and to the fullness of His age on earth and of His Glory in Heaven!
Therefore reciting the Act of Consecration and signing it – is not a certificate for assuring the permanent state of Total Consecration. But You can always aspire to be one among the few chosen ones!
Exterior practices particular to “Total Consecration” While the essence of this devotion is its interior nature, there are several relevant exterior practices which should not be neglected. The exterior practices are a great help to interior dispositions.
“So let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)
(1) First Practice: Preparation and Consecration
i) The 33 days preparation as explained in Nos., 227-233.
ii) The Solemn Consecration.
- At the close of the 33 days of preparation, you must receive the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist – with the intention of giving yourselves to Jesus Christ as “slaves of love” by the hands of Mary! (Follow our method of receiving Holy Communion: page No., )
- You must then recite the Formula of your Consecration. You should have a copy of his form of Consecration, and sign it on the Same day as you make the dedication. (Page No., )
- It is advisable that on this day you should make some tribute to Jesus Christ and to the Blessed Virgin, either as a penance, or as an outward sign of your complete dependence on Jesus and Mary (Fast, mortification, alms, candles etc.)
- At least once a year, on the anniversary day, you should renew the same Consecration observing also the same practices during three weeks.
- You should also renew this consecration every month, or even daily, by using the shortest formula: “I am all Thine, and all that I have is Thine, O my Most Amiable Jesus, through Mary, Thy Holy Mother.”
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(2) Second Practice: The Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin (234 -235)
- You should recite EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE the Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin – Consisting of 3 “Our Fathers” and 12 “Hail Marys” in honor of the 12 privileges and splendors of the Blessed Virgin. (Page )
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(3) Third Practice: The wearing of little chains. (236-242)
It is glorious and worthy of high praise, as well as extremely beneficial if you wear – as a sign of your loving bondage – some little chains.
i) These chains are an excellent reminder to us of the chains of sin and the slavery to the devil, from which holy baptism has delivered us; and of the loving bondage to Jesus Christ which we have vowed in Baptism and have later ratified by the renewal of these vows.
ii) These chains are worn to show that we are not ashamed of our slavery and servitude to Jesus Christ, and that we renounce the slavery of the world, of sin, and of the devil.
iii) These chains are worn to safeguard and shield us from the chains (attachments) of sin and of the devil.
“Let us put our feet into glorious fetters and our neck into Her chains.” (Ecclus. 6:25)
How to wear it?
You can wear these chains either on your neck or on your feet or around your waist.
For example: Fr. Vincent Caraffa S.J. (1643) wore an iron band on each leg in token of his slavery.
- Mother Agnes of Jesus used to wear an iron chain around her waist.
- Other holy women have worn it around their neck in penance for the strings of glittering pearls they used to wear in the world.
- Others have worn it on their arms as a constant reminder to them in their manual work, that they were slaves of Jesus Christ.
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(4) Fourth Practice: Honoring the Mystery of the Incarnation (243-248)
- You must cultivate a very great devotion to the tremendous mystery of the Incarnation of the Word (Feast of the Annunciation, March 25)
- The two principal ends of this slavery to Jesus and Mary are attained by this devotion to the Mystery of the Incarnation!
1) To honor and imitate the ineffable dependence upon Mary – which God the Son Himself deigned to accept for the glory of God, His Father, and for our salvation.
2) To thank God for the incomparable graces He has given to Mary, particularly for having chosen her to be His most worthy Mother – a choice which was made in this mystery.
By this devotion we come to know that Jesus and Mary are so intimately united, that Jesus is wholly in Mary and Mary is wholly in Jesus.
(5) The Fifth Practice: The devotion to the Hail Mary and the Rosary. (249-254)
Those who become slaves of Jesus in Mary should cultivate a great devotion to the Hail Mary.
Since the salvation of mankind began through the Hail Mary, the salvation of each individual souls is linked up with this prayer.
There is no more effective way of discovering whether a person is of God, than by enquiring whether he loves to say the Hail Mary and to recite the Rosary.
“I urge you earnestly therefore,” says St. Louis de Montfort, not to be content with reciting the Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin, but also to recite daily five decades of the Rosary – and even the 15 decades, if you have the time to do so.
(6) The Sixth Practice: The Magnificat (255)
The slaves of Jesus in Mary should often recite the Magnificat in thanksgiving to God for the graces He has bestowed on the Blessed Virgin. This is the only prayer which the Blessed Virgin has composed.
The Blessed Virgin herself used to often recite the Magnificat, particularly after Holy Communion, as a prayer of thanksgiving.
(7) The Seventh Practice: Practice of Contempt of the World (256)
We cannot live the Consecration if we do not despise, hate, and shun the world and its corruption.
St. Paul calls us for Unshakeable Fidelity (Rom. 8:32,35,38,39)
“He that spared not even His Own Son, but delivered Him up for us, how hath He not also, with Him, given us all things?”
“Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress or famine or nakedness or persecution or sword?”
“For I am sure that neither death, nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor might.”
“Nor light, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Prayer: (Oration 2 Ember Saturday in Whit Sunday Week: Secret, Whit Monday)
May the Holy Ghost, O Lord, we beseech Thee, enkindle us with that fire, which Our Lord Jesus Christ cast upon the earth and desired exceedingly to be kindled; receive this spiritual victim which we offer up; and make us too an eternal gift to Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is God, and liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
Spiritualal Reading:Imitation of Christ, Book 4, Chapter 9CHAPTER IX That all things are to be referred to God, as the final end
1. "My Son, I must be thy Supreme and final end, if thou desirest to be truly happy. Out of such purpose thy affection shall be purified, which too often is sinfully bent upon itself and upon created things. For if thou seekest thyself in any matter, straightway thou wilt fail within thyself and grow barren. Therefore refer everything to Me first of all, for it is I who gave thee all. So look upon each blessing as flowing from the Supreme Good, and thus all things are to be attributed to Me as their source.
2. "From Me the humble and great, the poor and the rich, draw water as from a living fountain, and those who serve Me with a free and faithful spirit shall receive grace for grace. But he who will glory apart from Me, or will be delighted with any good which lieth in himself, shall not be established in true joy, nor shall be enlarged in heart, but shall be greatly hindered and thrown into tribulation. Therefore thou must not ascribe any good to thyself nor look upon virtue as belonging to any man, but ascribe it all unto God, without whom man hath nothing. I gave all, I will receive all again, and with great strictness require I the giving of thanks.
3. "This is the Truth, and by it the vanity of boasting is put to flight. And if heavenly grace and true charity shall enter into thee, there shall be no envy, nor straitening of the heart, nor shall any self−love take possession of thee. For divine charity conquereth all things, and enlargeth all the powers of the soul. If thou art truly wise, thou wilt rejoice in Me alone, thou wilt hope in Me alone; for there is none good but one, that is God,(1) Who is to be praised above all things, and in all things to receive blessing."
(1) Luke xviii. 19.
THE END
