Consecration to Jesus Through Mary
(Also called “Marian Consecration” or “Entrustment to)
What is Consecration to Jesus through Mary?
Consecration to Jesus is an absolutely beautiful exercise to increase your spirituality and ability to truly serve our Lord Jesus Christ. The basic premise set forth by St. Louis Marie de Montfort is simply that Jesus came into the world through Mary and that for us to always be assured of being close to Jesus, even closer than ever before, we should go through Mary.
Consecration means to set aside for a sacred purpose. Mary’s life was set aside for the sole purpose of serving our Lord. By following her example, we, too, can completely give ourselves to Christ in a fundamental way that consecrates us to Him. We give our lives to Him in service and love. We consecrate ourselves in order to be more devoted to the Lord and His Blessed Mother. It helps us grow in holiness and increase our faith, hope, and love. There are many different methods of Consecration from simple prayers to a month+ long process with readings and reflections. The overall goal is to a time of prayerful focus on drawing closer to Jesus than ever before.
An easy gesture, especially during the month of May, is to start every morning with a prayer of Consecration to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary – which can be prayed even if you have never been through a method or program of consecration.
There are many different types of prayers that would fit, including:
My Queen and my Mother, I give myself entirely to you;
and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes,
my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve.
Wherefore, good Mother, as I am your own,
keep me, guard me, as your property and possession.
Amen.
Or this one by St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa):
“Mary, give me your heart: so beautiful, so pure so immaculate; your Heart so full of love and humility that I May be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love Him as you love Him and serve Him in the distressing guise of the poor.”
Check out these popular methods/programs for Consecration:
True Devotion to Mary with Preparation for Total Consecration by St. Louis de Montfort
St. Louis de Montfort is well-known for his devotion to Mary and his “Total Consecration” is really the main method for consecration and what many newer processes use as inspiration and research. This is a beautiful, deep, prayerful, and, some may say, intense look into Marian devotion and consecration. If you have completed consecration using other methods, such as the somewhat “easier” “33 Days to Morning Glory,” and are interested in renewing your consecration, this would be an excellent book/program to try next. The Catholic Company has great resources, linked HERE. Or, you may be able to find all the resources you need, including the readings from the book online, at fisheaters.com, linked HERE.
33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC – https://watch.formed.org/33-days-to-morning-glory-1
Videos by Fr. Michael Gaitley and the Retreat Companion workbook are available on Formed. You would only need to borrow or purchase the “33 Days to Morning Glory” book or e-book. We just had a group from St. Gabriel and St. Bridget complete Consecration to Jesus through Mary through the 33 Days to Morning Glory process together in 2019, but this is something you can do on your own at any time. Picking a Marian Feast Day as your Consecration Day is a recommended idea and then Starting 34 days before. This is a great introduction to Marian Consecration if you are not familiar.
