Every year for the past 12, I have begun the Consecration according to St Louis Marie de Monfort on November 5 to renew my “vow” on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It’s a wonderful way to approach Advent. It’s always refreshing spiritually and I find some new nugget for pondering over and meditating upon each year.
I do not take these 33 days lightly because it is a great devotion for deepening commitment to my baptismal vows and living them faithfully. This Marian spirituality suits me as I have always had a devotion to the rosary since I received my first one at the age of seven. The rosary has always been for me a powerful weapon against temptation and evil in my life.
So what’s the Total Consecration about? It’s divided into four sections. The first 12 days are for emptying oneself of all attachments to the Spirit of the World. The second seven days are for growing in our Knowledge of Ourselves. During the next seven days, we concentrate on getting to know Mary better so that we can better serve Jesus through her. Finally, in the fourth section, it is time to deepen our relationship with Jesus through her. Each day contains a reading and prayer. Some of the prayers are “Veni Creator,” Ave Maris Stella,” “The Magnificat,” “The Litany of the Holy Ghost,” “The Litany of the Blessed Virgin,” and, of course, the Rosary.
To learn more go to My Consecration and order your materials to make your consecration. The next one begins on November 29 to end on January 1. You will be glad you did.
Ave, maris stella,
Dei Mater alma,
Atque semper virgo,
Felix coeli porta.
Sumens illud
Ave Gabrielis ore,
Funda nos in pace,
Mutans Evae nomen.
Solve vinyl reis,
Profer lumen caecis,
Mala nostra pelle,
Bona cuncta posce.
Monstra te esse matrem,
Sumat per te preces,
Qui pro nobis natus,
Tulit esse tuus.
Virgo singularis,
Inter omnes mitis,
Nos culpis solutos
Mites fac et castos.
Vitam praesta puram,
Iter pare tutum;
Ut videntes Jesum,
Semper collaetemur.
Sit laus Deo Patri,
Summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto,
Tribus honor unus. Amen.
Copyright (c) 1997 EWTN Online Services.
Dr. Linda L. Powell 