Total Consecration-March 25, 2014

Dear Sisters,
Our Lady took my hand and led me through to the Feast of the Annunciation where I gave myself to her.  I willingly follow her promptings now, and they always lead me to her baby.

I'd been sick almost the entire consecration period.  After chest x-ray, blood drawn, two rounds of antibiotics and steroids, the doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong.  Only1HolySpirit, pointed out that she thought my illness was a sort of purge of all the stuff that I needed to shed before the consecration.  It makes a lot of sense as I've been healthy since I made the consecration.

I decided that I needed to do the consecration at a mass where I could take my time in prayer.  As I had to work that day, the options at our local parish were not right for this important step in my faith journey.  But thank God for St. Tim's.  Our Lady's Prayer Group meets there every Tuesday night at 7PM to say the Rosary, the Chaplet and a mass. This fit in perfectly with my plans.  I opted to leave the house at 6PM so that I could have time to say the final prayers and to sign the consecration document.  I was listening to Immaculate Heart Radio and Mother Angelica's show taped sometime in the 90's came on.  She talked about her own consecration to Our Lady on this very day so many years before.  Tears came to my eyes as I realized that I was making my consecration on the same day that this living saint had made hers.  From now on I will share this anniversary with Mother Angelica.  Imagine that!  But really it's even better than that...
Early in the consecration process, I realized that the Feast of the Annunciation is also the day that Louis de Montfort made his own consecration.  I had picked this Marian feast as my own consecration day without realizing it's significance.  God is GREAT!!

A mass of clouds followed me all the way to the church.  It looked like a dust storm was brewing.  I got out of the car and went to the Rosary project that a friend of mine's son did for his Eagle project.  It's gorgeous. He got an artist to paint the pictures of the different meditations.  As you walk the rosary path, you have ten stepping stones for each Hail Mary and then you stop at the the meditation for that day.  It is so well done.

Entering the church is always impactful.  The mural takes your breath when you first see it again.  How beautiful is the representation of our brothers and sisters in the faith!  I asked them to pray for me and I made the final vows of consecration and signed the book.

The night was wonderful and during mass, Father asked if anyone was doing their consecration and I raised my hand.  Some of the people there were celebrating the anniversary of their consecration.  An all around wonderful night.

I feel like a child again, looking to my Mother for guidance, love, safety and example.  She is so beautiful and so loving and so very patient with her children.  And all of you are my sisters under her mantle.  We image her and emulate her by giving birth to Jesus in our hearts.

Mother,
I give myself to you.
Help me to use my feminine genius to its fullest in my work, family,and friendships.
Take my hand each day and lead me to your son.
Let me work to please Him always.
I am grateful to you for your love and guidance.
Tuus Totus

Total Consecration

Dear Sisters,

What a lovely journey I've taken during this lent!  I have a wonderful tour guide in St. Louis de Montfort. He's brought me through the heights of my conceit, the valley of my selfishness and through the bog of my laziness.  He brought me to a mirror where I was shown who I can be...a beautiful image that I yearn to become. God loves me so much; I am humbled and like a small child who knows that if they hold up their arms that their papa will pick them up and hold them close to their heart, I tuck myself into a small little bundle and fling myself into Mary's arms.  She holds me tight, rocks me and hands me over to Jesus.  Can there be greater bliss?

I am in Week Two: Knowledge of Mary.  The captions reads;

 Mary must be known and openly revealed by the Holy Spirit so that Jesus may be known and loved through her.-St, Louis de Montfort

The question today is; Christ goes so far as to share even his Mother with us so that she might be our Mother as well. What does it mean for you to have Mary as your Mother?

I am so struck today by the way that Jesus holds nothing back for himself.  He gave us his body, his blood, he shares his divinity by offering us his Father as "Our Father" and he even shares his Mother with us from the cross.  Total giving born of total love. 

I know that we are all familiar with the natural little jealousies that happen between siblings in regards to their parents.  When my kids were young and I was speaking to one of them, sometimes the other child would put her little hands on my face and turn my attention, literally, to them instead.  That natural 'look at me!' instinct is strong and needs an act of detachment and love of another to be overcome.  

No one knows Jesus' ways more than His dear Mama.  We can learn so much from Mary who lived a hidden life with Jesus and is still by His side.  As I give myself to Mary, I ask her to show me how to die to self so that Jesus can live through me.  I ask Mary to show me how to give birth to Jesus in my heart.  I ask her to keep me close so that I might not stray.  I ask her to show me how to please Jesus. I ask her to help me be a true helpmate to my spouse and a loving mother to my children. It occurs to me that having Mary as my mother is the surest way to permanent union with God's family.

As my Mother, she introduces me to her other children, the saints that have gone before.  She can send her children to us to teach us different lessons that we need to learn.  How beautiful to learn contemplation form Teresa of Avila, or courage from Joan of Arc, or knowledge of scripture from St. Paul... She can help me on my journey sending her sons and daughters, my brothers and sisters in faith to me.  As my earthly mother had my brothers and sisters help me in various ways; my brother taught me to ride a bike, my sister helped me with homework, my other sister would feed me when I was a baby, etc. our Mother Mary will likewise send helpers my way so that I stay on the narrow path.  And of course, she will always point the way to THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE-JESUS!!

Dear Mother,

I put myself in your loving hands.  Consider me your little child.  Teach me Mother that I may learn the way to please Jesus.  I too want to give birth to Him in my life...show me the way.