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