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Kayla
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Posted: Sun Jan 27th, 2008 01:36 am |
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Has anyone here made a consecration to the Blessed Mother, either through Louis De Montfront or Maximilian Kolbe?
I am a part of the Militia Immaculata here on campus and the yearly renewal of consecration and consecration of those who are willing is quickly approaching.
I don't think I am going to make a consecration, not this year at least. But I am eager to hear from anyone who has made a consecration and how that has affected their spiritual lives.
____________________
I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.
Jesus, I trust in You!
There's not a lot of job security for us after death. I suppose that's one advantage of being a philosopher. - Peter Kreeft
http://kayla23mount.blogspot.com/
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Ali
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Posted: Tue Jan 29th, 2008 02:50 pm |
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Can you expand on this a little more, Kayla. What all is involved and what does it mean for you if you are consecrated?
Thanks,
Ali
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setapart
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Posted: Wed Mar 19th, 2008 04:26 am |
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Kayla,
Here is a link concerning consecration. I am just looking into this consecration myself and I feel that I am being drawn to commit to this. At my parish there is a Legion of Mary which involves a consecration and works of charity among others. The Legion was founded by Frank Duff of Ireland.
http://www.marys-touch.com/history/consecration.htm
____________________
But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. Mal 4:2
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Kayla
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Posted: Mon Mar 31st, 2008 07:20 pm |
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Well, I've been doing a lot of discerning about this lately, as the consecration ceremony is to be tonight. Here's kind of what I've been thinking:
I love Mary. I love how God has incoprorated her into His Divine plan of Salvation. I even like the idea of consecration in the sense of entrusting myself completely to her. It's very beautiful, really. Allowing her to guide me as my mother.
But here is where I struggle... I do not feel as though I need be a "slave of the Immaculata" or her "knight", as St. Maximillian Kolbe says. I do not feel that I ought to dedicated my entire life to doing the Immaculata's will (although, I agree, her will is not and will not be contrary to God's). That everything I do ought to be through Mary and for Mary. While I do not doubt this as an invalid way of doing something, because I do see how it can and does glorify God... I do not see why I ought to. Why it is the best way. I can seek out God's will through an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. I see Mary as being a great helper to growing near to Christ, even as necessary...
Buut. What I see for myself (and I mean this in a prayerful way) is to be devoted to Christ in a personal, intimate level as well as a public, outward level. I see myself being devoted to Mary, on the other hand, in a personal, intimate level-- but not on a public, outward level. And all I mean by this is that: Yes, I desire to entrust myself into Mary's care. I know that she will take care of me and lead me always towards Christ. And I know that she will be on the lookout to protect me (like she was at the Wedding Feast at Cana), and that in hard times I can always turn to her. But I see this as a very "quiet" part of my spirituality. It is not something I am going to incorporate... I can't think of the proper word, but... publicly, outwardly. I am not going to think to myself, what is the Immaculata's will for me in this situation? I am not going to think to myself, Mary, Immaculata, I do this for you. I suppose I would say that my devotion or consecration to Mary seems to me to be more passive than active, if that makes any sense whatsoever. I think that's better than trying to use public or outward.
I do not have an active Marian devotion. I am not going to actively look and seek and devote myself to her, as I do with Jesus. It is very passive, it is very meek, it is very humble. Simply this: Mary, I entrust myself to your care because I know that you will not lead me astray, rather only closer to my Jesus. Keep me in your protection as I seek out Christ, as I do my best to live my life as a disciple. Let me see you as the perfect example to this life, and help me to follow in your footsteps.
Does this make sense? The difference I am trying to make clear, here? I guess it is basically this: I am seeking out Christ and asking and trusting the Blessed Virgin to help me. What it seems to me that St. Maximillian Kolbe teaches is: Seek out the Blessed Virgin, because through her will you assuredly find Christ.
I do not find the latter to be wrong. But. I don't know. I think that I am more called towards the first. And maybe there's not a huge difference between the two, maybe even no difference at all. At any rate, it will require more discernment, I think. So I won't be consecrating myself publicly this year.
____________________
I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.
Jesus, I trust in You!
There's not a lot of job security for us after death. I suppose that's one advantage of being a philosopher. - Peter Kreeft
http://kayla23mount.blogspot.com/
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CajunRick
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Posted: Mon Mar 31st, 2008 07:49 pm |
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Kayla wrote: I do not have an active Marian devotion.
Kayla, you answered your own question. Just as you would not marry a man who was a stranger, you should not consecrate yourself to Mary if you are not already "intimately involved" with her in your prayer life.
There is no need for Marian consecration, and there is no hurry. Just tell them you're not ready yet. They will understand. Then, after a few years as a Catholic, you may well develop an active Marian devotion and revisit the question.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Kayla
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Posted: Mon Mar 31st, 2008 08:18 pm |
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Kayla, you answered your own question. Just as you would not marry a man who was a stranger, you should not consecrate yourself to Mary if you are not already "intimately involved" with her in your prayer life.
See, that's the thing. I do indeed have a relationship with Mary and this is definitely part of my prayer life. So, Mary is anything but a stranger to me. But, my difficulty is arising in the spirituality of the consecration; at least what I have seen of it. I love the entrustment to Mary, but not necessarily the "seeking to do the Immaculata's will" or dedicating everything I do to Mary.
By saying that I do not have an active devotion to Mary is not to say that I do not have a devotion to her at all. But that it's more... passive... I do not know how else to word it, really.
So, yeah. But I agree. Perhaps this is something for the future. But not something for right now.
____________________
I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.
Jesus, I trust in You!
There's not a lot of job security for us after death. I suppose that's one advantage of being a philosopher. - Peter Kreeft
http://kayla23mount.blogspot.com/
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Intercessor
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Posted: Mon Mar 31st, 2008 11:32 pm |
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Kayla,
I understand what you are saying. It makes sense to me.
A very wise priest told me that it is easy to begin assuming that all Catholics think a certain way when one's exposure is limited to a certain group of Catholics. We can fail to realize, or we can forget, that there are, within Catholicism, many different kinds of spirituality, equally valid and equally in harmony with the teachings of the Magisterium.
Becky
Last edited on Tue Apr 1st, 2008 01:19 am by Intercessor
____________________
"The perfection of a soul may be measured by the degree to which it does the will of God, and finds its happiness in doing it.... O my God,...the only thing necessary is Your holy will," Divine Intimacy, pp. 15-16 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
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CajunRick
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Posted: Mon Mar 31st, 2008 11:41 pm |
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Kayla wrote:
By saying that I do not have an active devotion to Mary is not to say that I do not have a devotion to her at all. But that it's more... passive... I do not know how else to word it, really.
Continuing the boyfriend analogy, a consecration to Mary is a lifetime commitment you're just not ready to make. It's like getting married -- or joining the Church. If you feel you're not ready, you're not. It's like, if you have to ask the question, you've already answered it yourself. This is not something that you should feel any pressure or reservation to do. You will know when the time is right, and Mary will still be there.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
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setapart
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 12:58 am |
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Rick wrote:
"Continuing the boyfriend analogy, a consecration to Mary is a lifetime commitment you're just not ready to make. It's like getting married -- or joining the Church. If you feel you're not ready, you're not. It's like, if you have to ask the question, you've already answered it yourself. This is not something that you should feel any pressure or reservation to do. You will know when the time is right, and Mary will still be there."
From what I understand, many of the devotions either originating from apparitions or from individual saints are what are part of private revelation and we as Catholics are not bound by them; e'.g. I read that St. Catherine of Siena seems to have claimed Our Lady appeared to her and denied the Immaculate Conception. Thus we are warned to carefully approach private revelation.
I agree that there is a progression with achieving understanding of Church teachings especially when it relates to devotion to Mary and the Saints.
I am assuming that you, Rick, have made that consecration, correct me if I am wrong.
Am I right in saying that devotion to Mary and the Saints is optional for Catholics as long as we accept the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Mary and profess from the heart the Communion of Saints?
Although I have not progressed, per se, to the level of a consecration to Mary and giving my all to her, I feel uncomfortable with the idea that this is state of spiritual growth and understanding that we can grow or mature into. Since if I am correct, the whole concept of Marian Consecration derives from private revelation, it should not be held above what is termed Public Revelation as revealed in Scripture and Tradition.
We are called be keep our lamps burning so that we can be ready for the coming of our Bridegroom, who is Jesus. Mary is part of the bride who herself was made ready by God's grace. So the analogy of preparing for a wedding would not be the best application to use here. I know that asking our Mother for her help and graces will play a part in our being ready.
So the big question is: Is consecration to Mary a part of private revelation? If so, is it that important enough to have to "grow into a more mature devotion to our Mother", when, in the end the goal is to be Christ-like and to make heaven our home.
God Bless,
Bill
____________________
But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. Mal 4:2
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Intercessor
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 01:37 am |
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Among Pentecostals there is sometimes an unfortunate tendency to assess the spiritual maturity and progress of another by asking, "Do you speak in tongues?"
Among Baptists there is sometimes an unfortunate tendency to assess the spiritual maturity and progress of another by asking, "Do you attend services on Sunday night and Wednesday night and participate in church visitation and teach Sunday School and sing in the choir?"
As a Catholic I hope to avoid assessing the spiritual maturity and progress of another by asking, "Have you done the Marian consecration yet?"
It is my understanding that some communities and orders and parishes really push it. Some do not. So there are devout, scholarly, orthodox Catholic theologians and priests who have differing views on this practice, if my understanding is correct.
____________________
"The perfection of a soul may be measured by the degree to which it does the will of God, and finds its happiness in doing it.... O my God,...the only thing necessary is Your holy will," Divine Intimacy, pp. 15-16 Father Gabriel, O.C.D.
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CajunRick
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 01:44 am |
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setapart wrote: I am assuming that you, Rick, have made that consecration, correct me if I am wrong.
Consider yourself corrected. Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel is quite common in my area, but I have not accepted consecration to any Marian devotion. I have accepted my Lord Jesus as my personal Savior, however. I do pray the rosary and participate in other devotions to Mary and various saints, but not as a matter of consecration. In other words, I have chosen not to focus my devotion in any manner other than to Jesus, but that is a personal choice. I do not discount the importance of consecration to Mary, Divine Mercy, Sacred Heart, etc., for those who find that helpful to their faith journey.
Am I right in saying that devotion to Mary and the Saints is optional for Catholics as long as we accept the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Mary and profess from the heart the Communion of Saints?
Yes.
Although I have not progressed, per se, to the level of a consecration to Mary and giving my all to her, I feel uncomfortable with the idea that this is state of spiritual growth and understanding that we can grow or mature into. Since if I am correct, the whole concept of Marian Consecration derives from private revelation, it should not be held above what is termed Public Revelation as revealed in Scripture and Tradition.
You are correct. Some people are drawn to Marian devotion, and for those people, consecration to Mary can help them in their faith journey. Others find a true path to salvation in devotion to Jesus as Divine Mercy, or as the Sacred Heart. Each should follow the path that suits them the best, but no one should choose a devotion because of external pressure or expectations. Such a consecration should be part of a sincere acceptance that it is that person's true path to salvation, and it should be a lifetime commitment. It can be extremely valuable for those who are so inclined, as can a commitment to Cursillio or Charismatic expression. All valid expressions of faith are welcome in the Catholic Church. Each person should choose his or her own best path to Christ.
So the analogy of preparing for a wedding would not be the best application to use here.
I was not using the analogy of preparing for a wedding, but using marriage as an example of a lifetime commitment. A consecration is a lifetime commitment whether it is to Mary or to a husband. The doubts Kayla expressed indicate to me she is not ready for that type of commitment, as it would indicate she would not be ready for a sacramental marriage commitment.
So the big question is: Is consecration to Mary a part of private revelation? If so, is it that important enough to have to "grow into a more mature devotion to our Mother", when, in the end the goal is to be Christ-like and to make heaven our home.
But you missed the point. I am not suggesting that growing in her commitment to Mary is a better path to Christ, only that such a decision is necessary before a commitment to a Marian devotion (or a devotion to the Sacred Heart, or Divine Mercy) makes sense. It is definitely part of private revelation and it is not a required portion of our faith, but it is a "better path to Christ" for some people. If later in life, Kayla finds that a commitment to Christ is the better path for her, then a consecration will make sense. At this point, in my opinion, it does not.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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setapart
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Posted: Thu Apr 3rd, 2008 01:29 am |
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Thank you, Rick for your reply. You explained yourself well and answered my questions.
Rick quoted:
I have accepted my Lord Jesus as my personal Savior, however. I do pray the rosary and participate in other devotions to Mary and various saints, but not as a matter of consecration. In other words, I have chosen not to focus my devotion in any manner other than to Jesus, but that is a personal choice. I do not discount the importance of consecration to Mary, Divine Mercy, Sacred Heart, etc., for those who find that helpful to their faith journey.
This is exactly how I am in my walk with God. I do try to say the Rosary every day and I have had some tremendous times of devotion while praying it.
I am very grateful for this forum because it gives me an opportunity to verify some of the thoughts or views that I amy have toward things of the Kingdom which is His Church.
As every day passes by I am ever more grateful for the Lord calling me back home to the Fullness of Truth revealed in the Church that Jesus established.
This is especially so when I can attend daily Mass as much as I could.
May God continue to bless you, Rick, and may you continue to bear much fruit.
YBIC,
Bill
____________________
But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. Mal 4:2
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brian
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Posted: Fri Apr 4th, 2008 04:43 pm |
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This devotion also made me and in some ways still makes me uncomfortable. But it helped to read a few paragraphs explaining that of course it is actually consecration to Jesus through Mary. That this is to be understood. Or somehow the writier clarified what exactly is meant.
I think I have a fairly decent devotion to Our Lady (of course it could be stronger), but I am very thankful for her role and intercession in my life. I guess I am still uncomfortable saying some things to her that I would typically only have said to Jesus in the past. I am not sure why I worry because theologically Catholics believe in Jesus as our only true savior so any wordings that make me uncomfortable actually are quite acceptable put in their context.
Sorry I am rambling.
But I guess that I will say that I feel more comortable asking Mary for help and guidance and wisdom and motherly care, but directly considering myself as committed to Christ. But I do not think Marian consecration means a person is not committed more to Christ, it is just a way of trusting that larger commitment through the Blessed Virgin's care. It is not as if consecration to her is in lieu of Jesus or a different plan of salvation.
But I do think it is ok to wait, or just tell Mary why and what you are comfortable with and tell her that as your mother you do want her guidance and to always do what would make her most proud of you, which is adherence to her son.
I will say that while not comfortable with a certain formal public consecration (especially when I know in my heart that my devotion still exists) I have attempted to consecrate various activities and relationships to the Blessed Virgin's care. You might want to try this on your path. Unless that would be seen as a bad thing. Like not having faith so needing a test. But there is one important relationship in my life that I have sort of consecrated to Jesus through the Blessed Virgin. I have said, Mary I consecrate this situation to you (or to Jesus through you) and all the places it may go and developments etc.
I do not want to get to personal as to what it was, but the results thus far have been better than I could have expected and I think (hope) God is being glorified in the situation. If anyone wants more info send me a P.M.
Brian
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Ali
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Posted: Tue Apr 8th, 2008 02:02 pm |
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brian wrote:
But I guess that I will say that I feel more comortable asking Mary for help and guidance and wisdom and motherly care,
Oh, trust me as a Mother when I say, there has been more than once that I have asked Mary for her patience while I was dealing with difficult children. Ok, maybe not so much difficult children. More like I was being difficult and my kids were acting out in response to it. But I have asked for her help and guidance in that arena to be sure.
Ali
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Didi
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Posted: Tue Apr 8th, 2008 07:05 pm |
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Our family has been consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary:
http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/heart/heart1.htm
The Feast of the Sacred Heart is 19 days after Pentecost. Many Churches have a special Mass for this consecration, and you can bring images of the Sacred Heart and Immaculate heart to be blessed.
It is just another way to dedicate your life and your family to God. We have the images in our living room where we see them every day and are reminded that our family is devoted to Jesus and Mary.
I do understand that it's not for everybody and as someone stated earlier, there are so many ways to practice our spiritualities or to have special devotions to particular saints or manners of prayer, etc.
I think it's good, Kayla, that you are thinking about this seriously and not just "going through the motions." Maybe God will be calling you to something else this next year!
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Credo Catholic
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Posted: Tue Apr 8th, 2008 10:17 pm |
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| When Rosalind Moss was on the Journey Home Monday night, she said when she first prayed to Mary, she began by apologizing to Mary if it was wrong to pray to her instead of to her son, and Rosalind prayed also to Jesus to apologize if it was wrong to pray to His mother instead of Him. I chuckled a little because I have done the same thing. I pray to Mary for intercession on my or someone else's behalf. I know she is queen of heaven, and always near her son. She told the wedding party at Cana to do whatever her son told them, not what she told them. She wants Him to have all the glory, as it should be. As a mother I totally understand that. However, I can understand a devotion to Mary. Suppose there were a few women, or men, after the death of Jesus, who devoted themselves to caring for Mary, doing her bidding, protecting her. I guess they may have been consecrated in that way to Mary. I feel a great affection for her and trust in her love and nurturing of us all.
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