Marian Consecration 

When I was in my last year of seminary, something significant happened to my spiritual life.  A friend gave me the book: 33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration by Fr. Michael Gaitley. I had always known that the Blessed Mother was important. But I don’t think I had a real devotion to her beyond my daily recitation of the rosary, which I often found difficult and dry. My friend told me that this book had completely transformed his relationship with Mary, and suggested I give it a try. 

Fr. Gaitley is a member of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, a community that runs the Divine Mercy Shrine in Stockbridge, MA. He explains that the book’s title, “Morning Glory,” refers to how “the act of consecrating oneself to Jesus through Mary marks the beginning of a gloriously new day, a new dawn, a brand-new morning in one’s spiritual journey. It’s a fresh start, and it changes everything.” Some may express concern about Marian Consecration, mistakenly thinking it elevates the Blessed Mother at the expense of Christ. But authentic Marian devotion can only bring us closer to Jesus. That is its whole point. In the history of our salvation, God gave Mary a role of enormous importance.  He deemed it most fitting that Our Savior receive His human nature and enter the world through her consent. Thus, we say that Jesus comes to us through Mary. But her role does not end with Jesus’ birth. Rather, as He was dying on the cross, Our Lord entrusted us to His Mother’s care, as He said to His disciple who was standing with her at the foot of the cross, “Behold, your Mother,” and to Mary, “Behold, your son.” Fr. Gaitley explains: “From the time she first said yes to being the mother of Jesus until the end of time, Mary’s task is to give spiritual birth to Christians, to feed and nurture them with grace, and to help them grow to full stature in Christ. In short, Mary’s job is to help us grow in holiness.” By consecrating ourselves to her, we give her permission to perform the great task given to her by God, to bring us closer to and help us be more like her Son – and her Lord – Jesus. Thus, we say that we go to Jesus through her. 

On December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, we will offer to anyone interested the opportunity to consecrate themselves to Mary after the 5:30pm Mass.  In the four weeks leading up to the feast day, we will enter the traditional 33-day period of preparation using Fr. Gaitley’s book.  Of all the preparation manuals I’ve seen, I find his to be the most helpful because instead of long litany prayers, he spends four weeks (plus 5 review days) focusing on the Marian insights of four great saints – St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Mother Teresa, and St. John Paul II.  Although it is not necessary to participate in the preparation period to consecrate oneself to Our Lady on 12/8, it’s highly recommended if you want to understand what it means to do so.  And though the book is written to be accessible, it’s not necessarily the easiest thing to understand without help. So, each Saturday morning leading up to 12/8, either me or Fr. Mariusz will be available after the 8am Mass at St. Gabriel Church to answer questions about the previous week’s readings.  The parish has ordered 20 copies of the book, which we will make available for $15/each, while supplies last. You can reserve a copy by calling the parish office, and we will provide the copy to you on Saturday morning, 11/4. Or, if you prefer, you can order a copy for yourself. The book is also available on Kindle.  

The schedule of the meetings, which are completely optional, will be as follows: 11/4 (introduction & book pick-up), 11/11 (St. Louis de Montfort), 11/18 (St. Maximilian Kolbe), 11/25 (St. Mother Teresa), 12/2 (St. John Paul II). The consecration will take place on 12/8.