What is the Total Consecration of St. Louis de Montfort?

“Here is a secret, chosen soul, which the most High God taught me and which I have not found in any book, ancient or modern. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, I am confiding it to you, with these conditions:

“That you share it only with people who deserve to know it, that you use this secret to become holy and worthy of heaven, and that you thank God every day of your life for the grace he has given you in letting you into a secret that you do not deserve to know.”

From the opening of The Secret of Mary, by St. Louis-Marie de Montfort

Because water washes, baptism forgives sins

1^st Sunday of Lent, I Peter 3:18-22

[The Flood] prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body, but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

During the season of Lent the Church militant joins with those to be baptized at the Easter Vigil in contemplating the mystery of the sacrament of baptism. Lent is a time for a renewal of our baptismal vows and a rekindling of the grace that was given us in the sacrament.

Thus, we must consider what it is that happened in our own baptism. To this end, the Church gives us to read from the First Letter of St. Peter, in which the waters of baptism are compared to the waters of the flood. Further, the Vicar of Christ speaks of the bodily washing effected through water, and the spiritual washing brought about through baptism.

If Christ could not sin, how was he tempted in the desert?

1^st Sunday of Lent, Mark 1:12-15

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan.

We know that Jesus was truly tempted in the desert, for such is the teaching of Sacred Scripture. And yet, it should be clear that Our Savior could not – he simply could not – sin. The Lord Jesus is impeccable, he cannot sin.

If the Church teaches that Jesus could not possibly sin, in what sense can we affirm that he was tempted in the desert?

L.A. Times reporter promotes Total Consecration for Lent

Sometimes it seems that the media is dead set against the Church, and then you come across an article like this one [“Lent 2012 offers a rare way to honor Mary and Jesus at the same time”, here], written by L.A. Times staff writer Rene Lynch.

Referring to the rare circumstances which allow the preparation for the Total Consecration to begin on Ash Wednesday, concluding on the Solemnity of the Annunciation (this year, March 26^th), the article states, “Christians can use this year's Lent to also follow in the footsteps of St. Louis-Marie de Montfort. He was a French priest known for his deep commitment to Mary, and came up with a series of short prayers and spiritual practices to honor her called the Total Consecration.”

Let us all offer a prayer of gratitude to the Good Lord for spreading this devotion. Also, say a prayer for Rene Lynch and for all who read her article, that the grace of Christ given through Mary will indeed make this their best Lent ever.

Join the Total Consecration page on Facebook [here].

Also, [here] is a how-to guide for making the Total Consecration this Lent, together with prayers for the first twelve days.

How to make the Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, Lent 2012

The Total Consecration is principally an interior devotion – it does not consist primarily in the recitation of many prayers, but in offering all that we do to Jesus through his Mother. Jesus has given us all things, including himself, through Mary; let us then give to this same Jesus all things, including ourselves, through Mary!

However, St. Louis-Marie de Montfort directs us to prepare for this act of Total Consecration with thirty-three days of short prayers and spiritual practices. By a unique set of circumstances, this preparation period begins this year on Ash Wednesday (February 22^nd) in order to make the consecration on the Solemnity of the Annunciation (this year, March 26^th) – for more about this rare parallel between the beginning of Lent and the preparation for the Total Consecration, see our earlier article [here].

In this article, we will consider what exactly we do in these preparation days. What prayers do I say each day, starting on Ash Wednesday, in order to unite this Lent with the Total Consecration?

Also, consider joining with others in the Total Consecration through Facebook [here].

Make this your best Lent ever, with St. Louis de Montfort

The season of Lent is meant to be a time of a great renewal in our baptismal vows. As the catechumens prepare to enter fully into the Church at the Easter Vigil, all of Christ’s faithful take this time as an opportunity to renew the grace of our own baptism.

Happily, this is precisely the goal of St. Louis-Marie de Montfort’s “Total Consecration” to Jesus through Mary. We have a unique opportunity this year to unite our Lenten devotion with the Total Consecration, since (on account of the rarest of circumstances) the thirty-three day preparation period for the consecration begins on February 22^nd, Ash Wednesday.

The Total Consecration has only fit together with the beginning of Lent twelve times since de Montfort’s death, and it will not happen again until 2075. Hence, this is truly a most rare opportunity for us to consecrate this Lent to Jesus through Mary.

Please spread the word through Facebook [here]!

Consecrate this Lent to Jesus through Mary, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort recommended a particular method of consecrating oneself wholly and entirely to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary and, through Mary, to Jesus our Savior. This method includes thirty-three days of preparation, followed by the act of consecration itself. St. Louis de Montfort most especially recommends that this consecration be made on the feast of the Annunciation, though other days are also acceptable.

This Lent provides us with a most rare opportunity to consecrate ourselves to Mary according to de Montfort’s method. Due to highly exceptional circumstances, one could begin the preparation this year on Ash Wednesday (February 22) and complete the consecration on the feast of the Annunciation (this year, March 26). What a wonderful way to make this our best Lent ever! (to consider why Lent is a perfect time to make the total consecration, please see our short article [here])