Prayers for the "second week" of the preparation for the Total Consecration

On Monday, March 12^th, we begin the “second week” of the preparation for the Total Consecration according to the method of St. Louis-Marie de Montfort. During this week, we seek a knowledge of Mary.

Now is the time when the preparation begins explicitly to take on the specific Marian spirit which characterizes de Montfort’s consecration.

How many times did Jesus cleanse the Temple?

3^rd Sunday of Lent, John 2:13-25

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area.

We all know of the story of Jesus cleansing the Temple, when he casts out those selling animals and overturns the tables of the money-changers. We all know that this happened in the final week of his life (in fact, the day after Palm Sunday), and that this was the event which set the Jewish authorities wholly against our Savior.

What we might not all know is that this is not the cleansing of the Temple which we heard about in this past Sunday’s Gospel. The sequence from the Gospel of St. John tells of the first cleansing of the Temple which occurred very early in our Savior’s public ministry – two full years before his death.

Know thyself, you are like a boat

Many of the spiritual doctors, most notably St. Teresa of Avila, emphasize that spiritual growth must begin with knowledge of self.

However, this “self-knowledge” is not quite what we think of today. When the spiritual doctors tell us to “know thyself”, they are not principally meaning that we must learn our personal strengths and weaknesses (though, of course, it is very important to recognize our principal vice), but they are rather directing us toward knowledge of the human condition. “Self-knowledge” refers, first and foremost, to an understanding of the human soul, the faculties, the virtues (and vices), the gifts of the Holy Spirit, etc.

It seems to us that most errors which priests make in giving spiritual direction stem from a lack of understanding of the human person. Indeed, the Doctor of Prayer (i.e. Avila) says that most errors early on in the spiritual life come from a lack of self-knowledge.

St. Thomas Aquinas, Master of the Sacred Page

March 7^th, 1274 – The Angel of the Schools, completing his earthly pilgrimage, is born to his eternal reward

St. Thomas Aquinas, the Common and Angelic Doctor, once called the Dumb Ox, is known today primarily as a dogmatic theologian. However, in his own time, St. Thomas was recognized as a Magister in Sacra Pagina, a “Master of the Sacred Page”, that is to say, a biblical scholar.

Considering that his primary work in the University of Paris was commentary on various books of the Bible – especially the Pauline Epistles – and recognizing that the true mark of a theological master in the Scholastic period (perhaps more then than in any period before or after) was the exegesis of Sacred Scripture, we are not surprised to learn of the pious legend (which, I believe, is also an historical fact) that, on his death bed, the greatest son of St. Dominic dictated a commentary on the Song of Songs.

Prayers for the First Week of the Total Consecration, it's not too late to start!

We now enter into the “first week” of the preparation for the Total Consecration (days 13 through 19 of the 33 before the act of consecration). This week runs from Monday, March 5^th through Sunday, March 11^th.

If you have not done so well with the prayers over the first twelve days, do not be discouraged! It is still possible to make the Consecration on March 26^th (The Solemnity of Assumption, this year). St. Louis-Marie did not specifically require any prayers or particular acts of devotion for the first twelve days, but only states that we are to rid ourselves of the spirit of the world – this is precisely what we all have been doing through these first days of Lent!

Thus, there is still time to begin the preparation. So long as you start saying the prayers today (i.e. Monday), you will be fulfilling all that St. Louis de Montfort required. Further, even if you happen to forget to say the prayers on any given day, do not become despondent – what de Montfort really desires is that we spend these thirty-three days in giving ourselves over more and more fully to the Blessed Mother.

If God knows all things, why did he put Abraham to the test?

2^nd Sunday of Lent, Genesis 22:1-2,9a,10-13,15-18

God put Abraham to the test. […] [And the angel said to Abraham] “I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.”

In the first reading of this Sunday’s Mass, the Church hears the account of the testing of Abraham. It is very clear from the sacred text: God puts Abraham to a true and real test. Yet, we firmly believe that God knows all things, past and present and future. If then the Creator knew Abraham’s faith and knew that he would not spare his own son but would be willing to offer him up in sacrifice, why did God need to test him?

Further, if God knows all things, why does he say (through his Angel), I know now, as though he had not known it before? Could it be that God learned something new on this day? Was the Almighty instructed by the action of his creature? Did the Most High require evidence to be convinced of the faith of his servant?

We shall see that something else is at work in this passage.

Does St. Louis de Montfort forbid us from praying for family and friends?

The heart of the Marian devotion promoted by St. Loius-Marie de Montfort is that it is total. Totus Tuus – all that I am and all that I have is yours, Mary, and, through you, I am all Christ’s.

St. Louis-Marie specifies that this means giving over not only all our good works, but even all the value of our good works. All our merits, all our indulgences, all that is of any spiritual value before God, we give to Mary to be disposed of as she wills. Thus, after making the Total Consecration, we no longer offer up prayers directly for anyone, but rather offer up all our prayers and the value of all our prayers to be used according to our Lady’s good will.

This is the Total Consecration, but (we may fear) does this not mean that we will neglect our family and friends? How can I give all to Mary, and at the same time pray in behalf of those whom I love? How can I consecrate myself wholly to Mary, and still pray for my enemies and for the poor (especially the poor souls in purgatory)?