In 2012, at the closing of the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops they turned to Mary, Star of the New Evangelization and reminded us to entrust ourselves to her:
The figure of Mary guides us on our way. Our journey, as Pope Benedict XVI told us, can seem like a path across the desert; we know that we must take it, bringing with us what is essential: the gift of the Spirit, the company of Jesus, the truth of his word, the Eucharistic bread which nourishes us, the fellowship of ecclesial communion, the impetus of charity. It is the water of the well that makes the desert bloom. As stars shine more brightly at night in the desert, so the light of Mary, the Star of the new evangelization, brightly shines in heaven on our way. To her we confidently entrust ourselves. (Rome, October 26, 2012)
Entrusting ourselves to Mary becomes especially real through the spiritual exercise of Marian Consecration as taught by St. Louis Marie de Montfort and St. Maximilian Kolbe. This lived reality of communion with Mary is exemplified more recently in the lives of saints such as Saint John Paul II and Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
Marian Consecration is a covenant of love that results in the union of our hearts with the Immaculate Heart. Saints and Church Tradition teach that this is the surest pathway to communion with Jesus – our goal. Consecration to Mary draws us into her mission on earth. What is Mary’s mission? To birth Jesus. God formed Mary to bring Jesus into the world; into the heart of humanity.
At the foot of the cross was also Mary Magdalene. Was she not also consecrated to Jesus through Mary since she had completely converted and was always close to the Lord and His Mother? It seems logical that Mary of Nazareth formed the holy women of the early Church to assist her in her spiritual maternity of souls, especial priest souls. Women like Mary Magdalene would have been Mary’s first spiritual daughters. At the foot of the Cross was also St. John the beloved. Certainly when he took Mary into his home as scripture teaches, he first took her into his priestly heart and consecrated himself to her service and protection.
Now, many centuries later, there exists a spiritual army who place themselves at Mary’s disposal. Marian Consecration has formed this army which is a family. Mary’s consecrated children are her pupils and champions, humble but mighty in Spirit, they thrive in the rich soil of the Immaculate Heart. Mary’s consecrated family cultivate the poverty of spirit, humility, silence, prayer, mortification, and charity. They come forth to defend the Faith and uphold the priests on the frontlines of a spiritual war.
Mary teaches us how to offer humble and hidden acts of reparation and sacrifice. She positions her sons and daughters like spiritual hedges of protection around her priest sons. She sends her well-schooled pupils to make prayer vigils on the watchtower of the Cross. She dresses us in the spiritual armor of her mantle of grace. This army of Marian souls form a fulcrum of spiritual power to help press Mary’s heel to the head of the serpent who attacks shepherds to scatter the sheep; and the Church, to abolish the sacrifice.
Marian consecration is much more than a simple devotion, it is a way of being; of lived sacrificial love. Our hearts are pierced like Mary’s so that the thoughts of many are revealed so that Satan and his legions are defeated one battle after another.
The anguished cry of the Church is a unified, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Consecration to Mary will help bring about a renewed, illuminated, humbler, stronger, poorer, resplendent Church at the threshold of a new Pentecost.
Our Marian consecration is well lived when the first fruit is sacrificial intercession for priests. It goes deeper when we offer our sufferings, Holy Communions or holy hours for their holiness and for vocations. Our generous Mother in turn intercedes for our loved ones, our families under her protection.
Recently, a priest shared that he could barely keep up with the needs of his parishioners on the island where he was assigned. Just the night before a family brought to his rectory a young boy who appeared to be fully possessed. He asked Mary’s help. What would Mary do? It’s easy to imagine Mother Mary invoking the Holy Spirit to overshadow the priest with gifts of protection, discernment, wisdom, courage and knowledge.
As Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI reminds us Mary is the star that shines in the darkness of the desert, a light that illumines our path. Her luminosity pierces all darkness and evil with the light of truth that sets us free. She isn’t the Light, but she radiates the Light perfectly so we can see our way no matter how dark the path may be. Where Mary is, the devil flees because her light is too bright. Therefore, Mary must reign in our hearts and minds—where the battle occurs within. Our daily life should also indicate that Mary is active in our relationships, decisions and duties.
Marian consecration is an efficacious good that we should strive to live daily, acknowledging our Mother’s presence in the details of our lives. Thus we honor her with docility to the Divine Will since God has given us so great a provision and protection—the gift of a Mother who leads us into the light of love; out of the ugliness of sin, and the pain of evil, into the beauty for which we are made.
Some exorcists teach that praying the Angelus in the morning, noon, and evening, is a powerful way of spiritual protection because the Incarnation is the defeat of the devil. This prayer is despised by evil spirits because it’s a reminder of the humble, obedient, courageous “fiat” of the Immaculate Heart. It is my experience that through Marian consecration the all-important yes to God – at all times and circumstances—is possible. A huge protection from sin and evil is our unwavering yes to God’s will, way, time, and plan.
The Angelus Prayer
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary;
R. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
V. And the Word was made flesh,
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son has been made known by the message of an Angel, may, by His passion and cross, be brought to the glory of His resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
