Consecration to Jesus Through Mary: DAY 21

On DAY 21 of the preparation for consecration, we are challenged to know Mary in an altogether new way.  Many know about her and pray an occasional prayer or acknowledge her on feast days.  Others pray her rosary, and have a devotion to her, but a deeper knowledge is to know Mary the way Jesus does, and thus to love her the way he does.  This is to do everything through, with, in, for, by her just as Jesus does.

Readings:

Secret of Mary: Nos. 23-24

True Devotion to Our Blessed Lady

If we would go up to God, and be united with Him, we must use the same means He used to come down to us to be made Man and impart His graces to us. This means is a true devotion to our Blessed Lady. There are several true devotions to our Lady: here I do not speak of those which are false.

The first consists in fulfilling our Christian duties, avoiding mortal sin, acting more out of love than with fear, praying to our Lady now and then, honoring her as the Mother of God, yet without having any special devotion to her.

The second consists in entertaining for our Lady more perfect feelings of esteem and love, of confidence and veneration. It leads us to join the Confraternities of the Holy Rosary and of the Scapular, to recite the Holy Rosary, to honor Mary's images and altars, to publish her praises and to enroll ourselves in her sodalities. This devotion is good, holy and praiseworthy if we keep ourselves free from sin. But it is not so perfect as the next, nor so efficient in severing our soul from creatures, in detaching ourselves in order to be united with Jesus Christ.

The third devotion to our Lady, know and practiced by very few persons, is this I am about to disclose to you, predestinate soul. It consists in giving one's self entirely and as a slave to Mary, and to Jesus through Mary, and after that, to do all that we do, through Mary, with Mary, in Mary and for Mary. We should choose a special feast day on which we give, consecrate and sacrifice to Mary, voluntarily, lovingly, and without constraint, entirely and without reserve: our body and soul, our exterior property, such as house, family and income, and also our interior and spiritual possessions: namely, our merits, graces, virtues, and satisfactions.

Prayers:

Litany of the Holy Spirit Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Father all powerful, Have Mercy on Us, Jesus, Eternal Son of the Father, Redeemer of the world, Save Us, Spirit of the Father and the Son, boundless life of both, sanctify us. Holy Trinity, Hear Us, Holy Spirit, Who proceedest from the Father and the Son, enter our hearts. Holy Spirit, Who art equal to the Fatherand the Son, enter our hearts. Promise of God the Father, have mercy on us. (etc.) Ray of heavenly light, Author of all good, Source of heavenly water, Consuming fire, Ardent charity, Spiritual unction, Spirit of love and truth, Spirit of wisdom and understanding, Spirit of counsel and fortitude, Spirit of knowledge and piety, Spirit of the fear of the Lord, Spirit of grace and prayer, Spirit of peace and meekness, Spirit of modesty and innocence, Holy Spirit, the Comforter, Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, Holy Spirit, Who governest the Church, Gift of God, the Most High, Spirit Who fillest the universe, Spirit of the adoption of the children of God, Holy Spirit, inspire us with horror of sin. Holy Spirit, come and renew the face of the earth. Holy Spirit, shed Thy light in our souls. Holy Spirit, engrave Thy law in our hearts. Holy Spirit, inflame us with the flame of Thy love. Holy Spirit, open to us the treasures of Thy graces. Holy Spirit, teach us to pray well. Holy Spirit, enlighten us with Thy heavenly inspirations. Holy Spirit, lead us in the way of salvation. Holy Spirit, grant us the only necessary knowledge. Holy Spirit, inspire in us the practice of good. Holy Spirit, grant us the merits of all virtues. Holy Spirit, make us persevere in justice. Holy Spirit, be Thou our everlasting reward. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Send us Thy Holy Spirit. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, pour down into our souls the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, grant us the Spirit of wisdom and piety. V. Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of Thy faithful, R. And enkindle in them the fire of Thy love. Let us pray. Grant, O merciful Father, that Thy Divine Spirit may enlighten, inflame and purify us, that He may penetrate us with His heavenly dew and make us fruitful in good works, through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, forever and ever. R. Amen.  Litany of the Blessed Virgin Lord, have mercy on us.    Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.    Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us,    Christ graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven,    Have Mercy on Us, God the Son, Redeemer of the world,     Have Mercy on Us, God the Holy Spirit,     Have Mercy on Us, Holy Trinity, One God,     Have Mercy on Us, Holy Mary, Pray for us.(etc.) Holy Mother of God, Holy Virgin of virgins, Mother of Christ, Mother of divine grace, Mother most pure, Mother most chaste, Mother inviolate, Mother undefiled,  Mother most amiable,  Mother most admirable,  Mother of good counsel,  Mother of our Creator,  Mother of our Savior,  Mother of the Church,  Virgin most prudent,  Virgin most venerable,  Virgin most renowned, Virgin most powerful,  Virgin most merciful, Virgin most faithful, Mirror of justice,  Seat of wisdom,  Cause of our joy,  Spiritual vessel,  Vessel of honor,  Singular vessel of devotion,  Mystical rose,  Tower of David, Tower of ivory,  House of gold,  Ark of the covenant,  Gate of Heaven,  Morning star,  Health of the sick,  Refuge of sinners,  Comforter of the afflicted,  Help of Christians,  Queen of angels,  Queen of patriarchs,  Queen of prophets,  Queen of apostles,  Queen of martyrs,  Queen of confessors,  Queen of virgins,  Queen of all saints,  Queen conceived without  Original Sin,  Queen assumed into Heaven, Queen of the holy Rosary,  Queen of families,  Queen of peace,  Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have Mercy on us. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we Thy servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enjoy everlasting happiness. Through Christ Our Lord.  Amen Ave Maris Stella Hail, bright star of ocean, God's own Mother blest, Ever sinless Virgin, Gate of heavenly rest. Taking that sweet Ave Which from Gabriel came, Peace confirm within us, Changing Eva's name. Break the captives' fetters, Light on blindness pour, All our ills expelling, Every bliss implore. Show thyself a Mother; May the Word Divine, Born for us thy Infant, Hear our prayers through thine. Virgin all excelling, Mildest of the mild, Freed from guilt, preserve us, Pure and undefiled. Keep our life all spotless, Make our way secure, Till we find in Jesus, Joy forevermore. Through the highest heaven To the Almighty Three, Father, Son and Spirit, One same glory be. Amen. St Louis De Montfort Prayer to Mary Hail Mary, beloved Daughter of the Eternal Father! Hail Mary, admirable Mother of the Son! Hail Mary, faithful spouse of the Holy Ghost! Hail Mary, my dear Mother, my loving Mistress, my powerful sovereign! Hail my joy, my glory, my heart and my soul! Thou art all mine by mercy, and I am all thine by justice. But I am not yet sufficiently thine. I now give myself wholly to thee without keeping anything back for myself or others. If thou still seest in me anything which does not belong to thee, I beseech thee to take it and to make thyself the absolute Mistress of all that is mine. Destroy in me all that may he displeasing to God, root it up and bring it to nought; place and cultivate in me everything that is pleasing to thee. May the light of thy faith dispel the darkness of my mind; may thy profound humility take the place of my pride; may thy sublime contemplation check the distractions of my wandering imagination; may thy continuous sight of God fill my memory with His presence; may the burning love of thy heart inflame the lukewarmness of mine; may thy virtues take the place of my sins; may thy merits be my only adornment in the sight of God and make up for all that is wanting in me. Finally, dearly beloved Mother, grant, if it be possible, that I may have no other spirit but thine to know Jesus and His divine will; that I may have no other soul but thine to praise and glorify the Lord; that I may have no other heart but thine to love God with a love as pure and ardent as think I do not ask thee for visions, revelations, sensible devotion or spiritual pleasures. It is thy privilege to see God clearly; it is thy privilege to enjoy heavenly bliss; it is thy privilege to triumph gloriously in Heaven at the right hand of thy Son and to hold absolute sway over angels, men and demons; it is thy privilege to dispose of all the gifts of God, just as thou willest. Such is, O heavenly Mary, the "best part," which the Lord has given thee and which shall never be taken away from thee--and this thought fills my heart with joy. As for my part here below, I wish for no other than that which was thine: to believe sincerely without spiritual pleasures; to suffer joyfully without human consolation; to die continually to myself without respite; and to work zealously and unselfishly for thee until death as the humblest of thy servants. The only grace I beg thee to obtain for me is that every day and every moment of my life I may say: Amen, So be it--to all that thou didst do while on earth; Amen, so be it--to all that thou art now doing in Heaven; Amen, so be it--to all that thou art doing in my soul, so that thou alone mayest fully glorify Jesus in me for time and eternity. Amen. Also pray the Holy Rosary during these days of the preparation.