What is Marian Consecration?
The Catholic Church offers a rich feast of beautiful traditions and devotions to help you grow closer to Jesus.
The Catholic Church offers a rich feast of beautiful traditions and devotions to help you grow closer to Jesus.
One such tradition that has had a profound impact on those who participate in it is the act of Total Consecration to the Blessed Mother.
“To Jesus Through Mary.”
These words of St. Louis de Montfort in his seminal work "True Devotion to Mary" perfectly explains the long-standing Catholic Tradition of Consecrating oneself to Mary.
By making a Marian Consecration, you entrust yourself–your body, soul, possessions, works, your entire life–to the Blessed Mother because she will always bring us closer to her son Jesus.
At its core, Marian Consecration is rooted in the belief that Mary, as the Mother of God and the Church, plays a unique role in the divine plan of salvation. By consecrating ourselves to her, we recognize her as our spiritual mother and intercessor, trusting in her powerful intercession and motherly care.
The practice of Marian Consecration began, in some sense, with Christ on Good Friday when He entrusted the Beloved Disciple to Mary at the foot of the Cross. In doing so, Christ likewise entrusted all of humanity to his Mother:
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (John 19: 25-27)
Just as it was once Mary’s role to give birth to Christ, to feed and nurture him, and to help him grow into a man, Mary now works to bring about an encounter with Christ in the heart of every Christian, nourishes her spiritual children with grace, and helps them grow to full stature in Christ.
St. Louis Marie De Montfort said: "Mary’s guidance is the surest, easiest, and fastest way to heaven. She is the New Ark, daughter of God the Father, Mother of God the Son, Spouse of God the Holy Spirit, our best intercessor."
The traditional structure of Marian consecrations comes from St. Louis de Monfort and includes thirty-three days of preparation, culminating in a formal Act of Consecration to Mary on the final day.
Practical Steps for Marian Consecration
If you feel called to consecrate yourself to Mary, here’s how you can do it:
- Preparation: Follow a structured preparation process. St. Louis de Montfort’s "True Devotion to Mary" and Fr. Michael Gaitley’s "33 Days to Morning Glory" are excellent resources.
- Daily Commitment: Engage in daily readings, prayers, and reflections during the preparation period. Making a Marian Consecration requires an immense amount of discipline so before you begin, consider if this is the right time for you to make this commitment.
- Consecration Day: Choose a special feast day for your consecration, such upcoming August feasts of the Assumption (August 15) or Queenship of Mary (August 22).
Marian Consecration is a powerful and enriching tradition that draws us closer to Jesus through Mary. By entrusting ourselves to her maternal care, we open our hearts to the graces God wishes to bestow upon us.
