What is Total Consecration?
Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary is a 33-day course that builds on True Devotion to Mary according to St. Louis Marie de Montfort. It’s an amazing way to grow deeper in your faith and draw closer to Jesus through Mary. Each of the 33 days includes a short video, some written reflections, and prayer time. Join us!
First 12 days: Reflection, Day 1
Welcome Back to our session, my name is Br. Julian Mary of the Knights of the Holy Eucharist. Again, the theme of this first stage of preparation is the renouncement of the spirit of the world and we are now entering day one of the First 12 days.
For a better understanding of the spirit of the world, we have this beautiful passage in the gospel from this manual which speaks of the true blessedness commonly known as The Eight Beatitudes. For a person who read the first time the Beatitudes, without looking at the depths of those words will find it difficult to understand the beauty and the wisdom of those lines. This is the glory of the saints unknown to the people who live according to the spirit of the world, and so Our Lord make this sermon on the Mount so that the sound his voice will reach to the four corners of the world, to tell those who lived according to the spirit of the world that there is much joy unimaginable in heaven, then the little joys we experience in this world. The world can never give the soul a full satisfaction to its longings, and so Our Lord gives us a glimpse of the joys of true blessedness, and its contrast to what the world’s understanding of the word blessedness: success, prestige, honor, power, influence, etc. etc. Another beautiful passage specifically chosen for this day is the gospel on “the salt of the earth and the light of the world,” a continuation on the Sermon on the Mount. Let us look at the spirit of the world through the “lenses” through of this parable.
1. The salt and light of the world is also very striking. Salt is used to preserve. It is also used to prevent accident during winter; it is generally used to give a taste. One thing that most people don’t realize is that when it gives flavor it disappears. Though it gives a delightful taste, it doesn’t want to be praised and is contended to be unknown. What a contrast to the spirit of the world?
2. To further unmask the spirit of the world, let’s look on a candle-lit in the Sanctuary. The people enjoyed its light and its brightness. Light is very much appreciated during darkness. But a few things many people don’t realize. While the candle is giving its light, it consumes itself by its burning heat. The flames of its love and its intense desire to give light, veils the whiteness of its purity and its glory.
Though the candle stands majestic on high, giving its burning flames and light, it slowly goes down unnoticed, then disappeared, totally consumed because it wants to give its light, contented to be unknown. That’s the nature of the salt and candle chosen by Our Lord in this particular gospel. When it gives, it gives totally without reserve, a total self-giving, hidden and doesn’t seek applause. What a contrast to the spirit of the world. Our Lord Jesus Christ did the same, giving himself totally without reserved, hidden and unknown. But on the other hand, it is completely different, because Our Lord’s motive is to give glory to Father, subjecting himself under the law to fulfill the law, and to fulfill the supreme commandment of the Eternal Father hidden and unnoticed. Seldom we find people who have the spirit of total self-giving if they are living and conforming themselves to the spirit of the world. Our Lord fulfills the law and the commandment of the Heavenly Father. What about us? What is our motive in doing things? Let us ask Mary Mother of God to help and guide us in this preparation for consecration. Mother of God is the greatest title of Our Lady and the first title of glory mentioned in the Litany. The other titles follow as something which pertains to Mary Mother of God and so Mary is honored as the greatest among the saints with supreme respect called “hyperdulia,” because of her eminent dignity as Mother of God.
Readings and Prayers for Day 1 of 33
Spiritual Exercises: Examine your conscience, pray, practice renouncement, mortification, purity of heart; this purity is an indispensable condition for contemplating God in heaven, to see Him on earth and to know Him by the light of faith.
Matthew 5:1-19
The Sermon on the Mount.
1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him.
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
The Beatitudes.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light.
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
The Fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.
17 “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them.
18 For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
19 Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Veni, Creator Spiritus (Come Holy Spirit, Creator Blest)
Come, O Creator Spirit blest!
And in our souls take up Thy rest;
Come with Thy grace and heavenly aid,
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.
Great Paraclete! To Thee we cry,
O highest gift of God most high!
O font of life! O fire of love!
And sweet anointing from above.
Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts art known,
The finger of God’s hand we own;
The promise of the Father, Thou!
Who dost the tongue with power endow.
Kindle our senses from above,
And make our hearts overflow with love;
With patience firm and virtue high
The weakness of our flesh supply.
Far from us drive the foe we dread,
And grant us Thy true peace instead;
So shall we not, with Thee for guide,
Turn from the path of life aside.
Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
The Father and the Son to know,
And Thee, through endless times confessed,
Of both, the eternal Spirit blest.
All glory while the ages run
Be to the Father and the Son
Who rose from death; the same to Thee,
O Holy Ghost, eternally. 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.
Magnificat – English
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.
Magnificat – Latin
Magnificat anima mea Dominum;
Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo,
Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae; ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus, Et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.
Fecit potentiam brachio suo;
Dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles.
Esurientes implevit bonis, et divites dimisit inanes.
Sucepit Israel, puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae, Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semeni ejus in saecula.
Glory Be – English
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Glory Be – Latin
GLORIA PATRI, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
