Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary
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3 years ago this October I was late leaving Mass and had stopped to talk to another parishioner and ended up walking to my car by myself which is unusual. David Florian approached me and asked if I had ever heard of Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary according to St. Louis De Montfort? I told David that I had heard of it and had the book. I also told him that I had purchased it a few months earlier, but hadn’t decided when to commit the time.
When I originally purchased the Total Consecration I had looked the book over and discovered that you needed to commit 33 days and needed to pick a feast day. David explained that December the 8th was the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception and I could start the Total Consecration on November 5th which was in a few days. He also explained that on December 8th at St. Anne’s people would be gathering to say the Act of Total Consecration of Oneself to Jesus Christ Through Mary.
I told David that I would give it serious thought and pray over the next few days. After I found my book it occurred to me that there must be a reason that I have the book and David reaching out to me at that particular time. We didn’t know each other well. I loved his voice as he sang the Psalm each Sunday at the 11 am Mass and when he was a Lector he always asked me to do the announcements before Mass so that he could practice the Psalm for that day.
David was excited about starting the Total Consecration and was sharing that excitement and faith with others including myself.
The Total Consecration can be a very rewarding and life changing time in your life. There are several litanies to say at certain points in the 33 days and daily prayers, some of which I still say daily. The Sub Tuum, The Memorare, Jesus Living in Mary, and the Ave Maris Stella are treasures that are included in this wonderful book.
On December 6th I went to confession, which is the last step before saying the Total Consecration. When I arrived at St. Anne’s Church on December the 8th, I was happily surprised at how many people were there. It was an emotional gathering as we all read “A Prayer of Consecration” together. I know that Mary was there guiding us to her son Jesus.
I never had the chance to thank David and sometimes I wonder how many people that gathered on December 8th were there because David had approached them.
This year as I renew my Total Consecration I’m dedicating it to 3 people, My husband, (Pat), my mom, (who suffers from severe dementia), and David who I wish to say “Thank you”.
