Year of Prayer: Marian Consecration
As we continue our Year of Prayer at St. Josaphat, the month of May is dedicated to Mary, our Blessed Mother. In order to help you grow in your relationship with Mary, we have purchased copies of the booklet,
"33 Days to Morning Glory."
The booklets can be found at all of the entrances to the Church. The booklet is planned as a 33 day exercise with the goal of
"total consecration to Jesus through Mary."
We will begin the 33 day consecration on Sunday, April 28th and end it on May 31st, the Feast of the Visitation.
The booklet was written by Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC who is a member of the religious community
Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception
. His booklet leads us to understand Mary better by looking at the writings of St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximillian Kolbe, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and St. John Paul II.
Fr. Gaitley's booklet helps us to prayerfully ponder the impact Mary has had in the lives of each of these saints. Through the writings of these saints and with Mary's help, we will discover a new way to live out our Christian discipleship. St. Louis de Montfort said that going to Jesus through Mary presents us with a
"short, fast, secure, and perfect way to become a saint."
And St. John Paul II said that his consecration to Jesus through Mary was a
"turning point"
in his life.
The reason that both of these saints felt this way is that no one knows Jesus better than his mother. By consecrating ourselves to Jesus through Mary, we are inviting the Blessed Mother to form us into other Christs, to become more like her Son. This is the path to holiness to which God calls each of us in this life. That's why their can be no better guide on how to become holy than Mary!
I hope you will take a few minutes each day to make this 33 day consecration to Jesus through Mary. I have made this consecration multiple times over the past 15 years and have always received enormous spiritual benefits from it. Our parish consecration begins on April 28th and ends May 31st. But, as you will see in the booklet, the Total Consecration can begin at any time during the year and preferably ends on a Marian Feast Day. Please feel free to take additional booklets home from church to hand out to family members and friends.
God Bless,
