St Louis de Montfort Consecration Question

[Amythyst]

After consecrating oneself to Jesus through Mary, can one ever pray for anyone specifically again, OR offer up any sort of penance for a chosen person ever again?

I'm on day 21. I remember reading after consecration, ALL merits and graces go to her for her to dispense as she pleases. How far does this go?

Thanks.

[Amythyst]

Should this question go under the "traditional Catholicism" forum instead?

[JM3]

http://www.ewtn.com/library/Montfort/TRUEDEVO.HTM#Ch

Now by this consecration of ourselves to the Blessed Virgin we give her all satisfactory and prayer value as well as the meritorious value of our good works, in other words, all the satisfactions and the merits. We give her our merits, graces and virtues, not that she might give them to others, for they are, strictly speaking, not transferable, because Jesus alone, in making himself our surety with his Father, had the power to impart his merits to us. But we give them to her that she may keep, increase and embellish them for us, as we shall explain later, and we give her our acts of atonement that she may apply them where she pleases for God's greater glory.

123. (1) It follows then: that by this devotion we give to Jesus all we can possibly give him,and in the most perfect manner, that is, through Mary's hands. Indeed we give him far more than we do by other devotions which require us to give only part of our time, some of our good works or acts of atonement and penances. In this devotion everything is given and consecrated, even the right to dispose freely of one's spiritual goods and the satisfactions earned by daily good works.

[Amythyst]

What if someone asks me to pray for them (after consecration)? Do I just tell them I can't? I'm confused. Very.

[JM3]

Originally Posted by Amythyst

What if someone asks me to pray for them (after consecration)? Do I just tell them I can't? I'm confused. Very.

If someone asks you to pray for them, then pray for them. You cannot refuse. Praying for the living and the dead is one of the spiritual works of mercy. How can this displease Our Lady? How graces are dispensed is not your concern. Trust that the Blessed Virgin will do what is best for the glory of God.

[Amythyst]

I've decided today to abort the consecration process. Thinking of doing it only stresses me. I'd rather consecrate myself directly to the sacred heart of Jesus. Even contemplating consecration to Jesus through Mary gives me such a nightmare of questions. (Can I still pray to other saints? For instance.)

[De_Montfort]

Originally Posted by Amythyst

I've decided today to abort the consecration process. Thinking of doing it only stresses me. I'd rather consecrate myself directly to the sacred heart of Jesus. Even contemplating consecration to Jesus through Mary gives me such a nightmare of questions. (Can I still pray to other saints? For instance.)

Do you think Mary the best of all Mothers would deny your concerns and not take them to Jesus Herself?

She knows your concerns and will lovingly represent them to Her Son.

I have done the consecration, and I trust in Mary to take care of my needs and trust in Her love, She is the faithful Virgin, She knows whats best to bring about God's glory and our individual needs.

[Amythyst]

Thank you, de Montfort, What you're saying makes great sense. My problem boils down to how I did not have a mother I trusted or connected with. So, even imagining a nurturing mother goes beyond me most of the time. So, total dedication and devotion to someone who I cannot even conceptualize is almost impossible right now. I find it easier to go directly to Jesus. However, St. Louis de Montfort has so many compelling reasons why going through the Blessed Virgin is the best possible method to union with Christ that I really wanted to do it. I still may do it, eventually. I was looking forward to the experience being deeply healing. Sadly, I was becoming more and more frustrated and uncomfortable, so day 22 is as far as I could go.

[sdegutis]

Originally Posted by Amythyst

Thank you, de Montfort, What you're saying makes great sense. My problem boils down to how I did not have a mother I trusted or connected with. So, even imagining a nurturing mother goes beyond me most of the time. So, total dedication and devotion to someone who I cannot even conceptualize is almost impossible right now. I find it easier to go directly to Jesus. However, St. Louis de Montfort has so many compelling reasons why going through the Blessed Virgin is the best possible method to union with Christ that I really wanted to do it. I still may do it, eventually. I was looking forward to the experience being deeply healing. Sadly, I was becoming more and more frustrated and uncomfortable, so day 22 is as far as I could go.

I definitely don't want to pull you away from this perfect devotion. So don't let these words of mine dissuade you in the future from reconsidering this path. I have found great comfort, today, in offering all my works and good deeds and prayers and joys and sufferings to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for His intentions, whatever they may be. I find it very similar to what was described in the book of total consecration to Jesus through Mary, albeit not exactly the same. I find it very comforting, because I know that Jesus' intentions are always better than mine, and also that He cares for me and my concerns and those I love, so it seems always better to me that I just offer everything I have for the intentions of His Sacred Heart and trust that, since I belong to Him, He will protect and care for me and the people I love. One of my hopes is that, in the future, as I mature more in the Faith, I will find this a useful step in the direction of entrusting myself to Jesus' hands through His mother Mary's hands. The two don't seem mutually exclusive.

[Amythyst]

Thank you for your reply. Your words are encouraging.

[R_C]

Please help me on this.

I am on the 10th day of the preparation for the total consecration to Jesus through Mary. I have benefited greatly from the preparation, but I have many temptations against the final consecration.

I trust in Christ with my whole self. Yet I am disturbed by the idea of "surrendering oneself in the manner of a slave to Mary" and to surrender "the right to dispose freely of one's spiritual goods"...God forgive me, but I am afraid of doing this. The words seems to imply a total consecration to Mary, not to Jesus.

Because I love my Blessed Mother, but I resist the idea of giving myself to someone less than God Almighty...I am his slave, and how can I give myself as someone else's servant if I am no longer my own? I feel that I cannot do this, for only Christ could give me to His blessed Mother in that form...

Help?

[sdegutis]

Originally Posted by R_C

Please help me on this.

I am on the 10th day of the preparation for the total consecration to Jesus through Mary. I have benefited greatly from the preparation, but I have many temptations against the final consecration.

I trust in Christ with my whole self. Yet I am disturbed by the idea of "surrendering oneself in the manner of a slave to Mary" and to surrender "the right to dispose freely of one's spiritual goods"...God forgive me, but I am afraid of doing this. The words seems to imply a total consecration to Mary, not to Jesus.

Because I love my Blessed Mother, but I resist the idea of giving myself to someone less than God Almighty...I am his slave, and how can I give myself as someone else's servant if I am no longer my own? I feel that I cannot do this, for only Christ could give me to His blessed Mother in that form...

Help?

If you give yourself to Mary as her slave, you are truly giving yourself to Jesus, and Mary is only the pathway to the true goal which is Jesus. Truly it is the same to give yourself as a slave to Mary or to Jesus, they mean one and the same thing, since Mary has no will except the will of Jesus, who she is in perfect conformance with.

[R_C]

Thank you for your kind advice. I understand. But this is no small step to take, no little prayer. We already spoke to our chaplain to do our consecration on November 7 after Holy Mass, and this, as far as I understand, has the character of a simple public vow.

How can we relate this to a religious vow of obedience? How is it similar/different?

I am scared of pronouncing these words:

I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception

[...]
I declare that I wish henceforth, as thy true slave, to seek thy honor and to obey thee in all things.

I read the consecration is to be renewed every year...does "henceforth" not mean this promise is perpetual?

How (if at all) would this affect any future decision to enter a religious community and take a vow of obedience?

What are some practical implication of "to seek thy honor"?

How will I know that I am being obedient to her?

I know this is many questions, and I do not ask of anyone to be at my disposal to answer all of them...I just wish I received even a small comment to cast some light...I hope some of you can help me (and those who face the same temptations during this time of discernment).

I will also start praying for all those who are in the process of professing religious vows from today, because if I struggle so much with a simple vow, I can only imagine the burden they silently carry when discerning the decision of making solemn perpetual vows.

[eddadonkey]

+JMJ+

Originally Posted by R_C

Thank you for your kind advice. I understand. But this is no small step to take, no little prayer. We already spoke to our chaplain to do our consecration on November 7 after Holy Mass, and this, as far as I understand, has the character of a simple public vow.

How can we relate this to a religious vow of obedience? How is it similar/different?

Yes it is a vow of obedience, but it is a vow of obedience to your baptismal vows.

120. ...That is why perfect consecration to Jesus is but a perfect and complete consecration of oneself to the Blessed Virgin, which is the devotion I teach; or in other words, it is the perfect renewal of the vows and promises of holy baptism.

Review also parts 126 onwards in Treatise on True Devotion

Originally Posted by R_C

I am scared of pronouncing these words:


I read the consecration is to be renewed every year...does "henceforth" not mean this promise is perpetual?

Yes.

Originally Posted by R_C

How (if at all) would this affect any future decision to enter a religious community and take a vow of obedience?

None, you'd just have to tell whoever is in charge.

Originally Posted by R_C

What are some practical implication of "to seek thy honor"?

How will I know that I am being obedient to her?

Do you remember the last words of Mary in the Gospels?

Just do that and you've followed her and sought her honor.

Originally Posted by R_C

I will also start praying for all those who are in the process of professing religious vows from today, because if I struggle so much with a simple vow, I can only imagine the burden they silently carry when discerning the decision of making solemn perpetual vows.

[R_C]

Wonderful and enlightened reply...thanks!!