The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty Savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, And renew you in his love.
Zephaniah 3:17
“And now you belong to Mary.”
Father said this after praying a special blessing over me after Mass today, along with my dear friend who renewed her act of consecration. He said it matter-of-factly, and that was that. Now I belong to Mary, 18 years to the day after my baptism on the Feast of the Visitation, 2001.
St. Louis de Montfort suggests having specific intentions with the consecration. There were a few pointed things that came to mind immediately, but mostly I wanted to simply be comfortable with the idea of belonging to Mary. I wanted to understand why and how Christians for hundreds of years—particularly saints I love and admire, like St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Faustina, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Pope St. John Paul II—have grown closer to Jesus through Mary. At the end of this 33-day period, I can truly say that at this moment I feel no hesitation, no discomfort in saying I belong to Mary.
In fact, it makes me pretty happy. I belong to Mary.
There are small suggested daily practices intended to aid prayer and reflection in this new consecrated stage of life. St. Louis de Montfort suggests wearing something as a reminder that all you are belongs to Jesus. I’ve been in the habit of wearing a scapular for several years, on and off, but I’m thinking I need something I can’t take off or hide… another tattoo might be in order…
But what a blessed day this is, the Feast of the Visitation. It hearkens back to the Ark of the Covenant and heralds the world’s redemption, a shared joy and revelation through the Holy Spirit between two holy women. I feel really lucky that this is the day I get to celebrate my own baptism, and now, in addition, the consecration.
I am yours, and all that I have is yours, O most loving Jesus, through Mary, your most holy Mother.
St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion
This makes me so happy!!! Sending you love and prayers always.