Bishop Pierre Roy on our Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary Advent preparation
His Excellency Bishop Pierre Roy has kindly given us a statement of encouragement for The WM Review's upcoming preparation for St Louis de Montfort's consecration to Our Lady.
His Excellency Bishop Pierre Roy has kindly given us a statement of encouragement for The WM Review’s upcoming preparation for St Louis de Montfort’s consecration to Our Lady.
On Friday 21 November, The WM Review will be starting its 33-day preparation for St Louis de Montfort’s Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary, particularly to her Immaculate Heart and under the titles of Co-Redemptrix and Mediatrix of All Graces.
St Louis de Montfort suggests selecting a feast day of Our Lady. For various reasons, we are taking Christmas Day as that feast day (even though it is more properly a feast of Our Lord). This is because it allows us…
To make reparation for the insults to Our Lady in and following the Vatican’s “Doctrinal Note”
To combine the preparation with Advent, as an antidote to the premature celebration of Christmas by the secular world, as well as the logistical chaos of shopping, cooking and preparing for family Christmas ourselves.
The intention is to anticipate Christmas Day itself by making the consecration on Christmas Eve. Those who wish to do it on Christmas Day itself should feel free to do so – perhaps after Midnight Mass, or at any time that seems convenient.
Our intention is to follow St Louis de Montfort’s suggested overview, supplemented by the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius and other relevant texts. This will allow a greater focus on meditation than reading and vocal prayers.
It is typical to hear a conference prior to making the exercises; to that end, we will be sharing Fr Aloysius Ambruzzi SJ’s commentaries on the relevant meditations as an aid for prayer.
We advise readers to buy St Louis de Montfort’s book as soon as possible and read it themselves:
Baronius Press edition (Baronius Press)
Baronius Press edition (Amazon)
Bishop Pierre Roy’s encouragement
We are delighted to say that this initiative is taking place with the encouragement and blessing of Bishop Pierre Roy, who is based in the Maritime Provinces of Canada.
Mgr Roy was kind enough to give us the following statement:
This initiative of having Catholics consecrate themselves to the Blessed Virgin Mary in reparation for the recent Vatican’s document declaring as “inappropriate” titles of Our Lady that have been used by a number of popes, theologians and saints is an excellent one and can only be encouraged. Adding elements of the spiritual exercises of St Ignatius to this devotion is a great idea. What a powerful and saintly season of Advent will undergo those who embrace this preparation!
The document of the Vatican has the obvious signature of the evil one. Let us answer by honoring our Blessed Mother, consecrating ourselves to Her, and starting to live a true devotion towards Her. She obviously will have a great role to play in putting an end to the terrible crisis the Church is in at the moment. She will crush the head of the infernal Serpent.
For this, although She does not need it, armed as She is with the fullness of grace of Her Immaculate Conception, She nevertheless deigns to be willing to raise an army of Her true children: those consecrated to Her. Who can refuse to be part of this army?
Let us therefore undergo this consecration, propagate it around us and take part in the rising up of this army with which Our Lady will prove once again that she is as “powerful as an army prepared for battle”!
Our Lady, Coredemptrix, pray for us!
Our Lady, Mediatrix of all graces, pray for us!With my blessing,
Mgr Pierre Roy
We are very grateful for Mgr Roy’s encouragement.
If you would like to receive the daily meditations and readings, subscribe to emails here:
What is ‘True Devotion’?
Later this week, we will be providing Fr Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange OP’s thorough explanation of St Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion” and “Total Consecration” to the Blessed Virgin. In the meantime, here are the saints own words in summary form:
“Chosen soul, this devotion consists in surrendering oneself in the manner of a slave to Mary, and to Jesus through her, and then performing all our actions with Mary, in Mary, through Mary, and for Mary. Let me explain this statement further.
“We should choose a special feast-day on which to give ourselves. Then, willingly and lovingly and under no constraint, we consecrate and sacrifice to her unreservedly our body and soul. We give to her our material possessions, such as house, family, income, and even the inner possessions of our soul, namely, our merits, graces, virtues and atonements.
“Notice that in this devotion we sacrifice to Jesus through Mary all that is most dear to us, that is, the right to dispose of ourselves, of the value of our prayers and alms, of our acts of self-denial and atonements. This is a sacrifice which no religious order would require of its members. We leave everything to the free disposal of our Lady, for her to use as she wills for the greater glory of God, of which she alone is perfectly aware.
“We leave to her the right to dispose of all the satisfactory and prayer value of our good deeds, so that, after having done so and without going so far as making a vow, we cease to be master over any good we do. Our Lady may use our good deeds either to bring relief or deliverance to a soul in purgatory, or perhaps to bring a change of heart to a poor sinner.
“By this devotion we place our merits in the hands of our Lady, but only that she may preserve, increase and embellish them, since merit for increase of grace and glory cannot be handed over to any other person. But we give to her all our prayers and good works, inasmuch as they have intercessory and atonement value, for her to distribute and apply to whom she pleases.” (The Secret of Mary, nn. 28-31)
While the doctrine itself is older than St Louis, his work and teaching also has the approbation of the recent Popes prior to Vatican II. St Louis himself was beatified by Pope Leo XIII (1888) and canonised by Pope Pius XII (1947).
In 1907, Pope St Pius X approved the perpetual extension of Leo XIII’s indulgence attached to St Louis’ consecration prayer – itself a full expression of the doctrine and devotion.1 His encyclical Ad diem illum teaches the same doctrine, as Fr Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange OP wrote:
“Pius X has made his own the teaching of St. Grignon de Montfort, and sometimes of his very expressions, in the Encyclical Ad diem illum on Mary, universal Mediatrix.” (Mother of the Saviour, Ch. XV, fn. 2.)
The preparation
St Louis de Montfort offers a suggested plan for the 33-day period of preparation, which he says can be lengthened or shortened as preferred.
Some of the prayers and many of the readings in what some think of as the “official” preparation do not appear to have come from St Louis himself. This “official” schema appears in the Tan edition of The Secret of Mary, which is a reprint of an American version from 1947, itself an update from an earlier edition in 1940. Other versions of The Secret of Mary do not include this schema.2
In any case, St Louis stresses the general overview, but offers rather than prescribes particulars. As such, no-one should feel obliged to follow the schema found in Tan’s book. Those who have made the preparation several times before may profit from a slightly different approach and a greater focus on meditation.
We have provided the vocal prayers and readings which St Louis prescribes – which are actually lighter than those found in the Tan edition mentioned above.
Initial period (‘Week 0’)
The first period – which we could call “Week 0” – is focused on knowing and divesting ourselves of the spirit of the world:
“Those who desire to take up this special devotion, (which has not been erected into a confraternity, although this would be desirable), should spend at least twelve days in emptying themselves of the spirit of the world, which is opposed to the spirit of Jesus, as I have recommended in the first part of this preparation for the reign of Jesus Christ.” (True Devotion, n. 227)
Our preparation will consist of relevant meditations from the first two weeks of the Spiritual Exercises, along with readings from Fr Aloysius Ambruzzi on these meditations and from Liberalism is a Sin on the ways in which worldliness affects us all.
Taken altogether with the vocal prayers, some may find it too much. They should do what they can, and not stress themselves.
You can see the prayers that are usually recommended for this period here:
Following the initial period of “Week 0”, St Louis says, devotees “should then spend three weeks imbuing themselves with the spirit of Jesus through the most Blessed Virgin.” He offers the following as a suggested – not mandatory – programme:
Week 1: Knowledge of Self
“During the first week they should offer up all their prayers and acts of devotion to acquire knowledge of themselves and sorrow for their sins.
“Let them perform all their actions in a spirit of humility. With this end in view they may, if they wish, meditate on what I have said concerning our corrupted nature, and consider themselves during six days of the week as nothing but sails, slugs, toads, swine, snakes and goats.
“Or else they may meditate on the following three considerations of St. Bernard: ‘Remember what you were – corrupted seed; what you are – a body destined for decay; what you will be – food for worms.’”
“They will ask our Lord and the Holy Spirit to enlighten them saying, ‘Lord, that I may see,’ or ‘Lord, let me know myself,’ or the ‘Come, Holy Spirit’” (n. 228)
He suggests the following prayers:
“Every day they should say the Litany of the Holy Spirit, with the prayer that follows, as indicated in the first part of this work. They will turn to our Blessed Lady and beg her to obtain for them that great grace which is the foundation of all others, the grace of self-knowledge. For this intention they will say each day the Ave Maris Stella and the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.” (n. 228)
Our preparation will consist of the relevant meditations from the first week of the Spiritual Exercises – a week which is focused especially on knowledge of self.
You can see the prayers that are usually recommended for this period here:
Week 2: Knowledge of Our Lady
St Louis de Montfort continues:
“Each day of the second week they should endeavour in all their prayers and works to acquire an understanding of the Blessed Virgin and ask the Holy Spirit for this grace. They may read and meditate upon what we have already said about her.” (n. 229)
He suggests the following prayers:
“They should recite daily the Litany of the Holy Spirit and the Ave Maris Stella as during the first week. In addition they will say at least five decades of the Rosary for greater understanding of Mary.” (n. 229)
We will be especially focusing on Week 2 of the Spiritual Exercises, which deal with Our Lady and Our Lord’s hidden life.
You can see the prayers that are usually recommended for this period here:
Week 3: Knowledge of Our Lord
For the third week, St Louis writes:
“During the third week they should seek to understand Jesus Christ better. They may read and meditate on what we have already said about him.” (n. 230)
For the prayers, he writes:
“They may say the prayer of St. Augustine which they will find at the beginning of the second part of this book [n. 67]. Again with St. Augustine, they may pray repeatedly, ‘Lord, that I may know you,’ or ‘Lord, that I may see.’ As during the previous week, they should recite the Litany of the Holy Spirit and the Ave Maris Stella, adding every day the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus.” (n. 230)
We will be especially focusing on Weeks 2-4 of the Spiritual Exercises, which focus on Our Lord’s ministry, Passion and Resurrection.
You can see the prayers that are usually recommended for this period here:
The day of the consecration
St Louis says what should happen on “Day 34”, the last day – for us, Christmas Eve:
“At the end of these three weeks they should go to confession and Holy Communion with the intention of consecrating themselves to Jesus through Mary as slaves of love. When receiving Holy Communion they could follow the method given later on. They then recite the act of consecration which is given at the end of this book. If they do not have a printed copy of the act, they should write it out or have it copied and then sign it on the very day they make it.
“It would be very becoming if on that day they offered some tribute to Jesus and his Mother, either as a penance for past unfaithfulness to the promises made in baptism or as a sign of their submission to the sovereignty of Jesus and Mary. Such a tribute would be in accordance with each one’s ability and fervour and may take the form of fasting, an act of self-denial, the gift of an alms or the offering of a votive candle. If they gave only a pin as a token of their homage, provided it were given with a good heart, it would satisfy Jesus who considers only the good intention.” (nn. 231-2)
The Spiritual Exercises end with the “Contemplation to Attain the Love of God,” which is especially appropriate in its form for making St Louis de Montfort’s consecration.
Some may find it difficult to confess on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day – although having 33 day’s notice might make it easier to arrange in advance. Nonetheless, if this is foreseen as impossible then it seems reasonable enough to go a few days in advance.
What we have planned here is a major, multi-faceted endeavour – and while it might look straightforward from the outside, it is consistently daunting to contemplate how much is involved in running it. Please keep us in your prayers as we approach the start.
We invite readers to consult our previous article on the topic (which deals with a few questions or objections), and those which we will shortly be publishing on the devotion itself.
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Read Next:
Books
True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (St Louis de Montfort)
The Foot of the Cross: Or the Sorrows of Mary (Fr Faber)
Mariology, Vol. II (Fr Juniper Carol OFM)
Mariology (Fr Matthias Scheeben)
Mother of the Saviour and our Interior Life (Fr Garrigou-Lagrange)
Sacrae Theologiae Summa IIIA: On the Incarnate Word, On the Blessed Virgin Mary
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Here is the text that appears in the Acta Sanctae Sedis, Vol. XLI, 1908, pp. 167-9, for 24 Dec. 1907. It consists of Pope Leo XIII’s text, along with the prayer of St Louis itself, and Pope St Pius X’s extension of the indulgence.
The plenary indulgence for the special consecration to the Virgin Mother of God is extended in perpetuity.
LEO XIII
FOR THE PERPETUAL REMEMBRANCE OF THE MATTERWith pious charity directed toward the increase of the faithful’s devotion and the salvation of souls through the heavenly treasures of the Church, we mercifully grant and bestow in the Lord a plenary indulgence and remission of all their sins to all and each of the religious of the twofold congregation founded by Blessed Louis Marie Grignon de Montfort—namely, the Missionary Fathers of the Society of Mary and the Daughters of Wisdom—as well as to all the faithful of both sexes who have resolved to piously renew each year the special consecration to the Virgin Mother of God, which the Blessed himself composed.
This applies to those who, truly penitent and having confessed and been refreshed by Holy Communion, devoutly visit on the feast day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mother of God and on the twenty-eighth day of April either their own church of the respective pious house, or otherwise their parish church, from first vespers until sunset of these days each year, and there pour forth pious prayers to God for the concord of Christian princes, the extirpation of heresies, the conversion of sinners, and the exaltation of Holy Mother Church. On whichever of the aforesaid days they do this, they may also apply this indulgence by way of suffrage to the souls of the Christian faithful who, having been consumed in charity with God, have departed from this life.
The present letters are to be valid for seven years. Moreover, we will that to transcripts or copies of the present letters, even printed ones, subscribed by the hand of some public notary and furnished with the seal of a person constituted in ecclesiastical dignity, the same faith be given as would be given to the present letters themselves if they were exhibited or shown.
Given at Rome at St. Peter’s under the Ring of the Fisherman, on the 25th day of February 1896, in the eighteenth year of Our Pontificate.
For the Lord Cardinal DE RUGGIERO
N. Marini, Substitute
Pope St Pius X’s extension
We extend this in perpetuity.
24 December 1907.
PIUS PP. XAn authentic copy of the present rescript was exhibited to this Sacred Congregation in charge of Indulgences and Sacred Relics. In testimony whereof, etc.
Given at Rome from the Secretariat of the same Sacred Congregation, on the 22nd day of January 1908.
+D. Panici, Archbishop of Laodicea, Secretary.
Here is the Latin original:
Prorogatur in perpetuum indulgentia plenaria pro speciali consecratione Deiparae Virgini.
LEO XIII
AD FUTURAM REI MEMORIAMAd augendam fidelium religionem animarumque salutem coelestibus Ecclesiae thesauris pia charitate intenti omnibus et singulis religiosis geminae congregationis a Beato Ludovico Maria Grignon de Montfort fundatae, nempe Patribus Missionariis Societatis Mariae et Filiabus a Sapientia, nec non et singulis utriusque sexus fidelibus qui quotannis pie renovare censuerunt specialem Deiparae Virgini consecrationem (i), quam Beatus ipse composuit, ac vere poenitentes et confessi et S. Communione refecti die festo Immaculatae Conceptionis Virginis Deiparae ac die vigesimo octavo mensis Aprilis vel propriam respectivae piae domus ecclesiam, secus uniuscuiusque parochialem, a primis vesperis usque ad occasum solis dierum huiusmodi singulis annis devote visitaverint ibique pro christianorum principum concordia, haeresum extirpatione, peccatorum conversione ac S. matris Ecclesiae exaltatione pias ad Deum preces effuderint, qua expraefatis diebus id egerint plenariam omnium peccatorum suorum indulgentiam et remissionem, quam etiam animabus christifidelium quae Deo in charitate consumptae ab hac luce migraverint per modum suffragii applicare possint, misericorditer in Domino concedimus atque elargimur. Praesentibus ad septemnium valituris. Volumus autem ut praesentium litterarum transumptis seu exemplis etiam impressis, manu alicuius notarii publici subscriptis et sigillo personae in ecclesiastica dignitate constitutae munitis, eadem prorsus fides adhibeatur, quae adhiberetur ipsis praesentibus si forent exhibitae vel ostensae.
Datum Romae apud S. Petrum sub annulo Piscatoris, die XXV Februarii MDCCCXCVI, Pontificatus Nostri anno decimo octavo.
Pro Dno Card. DE RUGGIERO
N. Marini, Substitutus
Prorogamus in perpetuum.
Die 24 Decembris 1907.
PIUS PP. XPraesentis rescripti authenticum exemplar exhibitum fuit huic S. C. Indulgentiis Sacrisque Reliquiis praepositae. In quorum fidem etc.
Datum Romae e Secretaria eiusdem S. C., die 22 Ianuarii 1908.
f D. Panici, Archiep. Laodicen., Secretarius.
For example:
https://archive.org/details/secretofmaryunve00grig/
https://archive.org/details/the_secret_of_mary_1926-louis_marie_grignon_de_montfort/
http://www.montfortian.info/writings/files/The-Secret-of-Mary.pdf