Total Consecration

[HisChildForever]

[quote]The consecration takes 33 days to prepare for, and is well worth it.[/quote]

Actually, at the back of my book, there is a layout for preparation: 12 days (renouncing the world), first week, second week, third week. And then the consecration prayer comes after the third week. Now my book says to go to Confession and receive Communion - does it have to be on the same day you consecrate? Or can it be before?

[quote]I suggest picking a Marian feast to do it on, though, and the book has instructions on that.[/quote]

Right, I also personally feel that it has more meaning to do it this way.

[quote]or do the 7-day version, speed it up a little, and make it in time for the Assumption on the 15th![/quote]

That is very ambitious, but I would rather not. I would really like to take my time reading this book (even though it's not long at all!) and building a relationship with Mary before consecrating. I feel that a lot of prayer needs to be involved. If if feel called to consecrate, December 8th would be a pretty darn good day. It's a Marian feast day and a Holy Day of Obligation.

Although, December 8th is a Monday so the Obligation may not take hold, seeing as the feast day would be celebrated on the Sunday before, right? This ties in to my earlier question - couldn't I just go to Confession that Saturday, the day before?

[Lil Red]

+J.M.J.+
be prepared to have your socks knocked off if you do the consecration. Mary will lead you deeper to her Son.

and as far as receiving the Eucharist/going to Confession, i believe the same rules apply as to an indulgence. you have an eight day time frame. but it would be neat if you could go the day of your consecration.

btw, it's actually thirty four days. you prep for thirty three, and make your consecration on the thirty fourth day. God bless you! Lil Red

[HisChildForever]

[quote]be prepared to have your socks knocked off if you do the consecration. Mary will lead you deeper to her Son.[/quote]

I was going to ask earlier but I forgot, and now you've reminded me.

For those of you who have consecrated, how is your faith life now compared to what it was before you consecrated? Do you feel more intimately connected with Christ? etc.

[mommas_boy]

[quote name='HisChildForever' post='1622236' date='Aug 8 2008, 11:19 PM']Actually, at the back of my book, there is a layout for preparation: 12 days (renouncing the world), first week, second week, third week. And then the consecration prayer comes after the third week. Now my book says to go to Confession and receive Communion - does it have to be on the same day you consecrate? Or can it be before?[/quote]

True Devotion has the outline, but the free book has all of the prayers that you will need for the consecration. The book that you have only tells you references for the prayers that you should pray out of several other books (Imitation of Christ, True Devotion, The Bible, The Secret of Mary, and then about a dozen other prayers and litanies). I heartily recommend getting the little free book, because it has all of them in one place, without having to flip back and forth between multiple books. Such a pain.

Nonetheless, True Devotion is required reading.

As to your questions, I agree with Lil Red. It's best to do it all on the same day. Make it a big day for yourself. Celebrate. I crowned the statue of Our Lady in our Newman Center with a crown of roses I made when I first consecrated. Along this vein, I feel that confession on the day of consecration is only fitting.

[quote]Right, I also personally feel that it has more meaning to do it this way.
That is very ambitious, but I would rather not. I would really like to take my time reading this book (even though it's not long at all!) and building a relationship with Mary before consecrating. I feel that a lot of prayer needs to be involved.[/quote]

You are taking the proper perspective on this. Think of it like a wedding; you're still at the dating phase. Take it slow.

[quote]If if feel called to consecrate, December 8th would be a pretty darn good day. It's a Marian feast day and a Holy Day of Obligation.[/quote]

That's when I did it! I will be renewing my consecration on that day as well.

Prayers,
Kris

[Lil Red]

[quote name='HisChildForever' post='1622270' date='Aug 8 2008, 10:00 PM']I was going to ask earlier but I forgot, and now you've reminded me.

For those of you who have consecrated, how is your faith life now compared to what it was before you consecrated? Do you feel more intimately connected with Christ? etc.[/quote]
+J.M.J.+
i'm deeper in my faith. more childlike, not childish. i pray a lot more, go to Mass every day (except no one here has a daily Saturday Mass ). but it wasn't a noticeable change (just preparing you!). it wasn't like the day after my consecration, i woke up more holy or something. but i did start to listen more to what God was calling me to do (funny how after you listen to your Mom, your dad makes more sense some times! )

btw, some people are constantly attacked by the devil during their consecration, others moreso afterwards. so be prepared for that - pray accordingly! st michael prayer, rosary, etc.

[mommas_boy]

[quote name='HisChildForever' post='1622270' date='Aug 9 2008, 12:00 AM']I was going to ask earlier but I forgot, and now you've reminded me.

For those of you who have consecrated, how is your faith life now compared to what it was before you consecrated? Do you feel more intimately connected with Christ? etc.[/quote]

Well, Momma changed my discernment 180* ... LOL. The same happened for my best friend in college, though he went 360* so to speak.

In terms of my relationship with Christ, the preparation and the consecration itself matured my faith. I am the Catholic that I am today because of the consecration. Hands down. I went from a very legalistic faith, to a tender devotion to our Lady and to Christ. It was so pervasive, and it touched every aspect of my faith, to the point that it's difficult to come up with example stories. But, it was also very subtle. It was a shift in attitude at its core, rather than practice, because the practice was already there, but without the deep love that I have now. It's difficult to explain past that.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='mommas_boy' post='1622286' date='Aug 8 2008, 10:33 PM']But, it was also very subtle. It was a shift in attitude at its core, rather than practice, because the practice was already there, but without the deep love that I have now. It's difficult to explain past that.[/quote]
+J.M.J.+
totally agreed,

[mommas_boy]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1622289' date='Aug 9 2008, 12:37 AM']+J.M.J.+
totally agreed, [/quote]

Yeah, thank you for emphasizing that for me. I don't think that I put the proper emphasis on that point before, and it's an important one.

[HisChildForever]

You guys put it so beautifully.

I didn't have time to begin the book this afternoon, since I had to get ready/drive to work. But on my drive I was thinking about Mary and I didn't utter one cuss at the bad drivers. (Which is a huge accomplishment for me, you have no idea... )

[quote]btw, some people are constantly attacked by the devil during their consecration, others moreso afterwards. so be prepared for that - pray accordingly! st michael prayer, rosary, etc.[/quote]

Oh my.

[mommas_boy]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1622283' date='Aug 9 2008, 12:28 AM']btw, some people are constantly attacked by the devil during their consecration, others moreso afterwards. so be prepared for that - pray accordingly! st michael prayer, rosary, etc.[/quote]

Indeed. I do have a story of preparing for my consecration where the devil mocked our Lady. It's not fit for these phorums, however.

Edited August 9, 2008 by mommas_boy

[HisChildForever]

[quote name='mommas_boy' post='1622301' date='Aug 9 2008, 12:58 AM']Indeed. I do have a story of preparing for my consecration where the devil mocked our Lady. It's not fit for these phorums, however.[/quote]

Oh my gosh. Has every person who has consecrated experienced things like this? (Well, I know you don't know everyone [b]personally[/b] but you know that I mean.)

[johnnydigit]

[quote name='HisChildForever' post='1622270' date='Aug 8 2008, 10:00 PM']I was going to ask earlier but I forgot, and now you've reminded me.

For those of you who have consecrated, how is your faith life now compared to what it was before you consecrated? Do you feel more intimately connected with Christ? etc.[/quote]

ya, i feel more like a woman.








j/k.

mine was more subtle and gradual i think too. Our Lady was already working with me long before the consecration. i didn't really prepare for it, i read de Montfort's book on the plane to Poland. i certainly didn't know about the seriousness of it like was mentioned by the OP. i just went along with it because i knew i had nothing to lose and it could only help. plus my friends were all doing it and i didn't want to disappoint the missionaries

even now i would probably do it if i hadn't done so already. it just seems like the next step in the evolution of the Christian.

in general, what i know for sure is that Our Lady has given me a love for her, a greater love for Jesus, for my own mother, and for the faith and all its fullness (Scripture, charity, gentleness, faith, etc.). [b]she is indispensable[/b].

[Lil Red]

+J.M.J.+
[quote name='mommas_boy' post='1622301' date='Aug 8 2008, 10:58 PM']Indeed. I do have a story of preparing for my consecration where the devil mocked our Lady. It's not fit for these phorums, however.[/quote] my friends have those kind of stories too.


[quote name='HisChildForever' post='1622306' date='Aug 8 2008, 11:11 PM']Oh my gosh. Has every person who has consecrated experienced things like this? (Well, I know you don't know everyone [b]personally[/b] but you know that I mean.)[/quote]
well, i haven't, but my friends have.

[Justin86]

[quote name='HisChildForever' post='1622236' date='Aug 9 2008, 12:19 PM']Actually, at the back of my book, there is a layout for preparation: 12 days (renouncing the world), first week, second week, third week. And then the consecration prayer comes after the third week. Now my book says to go to Confession and receive Communion - does it have to be on the same day you consecrate? Or can it be before?[/quote]
Well, God likes to work real slow with me and sometimes He even likes to send me on detours (which really make me mad at Him, actually). Even though I made the consecration, wow, probably at least 6, 7 years ago I'm really only now starting to see some fruit from it, and understanding what it actually means.

[mommas_boy]

[quote name='HisChildForever' post='1622306' date='Aug 9 2008, 01:11 AM']Oh my gosh. Has every person who has consecrated experienced things like this? (Well, I know you don't know everyone [b]personally[/b] but you know that I mean.)[/quote]

The devil attacks us every day. This is not something that you should be shocked of. Nor should it give you pause before doing the consecration. You are a Catholic Christian! You are already in this war, whether you like it or not, and you have a big target on your head where you were anointed with Holy Chrism in baptism and confirmation.

The only difference between this kind of attack is its overt nature, as compared to the more typical subtle attacks that we experience every day. The devil simply levelled his guns and stated his intentions. But we all already [b]know[/b] what his intentions are; he makes them clear to us every day: death to all those who are obedient to Christ. But the war has already been won! We have only to stay by His side until the end, and when we fall, to get back up and rush to him. Like baby ducks under their mother's wings, we trust in the maternal protection of Mary to see us through, too.

Stories of demonic attacks should only [b]increase[/b] devotion as we huddle all the more closely to our Lord.