I can't recommend enough reading this book, even if you are not doing the consecration. It is very powerful, and speaks a lot about these times I believe we are living in and the role Mary plays in these times. It is truly inspiring reading and St. Louis had to have been deeply inspired by the Holy Spirit while writing it. I plan on posting some excerpts from it for our motivation throughout this consecration.
I'm the queen of unfinished projects and the need to do things "perfectly"...sounds like we have a lot in common! Part of why I started my initial threads was to publicly state I was going to do this so that wouldn't back out. I know as a group we'll finish this strong and it's always the very end of a project where I lose steam.
Yesterday was a day to consider approaching this consecration with generosity & zeal. while listening to Mother Angelica on EWTN radio yesterday, she happened to be talking about consecrations to Mary and she stated (paraphrasing): You can get closer to Jesus through Mary in 1 day than you could in 20 years on your own. Wow! Incredible!! Let us remember this phrase when our zeal starts to fizzle.
ABSOLUTELY! If Mother Mary who was without sin still entered the temple with Christ to be cleansed, and is so humble and obedient ... who are we to be otherwise or to think that we don't need confession regularly? I have to keep tabs on myself daily! We learn so much by her. Oh my gosh... look at the forgiveness that she had whilst they were doing what they did to her son. How many of us could have done this? It wasn't easy to remain in God's will all the time with the trials that she had but she managed it well. Even when they were crucifying her son, she forgave them instantly. To do so otherwise would have been placing herself outside of The Father's Will.. Yes, indeed we can learn so much from her. I have no excuse for my unforgiveness when I look at her. By looking at her example she gave me the courage to ask God to forgive others.
33 Day Thought of the Day Preparing to give ourselves fully and live out our devotion to Mary. Turning over our will 100% to God's will and trusting that this will produce good fruit...even when we don't see it or understand it. Detachment from our will and embracing God's will...so hard to do, especially for me as I am very stubborn. I am and have been trying to detach myself from what is probably not God's will with the small stuff first. For instance...it's probably not God's will that I listen to as much political talk radio as I was at one point. But I was very attached to talk radio, but knew it didn't leave me feeling very peaceful. I forced myself to listen to more EWTN when in the car. Then, somehow just recently I turned a corner and only listen to EWTN when in the car now. whenever I switch the station back to talk radio, I cringe as now that I am more detached from it, I realize how harsh political talk radio can be. Now I need to take the same attitude with larger attachments. I really need to ponder what I am clinging to in my life that is probably not God's will for me.
Leading up to the November presidential elections, I read everybit of political news that I could, but the bitter day after the results, I stopped cold visiting 2 websites that are very partisan and I can say that 5 months later, I feel better. (My family is glad, too!) I was really bitter before and now I am a little bitter, but not as much. Now my detachment has to come from stepping out of my comfort zone and become a servant in the ways that I interact with my family members and other people in my community. I have many barriers that I need to demolish.
Thanks PotatoSack--I agree--this helps us to be accountable. Funny that the readings for Day 2 were about being "perfect"! I feel confident though that we are to TRY to be perfect and our Blessed Mother understands that we often fall short...
Yes Mary Ann, while it is good to be informed and involved, sometimes it is better to "detach" from these worldly concerns (as important as they may be) and focus on our own day-to-day witness with humility, perseverance and prayer. This is always a hard balance for me also.
I've seen that Glenn has posted a new thread with the great news that Pope Francis wants to consecrate his pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima, and it seems that this will take place on May 13. It has struck me deeply that this is the date of our consecration that we are preparing for in this thread. Isn't this AWESOME!!! Our Blessed Mother I think may want us to "adopt" Pope Francis in our consecration group and pray for him very specially. What a providence of God through Mary!! This is the piece of news:
yes, leading up to the election I was drinking in all the political news as well. It was such an important election for our country on so many levels. I was stunned by the election results, but I almost immediately felt this is God's will for us. I mean, super-storm sandy rolls in and that impacted voter's opinions of obama and it sealed the election for him. So, God's will...we got the leader we deserve and not the leader we need at this time (I'm not saying Romney was the leader either, but he seemed better). Regardless...I now feel like time on political sites is wasted time...who knows the state of the world and country for the next election. I have my doubts there will be another election. which is all the more reason for me to focus on my conversion and not politics.
You and I think alike WCWTS!!! We join Pope Francis in spirit and prayers as we prepare for our consecration! I would imagine even he will be opening the True Devotion to Mary book just as we are before the consecration day! How awesome is that!! I don't mean to imply that he needs to prepare as we do...but he's so humble he probably will do some prep prayers from the True Devotion book. we are all putting on our battle armor for the battle ahead! Oh, Mother Mary guide us all!!
I also felt that way,..I don't even bother watching political news, all I hear now is blah, blah, blah,.. there is no hope that things will improve with a new President,..everything has been set in motion,..think of all the time he has to do so much damage. Always on vacation,..a slap in the face of many Americans who are struggling to make ends meet. The only hope is in Our Lady who is gathering her children for the decisive battle. Pope Francis is giving us a clear sign with his coming consecration to Our Lady of Fatima.
What a privilege to join the Vicar of Christ on that special day. I'm sure even my Mom, Christine, who is in heaven, rejoices. She converted from the Evangelical and Reformed Church of PA because of Our Lady of Fatima! God will accomplish something decisive and wondrously marvelous through Pope Francis...a pivotal step in Mary's soon-and-coming Triumph! It is no accident that on this Day 2, the focus in 33 Days to Morning Glory was on Marian Popes, the very day we received this precious news. Alleluia! We must encourage one another for JoeJerk will rage against us and put up obstacles. Let us not be deterred. Pray for Pope Francis' protection! Remember what Pope Benedict said in Fatima in 2010: We would be mistaken to think that Fatima’s prophetic mission is complete...May the seven years which separate us from the centenary of the apparitions hasten the fulfilment of the prophecy of the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to the glory of the Most Holy Trinity. Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!
Every morning, I do the morning offering to Jesus through Our lady. My consecration date is April 28. I'm wondering if I will need to continue that prayer after my total consecration,...I'm thinking I may not need to anymore. Thoughts,..anyone?
What great news about Pope Francis on May 13th. I hope many Bishops join in...would it be appropriate to invite my bishop?
I too do the morning offering to Jesus through Our Lady every morning. Not sure if it is the same that you do. This is the prayer I recite: It takes practically no time to pray it, but I rejoice for the rest of the day that I've done this. There a flip side to the beautiful preparation of 33 days for consecration to Jesus through Mary, and it is that after all the "effort" or enthusiasm of the preparation, and the "high" of the day of consecration if we stop everything then we grow colder very fast. There has to be some form of very simple commitment to remind ourselves everyday, and to renew the consecration. To me this has been very significant. The morning offering might be something you may want to use in the future, not as preparation but as the fruit of your consecration, almost like a daily necessary reminder and re-commitment. Ultimately we make all these prayers because WE need them. Although it is also true that God "needs" our prayers to pour His graces upon us without violating our free will. This is my 2 cents to your question, Sunburst. And good to know that you too are in the same boat with many of us
I've planned to read also one or two of the Medjugorje messages daily (which I haven't read yet) as part of the preparation for consecration. This is the very beautiful one that I got today: I find it soooooooooooo very beautiful and inspiring as we are trying to pray especially every day to grow closer to Mary. Wow! She wants this to be a joy to us. So I will be praying for all of us for the grace to be aware of the joy of the encounter with the Lord when we say any little or big prayer, and especially during these days of preparation for renewal of consecration.
Im sure this is no coincidence Pope Francis is requesting this. By now he will have read the 'entire ' third secret, and the dossier given to him by Benedict.He must know what is coming , and to whom he must turn to. Our Lord said the consecration will be done "BUT IT WILL BE LATE." well its getting pretty late!
I think it is in the nature of this pope to do this and he hasn't needed the inspiration of a document. Although yes, he probably has read it Mac. I am just so excited about this pope. He is indeed a very special man. I love John Paul and Benedict too for very different reasons..
