Lenten Consecration – Prepare for Battle!
Fr. Rick Heilman | Feb 20, 2012 | Comments 8
In a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, the Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary (according to the method of St. Louis de Montfort) begins this year on Ash Wednesday (February 22nd) and concludes with the act of consecration on the Solemnity of the Annunciation (March 26th this year, moved because of the 5th Sunday of Lent).
This year, the Total Consecration lines up perfectly with the season of Lent! This has only happened three times since de Montfort’s death (1716), and it will not happen again until 2164.
The spirituality of the Total Consecration fits well with Lent: It is the perfect renewal of our baptismal promises, which is precisely what the season of Lent is all about as we prepare together with the catechumens for the Easter Vigil.
February 22 – Ash Wednesday: Begin 33-Day Prep for Consecration
March 23 – Stand Up For Religious Freedom
March 26 – Consecration to Jesus through Mary
March 30 – 7:00 PM Mass for the beginning of 40 Hours Devotion
March 30 – April 1 (Palm Sunday) – 40 Hours Devotion
“Consecration is the act of offering something, and setting it aside, for holy use. When we consecrate ourselves to Jesus through Mary, we offer ourselves for his use. We abandon our plans and desires in service to the saving work of Christ. This isn’t easy-and we need help. When we consecrate ourselves through Mary, we ask her to pray for us and to guide us as we offer ourselves to Christ. We follow after Mary as she follows after Christ-”Be it done unto me according to your will” –Bishop James Conley
We must take up this noble weapon (rosary), and wage spiritual warfare, asking Mary, Queen of our Army, the Church Militant, to lead us in this fight, this battle against religious freedom, and the battle against the dignity and sanctity of human life that is threatened through contraception, abortion, euthanasia. We must pray for the upholding of marriage and family life!
33 Day Preparation
The 33-day preparation includes a preliminary period of twelve days during which we endeavor “to free ourselves from the spirit of the world.” This initial 12 days is followed by a second period of three weeks. The first of these three weeks is devoted to the knowledge of ourselves, the second to that of the Blessed Virgin and the third to that of Jesus Christ.
Consecration
The object of this consecration is to cast off the spirit of the world, which is contrary to that of Jesus Christ, in order to acquire fully the spirit of Jesus Christ through the Blessed Virgin. Hence the practices suggested by St. Louis De Montfort: renouncement of the world and knowledge of self, of the Blessed Virgin and of Jesus Christ.
DAILY PRAYERS ONLINE: DAY ONE
ORDER 33-DAY PREPARATION BOOKLET: AMAZON
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Fr. Rick….Heard you today on Family Life on relevant radio. Really want to do this…Have a niece whom her marriage is being challenged…they are separated. Want to do this for her marriage. Is this okay?
Prepare for Battle…
Soldier reporting for duty.
Behold, “I am the handmaid of the Lord”
Rhonda
Absolutely! Before offering prayers for others, we need to be sure we are “God Strong.” This way, God’s grace can more easily surge through us to others.
Thanks Fr. Rick…So many things have been put before me to do this.
“God Strong”…Is Powerful! I had a nephew whom went into Border Patrol…He is my Godchild. He wanted to be on the Special Force Team. So last Sept. he had to report to Texas for this special training. Some of this training envolved almost 2 weeks without sleep. For some time I have been doing the Divine Mercy chaplet at 3 in the afternoon. So the day he left I put him in Jesus hands and said 3 times “Jesus I trust in you.” I than devoted myself for him to say it both at 3 in the afternoon and also set an alarm to say it for Him at 3 in the morning. Also had him included in my prayers when I do my rosary. God’s grace has surged….HE MADE IT!! Only 30 of them made it out of over 100 and some. Quite a few times it felt like I could feel him drawing strength.
Lots more to say…especially all what has been put before me to do this.
Can I ask you to keep me in your prayers and also for Erica and Josh Hammond’s marriage.
All Glory and Praise to God,
Rhonda
I got ‘em covered.
We are living in the days of recovery – a recovery from a secular assault that left us doubting God would use His supernatural strength through us. We just let our religion become a glorified self-help seminar, while evil gained control on every front.
Protect your “state of grace” at all cost, and let God do amazing things through you!
THANK YOU SOOOOoo MUCH!!
Always love listening to you when on the Radio.
Thanks for ALL you do. Your words touches lives.
God Bless!!
Fr. Rick,
I am on board. I did the basic training last lent and have learned that through prayer I have overcome my sinful habits. I have to stay at it. Consecration in this way sounds like a way to improve on the daily rosary I have continued since last lent. I look forward to this journey.
Dan
Father–Can you confirm that there is an indulgence that goes along with Consecration, I read that this week.
Fr. Rick…
Checking back in….Soldier getting some reinforcements.
Did you ever hear of the 6 Visionaries in Medjugorje? On March 18, 2012 our Lady appeared to Mirjana…she does now every year on her birthday…If you would like to read about her message she received that day this is a website to do so it is:
http://www.medjugorje.com/medjugorje/the-10-secrets.html.
Her message she gave Mirjana…WOW!!
This was the whole message:
“Dear children! I am coming among you because I desire to be your mother – your intercessor. I desire to be the bond between you and the Heavenly Father – your mediatrix. I desire to take you by the hand and to walk with you in the battle against the impure spirit. My children, consecrate yourselves to me completely. I will take your lives into my motherly hands and I will teach them peace and love, and then I will give them over to my Son. I am asking of you to pray and fast because only in this way will you know how to witness my Son in the right way through my motherly heart. Pray for your shepherds that, united in my Son, they can always joyfully proclaim the Word of God. Thank you.”
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I started doing the “Total Consecration” back in Feb…than I guess reading our Ladies Message to Mirjana and the words “Consecrate yourself to me completely” Really has my Spirit stirred!
Reinforcements delivered.
God Bless,
Rhonda