Total Consecration: A Way of Life

I t has been my privilege over the years, as managing editor of the Queen of All Hearts Magazine, to answer [over the years] questions relating to the de Montfort Consecration to Jesus through Mary. As we live in an impatient “rush, rush” society, the question is invariably: “Father, can you tell me in a few words, what this de Montfort Consecration is all about and how to live it?” (And, of course, they expect a full explanation and, as briefly as possible. …)

What I generally tell them is that this consecration To Jesus, Through the hands of Mary, is not just a devotion, it’s a way of spiritual life in union with Jesus and Mary; it is nothing more, nothing less than a perfect renewal of our Baptismal promises. And when we talk about our Baptismal Vows, we’re talking about the promises we made the day of our Baptism, when we consecrated our entire lives to Jesus Christ, Eternal and Incarnate Wisdom, and promised to live out that consecration to the best of our ability for the rest of our lives. In other words, it’s Christian life at its best.

Why does de Montfort say it is a perfect way to renew and live the baptismal promises? Because we consecrate ourselves to Jesus the way He gave himself to us; in and through Mary. St. Louis de Montfort knows that: “In holy baptism we do not give ourselves to Jesus explicitly through Mary – but by this consecration we give ourselves explicitly to Jesus Through Mary’s hands and we include in our consecration the value of all our actions, etc. ” (T.D. #/26)

The de Montfort Act of Consecration To Jesus Through Mary is therefore the initial step leading us to what Pope John Paul II has termed, “Marian Spirituality.” In his Marian Year (1987) encyclical, Mother of the Redeemer, the Holy Father has singled out St. Louis de Montfort: “ among the many witnesses and teachers of this spirituality, the figure of St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, who proposes consecration to Christ through the hands of Mary, as an effective means for Christians to live faithfully their baptismal commitments.” (No. 48)

Since this way of life is described by Montfort himself as “a smooth, short, perfect and sure way of obtaining union with Our Lord, in which Christian perfection consists” (T.D. No. 152), I cannot resist quoting from these two paragraphs which follow upon the above quotation:

“This devotion is a smooth way. It is the path which Jesus Christ opened up in coming to us and in which there is no obstruction to prevent our reaching him. It is quite true that we can attain to divine union by other roads, but these involve many more crosses and exceptional set-backs and many difficulties that we cannot easily overcome. We would have to pass through spiritual darkness, engage in struggles for which we are not prepared, endure bitter agonies, scale precipitous mountains, tread upon painful thorns, and cross frightful deserts. But when we take the path of Mary, we walk smoothly and calmly.”

“It is true that on our way we have hard battles to fight and serious obstacles to overcome, but Mary, our Mother and Queen, stays close to her faithful servants. She is always at hand to brighten their darkness, clear away their doubts, strengthen them in their fears, sustain them in their combats and trials. Truly, in comparison with other ways, this virgin road to Jesus is a path of roses and sweet delight.”

At this point, dear reader, you must be saying to yourself. “This Consecration is deeper stuff than I thought; that it is meant to lead a soul to a profound union and relationship with Jesus and Mary. Well, you’re perfectly right, because de Montfort’s charism, his very special mission in the Church is to lead souls to perfect union with Jesus through Mary. If you want to know why St. Louis de Montfort’s Marian Spirituality is so powerful, read the following brief excerpt from a confidential conversation our Saint had with his best friend (later to be his first biographer), Canon Jean Baptiste Blain. Here is how Blain puts it:

“During his visit with me, he confided that God had favored him with a very special grace, which was the continual presence of Jesus and Mary in the very depths of his soul. I found it difficult to understand the nature of such a lofty gift – but I didn’t want to ask him to explain it to me – perhaps he couldn’t have explained it himself because, in the area of mystical experiences there are workings of grace in a soul that remain a mystery even to those who are favored with them . . ”

Obviously, such is the depth and height to which this Consecration, with the help of the Holy Spirit can lead a soul fully living this life in union with Jesus and Mary.