Q&A: I fail to see the connection between Consecration to Mary and the renewal of Baptism. Yet this appears to be an essential element of the teachings of Saint Louis de Montfort. Can you help?
Father J. Patrick Gaffney, SMM
Fr. GF, Long Island, NY
Consecration . . .
Montfort calls for consecration to Jesus the Eternal and Incarnate Wisdom so that in the power of the Spirit we may willingly belong to God Alone. For it is only to God Alone that we consecrate ourselves in the strict sense of the term.
Consecration is in itself an absolute “total-belonging-to” which can evidently only be given to God. It is an act of adoration. Baptism is our immersion, our radical and fundamental consecration into Christ Jesus. Now since Montfort’s consecration always has Jesus as the final goal, it is the equivalent to a renewal of our baptism, our initial consecration into the Lord.
In light of the above, where does “consecration to Mary” fit into Montfort’s understanding of consecration as the renewal of baptism? When the saint uses the term “consecration” to Mary, it always has a fundamentally different sense than consecration to Jesus. It is never taken alone, with no reference to Jesus. In Montfort’s eyes that would be blasphemous. “Consecration” to Mary is always understood by Saint Louis in the broad sense, as an effective means of consecrating ourselves more intensely and immediately to Christ Jesus.
. . . and Baptism
It is for this reason that Pope John Paul often refers to “entrustment” to Mary of our consecration to Christ, which is solidly in line with Montfort’s thought. Since “consecration” to Mary is promoted so that we may belong more profoundly to Jesus, then “consecration” (entrustment) to Mary is equivalent to the renewal of baptism.
But there are other reasons why consecration to Mary is linked with the renewal of baptism. Baptism is our yes to Jesus, our total surrender to His omnipotent, saving love. Mary is the example of such surrender. Her fiat at the annunciation is the model of the absolute consecration which all make to the Lord in baptism.
Moreover, she made that consecration at the annunciation not only in her name but also in the name of the entire human race. Each one of us must make that “family” Yes of Mary our own. She spoke in our name. We must join into that Yes. This is formally accomplished through the perfect consecration to Jesus recommended by Saint Louis de Montfort.
Total Consecration To Jesus
Finally, Mary as the mother of all Christians, truly influences us to join with her in total consecration to her Son. She moves us to renew and live out our baptism into Christ Jesus so that we may be one with Him in His consecration in the Spirit to the Father.
For all of these reasons, it can be said that “consecration” to Mary as taught by Saint Louis de Montfort is the equivalent of the renewal of baptism.
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The Baptism of Christ: Italian Renaissance Painter: Andrea del Verrocchio (Teacher to Leonardo da Vinci): 1472-1475
This painting was started by the teacher of Leonardo. Leonardo worked a little on this painting near the time it was finished (1475). Notice God the Father and Holy Spirit at the top of the painting.
