{"id":99918,"date":"2015-03-25T07:30:42","date_gmt":"2015-03-25T12:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austincnm.com\/?p=99918"},"modified":"2015-03-25T09:37:37","modified_gmt":"2015-03-25T14:37:37","slug":"5-reasons-to-do-marian-consecration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2015\/03\/5-reasons-to-do-marian-consecration\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Reasons to do Marian Consecration"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"5<\/p>\n

In the fall of 2006, a friend introduced me to a book called True Devotion to Mary<\/i> by St Louis de Montfort, and I can confidently say that there has never been a book that had a greater impact in my spiritual life.<\/p>\n

I was blessed to be raised a cradle Catholic, but it wasn\u2019t until my teenage years that I truly encountered Jesus and truly made Him Lord of my life. In many ways, just like Jesus, Mary was familiar, but\u00a0it would take even more years before I encountered her love and truly became a son of the Blessed Mother.<\/p>\n

\"St

St Louis DeMontfort<\/p><\/div>\n

Even though I read True Devotion to Mary<\/i> and became convinced that Total Consecration to Mary was something important to do in my faith life, I hesitated and let many personal fears and insecurities get in the way of committing to the process. It took me another 5 years<\/a> to finally realize how silly it was for me to hold back because I felt so unworthy to give myself to such an extent to the purest and most holy Virgin Mary. I believed the lies of my unworthiness, and even worse, that she wouldn\u2019t love me, and that I should try it on my own before going through her.<\/p>\n

\"The

The Annunciation<\/p><\/div>\n

On March 25, 2011, the Solemnity of the Annunciation<\/a>, I consecrated myself to Jesus through Mary<\/a>, and the graces I have received through it have been nothing short of incredible. I have passively gone through the renewal each Lent since, but I made a commitment to take my renewal to a new level this year, and I have in awe of how much more the Holy Spirit has revealed to me and inspired me with an ever increasing love and devotion to Our Lady. Most beautifully, it has taken my understanding of the cross to a more intimate level this lent.<\/p>\n

Maybe you\u2019ve had your reasons and hesitations for not doing Marian Consecration, but I will share some reasons to encourage you to consider doing it soon. It only takes a few moments a day for 33 days, and you can choose almost any feast that has anything to do with Mary as your target date.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

5 Reasons to do Marian Consecration<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

1. It pleases Jesus to entrust yourself to her<\/b><\/h3>\n

\u201cNever be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.\u201d<\/p>\n

-Saint Maximilian Kolbe<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201dJesus honored her before all ages, and will honor her for all ages. No one comes to Him, nor even near Him, no one is saved or sanctified, if he too will not honor her. This is the lot of Angels and of men.\u201d<\/p>\n

-Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Martyr<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Our

Our Lady of Sorrows<\/p><\/div>\n

2. On the cross Jesus commanded us to take Mary into our homes (our hearts) <\/b><\/h3>\n

“If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his Brother.”<\/p>\n

-Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Martyr<\/em><\/p>\n

“Mary seeks for those who approach her devoutly and with reverence, for such she loves, nourishes, and adopts as her children.”<\/p>\n

-Saint Bonaventure, Doctor of the Church<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

3. Mary\u2019s greatest desire is for our greater unity with her Son, Jesus<\/b><\/h3>\n

“We never give more honor to Jesus than when we honor his Mother, and we honor her simply and solely to honor him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek – Jesus, her Son.”<\/p>\n

-Saint Louis Marie de Montfort<\/em><\/p>\n

“The reason why Christ is unknown today is because His Mother is unknown.”<\/p>\n

-Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n