Act of Consecration by Ven. Pope Pius XII

Holy Mother Church devotes the month of October to the Holy Rosary and specifically honors our Lady of the Rosary on October 7.

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“The Rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight and to keep oneself from sin…If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors.” – Pope Pius XI

 

Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of all, to fulfil the desires of the Sacred Heart and the request of the Vicar of thy Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to thy Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to thee, all the people of our country and all the world. Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as thou wish to accomplish thy designs upon the world. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully. We come with confidence to thee, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed thy own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes thy shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with thy rule, triumphant in every heart and home.

 --By Ven. Pope Pius XII

“Go to the Madonna. Love her! Always say the Rosary. Say it well. Say it as often as you can! Be souls of prayer. Never tire of praying, it is what is essential. Prayer shakes the Heart of God, it obtains necessary graces!” -St. Padre Pio

God bless!

+JMJ+

St. Alphonsus Liguori's Consecration to Mary

St. Louis de Montfort wrote, “Our entire perfection consists in being conformed, united, and consecrated to Jesus Christ. Hence the most perfect of all devotions is undoubtedly that which conforms, unites and consecrates us most perfectly to Jesus Christ.  Now, since Mary is of all creatures the one most conformed to Jesus Christ, it follows that among all devotions that which most consecrates and conforms a soul to our Lord is devotion to Mary, his Holy Mother, and that the more a soul is consecrated to her, the more will it be consecrated to Jesus Christ.”

The custom of dedicating the month of May to the Blessed Virgin Mary began in the 13th century, and by the end of the 1800s, the devotion was universally accepted and encouraged throughout the Church. It is the oldest instance of a devotion extending over an entire month.  During this month it is fitting to consecrate oneself to our Lady, to express our love and devotion to her.  May we always strive to imitate our Blessed Mother, heeding her call to prayer and penance for our souls and for the whole world.

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Dedication of One's Self to Mary

Most holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, I., N., although most unworthy to be thy servant, yet moved by thy wonderful compassion and by my desire to serve thee, I now choose thee, in the presence of my Guardian Angel and of the whole Celestial court, for my especial Lady, Advocate and Mother: and I firmly purpose always to love and serve thee for the future and to do whatever I can to induce others to love and serve thee also. I beseech thee, O Mother of God, and my most compassionate and loving Mother, by the Blood which thy Son shed for me, to receive me in the number of thy servants, to be thy child and servant forever. Assist me in all my thoughts, words, and actions in every moment of my life, so that every step I take and every breath that I draw may be directed to the greater glory of my God; and through thy most powerful intercession, may I never more offend my beloved Jesus, but may I glorify Him, and love Him in this life, and love thee, my most beloved and dear Mother, and thus love thee and enjoy thee in Heaven for all eternity. Amen. My Mother Mary, I recommend my soul to thee now and especially at the hour of my death.

--St. Alphonsus Liguori

Lovely Rose, if thou dost deign
Love to lavish still on me,
Grant my heart such love to gain
That it die for love of thee.

My Lady, grant this grace to me
To love thee until death;
And when I die, to call on thee
Still with my latest breath.

My hope art thou, O Mary blest,
Sweet star of life's dark sea;
Ah, guide me safe to port of rest,
And open Heaven to me.

--St.Alphonsus Liguori

God bless!

+JMJ+

Consecration to the Admirable Heart of Mary

On August 22 Holy Mother Church celebrates the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. With the words of St. John Eudes in mind, let us strive to honor our Lady's Immaculate Heart, consecrating ourselves to her, making reparation for offenses committed against her, and showing her acts of love and thanksgiving for all she does for us.  Through our daily Rosaries, our five First Saturdays, and many other devotions, may we always strive to honor the Mother of God.

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"Mary is truly admirable in all her perfections and in all her virtues. But what is most admirable in her is her virginal heart. The heart of the Mother of God is a world of marvels, an abyss of wonders, the source and principle of all the virtues which we admire in our glorious Queen: 'All the glory of the king's daughter is within.'"  He continues, "Her Heart is a vast sea of grace, a measureless ocean of perfections, an immense furnace of love.... O most holy Mary, Thy divine Son, Jesus, hath created thy Heart, and He alone knows the great treasures he has hidden therein. He it was who lit the fire burning in this furnace, and none but He can measure the heights reached by the flames which leap from its abyss. He alone can measure the vast perfections with which He has enriched the masterpiece of His all-powerful goodness, or count the innumerable graces He has poured into this ocean of grace..." --St. John Eudes

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Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation!

Consecration to the Admirable Heart Of Mary

by St. John Eudes

0 most holy Heart of Mary, ever Immaculate, ever Virgin, holiest, purest, noblest, greatest,
inexhaustible fountain of goodness, sweetness, mercy and love; model of every virtue, image of the
Adorable Heart of Jesus Christ ever burning with the most ardent charity, who lovest God more than
all the Seraphim together. Heart of the Mother of the Redeemer, seat of peace, wherein mercy and
justice are allied, whence peace between Heaven and earth has begun to be treated, who didst feel our
miseries so deeply, who didst suffer so much for our salvation, who still lovest us so ardently and
who dost merit by all these rights, the respect, love, and confidence of all men: deign to accept my poor tribute of love.

Prostrate before thee I tender thee the most profound homage of which I am capable; I thank
thee for the feelings of love and mercy with which thou art so deeply moved at the sight of our misery;

I offer thee my humble thanks for all the gifts I have received from thy goodness, and I unite with all
the pure souls who delight in honoring, praising and loving thee. They have learned from the Holy
Spirit Who directs them, that it is through thee they must go to Jesus Christ, and offer to this God-
Man their need of adoration.

Therefore, 0 most loving Heart, thou shalt henceforth be the object of my veneration, of my
love and most tender devotion; thou shalt be the way whereby I shall go to my Saviour, as it is
through thee that His mercy shall come to me; thou shalt be my refuse in every need, my consolation
in every affliction; from thee I shall learn the purity, humility, meekness and above all, the love of
Jesus; I shall ask for these virtues through thy merits and so shall infallibly obtain them. I presume
to offer thee my heart sullied with a thousand sins; all unworthy as it is I trust that thou wilt not
despise it. Grant by thy powerful mediation that it may be purified and detached from every creature;
penetrate it with sorrow for my sins; fill it with the love of the Divine Heart of Jesus, thy Son, that
it may be eternally united with thee in Heaven, there to love God forever. Amen.

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"The Immaculate alone has from God the promise of victory over Satan. She seeks souls that will consecrate themselves entirely to her, that will become in her hands forceful instruments for the defeat of Satan and the spread of God's kingdom." 
 --St. Maximilian Kolbe

God bless!

+JMJ+

Consecration of One's Children to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Merry Christmas to everyone!!!  I pray you are having a holy, joy-filled Christmas season!

I did not mean to stop blogging for so long.  The last few weeks have been busy, but very blessed.  I plan to post more regularly again and hope to write a few extra posts in addition.  I do have two birthdays coming up--one this week and one next--so hopefully I can keep up with my plans.  😊

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Remember you can find prayers for Epiphany and other related posts here, here, here, and here.  I also have a prayer request I would greatly appreciate you to include in your prayers.  I am currently expecting our seventh child, a boy, and until now this pregnancy has been going wonderfully.
However, I had an appointment with my doctor today (a week early because I have been experiencing quite a few headaches lately) and discovered my blood pressure has begun to climb again.  My doctor prescribed blood pressure medicine (labetalol), which I took with Erin.  Please pray the pressures improve or remain steady and do not develop into preeclampsia as they did with Moira and Erin.  My due date is mid-March, so please pray I can make it to term and our newest addition remains healthy.  Thank you so much!  May God reward you!

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As I was thinking of our little one, I thought this post would be a perfect time to provide a prayer to consecrate one's children to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.  What could be more helpful to the spiritual life of our children than to consecrate them to the Holy Family, asking them to watch over and guide them!  January seems a very fitting time to pray this consecration.  It is recommended that parents pray a consecration for their children at least once during their lives, but it would also be a wonderful tradition to pray this consecration for your children yearly.

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Consecration of One's Children to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

(Adapted from a prayer by St John Eudes.)

O Jesus, only Son of God, only Son of Mary, I come to Thee as an unworthy parent, and I humbly consecrate to thy Most Sacred Heart, now and for eternity, the soul of my child (name). I surrender him/her to Thy sweet yoke and place him/her at the foot of Thy Cross. I offer Thee for him/her the most loving Heart of Thy Most Holy Mother Mary, which is more precious and pleasing to Thee than all hearts, and I beg Thee by her merits to show Thyself to him/her a Savior.

O Mary, Mother of Jesus, I come to Thee as an unworthy parent, and I humbly consecrate to thy Most Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, now and for eternity, the soul of my child (name). I offer Thee for him/her the most adorable Heart of Thy Son Jesus, who is the life, love and joy of Thy own Heart, and I beg Thee by the infinite merits of the Divine Son, Thou who art our Mother in the order of grace, to obtain the grace of salvation for my child.

O glorious St. Joseph, I come to thee and ask thee to take under thy special protection my child (name). I consecrate him/her to thee today, that through this consecration he/she may become your foster child. Guard him/her, guide his/her steps in life, and form his/her heart after the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. O glorious St. Joseph, who felt the tribulation and worry of a parent when the child Jesus was lost, protect him/her for time and eternity. May you be his/her father and counselor. Preserve him/her from the corruption of this world, and obtain for us the grace to be united in heaven forever. Amen.

Blessed be the Most Sacred and Loving Heart of Jesus and the most Immaculate Heart of Mary in eternity and forever.  Amen.  St. Joseph, pray for us.  Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

With August being dedicated by Holy Mother Church as the month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, it is a fitting time to make an act of consecration to her Immaculate Heart. Although the feast of the Immaculate Heart has been changed in the new calendar to the Saturday following the second Sunday after Pentecost, traditionally August 22nd, this Saturday, is the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This beautiful consecration provided below reminds us of the importance of being united to Mary, for through her guidance we can more easily follow Christ's will and gain our heavenly reward.

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Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Heavenly Mother Mary , I come to thy most lovable and sweet Heart, refuge of sinners. I offer myself to thee and consecrate my entire life to thine Immaculate Heart. In this consecration of my total person, I offer thee my body and soul with all its miseries and weaknesses. I offer thee my heart with all its affections and desires, my prayers, works, joys and sufferings. I offer thee every temptation that comes to me so that my every thought and desire may be purified through thy holy intercession.

My Queen, my Mother, I offer thee in consecration all sufferings which come into my life, both physical and spiritual. I offer thee especially my death with all that will accompany it. I offer thee my last agony. Accept all this, my Mother, and take all into thy Immaculate Heart as I give to thee irrevocably all that I am and all that I have, together with all property and possessions. I offer thee my family and all who are near and dear to me. Take them all into thine Immaculate Heart and keep us ever one in thy Son Jesus Christ.

I renew today the vows of my Baptism and Confirmation. Keep me ever faithful to God and to Holy Church, and loyal in obedience to the Holy Father, the Pope. I desire to pray the Rosary properly, meditating on its mysteries. I desire to participate in the Sacrifice of thy Son perpetuated at Holy Mass and receive Him frequently, even daily in Holy Communion. I attach special importance to the first Saturday of the month in reparation to thine Immaculate Heart and I will work for the conversion of sinners. I will strive to live daily the spirit of Eucharistic reparation.

O Queen of the Angels, my Queen and my Mother, I humbly prostrate myself before thee as I approach thee with my Guardian Angel. I desire all the holy Angels, and especially my Guardian, to venerate thee always as Queen of Heaven and Earth. Command my Guardian and all holy Angels to keep me always in thy love and in the union of grace with thy Divine Son. Send forth thy Angels to assist me in spreading devotion to thine Immaculate Heart so that through thine intercession there may be peace in the world and in the Church, and the Kingdom of Christ may come on earth as it is in Heaven. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

For Mother's Day

This Sunday we celebrate Mother's Day, a day on which we remember the love our own mothers have shown us and in return honor them in a special way. One simple, but beautiful way to shower love upon our mothers is to pray to Our Lord, asking Him to bless them with His grace and mercy, and to our Lady, that she may keep them forever beneath her mantle of protection.

On this special day of honoring mothers, may we also remember to render special honor to Mary, the Mother of Our Lord and of each of us. John 19:26-27 relates that while on the cross, Jesus addressed His Mother and the disciple whom He loved, saying to His Mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” To the disciple John, he said, “Behold, your mother!” With these words Our Lord gave to Mary a universal motherhood; thus she became Mother to all people. Holding onto this knowledge, may each of us this day and always embrace Mary as Mother, and, just as we lean to our own earthly mothers for guidance and love, may we commend ourselves with full confidence to the maternal love of Mother Mary.

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Act of Consecration

Most Holy Mary, virgin Mother of God, I (full name), most unworthy though I am to be thy servant, yet touched by thy motherly care for me and longing to serve thee, do, in the presence of my guardian angel and all the court of heaven, choose thee this day to be my queen, my advocate, and my mother, and I firmly purpose to serve thee evermore myself and to do what I can that all may render faithful service to thee.

Therefore, most devoted Mother, through the precious blood thy Son poured out for me, I beg thee, deign to take me among thy clients and receive me as thy servant forever.

Aid me in my every action, and beg for me the grace never, by word or deed or thought, to be displeasing in thy sight and that of thy most holy Son.

Think of me, my dearest Mother, and desert me not at the hour of my death. Amen.

--St. Francis de Sales

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayers Honoring the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the Month of August

Holy Mother Church dedicates the month of August to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The physical heart of Mary is venerated because it is united to her person and is the seat of her love and of her virtue. All of the faithful are encouraged to imitate this love and virtue and are encouraged to make an act of consecration to the Heavenly Queen. We should attempt to live out that consecration by imitating Jesus and Mary, by being dependent upon them, and by obeying them. By encouraging us to consecrate ourselves to the Immaculate Heart, the Church also asks us to make reparation for the sins committed against her. Every sin of ours brought her grief and suffering in union with her Divine Son since sin caused the terrible suffering of Calvary in which her heart was torn with pain. Two prayers intended for these purposes follow: an act of consecration and an act of reparation.

St. Louis De Montfort's Consecration 

I, N., a faithless sinner-- renew and ratify today in thy hands, O Immaculate Mother, the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before. In the presence of all the heavenly court I choose thee this day, for my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greater glory of God, in time and in eternity. Amen.
(from The Secret of the Rosary)

Reparation for Blasphemy Against the Blessed Virgin Mary 

Most glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, turn thine eyes in pity upon us, miserable sinners; we are sore afflicted by the many evils that surround us in this life, but especially do we feel our hearts break within us upon hearing the dreadful insults and blasphemies uttered against thee, O Virgin Immaculate. O how these impious sayings offend the infinite Majesty of God and of His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ! How they provoke His indignation and give us cause to fear the terrible effects of His vengeance! Would that the sacrifice of our lives might avail to put an end to such outrages and blasphemies; were it so, how gladly we should make it, for we desire, O most holy Mother, to love thee and to honor thee with all our hearts, since this is the will of God. And just because we love thee, we will do all that is in our power to make thee honored and loved by all men. In the meantime do thou, our merciful Mother, the supreme comforter of the afflicted, accept this our act of reparation which we offer thee for ourselves and for all our families, as well as for all who impiously blaspheme thee, not knowing what they say. Do thou obtain for them from Almighty God the grace of conversion, and thus render more manifest and more glorious thy kindness, thy power and thy great mercy. May they join with us in proclaiming thee blessed among women, the Immaculate Virgin and most compassionate Mother of God. Amen.
(from the Raccolta)