33 days to Marian Consecration - What is it?

Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary truly is “the surest, easiest, shortest, and the most perfect means” to becoming a Saint, and the 33 days are the best way to dive in to such a blessing. - Father Michael Gaitley

“Mary, I want to be a Saint. I know that you also want me to be a Saint and that it’s your God-given mission to form me into one. So, Mary, at this moment, on this day, I freely choose to give you my full permission to do your work in me, with your Spouse, the Holy Spirit.”

Marian consecration basically means giving Mary our full permission (or as permission as we can) to complete her motherly task in us, which is to form us into other Christs. Thus, by consecrating ourselves to Mary, each of us is saying to her we want her help to form us into Saints.

As soon as Mary hears us make such a decision, she flies to us and begins working a masterpiece of grace within our souls. She continues this work for as long as we don’t deliberately choose to change our choice from a yes to a no, as long as we don’t take back our permission and leave her. That being said, it’s always a good idea for us to strive to deepen our “yes” to Mary. For the deeper our “yes” becomes, the more marvelously she can perform her works of grace in our souls.

One of the greatest aspects of being consecrated to Mary is that she’s such a gentle mother. She makes the lessons of the Cross into something sweet, and she pours her motherly love and solace into our every wound. Going to her and giving her permission to do her job truly is the “surest, easiest, shortest and the most perfect means” to becoming a Saint. What joy it is to be consecrated to Jesus through Mary! (Source Father Michael Gaitley from his book, “33 Days to Morning Glory”)

How the 33 day Retreat Works:

Every week of this four-week retreat (plus five days for review), we’ll read about how one of our four giants (St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximillian Kolbe, Blessed Mother Teresa, St. Pope John Paul II) of Marian consecration lived out his or her consecration to Jesus through Mary. The goal will be not just to read about them and their teaching but, like Mary, to ponder their message in their hearts. So, for 33 days, we won’t be going through a long list of prayers. Rather, we’ll do our best to spend all day, each day, pondering the day’s teaching. As we know from Sacred Scripture, this heart-pondering attitude is specifically Marian (see Luke 2:19, 51), and it’s something we can do no matter how busy we are.

Our goal during these 33 days is to remain in an atmosphere of heart-pondering prayer.

Also, if you miss a day, that is ok! Do not be discouraged. Instead read the text for the day(s) you missed and keep going. The Lord knows what’s in our hearts, and if our desire truly is to make the consecration, we shouldn’t let any temptations stop us.