On the Feast of the Annunciation this Monday, over 1,000 people across the U.S. will be consecrating themselves to the Blessed Mother using the new curriculum from Hearts Afire Parish Programs based on Fr. Michael Gaitley’s latest book “33 Days to Morning Glory.” You can learn more about it here www.allheartsafire.org . I am excited to be part of this new initiative and re-consecrating myself to our Lady again (you can never say “Yes” to Jesus through Mary too often). I made my first consecration back in 1999, and “33 Days to Morning Glory” has re-invigorated my passion and understanding about this very important spiritual act. I see it echoed in so much of what we do in our Catholic lives and liturgy.
Recently in the Mass, during the Offertory, I watched two mothers bringing up the bread and wine to the priest and had a little epiphany: “This is exactly what our Lady does for us! Like these beautiful Catholic moms, our Mother brings all of our offerings to her Son Jesus, the High Priest.” In a way similar to the Presentation in the Temple (Luke 2:22-40), Mary also brings us to the place of worship and sacrifice.
As Mass continued, our priest prayed, “make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration that they may become the Body and Blood of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ.” Another epiphany! In the New Covenant and Christ, consecration means more than simply being set apart for God, in a fuller sense, it means being transformed into Christ! In the Mass, the ordinary bread and wine will become the bread of life and our spiritual drink – Jesus Christ himself. In Marian consecration, we are being set apart for service AND are being transformed into Christ! (Romans 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18; 1 John 3:2). And like the Eucharist, we are transformed to be shared. The world is looking and longing to see Jesus. May this upcoming consecration, help them to meet Him in us!
