When the word consecration is heard today, most often it is thought of as a formula in which we follow…
The following was originally written by A Friend of Medjugorje in 1997. This week, share this timely writing with you. – Medjugorje.com
February 24, 2014 A.D.
When the word consecration is heard today, most often it is thought of as a formula in which we follow in order to bring about the desired effect. But what really is this consecration that Our Lady is asking of us? Webster’s Dictionary defines it thus:
Consecrate: To induct a person into a permanent office with a religious rite; to make or declare sacred; to devote to a purpose with deep solemnity or dedication.
The Biblical Dictionary defines it:
Consecrate: Dedication; the act whereby a person or thing is separated from general use and dedicated to the service of God.
It is so important of a word that the Church uses it for describing the most important moment of the highest form of prayer in the universe. The Eucharistic presence of Christ begins at the moment of the consecration and endures as long as the Eucharistic species subsist.1 Ordination is also called consecration, for it is a setting apart and an investiture by Christ Himself for His Church.2 Likewise, it is the world used for the complete dedication of all religious. The Pope John Paul II chose his motto Totus Tous (totally yours) from the writings of St. Louis de Montfort on perfect consecration.
Consecration has been here from the beginning as a request and a necessity from God. He requested this of the priests of the Old Testament (Ex. 29:1-35), form the anointing of the altar of holocausts (Ex. 29:36-42), for the dedication of the temple Solomon built (Kgs. 8:62-66), and for the consecration of Jeremiah the Prophet while he was yet in the womb (Jer. 1:4-6). In the New Testament, John the Baptist was consecrated upon hearing Mary’s voice in Elizabeth’s womb, and Jesus consecrated the apostles and the first bishops and priests of the new covenant. Also tradition states that Mary was consecrated at a young age to the service of God. These are but a few of the many examples.
Because God will never violate the free will of man, He needs man’s co-operation to become either partially or entirely consecrated to His use in His plans. So it is with God’s plans through Our Lady.
November 27, 1986
St. Louis de Montfort has stated that without sacrificing to Mary unreservedly all our material possessions, our family, our income, and even the inner possessions of our soul, then we cannot say that we are entirely consecrated to Jesus through Her.
The hardest sacrifice we may have to surrender is that of our own will and desires for our lives, yet Our Lady says:
February 25, 1988
Once Our Lady responded to a situation in which some people left church as soon as Mass had ended, which is an example of how we can be partially consecrated due to following our own interests and desires. She said:
February 4, 1984
For if we hold back from God our wills, attachments, bodies, souls, possessions, and our decisions to change then He cannot acknowledge that we are entirely consecrated.
November 20, 1986
God respects the authority and free will that He has ordained to men regarding consecration. Our Lady requested that Russia and the world be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart by the Holy Father in unison with the Bishops (In 1994, Bishop Hnilica chose Medjugorje in unison with the Holy Father to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this event). Bishops are to consecrate their countries, diocese, churches and altars. Priests are to consecrate the Eucharist and their parishes. Parents are to consecrate their families and possessions, and individuals, themselves. Our Lady said:
October 25, 1988
The power of consecration and the authority God grants to bestow it is great. An ironic example of this concerns the well-documented possession case of Earling, Iowa in 1928. It is important to note firstly that the opposite of consecrate is the word execrate, which means to curse. This case tells of a woman who had been under possession by the devil since the age of fourteen.3 This woman was noted as being a particularly pious Catholic all her life which caused confusion over the reasons for her possession. It was discovered, though, during the exorcism that during her childhood under the authority of her father that he had cursed (execrated) her over to the devil for refusing his vileness. God allowed this only for His and her greater glory by freeing this woman to live her life totally for Him. This example should strengthen parents’ resolve to consecrate their families with great seriousness and responsibility, because Our Lady said:
August 31, 1982
For how much more powerful is the consecration to good than evil?
An example of the power of consecration to the good can be seen before your eyes. All of the writings from Caritas and the fruit in countless lives can be traced to one man’s consecration. First, by giving himself unreservedly to God, along with his family, business, possessions, and every stone which he laid in building his home – even his swimming pool. You may wonder, how can giving a swimming pool over to God be of any value? But by this one act can be found the reason for the whole existence of Caritas. By our founder giving this over to God, it allowed Him to use it as an opportunity for priests who were in need of solitude to come and spend time away. One of these priests was the instrument in telling him about Medjugorje and went with him on his first pilgrimage. Our founder consecrated himself entirely to Mary, after a year of preparation, on this trip in the presence of Our Lady in the apparition room which held over twenty priests along with himself only. This was on July 4, 1986. As a result he likewise consecrated the Field adjacent to his property and the lone pine tree that stands in it with his family present. They said a short prayer, “May whoever sees this tree see God in it.” God blessed this seemingly small act abundantly by sending the Queen of Heaven there to appear to Marija (one of the visionaries of Medjugorje) on November 24, 1988. Marija also spent almost three months in the home of the founder having apparitions in their bedroom and giving messages almost daily. All these events gave way to the founding of Caritas. This is the story in brief as it is still unfolding, but we should take to heart the words of Our Lady and believe that God grants great graces to those who give all without reserve in an infinite way.
May 17, 1984
Can we refuse Our Lady this gift after all that She has given to us? Especially in light of Her words in August of 1984:
Let us start now and give ourselves entirely to Her heart by answering Her supplication directed toward us just last March 18, 1997:
In Consecration to Her,
Footnotes:
1. Catechism of the Catholic Church
2. ibid.
3. Begone satan
N.B. Our Lady is calling us to complete consecration to Her as individuals, families and communities. The purpose of the “How To” New Communities Convention at Caritas, is to help make this become a reality. The dates are April 29 – May 1, 2014. If you have not attended before, or have attended before, but wish to be more closely united to Our Lady for Her plans, this “How To” Convention is a must-attend. You must have read They Fired the First Shot 2012 in order to attend, and attendance is limited to the first 400. For more information, click to visit here.
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