I wish to encourage all of you
to participate in the Marian Consecration that Bishop Rhoades has organized for
the entire diocese. Go to this website
and listen to the Bishop’s words about the consecration: http://www.diocesefwsb.org/33-Days-to-Morning-Glory
Using the simple and
accessible work of Fr. Gaitley, 33 Days
to Morning Glory, there are a large amount of resources available. The most fundamental is the book with the
included prayers that prepare you over the 4.5 weeks for August 15th,
the feast of the Assumption of Mary into heaven.
This is like an extended
novena plus a book study. I did it
myself just last August and it requires about 10-15 minutes of your time each
day. I hope reading this makes you say, “I
can do that!” And it is worth it. I have found it pays great dividends in the
spiritual life to understand Mary’s role in our journey to holiness and seek
her help.
However, you do not have to do
this alone: there are many wonderful ways to participate in small groups with other
resources or just discuss the book and pray the prayers together.
Below you will find more
information regarding the Consecration, especially to participate in that weekend's things.
Thank you for your courageous
response to this diocesan-wide initiative,
~FT
33 Days to
Morning Glory – FAQ’s
What is a “Total Consecration to Mary”?
A Total
Consecration to Mary is a beautiful exercise to increase your spirituality and
ability to truly serve our Lord Jesus Christ. Consecration means to set aside
for a sacred purpose. Mary’s life was set aside for the sole purpose of serving
our Lord. By following her example, we, too, can completely give ourselves to Christ
in a way that consecrates us to Him.
Why do this?
We consecrate
ourselves in order to be more devoted to the Lord and His Blessed Mother. It
helps us grow in holiness and increase our faith, hope, and love. It is a
prayerful and focused method of drawing closer to Jesus than ever before.
Who is this for?
Consecration
to Mary is for anyone, Catholic or not, who is old enough to understand the
love of Jesus and Mary. It is easy to grasp and simple enough to put into
practice. It is excellent for anyone who does not have a lot of time, yet still
desires to grow spiritually. Bishop Rhoades is inviting all to participate.
How will the diocese “as a whole” participate in this
Marian Consecration?
The diocese
will use the book written by Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC, “33Days to Morning
Glory” which includes the works of Blessed Mother Teresa, St. John Paul ll, St.
Maximilian Kolbe, and St. Louis de Montfort (who developed the original Marian
Consecration). Parishes are invited to participate in a way that best suits
their needs and may include:
• a format
where small faith group(s) meet once a week for 6 wks to watch Fr. Gaitley’s
DVD and discuss the daily readings (generally 2 pages) with the aid of a
companion manual, or
• a format
where small faith group(s) meet once a week for 6 wks to view the DVD and
discuss daily readings (without the aid of the companion manual), or
• a format
where participants read and ponder the daily meditations on their own.
When will this take place?
This six week
retreat begins on or before July 13th. It will end when Bishop Rhoades
rededicates our diocese on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 2014 in a
special Marian Consecration at the 6pm Mass celebrated at the Cathedral of the
Immaculate Conception. Immediately following Mass, Bishop Rhoades will lead a
Marian Procession to Headwater’s Park to mark the beginning of the 3rd Annual
“Festival of Faith”. For a listing of “Festival of Faith” events on August 15
& 16th, visit www.kofcfestival.com.
What if I would like to partipate but cannot attend
the Consecration?
You can watch
a live video stream of the Mass on your computer by visiting the Diocesan
website at www.diocesefwsb.org or you can listen to the live audio broadcast on
Redeemer Radio 106.3 FM or www.redeemerradio.com
How do I get started?
Check with
your parish to see if it is providing the format to form small groups or if you
will need to participate on your own. Your parish may choose to order the
materials (book and guide in bulk).
Where can I order the book and companion guide if I
want to do it on my own?
Please contact
Marian Specialist, Ida List, idalist@gmail.com or at 574.453.3143 (evenings) or
574.376.0046 (cell) for questions and ordering.
To find out
more information on the Total Consecration to Mary, you can visit http://www.allheartsafire.org/33days/overview.php
or listen to Fr. Andrew Budzinski, Parochial Vicar at St. Vincent de Paul
Parish in Fort Wayne, share the experience of a Total Consecration to Mary by
clicking on http://www.saintv.org/departments/Parish_Life/Homily/FrAndrew/2014/2014-05-11%20Fr%20Andrew%204th%20Sunday%20Of%20Easter.mp3
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