Day 8 or 9 of the 33 Day Consecration to Mary - Jealousy is a Monster

Today is day eight or nine of the 33 Day Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, depending on whether you were ending on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Yesterday, I had invoked Saint Andrew concerning jealousy and I was so surprised that today is his feast day! I love how God times my thoughts and inspirations to the liturgical calendar! I spent a lot my Mass this morning praying more deeply into the problems of jealousy, envy and rivalry - seeing how it destroys individuals, but groups too. These destroyers are among siblings, spouses, in-laws, workplaces, ministries, clergy, religious, in charities and in schools. They can ruin sport, art, acting and so many things that should bring us joy. They tangle socio-economic classes, races, politicians, genders and nations. I have prayed so much over the years about how the root of many problems is actually jealousy. And what causes jealousy? Saint Louis de Montfort says the root of sin is inconstancy of mind and lack of confidence in God. We aren’t well- rooted in the Lord, thinking our blessing went to someone else. We turn to sin to crush the other and get the blessing for ourselves - by gossip, by hatred, by insults, by mockery, by stealing, by violence, by murder. Jealousy is a monster. I pray for us to be well rooted in the Lord, individually and collectively. Saint Peter stood on the top of the mountain before the Transfigured Christ, and Saint Andrew stood at the bottom. But Jesus, not transfigured and not physically present, was there too, blessing and loving Andrew the entire time. I pray that we are firm in the understanding that we are blessed and cherished whether we are on the top of the mountain or at the bottom. I pray we are rooted in being God’s beloved and that we would know our blessings can neither be earned, nor stolen. This is how we discover we always have equal dignity. In the name of Jesus, Lord, deliver us from every evil and plunge us into your Sacred Heart. Today, we consecrate ourselves, our families, our nation and our Church. A Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of Your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to You, all the people of our country and all the world. Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as You wish to accomplish Your designs in 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 You, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed Your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes Your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home. Amen. --Venerable Pope Pius XI