Day 9 or 10 of the 33 Day Consecration to Mary - Mary’s Yes is Always Yes

Today is day nine or ten of the 33 day consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, depending on whether you were planning to end on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. I was reading some of the work of Saint Louis de Montfort as I continue my consecration to Mary’s Immaculate Heart. He lamented that so many religious and priests start out their vocation in great fervor and then become tepid. This was true in his time and in his vocation, but it’s also true in every time and in every vocation. Saint Ignatius of Loyola has 14 rules for discerning the spiritual life. He saw that there are seasons in our spiritual lives – consolation and desolation. In consolation, we seem to see the Lord clearly, feel Him closely and are full of inspiration. It is to say that Jesus is holding the bicycle with us on it. In desolation, everything seems unclear, God seems far away, and we seem to have no inspiration at all. It is to say Jesus has let go to see if we can ride on our own. When I am in consolation, it is so easy to pray! It is easy to see the fruit of my labor! It is so easy to keep going – He’s doing it for me. When He lets go, I am not excited to pray or do anything else. I see nothing as fruitful. I can’t keep going at all. On my own, I am tepid and lax. How is it that Mary kept going? She persevered and didn’t grow tired, even when things were boring or difficult. She did not eat the bread of idleness. Her yes was as fervent when the angel appeared in brilliant light as when her Son breathed His last on the cross. I’m praying for our fervor when the marriage is not as exciting as on the day you said “I do,” when the job is not as exciting as on the day you were told “You’re hired,” when the childcare is not as sweet as when your little one smiled and said “I love you,” when the housework is not in advance of a party, when the excitement of the first day of school has worn off, when the prayer comes at a time that you don’t feel Jesus holding the bicycle. May our yes be as fervent in the dark as it was in the light. Today, we consecrate ourselves, 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 XII