Day 18 or 19 of the 33 Day Consecration to Mary - Lord, Teach Us to Pray

Today is day 18 or 19 of the 33-day consecration to Mary, depending on whether you were ending on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. One of my mentors has taught me a lot about praying for others. He says we should always end the prayer by bringing ourselves to receive God’s grace too. We also need prayer for the reason we prayed for the other. How often have you looked at a person and seen he or she was doing something wrong? Whether the driver ahead of you was being reckless, a person is doing drugs, the person’s words started out well but turned into gossip or hatefulness or a person making any unwise choice, it’s great to ask God’s grace to come in and help that person get back on track. Blessed be God for the intercession of people who are close or perfect strangers to bring about holy change!

But it is so easy then to shine your imaginary halo and say with the Pharisee, “Thank you so much God that I’m not like other people!” In that parable, Jesus says the Pharisee’s prayer was not heard because of his pride and his judgement. Instead, I was instructed to say after the prayer, “Lord, now also help me.” I may not have done drugs, but drug use is a form of gluttony and unholy escape from pain. I may not have killed anyone, but Jesus equated harsh words and name calling as killing. Praying for myself too, I am given humility, to see I have the same sin, I have sinned in a similar way or I can say, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” Instead of merely noticing splinters in others’ eyes, I can recognize that I have logs in my own. I have so much more compassion for others, recognizing that I am also a sinner in need of conversion. I’m bringing us before Mary, who learned from Jesus, the Perfect Intercessor before the Father. In Heaven, Jesus and Mary are constantly praying for us and receiving grace at the same time. That’s what I want as I pray for others. Lord, help us to be humble. Lord, teach us to pray. Luke 1:51-52 He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. Today, we consecrate to Mary 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 XII