Day 21 or 22 of the 33-day Consecration to Mary - Light for Saint Lucy’s Day

Today is day 21 or 22 of the 33-day consecration to Mary, depending on whether you were ending on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Happy Feast Day of Saint Lucy, patron saint of those with vision problems. I was recently the trusted guardian of a friend who had surgery. When the doctor came out to tell me how things went, she bounced into the chair next to me and told me all about the brand-new technology she used. The doctor said it was modeled after programs used by fighter jet pilots when their senses can no longer navigate. This morning, I was remembering that and thinking of those fighter jet pilots. They might be flying with no discernible sense of whether they are up or down or sideways. I feel like that too sometimes. I decided I needed that technology for my spiritual life. We have spiritual senses in the same way we have physical senses. How well are you seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling today? There are days when those senses are spot on. And there are other days when God doesn’t seem discernibly close at all. Everything seems dark. Saint Lucy’s Day around the world is a celebration of a light coming in the darkness. People light candles on a cold winter day in hope for earthly and spiritual spring. I am praying for our dark moments, our spiritual winters. The light and warmth of Jesus is coming. Saint Lucy, pray for us when we can’t see. Holy Mary, pray for us to persevere in your hopeful optimism. Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. 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 XII