Day 30 or 31 of the 33 Day Consecration to Mary - My Soul Magnifies God, Not Me

Today is day 30 or 31 of the 33-day consecration to Mary, depending on whether you were ending on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. I am glad you have made it this far if you’ve been with it from the start. If you haven’t, just join in today. I’m sure there are benefits from saying the consecration prayer even once. We hear in today’s Gospel the Magnificat, the praise and prayer of Mary after Elizabeth declared through the Holy Spirit that Mary was the Mother of the Lord. One of the many things I have reflected upon in the Magnificat is how much Mary discusses humility. I think it’s easy to think of the spiritual life as linear – the more pious things you are doing, the closer you are to God. But it is also possible to be outwardly pious and not be close to Him at all. The Prodigal Son left the farm; the older brother was on the farm, but, being merely rule-oriented, he didn’t know his Father either. Mary says the hungry will be filled with good things. And it reminds me to remain hungry for more even when I would like to think I already know everything. Mary says the lowly are lifted. And it reminds me to check my pride because the arrogant will be scattered by God’s arm. Mary has the most blessing of any creature. But she is always receiving more blessing. She’s always open to Him. She agrees that all generations will call her blessed. But she also says it was the Mighty One who did great things, not her. I pray for our humility. I have considered very often how the 12 Apostles of Jesus kept breaking into fights about who was the greatest. It’s very hard once you are in relationship with God and seeing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life and ministry to remain humble. Jesus reminds us that the childlike will be the greatest. And His Mother is the most childlike of us all. Holy Mary, pray for our us to be meek and humble of heart in the model of your Son. 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