Day 32 or 33 of the 33 Day Consecration to Mary - Mary and Joseph Are Knocking This Christmas Eve

Today is the last day of the 33-day consecration to Mary if you were ending on Christmas Eve. The vast majority of those expressing interest asked to join on the day after I started posting. That means those people will end tomorrow, Christmas Day. If you haven’t been saying the prayer with us regularly, join in today and tomorrow. Just jump in. Jesus, who told the parable of laborers being invited at varying times of the day, will reward you regardless of whether you started right away or later. Two thousand years ago, Joseph was ordered to register for the Roman census in the land of his family line. It couldn’t have come at a worse time - his bride was nine months pregnant and had started her labor. Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, expecting that relatives would let him stay the night. But that failed. And then he expected that the inns would have rooms. But that failed. And then, in desperation, he accepted the only invitation extended - to stay the night in a stable. Jesus said the Father’s house has many mansions, and I have found the human heart is the same. There are rooms and inns, or as Saint Teresa of Avila would say, castles within your soul. Joseph and a pregnant Mary come to knock at the door. Is that place of your heart ready to open the door? Sometimes the answer is yes and sometimes it’s no. They will move on to another place and try again at your place of “no” later, so Jesus will win more territory within you. I have found that Jesus has gained ground in my soul over the years as I have tried consciously to give my life to Him. But I find that there are stubborn places that are harder to open. I think Mary’s help has been necessary to trust and surrender a little more. Her love can chip away at the most difficult things. I hope this consecration is bringing Mary to those places, so a baby Jesus can arrive and change everything for the better. If this was your last day, thank you for joining. If it isn’t, we have one more day tomorrow. 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