How to Make Your St. Louis de Montfort's Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary

"Happy are the faithful slaves of the Queen of Heaven, for they will enjoy true freedom."

- St. Cecilia to Mother Agnes of Jesus, as quoted by St. Louis de Montfort

St. Louis de Montfort (1673 – 1716) had a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and wrote extensively on the virtues of Our Lady, what true devotion to her consists in, and how the faithful need to turn to her as the way to her Son, Jesus Christ.

In his classic writings ( The Secret of Mary, The Secret of the Rosary, and True Devotion to Mary) he recommends that the faithful formally consecrate themselves to the Blessed Mother. For this end he developed a specific 33-day program consisting of various prayers and readings to help the faithful detach themselves from the world and bond themselves more closely with Christ through the example and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This 33-day program can be found in his classic work True Devotion to Mary as well as included in the links below to complete it online.

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St. Louis de Montfort stands in a long tradition of saints completely devoted to Our Lady, and his work has been influential in the lives of many other saints, notable among them is Pope St. John Paul II who took his papal motto, "Totus Tuus" (Totally Yours) from de Montfort.

This "Total Consecration of Jesus through Mary" consists of an intial 12-day preparation followed by a period of three consecutive weeks, each week focusing on a different theme. It is recommended that the consecration be done on a major feast day of Our Lady, meaning that the preparation would begin 33 days prior. That is, after the 33-day program is completed, the Act of Consecration is made on a Marian feast day.

Once you make the consecration, it is for life. It can then be renewed annually. Keep in mind that this is a formal consecration to Our Lady, not unlike a vow, that is to be done in a solemn manner. Through this 33-day program you are giving Mary all of yourself - heart, mind, and soul - in order to bring you to her Son, Jesus Christ. Also that she may use you as a holy instrument in her battle with Satan - i.e. this consecration allows her the free reign in your life to make you holy (as she assists you, through the Holy Spirit, to conform to her virtues) and to use your prayers, sacrifices, and sufferings for the greater glory of God.

The Immaculate alone has from God the promise of victory over Satan. She seeks souls that will consecrate themselves entirely to her, that will become in her hands forceful instruments for the defeat of Satan and the spread of God's kingdom."

- St. Maximilian Kolbe

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To Begin:

Choose a Marian feast day that is special to you. For example, the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, or the Queenship of Mary. Marian feast days abound throughout the liturgical year, and there is probably one coming up soon, no matter what time of year it is. Find a complete Marian feast day calendar here. You would begin the Total Consecration preparation 33 days prior to this feast day (the 34th day is the Marian feast, the day you will make the Act of Consecration).

Below is a list of more popular Marian feast days you could chose from that details when you would begin your preparation.

Marian Feast Day	Start Date	Consecration Day
Our Lady of Lourdes	January 9	February 11
The Annunciation	February 20	March 25
Our Lady of Fatima	April 10	May 13
The Visitation	April 28	May 31
Immaculate Heart	Saturday after Sacred Heart	Saturday after Corpus Christi
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel	June 13	July 16
The Assumption	July 13	August 15
Queenship of Mary	July 20	August 22
Nativity of Mary	August 6	September 8
Holy Name of Mary	August 10	September 12
Our Lady of Sorrows	August 13	September 15
Our Lady of the Rosary	September 4	October 7
Presentation of Mary	October 19	November 21
Immaculate Conception	November 5	December 8
Our Lady of Guadalupe	November 9	December 12
Mother of God	November 29	January 1
Presentation of the Lord	December 31	February 2

Next:

Use the links below to follow along with the daily readings and prayers every day for the full 33 days, according to one of the dates you have chosen above.

How to Make Your St. Louis de Montfort's Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary

12 Day Preparation | Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary

Week One | Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary

Week Two | Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary

Week Three | Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary

Consecration Day | Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary