I struggle with blind obedience, too. I mainly think it has to do with following the ten commandments and fulfilling one's individual vocation in life. Although it sounds simple enough, it can be a challenge. But the one virtue I know is my weakest is heroic patience. I fall daily on that one. That being said, I know the Virgin Mary still gathers up my efforts to give to her Son. I just read a statement that Marija (Medjugorje visionary) made about the importance of consecration. Marija was invited to a region of Italy by the Mayor there to participate in the town's consecration to the heart of Mary. Many people were invited including priests and the bishop. A priest made a prayer of consecration of the region. Marija asked the Blessed Mother about the invitation and the Blessed Mother told her to go to it. After the consecration and at her apparition, the Blessed Mother told Marija, "You will never regret this consecration. Nor will your children regret this consecration, nor will your children's children ever regret this consecration, this act of what you do."
Wow,..it won't be long now.. I just want you to know,.I am praying for and cheering you all on. I not sure which books you are using,..but the one I used..Total Consecration according to Saint Louis Marie de Montfort, suggested writing out the final consecration prayer. As a word of warning,..it took me almost 2 hrs to write it out. So if you get started early, it helps. I'm glad I did,..I now have it for my keepsake. Also the book suggests offering some tribute in the form of a penance,..such as lighting a candle, which I did..( I guess I did the easy thing )...Jesus knows it was of good will. I'm wondering if anyone has special plans that day for the consecration. I went to the Fatima Shrine before the statue of Our Lady with the three shepherd children to do the consecration. A friend suggested doing it before the altar with the priest as witness but he wasn't available at the time. Anyone with special plans?
You raise some interesting points Ellie. I'll speak to the 3rd secret portion, as I don't know much about the Legion of Christ issues, and I see Mario has responded to that anyway. I, like yourself, have my doubts about the fatima 3rd secret as I think it was revealed fully, but not interpreted correctly. I think the bishop in white is still to come. I also do not think the consecration was done in full. There was a consecration done, and it bore good fruit with the bloodless fall of communism for a short time, but as we can see today...communism is not dead. and I say all this with great love for Pope JPII, who is a saint, but it is just my opinion on these Fatima issues. As far as that opinion and how it relates to "blind obedience" and this consecration. Well, I know the faith does not require us to believe in any apparition, approved or not. So, by extension, I don't think we are required to believe in an interpretation of a message from an apparition site. As well, even interpretations of messages from apparition sites are not "dogma", and therefore, is not infalliable (I think...can someone verify this for me?). Therefore, an interpretation could be wrong. In fact, I remember reading Cardinal Ratzinger saying the interpretation of the 3rd secret could be wrong. However, it was years ago, and I couldn't find the article (I believe it was on Spirit Daily). Anyway, that is how I got past this issue for the consecration. Is the "blind obediance" statement in the 33 Day book or de Montfort? I'd like to read in context how it's being used. I think we need full obedience to the CCC and where she stands on social issues, but I don't think "blind obedience" means we can't question how the church handles situations or speak out if we see abuses within the church (abuses in the mass, etc.). Does this help you?
I struggle with my individual vocation in life Being in my mid-40's, single, and no children...that's a tough one! I'd like to be a wife and mother, but never met "that guy"...so it's difficult to find real meaning sometimes and on top of that, I struggle to support myself financially. But actually I think this consecration will help with that, in terms of giving my life more meaning. I've never made a vow before to another person, so now I will be doing that. And if I take it seriously, I'm sure Our Lady will fill my life with meaningfull and purposeful responsibilities. That is what I hope anyway! What an amazing quote from the Blessed Mother herself!! And the benefits of this very act we are doing now will benefit generations...how generous is God!! Beautiful...but a very serious act we are doing...it's a BIG deal
Very interesting PS. I could have written the first part of your paragraph here almost exactly myself, only substituting the male stuff with female. Maybe I should look into the second part of your paragraph also as you did.
Yes, we are really coming down the home stretch now!! I think I will be typing out the consecration prayer...at times I can't read my own writing!! I'll sign it and date it and keep it and hopefully use it again for renewal. It is recommended confession before-hand. Since I'll be working the weekend before (our consecration is on a Monday) I guess I'll try to get to confession next weekend. On consecration day, I plan on going to daily mass in the morning (presuming I'm not working), and then going to adoration Monday night to say the consecration prayer. I'll probably be the only one and last one saying it that night, but I'd like to be before the blessed sacrament and the virgin Mary statue to do it. Plus, Our Lady knows I'm a total night owl (I usually do the daily reading the night before), and would not expect me to say it in the morning That's beautiful you did it at a Fatima shrine...very appropriate! I'll have to think of some penance...
That is funny Jimmy...too bad you don't live in Boston Just kidding! It can be a serious struggle...how will my soul be judged since it's not on how committed I am to my husband or how well I formed the consciences of my children? In a few weeks at church, all the mother's will stand for a blessing on Mother's Day, followed by the Dad's next month...and I think there is some blessing for married couple's too...what about us single people? I'm missing out on one of the sacraments of the church since I'm neither married nor a nun. It's easy to feel left out, that's for sure. I actually started a thread a few years ago about this topic, and I'll post it below if you want to read it, as others had some good advice for this. But, this consecration may help fill the hole in my life. I'll be making a vow and committing myself to Our Lady. I'm sure she'll move my life in ways that will provide meaning. She was a widow herself, so she understands. And as far as the no children...well, my cats are certainly well loved http://motheofgod.com/threads/what-is-your-life-mission.2568/#post-16273
33 Day Thought of the Day - Day 23 Come Holy Spirit, living in Mary...Fill my heart with praise to God for giving me Mary as my spiritual mother. So wonderful to have a spiritual mother who never gets tired of me...always tries to guide me to her son...will always pray and intercede for me! I am so unworthy of this! Thank you Jesus, for sharing your mother with us. Thank you God the father for providing us with our spiritual mother. I need her to guide me to You. May I always remember that I have a beautiful spiritual mother who assists me from heaven with her prayers and motherly care to help bring me to God!
Boston is just a hop skip and a jump from Ohio... Just kidding also. I can totally relate to what you are saying....completely. It's like us single folk are on "misfit island" from Rudolph...haha. Bless you Mothers...Bless you Fathers...Oh and all you single people out there in the congregation. You can leave now LOSERS...haha. At least you have a pet. I don't even have a pet!!!! In the other thread you said: "As for me, I really don't know :roll: I do think I took a very wrong turn somewhere." I have often felt that about myself. I stood at the crossroads somewhere along the line and took the wrong DARN one. But despite that I still feel God has a plan for me. That I was suppose to take that wrong turn so that I would end up some day where He wanted me to be. But for now, I still wander down that road feeling lost. You also said in the other thread: "but I have been praying to God to give me a sign on which way He wants me to go!!" I also constantly pray this. I really do. Very interesting though how our lives seem very similar. Like, I said in last post, I could have put my name on your post here and in the other thread and it could fit. I am also a night owl. Always have been.
Sorry for hijacking the thread. Just felt compelled to reply to PS. Go on with your Consecration now.
Mario,..Can you list everyone who will be making the consecration May 13 ? I would like to pray for each one individually on that day,..thanks..
I will also write out the consecration prayer and hopefully stop by the Blessed Sacrament chapel to pray it. I envy all the neat shrines in your area. We have the Missions but they are few and far between, beautiful, though and made with sweat, tears, and love as is anything of spiritual value.
Hi Mario, I do hope and pray that the Legion can resolve its problems, especially regarding formation. I think that St. Louis DeMontfort's inclusion of "blind" obedience as one of the ten principle virtues struck me because of the problems with some of the Legion's past history and also because of the abuse crisis in general. To be fair to St. Louis, these would have been unthinkable issues in his day. Unfortunately, we cannot promote unquestioning obedience to those in authority, no matter how trustworthy they may seem. Of course, we cannot rely on our own flawed opinions/interpretations either but must trust and respect those in authority in the Church. This is clearly a tough balance for me and perhaps the consecration will settle my "challenging heart" like it did Patrick's! I am so inspired by your family's commitment to the Faith! I am afraid that my teenagers (I have three) are not so "on fire" with their faith, but at least they are not rebelling either. Please keep them in your prayers.
Hi Mary Ann, Yes, "heroic patience" is very elusive! Actually all 10 of these principle virtues are quite a stretch for me but I am taking the Blessed Mother's word (to Marija) that I will not regret this consecration. I think you are right about the meaning of obedience--I should not read too much into it and just focus on fulfilling the duties of my primary vocation, which are certainly challenging enough.
Hi PotatoSack, Sorry for the delay in my replies here, the end of the school year schedule has been a little crazy. Thank you for your thoughtful response! St. Louis DeMontfort includes "blind obedience" as one of the 10 principle virtues of the Blessed Mother (listed on Day 22). I agree that we should be obedient to the CCC and accept Church teachings, but that we should speak up against abuses, mismanagement, etc. and you have really helped me clarify this in my mind. I think reading and praying about DeMontfort's Week Two, Obtaining knowledge of the Blessed Virgin, has helped me overcome some underlying feeling that imitating Mary somehow requires being extremely passive. Humility and obedience, yes, unquestioning passivity, no. Thanks.
I am also in my mid (yikes, now late) 40's and I have several single friends--I know it is a difficult, sometimes lonely path, especially in our parishes, which is unfortunate. As to not being judged on my wifely dedication and my children's consciences, though, well, uh, that might actually be a blessing! Funny how a cloistered, contemplative convent seems so much more attractive now than when I was 20...such is life. I'm not sure what your inclinations are, but a single woman that I know is starting a prayer group for parish teenagers (I think maybe the Fr. Barron series, but I'm not sure as I can't convince my teenagers to go). She is great and you might be amazed how responsive teenagers can be with adults who do not have an obvious vested interest. Have a great weekend.
Fortunately, the parish where my girls attend school has confession after daily Mass, so I am planning to attend Mass and Confession there--thanks for the warning on the writing out the final consecration prayer, I am planning to do that as I need the reinforcement!
