The book is a do-it-yourself retreat in preparation for Marian Consecration, modelled after St. Louis De Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary. I made the consecration on Jan. 1, the feast of Mary the Mother of God. In a way, I’ve been tending a new Marian garden.
While the consecration was recommended by many friends, I heard it was a huge commitment. I bought the book, prepared for daily rosaries, Saturday Mass, frequent confession and fasting. These are all good and necessary things, but I discovered in Gaitley’s first-page reference to Mel Gibson’s Braveheart that this book is not what I had expected.
He writes, “De Montfort’s 33-day preparation is loaded with litanies and prayers but lean on information about consecration.”
Gaitley says there are great benefits to pondering Marian devotion. This was a new idea for me, the cradle Catholic who recites the rosary to fall asleep after watching a scary movie. I found Gaitley’s approach spiritually refreshing and intellectually stimulating. I was excited to read it each day. The retreat follows the Marian devotion of four pillars: St. Maximilian Kolbe, Blessed Mother Theresa, Blessed John Paul II and St. Louis De Montfort. All come to the same conclusion — following the Blessed Mother is our surest way to the heart of Christ. First, I was surprised: the book is not the consecration, but a preparation. The true commitment is lifelong Marian consecration. But I have questioned the necessity of Marian consecration, since I already know how to have a personal relationship with Christ.
While logically I can know Christ loves me, I can’t fully grasp the depth of that love; it’s too large for my finite understanding. Mary knows fully this love. Mother Teresa writes of our lady, “Her role is to bring you face to face (…) with the love in the heart of Jesus crucified.” Ultimately, this is the result of Marian consecration.
In Canada, Marian devotion is more subtle. So the language in this book was bold for me, uncomfortable even. In reading it, I have been reawakened to the reality of grace and the true effect of prayer.
Mary’s fiat of “yes,” her total trust and abandonment of self, is comforting. It’s doable. Gaitley writes that Marian consecration is the simplest road to sainthood.
Along with simplicity, I experience strength in Mary, even with her nine months pregnant, travelling on a donkey and having her baby in a stable. Constantly present at the foot of the cross, Mary is for me a perfect example of fortitude.
Consecrating one’s self to the Immaculata is saying to Christ what Mary said: “Be it done unto me according to your word,” and knowing the brevity of that surrender.
(Brown, 23, is a fourth-year journalism student at the University of King’s College in Halifax.)