10 Reasons You Need to do a Marian Consecration

Happy Solemnity of the Annunciation! This is the day I have done a consecration to Mary for the past several years. But what exactly is Marian consecration?

It starts with Mary’s special mission.  When Jesus gave us the gift of Mary as our mother when he was on the cross, she also received a special mission to lead and form us, her spiritual children, into saints. So when you consecrate yourself to Mary, you give yourself to her in order to help her lead you closer to her son, Jesus, and thus in holiness. Fr. Michael Gaitley, author of the “33 Days to Morning Glory,” which is one version of the Marian Consecration, explains it this way:

“Marian consecration basically means giving Mary our full permission (or as much permission as we can) to complete her motherly task in us, which is to form us into other Christs. Thus, by consecrating ourselves to Mary, each of us is saying to her: 

Mary, I want to be a saint. I know that you also want me to be a saint and that it’s your God-given mission to form me into one. So, Mary, at this moment, on this day, I freely choose to give you my full permission to do your work in my, with your Spouse, the Holy Spirit.”

33 Days to Morning Glory, Fr. Michael Gaitley, pgs 26-27

When we give her our whole self through consecration, it will transform our lives, transform our prayer, and lead us more deeply into holiness than we could have imagined because we are allowing Mary to use us as she desires. 

Because Mary is very near and dear to my heart, on this special feast I wanted to make a case for why you should do a Marian Consecration this year. So, the 10 reasons you need to do a Marian consecration this year:

1. She’s our mother.

 …he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. John 19:26-27

When Jesus said this, he was entrusting Mary to each of us as our spiritual mother. Just as she raised Jesus into adulthood, she is now given to us to nurture, protect, guide, and lead us in holiness. But her motherly care doesn’t end there, just as John received her into his home, we must also receive her into our hearts and lives.

2. She intercedes perfectly for us. 

Here’s a great analogy of Mary’s intercession to Jesus on our behalf. This is from St. Louis de Montfort, who wrote the original Marian Consecration. 

All that our soul possesses is of less value before God, the heavenly Householder, when it comes to winning His friendship and favor, than a worm-eaten apple presented to the king by a poor farmer in payment of the rent of his farm. But what would such a farmer do if he were wise, and if he were well liked by the queen?

Would he not give his apple to the queen? And would she not out of kindness to the poor man, as also out of respect for the king, remove from the apple all that is worm-eaten or spoiled, and then place it in a gold dish and surround it with flowers? Would the king refuse to accept the apple then? Or would he not rather receive it with joy from the hands of the queen who favors that poor man?

The Secret of Mary, St. Louis de Montfort, pg. 37

3. She’s insanely hardcore.

An angel appeared to her and asked her to give birth to Jesus. She said yes. She traveled three days on a donkey to Bethlehem while nine months pregnant. (Seriously though, mad props to Mary, she was a superhero for doing that, I could barely walk across the parking lot at nine months). She traveled to Egypt on a donkey with a newborn. She raised God into adulthood. She followed him to Calvary. She knelt at the foot of the cross. She held his lifeless body. And yet, she believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled (Luke 1:45). She knew death was not the end. 

4. She cares about the little things.

At the wedding feast of Cana (John 2:1-11) Mary noticed the wine was running short. She knew this would be disgraceful for the newlywed couple. (And this doesn’t even account for the immense implications this miracle has spiritually, ministerially, and salvifically for Jesus and us!) She cares deeply even for the small details, not only in their lives but in yours. 

5. She will help us to become more holy.

Mary does God’s will perfectly. She doesn’t doubt or waver. She gives God a wholehearted yes to do with her as He sees fit. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to your word!” (Luke 1:38). She wants this for us too and will do all she can to get us there! 

6. It’s impossible to love Mary more than Jesus loved Mary.

Jesus, God the Son, Love incarnate, was brought into human existence by entrusting himself to Mary. Some people are concerned about loving Mary too much, for fear of idolizing or worshipping her, but don’t you think Jesus loves his momma more than any human in existence is capable of loving her?

7. God entrusted himself to Mary.

This one is a touch repetitive, but slightly different than the last one,  but consider these words of St. John Paul II in Redemptoris Mater, no. 39: “For it must be recognized that before anyone else it was God himself, the Eternal Father, who entrusted himself to the Virgin of Nazareth, giving her his own Son in the mystery of the Incarnation.” 

I’m not sure how you feel, but if Mary is good enough for God, she’s good enough for me. 

8. She gets our sufferings.

If you think Mary is too perfect and lofty to understand the pain of humanity, think again. In short: 

• Mary was promised by the prophet Simeon that a sword of sorrow would pierce her soul.
• Joseph and Mary had to escape to Egypt as refugees when Jesus was a newborn to avoid him being murdered by Herod. 
• They lost Jesus for three whole days.
• Mary met Jesus face to face on the way to his crucifixion.
• Mary knelt at the foot of his cross and witnessed his death.
• Mary held his lifeless body then laid him in the tomb.

She understands your suffering. Do you need more proof?

9. It will deepen your relationship with her.

When we take the time and effort do to these prayers, readings, reflections, and give ourselves more deeply to her, we are going to grow into a more intimate relationship with her. Over the years, this has definitely happened for me. My desire to ask her to pray for so many things has increased, my desire to stay connected through the Rosary has increased (even if it’s only a decade at a time), and my trust in her intercession has increased. I feel a real sense of her spiritual motherhood. But you don’t have to take my word for it, you can find out for yourself.

10. The great saints were consecrated to Mary.

Here are just a few names: St. John Paul II, St. Maximiliian Kolbe, St. Teresa of Kolkata, St. Louis de Montfort, St. John Damascene, St. Padre Pio, St. Therese of Lisieux. I’m sure this list would be miles long, but these are a few heavy hitters!

For reflection: 

• Take some time to pray about whether you feel called to do a Marian Consecration. Which reason is most compelling to you?
•  Because Mary is so honored by the church, there are almost 20 different major Marian feast days on which you could choose to do your consecration. Here’s a great cheat sheet. 
• I recommend “33 Days to Morning Glory” by Fr. Michael Gaitley. He goes into great detail about what Marian consecration is, so you’ll learn a lot more than what I wrote here. You can find a copy at your local Catholic bookstore!