About this blogger:
Veronica Brandt
Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. As editor, she has produced fine publications (as well as valuable reprints) dealing with Gregorian chant, hymnody, Latin, and other subjects. These publications are distinguished on account of their tastefulness. She lives in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her husband Peter and five children.
Connect on Facebook:
Connect on Twitter:
The soul is distracted from that which is sung by a chant that is employed for the purpose of giving pleasure. But if the singer chant for the sake of devotion, he pays more attention to what he says, both because he lingers more thereon, and because, as Augustine remarks (Confess. x, 33), “each affection of our spirit, according to its variety, has its own appropriate measure in the voice, and singing, by some hidden correspondence wherewith it is stirred.” The same applies to the hearers, for even if some of them understand not what is sung, yet they understand why it is sung, namely, for God's glory: and this is enough to arouse their devotion.
— St. Thomas Aquinas

 ABOUT US  |  OUR HEADER  |  ARCHIVE
33 Days to Marian Consecration
published 8 April 2017 by Veronica Brandt

Fatima AHEADSUP FOR ANYONE waiting for an auspicious time to begin a thirty three day preparation for Total Marian Consecration. Starting this Monday April 10 gives you 33 days to prepare for the feast of Our Lady of Fatima on May 13.

This year marks 100 years since Our Lady appeared at Fatima. This is especially commemorated on the 13th of May – the anniversary of her first appearance to Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta.

Devotion to Mary has been present in the Church forever, but some more recent saints have shed light on Mary’s role as a special intercessor for all mankind with her Son. St Louis de Montfort stands out – you may have heard of his books : The Secret of Mary, The Secret of the Rosary, and True Devotion to Mary.

This last book introduces a special consecration to Our Lady with a period of preparation spanning thirty three days. He outlines a comprehensive plan of daily readings, meditations, prayers and hymns leading up to a Total Consecration. Although I began reading with a pinch of skepticism, the ideas make sense, though his plan of readings from the Bible and the Imitation of Christ seems daunting.

An easier option is Fr Michael Gaitley’s book 33 days to Morning Glory. I remembered this had been recommended on These Stone Walls. He takes a look at other saints and their views on consecration to Mary – St Maximillian Kolbe, St Teresa of Calcutta and St John Paul II. It makes for an interesting read each day and helps put devotion to Mary into perspective.

Whichever way you go, if you’ve ever been even a tiny bit bemused by people insisting that Mary is the way to draw closer to Christ, I hope you find some spiritual edification in taking a little time to look into devotion to Mary.




RETURN TO BLOG:   VIEWS FROM THE CHOIR LOFT

Opinions expressed by blog contributors do not necessarily represent those of Corpus Christi Watershed.

    Before you buy on Amazon, please CLICK HERE
    forcing 0.5% of your purchase to come to us
    since we're a 501(c)3 public charity.