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Helen
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I'm hoping to re-energize my homeschool this summer by dedicating some extra time to Mary, my Heavenly Mother. I'd like to read a new book and then try to make a prayerful preparation to renew my consecration on August 15th, the feast of the Assumption.
I would love to have some company as I try to dedicate my summer to Mary. Don't feel you have to make a total consecration to join me. This postAbout Hidden Treasure especially the third post explains what I mean.
May has slipped by me and I think if I don't have friendly support and encouragement, September will arrive without a good effort.
St. Louis de Montfort has a 33 day preparation which we've used together here at Hidden Treasure. True Devotion study links
I have to review my blog to see how I prayed this with my children a few years ago. (As you can see, I'm thinking aloud here. Please bear with me!  )
July 13th is the first day if you follow St. Louis' 33 day preparation.
I have to run now and please forgive this hasty post. Let me know if you would like to read along with me, share bits and pieces of books, prayers or devotions or have some discussions. I might not have that much computer time but I will try. I appreciate your help!
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Ave Maria!
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Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
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Mackfam
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| Posted: June 12 2009 at 9:47am | IP Logged
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I'm so glad you started this, Helen! 
I am also renewing my consecration to Our Lady on August 15.
I have some books set aside in a summer reading basket that I hope to get back to share later.
This is a summer of renewal for me, I pray. My goal is to keep my study and prayer simple so that it is not overwhelming and thus, left by the wayside.
I love the idea of linking our prayers and sharing encouragement.
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Jen Mackintosh
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CrunchyMom
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I would love to follow along with you, Helen. Just this morning I was thinking I needed to consult a calendar and revisit Total Consecration. This past month, I have been struck by how wise so many of the Saints and spiritual directors were to call for a yearly dedication to a devout spiritual life. It is so easy to let things fizzle resulting in less discipline and bouts with lukewarmness. In the face of such, the accountability and support of others would be a blessing! The Feast of the Assumption was when I made my consecration last year--so, your timing is perfect for me!
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Lindsay
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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Jenny
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Count me in. I just renewed my Total Consecration on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, but I'm always up for pondering/discussing Our Lady.
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Jenny
Chris' wife and momma of 7. My blog: The Littlest Way--Bible Journaling, Inspiring Bible Quotes, Daily Affirmations, Prayer Journaling & photography
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Jenny
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This is a rule of life for those consecrated to the Immaculate Virgin from St Maximilian Kolbe:
1. It is my duty to be a saint and a great saint.
2. For the glory of God, I must save myself and all souls, present and future, through the Immaculate.
3. Before anything else flee not only from mortal but also from deliberate venial sin.
4. Do not permit that evil remain without reparation and destruction, that good be without fruit or increase.
5. Let your rule be obedience, the will of God through the Immaculate, I am nothing but an instrument.
6. Think of what you are doing. Do not be concerned about anything else, whether bad or good.
7. Preserve order, and order will preserve you.
8. Peaceful and benevolent action.
9. Preparation - Action - Conclusion.
10. Remember that you belong exclusively, unconditionally, absolutely, irrevocably to the Immaculate: Whoever you are, whatever you have or can, whatever you do (thoughts, words, action) and endure (pleasant, unpleasant, indifferent things) belong to the Immaculate. Consequently, may she dispose of them according to Her will (and not yours). In the same way it belongs to Her all your intentions; therefore, may she transform them, add others, take them away, as She likes (in fact, She does not offend justice).
You are an instrument in Her hand, therefore do only what She wants; accept everything like a child to his own mother, trust Her in everything.Take an interest about Her, Her veneration, Her things and let Her take care of you and your loved ones. Recognize that everything you have comes from Her and nothing from you. All the fruits of your activities depend on the union with Her, in the same way as She is an instrument of the divine mercy. O Immaculate, my life (every moment of it), my death (where, when and how) and my eternity belongs totally to you. Of everything You do whatever You like. - Saint Maximilian Kolbe
When I begin planning for school or home, I always try to remember these.
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Jenny
Chris' wife and momma of 7. My blog: The Littlest Way--Bible Journaling, Inspiring Bible Quotes, Daily Affirmations, Prayer Journaling & photography
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aussieannie
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Thank you Helen, I look forward to this. Hello, Jennifer, Lindsay and Jenny, so pleased to be a part of this with you all. 
I'll remember you ladies in prayer each day, please pray for me, that I'll be completely open to God's grace during the weeks ahead.
Jenny, I love the rule of life, I'll be printing this up for myself, thank you for sharing it!
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MarilynW
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This is wonderful timing. I am going to be preparing for Total Consecration for the first time for August 15 - I wanted to do it for May and with pregnancy, new baby etc never finished.
I am so happy to have the company of all of you wonderful ladies.
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Marilyn
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missionfamily
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i'd like to join in if one-handed typing and incoherent thoughts are acceptable 
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Helen
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missionfamily wrote:
| i'd like to join in if one-handed typing and incoherent thoughts are acceptable |
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Always!!!
Is there any other way?
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Ave Maria!
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Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
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Helen
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| Posted: June 12 2009 at 8:30pm | IP Logged
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I began another thread What are you reading?
Do you have a book on your shelf that you've been meaning to read? Tell us about it. Do you need a suggestion? Hopefully the thread will have an idea for you.
Many Catholic classics are also available on line.
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Ave Maria!
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Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
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SuzanneG
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I'm renewing my consecration on the 15th also, so good timing for me too.
Thank you Jenny for posting that list!!!
Yea!!! 
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Suzanne in ID
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Helen
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| Posted: June 16 2009 at 3:34pm | IP Logged
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I'm going to make a list of those who want to make an offering to Our Lady on the 15th of August. You are welcome at any time to add your name.
As a reminder, the offering is of your choice and your method. If you want support or advice, I'm sure the ladies here will consider it a joy to help you. No question is too obvious to ask. As a further clarification, I'm working from my own weakness. I think I need to make a public commitment and have others spur me along. Thank you for your help!
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Ave Maria!
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Jenny
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Helen, when you say "offering" do you mean our offering that we give Our Lady when we re-new our consecration?
I have already made my total consecration renewal for this year. Mine is on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. This year I was led to offer my Mother my computer time on Saturdays. "Saturday," I thought  "that is when my husband is home, he can play with the big kids and hold the baby on Saturday. Saturday is a day of being at the computer with two hands!" Yep, Saturday, that was my offering.
Last year, thanks to Anne, I purchased a Total Consecration ring. When a friend of mine made her renewal, she did the same.
Women's True Devotion Ring
Another year I had our checks changed and started signing them using my husband's name, Mrs. Christian ________, instead of Jenny _______. That may seem small, but you would be surprised how many people have asked why I sign for things that way. I do it out of respect for my husband's authority; my willingness to submit to his authority; like Our Lady submitted to St Joseph.
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Jenny
Chris' wife and momma of 7. My blog: The Littlest Way--Bible Journaling, Inspiring Bible Quotes, Daily Affirmations, Prayer Journaling & photography
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Helen
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| Posted: June 16 2009 at 4:23pm | IP Logged
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Jenny wrote:
| Helen, when you say "offering" do you mean our offering that we give Our Lady when we re-new our consecration? |
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Yes, Jenny -- exactly.
Jenny wrote:
Last year, thanks to Anne, I purchased a Total Consecration ring. When a friend of mine made her renewal, she did the same.
Women's True Devotion Ring |
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That's a great idea
Jenny wrote:
| I do it out of respect for my husband's authority; my willingness to submit to his authority; like Our Lady submitted to St Joseph. |
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Beautiful!
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Ave Maria!
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Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
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Helen
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Helen wrote:
Jenny wrote:
| Helen, when you say "offering" do you mean our offering that we give Our Lady when we re-new our consecration? |
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Yes, Jenny -- exactly. |
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I also wanted to clarify this statement a little more
Helen wrote:
| As a reminder, the offering is of your choice and your method. If you want support or advice, I'm sure the ladies here will consider it a joy to help you. No question is too obvious to ask. |
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The Marian summer reading program could also be for you if you want to learn more about Marian devotion or Mariology -- not necessarily because you want to make an Act of Consecration.
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Ave Maria!
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Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
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Angel
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Well, as the first day of the preparation is my birthday (July 13), maybe this is a hint? I would also like to follow along.
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Angela
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Three Plus Two
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julia s.
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Helen or Annie,
And anyone else who has been through the total consecration before I was wondering if you could offer some insight. Two years ago when you suggested this I was very excited about doing it. But I was confronted by a lot of painful memories and I found that I didn't feel ready to make the consecration then. Looking back I wonder now if this was something brought to my attention because God felt like I had to deal with it before I could be consecrated or if it was a distraction from another place.. How do you discern and is it possible to do this without the spiritual upheaval? I'm not sure I could go through that again (it lasted quite a long time). Are there any prayers for spiritual protection?
I'm sure it is a loaded question and if you'd like to move it somewhere else I'd understand.
Thanks for you help.
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julia
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Helen
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Julia, it is not surprising to hear of temptations and trials when undertaking the Consecration to Mary. Many of the Marian spiritual writers will tell you to expect more trials. If St. Paul says he glorifies in nothing but Christ crucified, how much more will the Sinless Mother conform herself to the Suffering Savior? The great consolation with consecration is to go through life’s trials WITH someone else, to always have as your companion, mentor and Mother, Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
I have found that Our Mother leads us gently but with perseverance to the foot of the Cross. She holds us there with sweetness even during the worst storms. For me, another surprising consequence of consecration is that she unveils to me the secrets of my soul. She goes to places that I would never have dreamed of discovering and turning over to Christ. I believe it is in the humility of Consecrating yourself to the Immaculate which unlocks many graces.
Also, our Lady is the Mediatrix of All Graces. Our Lord and God is beyond comprehension in the depth of His humility. To come to earth as man is a remarkable Act of humility. Of course He is Divine with absolutely no trace of evil, but man is fallen…Human beings obviously do wrong and yet He became one of us. We shouldn’t be surprised that this great God of humility, who was willing to be executed as a common criminal, would also turn over the distribution of His graces to the Queen of Heaven, His Mother.
This information is not unknown to the angelic powers. Human beings may not fully comprehend this reality but the angels do know. Some will do anything to dissuade humanity from turning to the simplest way of perfecting themselves in the Christian life.
Julia, if you feel the call, try again. Our Holy Father JPII told us to Be Not Afraid. It is a good sign that you have had such difficulties. The Lord allows suffering to bring greater good. Try again and if you make it to August 15th you’ll appreciate your consecration even more because of the trials of the past.
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Ave Maria!
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Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
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julia s.
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Helen wrote:
.... The great consolation with consecration is to go through life’s trials WITH someone else, to always have as your companion, mentor and Mother, Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
I have found that Our Mother leads us gently but with perseverance to the foot of the Cross. She holds us there with sweetness even during the worst storms. For me, another surprising consequence of consecration is that she unveils to me the secrets of my soul. She goes to places that I would never have dreamed of discovering and turning over to Christ. I believe it is in the humility of Consecrating yourself to the Immaculate which unlocks many graces....
Julia, if you feel the call, try again. Our Holy Father JPII told us to Be Not Afraid. It is a good sign that you have had such difficulties. The Lord allows suffering to bring greater good. Try again and if you make it to August 15th you’ll appreciate your consecration even more because of the trials of the past. |
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Helen I shortend what you said, but all of it touched me. I did learn a lot about my soul during that time, more than I ever would have on my own without my Mother because I prayed to her regularly. Oddly enough from what you said it had to do with fear. JPII had such a message of Be not Afraid and BXVI has such messages of Hope -- the two wobbly bookends of my soul.
I will try again.
Thanks so much for making it clearer.
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julia
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stellamaris
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I will be joining all of you on this beautiful annual journey. I always renew my Total Consecration on the Feast of the Assumption. I probably won't post much, since we have limited online access right now (hopefully not for too much longer), but please know I shall be with you in prayer. Helen, I also want you to know how much I love your Mary Vitamin...it is a blessing to have a few moments each day to refresh myself in contemplating the glories of Mary and Jesus. Thank you!
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Caroline
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4Real Forums : Hidden Treasure
Topic: Marian Summer Program
