4Real Forums: Total Consecration for Children

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

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Topic: Total Consecration for Children

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Jenny
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Posted: Feb 17 2007 at 10:59pm \| IP Logged

The children and I have started reading St Louis De Montfort The Story of Our Lady's Slave. My oldest daughter (8 1/2) started asking questions because she knows I just renewed my consecration on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. I told her the consecration means that everything you do you give to Mary to use, to give to whomever needs your prayers or works the most. She said she wants to make the Consecration because "since I am young, I will have lots of years to give everything to Mary." I thought this was very sweet, but I have advised her to pray about it while we are reading. I also advised her to speak to Father it in the confessional.

Is there a minimum age? My first thought was I'm not sure she would really understand, but how many of us fully understand the consecration?

St Louis De Montfort The Story of Our Lady's Slave

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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

aussieannie
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Posted: Feb 17 2007 at 11:05pm \| IP Logged

Jenny, I found a heap of little booklets on the True Devotion, I have been reading yesterday all the different questions and answers from a booklet called, "Surrender to Mary" and this very question is asked, this is what they say:

Surrender to Mary wrote:

Question: I think this Devotion is unsuitable for children.

Answer: On the contrary, its principles and practice can be understood by little ones. Their innocence and generosity and love for Mary enable them to respond more readily than many adults......It should prove sufficient to show that when rightly understood the True Devotion may be understaken by young people, even children.

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aussieannie
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Posted: Feb 17 2007 at 11:12pm \| IP Logged

I personally think that if a child can fully reason and understand that they recieve Jesus' body, blood, soul and divinity in Holy Communion, then they would be old enough to consecrate themselves to Our Lady - this is just my thoughts, I'd be interested to hear other's feelings or experiences with this.

I think it is beautiful Jenny, that your daughter's heart is so open to her Heavenly Mother!

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Zeliemum
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Posted: Feb 20 2007 at 5:37am \| IP Logged

My children and I will start reading True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin for our spiritual enlightenment reading for Lent, starting on Ash Wednesday. Dh will be involved for spiritual guidance, clarification and direction throughout as much as possible outside of his work commitments.
I would love to mention your sweet little girls comment to them "since I am young, I will have lots of years to give everything to Mary." I think they will relate to it beautifully.

"Maria Vonn Trapp suggests three categories for Lenten reading:

Something for the Mind
Something for the Soul.
Something for the Heart."

This spiritual treasury comes under all three.

With my littler children I will try reading them Secret of The Rosary and start The Marian Catechism by Fr Robert J Fox, and the real little ones we will keep reading Leading the Little Ones to Mary.

So each age will have a chance to get closer to Our lady as her son�s passion approaches.

God Bless to you all.
Chemai

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aussieannie
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Posted: Feb 20 2007 at 5:49am \| IP Logged

The Fatima Apostolate have their Mary's White League and it involves three consecrations, the first to their guardian angel, the second to their Heavenly Father and the third to The Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The program is recommended from the ages 4 and up. We have this program at home, but never gotten around to using it

- I remember that it was supported by Pope John Paul II and sometime in the 80's or 90's there were thousands of children who made this final consecration in the program (to Our Lady) in the presence of the Holy Father in Rome.

At the time I was amazed to read that the Holy Father told the children to go home and to spend an hour a week (something like that) in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It is only been a new concept for me (the last 5 years) that children are called to adoration in the Eucharist!

I think we are living in an age where we are slowly understanding what it means when we hear say, we are all called to holiness, to be saints. - I doubt if there would be a canonized saint out there that did not have a loving and tender devotion to Mary - saintly children, I imagine, would have a very deep love of their Heavenly Mother, I think for all children it is a very natural concept for them.

I think that we must remember that Catholics from centuries ago would be shocked most likely at the fact Pope Pius X allowed Holy Communion so regularly and to young children.

I think it is something that a parent discerns with their individual child but obviously it could be very young....

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Zeliemum
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Posted: Feb 20 2007 at 6:25am \| IP Logged

Yes we are all called to be saints even the very young. The Carmelites just gave my mother-in-law a book, I think it was called little Nelly. About a little girl of 3-4 whom after death was found incorrupt. She had a cheeky side to her personality but would always ask for forgiveness from those she had offended. She had an extremely deep understanding of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. She would ask the nuns to come and kiss her after they had receiving Jesus as she felt like she was being kissed by him also, then they would return to the chapel. She also suffered greatly and died very young.

I am translating this from what my MIL told me about the story. So I haven't personally read the book yet. You are probably aware of this little holy girl�s story. I am waiting in line for it to come around the family so I can read it to the children- we are really looking forward to it. I can't wait to read it to Benedict.

Yes I think Our Lady touches children in an extremely special way if they are introduced to her lovingly. I feel very sorry for any children that are starved of an understanding of her love for them.
I think that will be one of our Lenten rosary intentions that all, especially children will become acutely aware of Our lady's love for them.

Anthony is approaching his First Holy Communion I think this study will be a real gift for him.

Love to all

C

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