Consecration
What is consecration?
Consecration means setting yourself aside for service to God. The Church has always advocated consecrating yourself to Jesus Christ through the Blessed Virgin, the perfect model of discipleship.
Perhaps the best known advocate of Marian consecration is St. Louis de Montfort (d. 1716). Modern day promoters include Pope John Paul II, who recommends an “act of entrustment” to Mary (the Holy Father’s papal motto is an enthusiastic Totus Tuus, “Totally Yours.”) All methods are equally worthy; Kolbean consecration adds a clear apostolic dimension. You become a member of an international movement dedicated to the conversion and sanctification of the world and share in the maternal mission of Mary. The MI is one of the few canonically approved public associations whose mission, like that of the Catholic Church, is universal.
Am I Ready to Consecrate Myself Totally to Mary and Join the MI?
The spirit of the MI is the spirit of continual conversion. Not everyone who enrolls as a member understands perfectly in the beginning the power of this consecration. But when lived in the spirit of willingness and humility, the Immaculata will elevate our natural gifts and inspire us to holiness and fruitful service within the Church. As Jesus said to those who would stand up and follow him: “Even greater things than these will you do.”
“Maximilian Kolbe is a prophet and a sign of the new era, the civilization of love.” Pope John Paul II
How Do I Enroll in the MI?
Select the date on which you want your name recorded in the official register of the MI, preferably a Marian feast day. Please select from the list of dates here below or choose your own special feast date. Then, complete the enrollment application which will be submitted to the MI Canada Office in Kewlona, BC.
Marian Feast Days
- Jan 1 – Solemnity of the Mother of God
- Feb 11 – Our Lady of Lourdes
- Mar 25 – Annunciation
- May 13 – Our Lady of Fatima
- May 31 – Visitation
- June 27 – Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- July 16 – Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
- Aug 15 – Assumption
- Aug 22 – Queenship of Mary
- Sept 8 – Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Sept 15 – Our Lady of Sorrows
- Oct 7 – Our Lady of the Rosary
- Nov 21 – Presentation of Mary
- Nov 27 – Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
- Dec 8 – Immaculate Conception
- Dec 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe
Prepare yourself for the day of consecration by daily Mass if possible, the Rosary, spiritual reading and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on or before the day of your consecration.
On the day of your enrollment, recite the official act of consecration. Renounce attachment to sin and if possible attend Mass. (A Plenary Indulgence is granted by the Church under the usual conditions: Confession, Communion, a visit to a Church and prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, must be included. It may be satisfied on the day of your enrollment or within the following eight days.) In this way you will be making an effort to remove all obstacles to Our Lady making you her own in the Holy Spirit.
Finally, ask Our Lady and St. Maximilian to show you how you can best serve the Lord from this moment on.
Preparation for the Consecration to the Immaculate
The main six chapters of Behold Your Mother! are made available in PDF format. These files are copyrighted but may be printed and reproduced, without changes, for use in preparing for consecration.
Preparation for MI Consecration Part 1
Preparation for MI Consecration Part 2
Preparation for MI Consecration Part 3
Preparation for MI Consecration Part 4
Preparation for MI Consecration Part 5
Preparation for MI Consecration Part 6
An eight-part series on the Militia of the Immaculata (MI) complements the six-part series on Preparation for Consecration to the Immaculata in the Spirit of St. Maximilian Kolbe (both are included in the booklet Behold Your Mother!). These files are copyrighted but may be printed and reproduced, without changes, for use in preparing for consecration to Mary in the MI.
MI Consecration Prayer
(Composed by St. Maximilian Kolbe)
O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, (name), a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet, humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you.
If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: “She will crush your head,” and “You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world. ” Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
V. Allow me to praise you, O sacred Virgin
R. Give me strength against your enemies
1. DEEPEN YOUR OWN CONSECRATION: St. Maximilian said to more effectively “win the world for the Immaculata,” we must conquer ourselves, then those around us – family, friends, co-workers, etc. and then the whole world. As an aid use the Monthly Prayer Intention Leaflet in unity with MI members in the daily renewal of our Marian Consecration, prayer intentions and reflections. It is sent yearly. Continual interior conversion is the seedbed of apostolic activity. How do we as MI members deepen our spiritual lives and strengthen our total consecration to Mary? Here are some suggestions:
- Attend daily Mass if possible, the “source and summit” of the Church’s activity
- Regularly participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, monthly if possible
- Spend time in adoration before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament
- Pray the Rosary, individually or in a group or family setting
- Spend quiet time with the Lord every morning (suggestion, start with 15 minutes)
- Read Scripture, especially the New Testament, to know Christ better!
- Read good Catholic spiritual literature
- Study Pope John Paul II’s powerful writings and the Catholic Catechism
- For spiritual support, join a small prayer group (e.g., village) in your parish or among like-minded friends
2. PROMOTE MARIAN CONSECRATION: The only way for a movement to grow is when its members reach out and invite others to join.
3. PASS OUT MIRACULOUS MEDALS: St. Maximilian called this Catholic sacramental a “bullet” of supernatural grace. He encouraged MIs to share this gift from Our Lady to sow the seeds of conversion and sanctification (wearing it ourselves in faith protects and empowers our own consecration.)
4. PROMOTE THE KNIGHTS AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS: St. Maximilian considered the KFC as the “spiritual vanguard” of the movement, a powerful army of prayer for MI. By their KFC consecration these MI members, afflicted with sufferings large and small, generate untold graces.
5. FORM A “VILLAGE OF THE IMMACULATA” MI PRAYER GROUP: By gathering MIs together in small groups of spiritual solidarity, we can support each other in our faith and spiritual formation. Start an MI Village. (small groups are advisable)
6. ENCOURAGE PARISH CONSECRATIONS TO THE IMMACULATA. As Mother of the Church, she brings purity of faith and unity to its members, her children. Why not approach your pastor and propose that your parish make a formal act of total consecration at least yearly or on Major Marian feast day?
The Miraculous Medal owes its origins to the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the chapel of the Rue du Bac, Paris, in 1830. She appeared to Catherine Labouré, showing the young nun and future saint the design of a medal that serves as a mini-catechism of the Church’s teaching on Our Lady.
In a vision, Mary stood on a globe with brilliant light streaming from her jeweled fingers. “Behold the symbol of graces shed upon those who ask for them,” she said, representing herself as Mediatrix of All Graces. Surrounding her a banner read, “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you,” symbolizing her Immaculate Conception. The vision reversed, showing the letter ‘M’ entwined with a cross above the Sacred Hearts. This image represents Mary as Coredemptrix, a unique participator in Jesus’ saving act of redemption.
Millions of medals have been distributed and untold graces given “to those who wear it around the neck” as the Virgin promised to St. Catherine.
Hearing of the miraculous conversion of the agnostic Alphonse Ratisbonne through the medal, St. Maximilian made wearing it and giving it away an integral part of his movement. He called the Miraculous Medal “a ‘bullet’ with which the faithful soldier hits the enemy, that is evil, and thus rescues souls.”
Daily Miraculous Medal Prayer of St. Maximilian Kolbe
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you, and for all who do not have recourse to you, especially the enemies of the Church and those recommended to you.
Plenary Indulgence Granted to Members of the MI
A Plenary Indulgence is available upon enrolment in the MI
A Plenary Indulgence – the complete remission of temporal punishment in purgatory due to sin – is granted by the Church for enrolment in the MI. This great honour was bestowed on the Movement by Pope Pius XI in 1926.
To receive the indulgence, you must:
- Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation within the eight days preceding your enrolment. Attend Mass and receive Holy Communion on the day of your enrolment;
- Pray at least an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the intentions of the Holy Father; and
- Renounce all attachment to sin, even venial sin, on your enrolment day.