Above: Photograph by Getty Photos/DragonImages
After I was in elementary faculty, the pastor of my parish church changed the previous, under-the-weather altar desk with a brand new one. Technically, upon arrival to the church, the brand new piece was nothing greater than a flowery desk. Nonetheless, after a particular service and blessing, the desk turned a correct altar for the holiest of functions: sanctifying the bread and wine into the physique and blood of Jesus. This strategy of turning one thing peculiar into one thing extraordinary is named consecration.
Merely put, to consecrate one thing means to make it holy. Similar to a desk turns into a holy altar, we, too, can consecrate ourselves for holy functions. The Church encourages us to undertake such a private dedication to God. On this course of, we commit our full lives to dwelling in service of the Lord. We entrust our ideas, phrases and deeds – in reality, our complete being – to God’s will for us in build up his kingdom. St. John Paul II selected as his private motto a phrase from St. Louis de Montfort’s e book True Devotion to Mary: Totus Tuus, which suggests “Completely Yours.” It is a good strategy to outline the act of consecration, of giving ourselves fully to Christ.
Consecration will be executed with others in small teams or by yourself. It takes a little bit of self-discipline, because the preparation interval is normally 33 days main as much as a particular feast day. Every day, you put aside a while for guided prayer and reflection that helps you assume extra deeply about your religion and strengthen your relationship with God. To culminate the method, you normally are requested to consecrate your self by going to Mass and confession. There are various books and sources that may assist construction your self-guided retreat.
The preferred devotions are Marian consecrations, the place you consecrate your self to Jesus by way of Mary. You entrust your self to Our Girl’s safety and belief that she’s going to intercede for you and convey you nearer to her Son. Not too long ago, consecrations to Jesus by way of Joseph have additionally grow to be in style, particularly for younger males searching for a task mannequin for being a superb father and husband.
Consecrating your self to God on this formal approach brings you nearer to him. It additionally may help make clear doubts, heal hurts and discern huge selections. As Catholics, we’re already striving to dwell our lives in his identify. Consecration provides us the chance to take action much more deeply.
Veronica Szczygiel, Ph.D., is the assistant director of on-line studying at Fordham College’s Graduate College of Schooling