Preparation for Total Consecration

PRAYERS

Here are some prayers and extra passages for reflection which may be chosen during the four weeks of the preparation; or you may prefer to use your own favourite prayer or prayers. However, a morning offering is recommended daily, and also the Litany of the Holy Spirit or the Veni Sancte.

Morning Offering

Loving Virgin Mary, I praise and bless you for having watched over me during the night. I thank you for having given, with Jesus, praise and thanksgiving to God the Father on my behalf.

Immaculate Virgin,I unite with the heart of Jesus, with the angels and saints, and with all those truly devoted to you, to greet you today with renewed fervour and love.

As a token of my love I dedicate myself to you with all that I have. I give you my body and soul, and surrender to you the value of my good actions, for the glory of God.

I present this offering to you, dear Mother, united with the dispositions of the heart of Jesus, and with all the Masses celebrated today throughout the world. And any indulgences I may gain I leave to you to be used as you wish.

Accept, gracious Queen, this little offering of myself and my whole life in honour of the obedience which Jesus, eternal Wisdom, showed towards you, and to give thanks for the privileges with which the Blessed Trinity has favoured you.

Short Act of Consecration

Loving Lord Jesus, I belong entirely to you, and all that I have I offer to you through Mary your holy Mother, for the glory of the Father.

Litany of the Holy Spirit

God, the Father of heaven,have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit,have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us
Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, have mercy on us
Spirit of eternal truth, have mercy on us
Spirit of wisdom and understanding, have mercy on us
Spirit of counsel and fortitude, have mercy on us
Spirit of knowledge and piety, have mercy on us
Spirit of fear of the Lord, have mercy on us
Spirit of grace and prayer, have mercy on us
Spirit of love and power, have mercy on us
Spirit who in the beginning moved over the waters, have mercy on us
Spirit by whose inspiration the prophets spoke, have mercy on us
Spirit who overshadowed Mary, have mercy on us
Spirit who descended upon the Son of God at his baptism, have mercy on us
Spirit who appeared over the disciples at Pentecost, have mercy on us
Spirit by whom we are all born to the spiritual life, have mercy on us
Spirit dwelling in us as in a shrine, have mercy on us
Spirit guiding the Church, have mercy on us
Spirit converting sinners, have mercy on us
Spirit making the faithful but one heart and mind, have mercy on us
Spirit giving your children true liberty, have mercy on us
Spirit enlightening us with your heavenly inspirations, have mercy on us
Spirit strengthening us to fulfil the law of God, have mercy on us
Spirit teaching us to pray and praying with us, have mercy on us
Spirit filling our hearts with love, peace and joy, have mercy on us
Spirit granting us patience and kindness, have mercy on us
Spirit adorning our souls with generosity and faithfulness, have mercy on us
Spirit enriching us with gentleness and self-restraint, have mercy on us
Spirit by whom the waters of grace spring up in our hearts, have mercy on us
Spirit by whom we are no longer slaves of sin but children and heirs of God, have mercy on us
Spirit by whom we persevere in holiness to the end, have mercy on us

V. Send forth your Spirit and there will be a new creation.
R. And you will renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray

Father, you have taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending them the light of your holy Spirit. In that Spirit give us right judgement and the joy of his comfort and guidance: through Christ our Lord.

Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Holy Spirit, Lord of light,
from the clear celestial height
thy pure beaming radiance give.
Come, thou father of the poor,
come with treasures which endure;
come, thou light of all that live.
Thou of all consolers best,
thou, the soul's delightful guest,
dost refreshing peace bestow;
thou in toil art comfort sweet;
pleasant coolness in the heat;
solace in the midst of woe.
Light immortal, light divine,
visit thou these hearts of thine,
and our inmost being fill:
If thou take thy grace away,
nothing pure in man will stay;
all his good is turned to ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
on our dryness pour thy dew;
wash the stains of guilt away:
bend the stubborn heart and will;
melt the frozen, warm the chill;
guide the steps that go astray.
Thou, on us who evermore
thee confess and thee adore,
with thy sevenfold gifts descend:
Give us comfort when we die;
give us life with thee on high;
give us joys that never end.

Prayer of Saint Augustine

Lord Jesus, let me know myself, let me know you,
and desire nothing else but you.
Let me humble myself and exalt you,
and think of nothing but you.
Let me die to myself and live in you
and take whatever happens as coming from you.
Let me forget myself, and walk after you
and ever desire to follow you.
Let me distrust myself and trust in you
and always pray for the love of you.
Let me cling to nothing but you.
Look upon me that I may love you,
call me that I may see you
and for ever possess you. Amen.

Before a Crucifix

My good and dearest Jesus.
I kneel before you,
beseeching and praying you with all the ardour of my soul,
to engrave deep and vivid impressions of faith, hope, and charity upon my heart,
with true repentance for my sins
and a very firm resolve to make amends.
Meanwhile I ponder over your five wounds,
dwelling upon them with deep compassion and grief,
and recalling the words which the prophet David
put into your mouth, good Jesus, concerning yourself,
'They have pierced my hands and my feet;
they have counted all my bones'.

A Litany of Our Lady

God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us
Holy Mary, pray for us
Holy Mother of God, pray for us
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us
Mother of Christ, pray for us
Mother most pure, pray for us
Mother most chaste, pray for us
Sinless Mother, pray for us
Dearest of mothers, pray for us
Mother of our Creator, pray for us
Mother of our Saviour, pray for us
Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us
Virgin most wise, pray for us
Virgin most powerful, pray for us
Virgin merciful to sinners, pray for us
Virgin ever faithful, pray for us
Mirror of holiness, pray for us
Throne of Wisdom, pray for us
Cause of our joy, pray for us
Shrine of the Spirit, pray for us
Devoted handmaid of the Lord, pray for us
Gate of heaven, pray for us
Star of hope, pray for us
Health of the sick, pray for us
Refuge of sinners, pray for us
Comfort of the afflicted, pray for us
Help of Christians, pray for us
Queen of angels, pray for us
Queen of patriarchs and prophets, pray for us
Queen of apostles and martyrs, pray for us
Queen of confessors and virgins, pray for us
Queen of all saints, pray for us
Queen conceived in grace, pray for us
Queen raised up to glory, pray for us
Queen of the Rosary, pray for us
Queen of peace, pray for us

V. Pray for us, most holy Mother of God.
R. That we may become worthy of the blessings Christ has promised.

Let us pray

Lord God,
give your people the joy
of continual health in mind and body.
Through the prayers of the Blessed Virgin,
guide us through the difficulties of this life
to the eternal happiness of the life to come:
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer to Mary

Hail, Mary, my joy, my glory, my heart and soul,
I give myself wholly to you,
reserving nothing for myself or for others.
May the light of your faith dispel the darkness of my mind.
May your deep humility take the place of my pride.
May your heavenly contemplation put to an end
the distractions of my wandering imagination.
May your continuous vision of God fill my memory with his presence.
May the burning love of your heart inflame the coldness of mine.
May your virtues take the place of my sins.
May your merits be my adornment and make up for my unworthiness before God.
Finally, beloved Mother, grant, if it be possible,
that I may have no other spirit but yours
to know Jesus and his divine will,
no soul but yours to praise and glorify the Lord.
no heart but yours to love God purely and ardently as you love him.
The only grace I beg you in your kindness to obtain for me is that every day and moment of my life
I may say this threefold Amen:
Amen, so be it, to all you did upon earth;
Amen, so be it, to all you are doing now in heaven;
Amen, so be it, to all you are doing in my soul.
In that way, you and you alone will fully glorify Jesus in me during all my life and my eternity. Amen

(Secret of Mary, 68, 69)

A Litany of Saint Louis Marie de Montfort

God, the Father in heaven, have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us
Holy Mary, pray for us
Saint Louis Marie de Montfort, pray for us
Faithful disciple of Christ, incarnate Wisdom, pray for us
Loving slave of Jesus in Mary, pray for us
Apostle of the Cross and the Rosary, pray for us
Marvel of trust in divine Providence, pray for us
Model of perfect obedience, pray for us
Man of solitude and prayer, pray for us
Wonder of self-denial, pray for us
Friend of the poor and the sick, pray for us
Doctor of perfect devotion to Mary, pray for us
Obtain for us true Wisdom, Blessed Father de Montfort
Obtain for us the spirit of faith, Blessed Father de Montfort
Obtain for us the spirit of prayer, Blessed Father de Montfort
Obtain for us the spirit of humility, Blessed Father de Montfort
Obtain for us devotion to the cross, Blessed Father de Montfort
Obtain for us your devotion to Mary, Blessed Father de Montfort
Obtain for us your love of the Church, Blessed Father de Montfort
Obtain for us devotion to the Vicar of Christ, Blessed Father de Montfort
Obtain for us your courage in trials, Blessed Father de Montfort
Obtain for us the grace of perseverance, Blessed Father de Montfort
Obtain for us the grace of a happy death, Blessed Father de Montfort

V. Saint Louis Marie de Montfort,
R. Intercede for us.

Let us pray

O God, you inspired Saint Louis Marie with a fervent desire to preach Christ's gospel to your people. By his prayers on our behalf, and under the guidance of the Virgin Mary, may we always be docile to the Spirit, and tireless apostles of your kingdom in the service of our needy brothers and sisters. We offer our prayer...

DESIRE FOR JESUS in the Holy Eucharist

My Jesus, I long ardently
for you to come to me this day;
Without you life is misery.
Come to me soon, I pray.
Without the fervour that you bring,
O Love, I languish night and day;
and do you not desire my love?
Inflame my heart, I pray.
Good Shepherd, bear your lost sheep home
within your arms, whene'er I stray;
From ravening wolves that round me roam
Oh, keep me safe, I pray.
O Bread of Life, for you I sigh,
give me yourself without delay;
For otherwise my soul must die.
Give me to eat, I pray.
O fount of living waters clear,
How long and weary is the way;
Refresh my soul which thirsts for you.
Give me to drink, I pray.
O loving Lord, my soul is chilled
by icy winds that round me play;
O fire of love, let me be filled
with warmth from you, I pray.
Like the blind man who cried to you:
Have mercy on me, Lord, I say,
O Mary's Son, that I may see;
increase my faith, I pray.
Lord, I am sick beyond all cure,
but with a word you can display
your power; without you death is sure.
O heal me, Lord, I pray.
My Lord, I knock upon your door;
your favours I can ne'er repay,
yet in my want I beg for more.
Fulfil my needs, I pray.
I am not worthy, Lord that you
should come into my house today
as heavenly food; say but the word
and heal my soul, I pray.
Lord, you alone are my true friend,
my treasure which can ne'er decay;
All earthly joys do you transcend.
Do visit me this day.

(St. Louis de Montfort, Hymn No. 112)

Passages for Reflection

Indifference to the World

Hence, just as a traveller eager to reach a royal city whither he tends his hurrying steps, and who, entirely preoccupied with this one thought, passes with indifference the beauty of the lands through which he journeys, without pausing to admire, so also the missionary, detached from all things like another Saint Francis, hastens towards the heavenly Jerusalem.

Taken up solely with the charms of this immortal city of peace and glory, he has eyes to contemplate only that: he cannot call that 'hardship' which must be suffered to reach it, or that 'pleasure' which might turn him aside from it.

Like Saint Paul, he considers not the things that are visible, but those that are invisible; for, as he reminds himself, visible things are transient and perishable; death snatches them away just when we expect to enjoy them; often we lose them before death with much heartbreak. Whereas invisible goods, those indescribable gifts which they only enjoy who possess God, are eternal.

And so, finally, the missionary, sustained and encouraged by this noble hope which reposes in the depths of his heart, and persevering in his holy and sublime vocation, he will have the happiness at the hour of death of being able to repeat with confidence those beautiful, those consoling words of the most zealous of all missionaries of Jesus Christ: 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that Day.' Amen.

(Attributed to St. Louis, LCM, 11).

JESUS OUR ONLY WAY

Jesus Christ, our Saviour, true God and true man, must be the ultimate end of all our other devotions; otherwise they would be false and misleading. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and end of everything. 'We labour' says Saint Paul, 'only to make all men perfect in Jesus Christ'.

For in him alone dwells the entire fulness of the divinity and the complete fulness of grace, virtue, and perfection. In him alone we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing:

He is our only Teacher from whom we must learn;
our only Lord on whom we should depend;
our only Head to whom we should be united;
our only Model whom we should imitate;
our only Physician who must heal us;
our only Shepherd who must feed us;
our only Way who must lead us;
our only Truth in whom we must believe;
our only Life who must animate us;
and our only All in all things who must satisfy us.

God has laid no other foundation of our salvation, perfection and glory than Jesus Christ. Through him, with him, and in him, we can do all things: render all honour and glory to the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit; become perfect ourselves, and be to our neighbour the fragrance of eternal life.

(True Devotion 6l ).

THE MAXIMS OF THE WORLD

Oh! You converted? Steady now!
Trustworthy people never change;
This sudden fervour can't be good,
and everyone will find it strange.
Too scrupulous is what you are,
This zeal of yours will pass away;
Would you have people think you odd
and make a joke of how you pray?
That priest you have is far too strict,
he's always preaching on our sins;
They'll treat you as a fool like him,
and welcome you with hidden grins.
The Lord does not demand of you
these penances or that good work;
Beneath them over-weening pride,
self-love, and self-conceit all lurk.
Lord, save us! What piosity!
What ostentatious zeal!
You know you're being led astray
by Satan every time you kneel.
That Meditation must be dropped,
for you it is a dangerous thing:
Temptation for the idle soul
is all the fruit that it will bring.
Of what use all those Rosaries?
Much better do your work each day;
Content yourself to say no more
than prayers that other people pray.
Avoid this singularity,
true virtue loves to hide itself;
You show too much of what you do,
be on your guard against yourself.
You have so many talents, friend,
your place is in society;
Conduct yourself with elegance,
your critics then will leave you free.
Even your clothes are most bizarre,
to everyone a smile they bring;
You are the subjects of their songs,
I dare not tell you everything.
If you will walk with eyes cast down
and in unsocial ways engage,
you might as well become a monk
or go into a hermitage.
I am your friend, believe me, do,
Must you behave like pious fools?
It is absurd without a doubt
to turn mere trifles into rules.
It's not what I alone believe,
your friends and your relations shun
such over-zealous practices;
They surely know what is not done.
All this and more the world proclaims
to sanction its deceitful ways,
and many volumes I would need
to tell of all the snares it lays,
and to reveal its tricks and lies,
its sins in such attractive guise.
Come to my help. O Queen of heaven,
come to my help, O Virgin, pray,
that I might fight this wretched world,
against its fear of what men say,
that I might triumph with your Son.
with all its perils overcome.
Great God, support me with your strength,
take not your powerful hand away,
that I may overcome this beast,
this fear of what the world will say.
Dear Jesus, on whom I rely,
with you I will the world defy.

(St. Louis, Hymn No. 39)

THE CALL TO THE MISSION

  1. Arise, dear brother, come, my friend,
    Let us arise before the sun.
    God calls us to his festival,
    the mission has begun.
    So be there ice or be there snow,
    To gain God's grace, to church we'll go.
  2. In spite of every obstacle,
    In spite of cold and winter's sting,
    In spite of all the body's groans,
    the mission hymn we'll sing.
    So be there wind or be there rain,
    Off to church, God's grace to gain.
  3. The family, they all call it mad,
    The devil and the world protest:
    'Stay by the fireside, stay in bed'.
    But in church we'll rest.
    And be there ice or be there frost,
    The mission grace must not be lost.
  4. Leave troubled Martha on her own,
    Leave all the timid ones in bed.
    As we march boldly on, our God
    counts every step we tread.
    So be there rain or be there ice,
    We'll seek the grace of Paradise.
  5. You workmen, cease to labour now;
    Complete your law-suit, you in court:
    You sinners, leave your sinful ways.
    and be deterred by naught.
    So be there mist or be there rain,
    The grace of God we will attain.
  6. All that you ask you will receive,
    Says Jesus. Seek, and you will find.
    The door will open if you knock.
    So do not stay behind.
    In spite of frost, in spite of rain,
    Seek for my grace and you'll obtain.
  7. You joiners, lay aside your wood,
    Put down your iron, you smiths, for now,
    Let craftsmen leave their work a while,
    that grace may all endow.
    And be there thunder, be there frost,
    We'll seek that grace, whate'er the cost.
  8. Let us arise, both great and small,
    Awake from all our sluggishness,
    To seek the gifts of priceless worth
    and blessings numberless.
    So be there snow or be there ice,
    Let us seek grace and Paradise.
  9. For heaven is the pearl we seek,
    Our harbour and our resting-place,
    The prize for which we pray and toil.
    Let us, then, seek God's grace.
    And be there ice or be there snow,
    We'll not the mission grace forego.
  10. To reach the heavenly harbour, we
    Must toil and fight against the waves.
    So to the sails and to the ropes
    to earn the grace that saves.
    Then be there snow or be there frost,
    We'll persevere, nor count the cost.
  11. Bestir yourselves, you lazy ones.
    Although the way is long and cold.
    We will not shrink or spare ourselves.
    Our need will make us hold.
    So be there wind or be there rain,
    We'll seek a heavenly throne to gain.
  12. Wake up, you people wrapped in sleep.
    We seek despite our many foes,
    The pardon of our sins, which God
    through his great grace bestows.
    So be it wet or be it cold,
    Reward we'll gain a hundredfold.
  13. Now off you go to hear our Lord,
    Who in the sermon speaks to you,
    To try to touch your hearts once more
    and offers grace anew.
    Its call is brief, its passing swift;
    Let us not miss this precious gift.
  14. The mission is the chosen time
    When we find pardon for our sins,
    Despite the devil and the world,
    and when new life begins.
    Grace calls us once, then passes on.
    So to the church let us be gone.
  15. If we must hear the cross in life.
    Our heavenly prize is worth the pain;
    That is our inspiration now,
    the great reward to gain.
    Grace comes, then leaves us if ignored;
    Let us seek grace and God's reward.
  16. It is for heaven that we strive,
    But for God's glory, his alone.
    To rise to heaven, above the skies,
    and to a glorious throne -
    Though wind and rain display their might -
    Up to a crown of glory bright.

(St. Louis de Montfort. Hymn No. 163)

HYMN TO SAINT LOUIS MARIE DE MONTFORT

O blessed Saint, who here on earth
refused our Lady naught,
and by your prayers from her blest hands
the gift of Wisdom sought;
Most glorious teacher of Christ's ways,
lead us where you have been,
and now in heaven for us obtain
this gift from her, whom we proclaim
Our Mother and our Queen.
Renouncing all you had on earth,
all things did you receive;
To Mary consecrating all,
true freedom did achieve.
O Mary's glorious slave of love,
we consecrate, like you,
all that we are, or do, or own
without reserve through her alone -
Our Mother and our Queen.
Your burning words and holy life
recall to men again:
As through the Cross Christ conquered sin,
so through the cross we reign.
Most glorious lover of the Cross,
teach us to stand serene
with Mary steadfast at the side
of her Son Jesus crucified -
Our Mother and our Queen.
Your glory here is now assured;
Thus we on earth can sing
your praise for having served so well
your Master and your King.
O powerful Saint in every care
on your strong arm we lean,
till dawns the day when we behold
our God and her whom you extolled -
Our Mother and our Queen.

(Tune: 'This is the image of our Queen')