Consecration to the child Mary, Mary: Day 193

Last updated on: January 30, 2016 at 3:30 am by Pete Socks

Consecration to the child Mary, Mary: Day 193 2016-01-01T12:07:41-05:00 Pete Socks

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Consecration to the child Mary

Alluding to the ancient tradition that Mary consecrated herself to God when she was quite young, St. Alphonsus laments the fact that his own childhood was not consecrated that way.

Beloved Mother of God, most amiable child Mary! You presented yourself in the temple, and with readiness and without reserve you consecrated yourself to the glory and love of God. If only I could offer you, this day, the first years of my life, to devote myself without reserve to your service, my holy and most sweet Lady!

But it’s now too late to do this. Unfortunate creature that I am, I’ve lost so many years in servitude to the world and my own caprices, and I’ve lived in almost entire forgetfulness of you and of God. Woe to the time when I didn’t love you! Even so, it’s better to begin late than not at all. Behold, Mary, this day I present myself to you, and I offer myself without reserve to your service for the long or short time that I still have to live in this world. In union with you I renounce the pursuit of all created things, and I devote myself entirely to the love of my Creator.

I consecrate my mind to you, my Queen, so that it may always think of the love that you deserve; my tongue, to praise you; my heart, to love you. Accept, most holy Virgin, the offering that this miserable sinner now makes you. Accept it, I beg you, by the consolation that your heart experienced when you gave yourself to God in the temple. But since I’m entering your service late, it’s only reasonable that I should multiply my acts of homage and love, in order to com- pensate for lost time. Help my weakness with your powerful intercession, Mother of Mercy, by obtaining perseverance for me from your Son, Jesus, and strength to be always faithful to you until death. In this way, always serving you in life, I may praise you in paradise for all eternity. —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Do I ever regret not coming to love and serve God sooner than I did? If so, how can I now make up for lost time?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a “Novena to Maria Bambina”: Holy child Mary of the royal house of David, Queen of the Angels, mother of grace and love, I greet you with all my heart. Obtain for me the grace to love the Lord faithfully during all the days of my life.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Remember to subscribe to my feed so you will not miss a day! This recurring feature at The Catholic Blogger is possible through the cooperation of author Paul Thigpen and publisher Saint Benedict Press. To get your own copy of this book, click below.

A Year with Mary

Paul Thigpen

Saint Alphonsus Ligouri

Saint Benedict Press

Previous Post

January 29, 2016

A prayer to the infant Mary, Mary: Day 192

Next Post

January 31, 2016 With Mary’s fiat, God became man, Mary: Day 194

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category A Year with Mary A Year with the Angels A Year with the Church Fathers Book News Children's Review Featured CD Giveaway Guest Post Interview Linked Review Media review Movie Review New Releases Off the Shelf Review speakers Teen Review The Clergy Speaks The Laity Speaks The Open Book Podcast Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz