Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary  
Christian spirituality is distinguished by the disciple's commitment to become conformed ever more fully to his Master (cf. Rom 8:29; Phil 3:10,12). The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Baptism grafts the believer like a branch onto the vine which is Christ (cf. Jn 15:5) and makes him a member of Christ's mystical Body (cf.1Cor 12:12; Rom 12:5). This initial unity, however, calls for a growing assimilation which will increasingly shape the conduct of the disciple in accordance with the “mind” of Christ: “Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5). In the words of the Apostle, we are called “to put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (cf. Rom 13:14; Gal 3:27).
 
In the spiritual journey of the Rosary, based on the constant contemplation – in Mary's company – of the face of Christ, this demanding ideal of being conformed to him is pursued through an association which could be described in terms of friendship. We are thereby enabled to enter naturally into Christ's life and as it were to share his deepest feelings. In this regard Blessed Bartolo Longo has written: “Just as two friends, frequently in each other's company, tend to develop similar habits, so too, by holding familiar converse with Jesus and the Blessed Virgin, by meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary and by living the same life in Holy Communion, we can become, to the extent of our lowliness, similar to them and can learn from these supreme models a life of humility, poverty, hiddenness, patience and perfection”.(18)
 
In this process of being conformed to Christ in the Rosary, we entrust ourselves in a special way to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin. She who is both the Mother of Christ and a member of the Church, indeed her “pre-eminent and altogether singular member”,(19) is at the same time the “Mother of the Church”. As such, she continually brings to birth children for the mystical Body of her Son. She does so through her intercession, imploring upon them the inexhaustible outpouring of the Spirit. Mary is the perfect icon of the motherhood of the Church.
 
The Rosary mystically transports us to Mary's side as she is busy watching over the human growth of Christ in the home of Nazareth. This enables her to train us and to mold us with the same care, until Christ is “fully formed” in us (cf. Gal 4:19). This role of Mary, totally grounded in that of Christ and radically subordinated to it, “in no way obscures or diminishes the unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power”.(20) This is the luminous principle expressed by the Second Vatican Council which I have so powerfully experienced in my own life and have made the basis of my episcopal motto: Totus Tuus.(21) The motto is of course inspired by the teaching of Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, who explained in the following words Mary's role in the process of our configuration to Christ: “Our entire perfection consists in being conformed, united and consecrated to Jesus Christ. Hence the most perfect of all devotions is undoubtedly that which conforms, unites and consecrates us most perfectly to Jesus Christ. Now, since Mary is of all creatures the one most conformed to Jesus Christ, it follows that among all devotions that which most consecrates and conforms a soul to our Lord is devotion to Mary, his Holy Mother, and that the more a soul is consecrated to her the more will it be consecrated to Jesus Christ”.(22) Never as in the Rosary do the life of Jesus and that of Mary appear so deeply joined. Mary lives only in Christ and for Christ! – Pope Saint John Paul II, Excerpt from the Apostolic Letter ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE (§ 15).
 
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
Happy Easter! 
 
Today we commemorate Saint Louis de Montfort, a most influential saint in Marian Devotion in the recent decades of the Church.  Saint Louis de Montfort’s text “Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary” had a significant influence on the sanctity of Pope Saint John Paul II and many others in recent years – it is a most excellent pattern of authentic Catholic spirituality for all people.  The 33-day consecration draws the person to a deeper and more authentic knowledge of self, the Virgin Mary, the Lord Jesus, and the incredible Love of God.
 
As we stand on the cusp of May, a month dedicated to Mary, Queen of Heaven, I would strongly encourage all to intensify their Marian Devotion – to pray the Rosary each and every day of the Month of May.  As a guide for this effort please read Pope Saint John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE.  This letter will open your eyes to the value of the Most Holy Rosary.  Further, it will convince you that your devotion to praying the Rosary is not a mere repetition of prayer but an opportunity to meditate on the Love of God with a companion and guide who is our Spiritual Mother.  In this way, your time of prayer can be both familiar and open to the ever-new graces of the Lord who always loves you and invites you to live as a saint today.
 
Further, as today is Saint Louis de Montfort’s Feast Day it is also the beginning of one of the traditional 33-day consecration periods – ending with the Feast of the Visitation (the Queenship of Mary) on May 31 ^st.  Several years ago, I chose this as the time when I would personally consecrate myself to the Lord Jesus through devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary – in part because of my own devotion to the Visitation of Mary, the Mother of God, to Elizabeth and because of my Ordination to the Priesthood being June 1 – with Pope Saint John Paul II as a sure guide, this method of spirituality seemed to be most trustworthy.  Thus, I encourage all to consider joining me as I annually renew my Consecration.
 
If you are interested, there are wonderful recordings of our former Bishop Joseph P. McFadden leading the 33-days of prayer on the Diocese of Harrisburg website.  A link to the webpage with these videos is here.  It is a great blessing to have these recorded and freely available, I am sure that you will find them most helpful in your daily prayers of devotion.
 
A final word of endorsement, it is clear as I look back on my personal journey to the Kingdom of Heaven that Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary has had a most significant impact on increasing my life of virtue.  I recommend the Most Holy Rosary as a daily prayer to all and the 33-day consecration method of Saint Louis de Montfort to every Catholic who wishes to attain Heaven by the most sure way, the way of the Saints.
 
 
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
 
 
Know of my prayers for you, please pray for me!
 
Father Wilke
 
Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us!