Consecration means to “make holy” meaning to set apart for a holy purpose. The consecration itself takes place through a single prayer, but for us to know what this act means, there are thirty-three days of preparation leading up to this submission and surrender to God.
Anyone who has made an act of consecration knows the struggle of commitment and consistency to the days of preparation, often due to forgetfulness or apathy.
We are hoping that by wearing or putting on something each day as a reminder during the thirty-three day period will help with attentiveness to prayer.
Consecration to Jesus through Mary (St. Louis De Montfort)
There are various forms of Marian consecration, but all have the same central themes of recognizing our own sin and need for grace, knowledge of Our Lady, and knowledge of Jesus.
One way we can reflect our preparation can be based on the feast day we plan to make our consecration. Find an image of the particular title of Our Lady that you love and wear those colors. Draw out inspiration from those art pieces; for example, consider velvet (as she revealed herself as Queen of Heaven) for Our Lady of Fatima, gold jewelry (stars) for Our Lady of Guadalupe, silky blue (water) garments for Our Lady of Lourdes, or black linens and cottons (simplicity) for Our Lady of Sorrows. Try to wear one article of clothing or accessory each day that points you to reflect on the goal of consecration to Jesus through Mary.
Consecration to St. Joseph (Fr. Calloway)
Fr. Calloway wrote an in-depth preparation for consecration to St. Joseph and it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of fascinating stories and beautiful reflections. Consider reflecting on one or two titles of St. Joseph more in depth than the rest throughout the process.
For instance, Joseph the Terror of Demons can be reflected through dark colored linens for humility and chunky metal jewelry for the victory of heaven over darkness.
Another example is Joseph as Hope of the Sick and Patron of the Dying which can be reflected through shades of green which is the theological color of hope. Leather accents in the outfit since leather is conditioned with oil which points to the anointing of the sick (look up the story behind the oil of St. Joseph).
Consecration to Merciful Love (Fr. Gaitley)
Walking with St. Therese to make a little offering of ourselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a time of gentleness with ourselves and radical trust.
Reflect the “Little Flower” through neutral tones (for submission the will of God in the soil and messiness of our growth) and tiny floral accents in your outfit (for the hope in His mercy). Shades of red point to the Sacred Heart and gold accessories for the hopeful confidence in Christ’s promise of salvation to “little souls.”
Consecration to God the Father (Fr. Gaitley)
Pondering the Gospel of John offers us a fresh perspective of Redemption and an invitation to intimacy with the Father. We enter into the raw stories of the disciples and Christ’s ministry over 33 days as a means of discovering a consistency of the Father’s pursuit of us.
Some ways to tangibly reflect on the Gospel of John is to choose a passage that has pulled on your heart. Throughout the whole 33 Days, consider wearing a garment or accessory each day that reminds you that you are made for glory, something that gives you an extra confidence boost.
Here are some examples more specific to some of the Gospel passages. The Wedding at Cana can be reflected through shades of white (wedding), maroon (wine), light blues (water) along with layering jewelry (the theological layers in the story of Cana that point to Calvary). The Upper Room can be reflected with warm tones (the glow interiorly and exteriorly during the Last Supper) and any clay accessories (the kind of dishes for meals used during the time). The Raising of Lazarus can be reflected in white cotton garments (the wrapping of Lazarus), gold accents (promise of the Resurrection), and nautical clothing or accessories (the story of Jonah mentioned previously that points to the Resurrection).
Comments