Ave Maria Meditations
Saint Pope John Paul II lived a life of heroic consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He renewed his consecration every day and took the words Totus Tuus, or “totally yours,” as his episcopal and papal motto.
Pope John Paul explained this in a Dec. 8, 2003 Letter, “[T]he motto Totus Tuus is inspired by the teaching of St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort. These two words express total belonging to Jesus through Mary: ‘Tuus totus ego sum, et omnia mea tua sunt’, St. Louis Marie wrote, and he translates his words: ‘I am all yours, and all that I have is yours, O most loving Jesus, through Mary, your most holy Mother’. This Saint’s teaching has had a profound influence on the Marian devotion of many of the faithful and on my own life.”
