Total Consecration – May 27 – Homily – Fr Matthias

 

Fr Matthias gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on May 27, 2023, on how the best way to be friends of Christ is totally consecrated to him, and the best way to do that is to consecrate ourselves to Mary, to go to him through the same means that he came to us. And this goes as far as even being slaves of Mary in the positive sense, as outlined by St Louis de Montfort in His book Total Consecration to Mary or The Secret of the Rosary and our own book Preparation for Consecration to Mary. Through this slavery, we will be set free and go from being slaves to being friends.

St. Paul, in today's reading, reflects on his imprisonment, which he perceives as his slavery to Christ - an act he is proud of. He believes in sacrificing freedom and even life for Christ's sake, which he finds has personally helped him grow in holiness and his mission of spreading the gospel.

This message aligns with St. Louis de Montfort's concept of "holy slavery to Jesus in Mary." St. Louis explains three types of slavery: natural (all creatures are slaves of God), enforced (unjust human slavery), and voluntary (willing submission to God). The latter, voluntary slavery, is seen as the most perfect, where one willingly chooses God and His service.

St. Louis connects the Virgin Mary to voluntary slavery. He believes that the best way to serve God is through His Blessed Lady. He posits that voluntary slavery to Jesus and Mary can draw us closer to God, likening it to a citizen choosing to serve the queen to better serve the king.

On this last Saturday of May, dedicated to Our Lady, we're encouraged to deepen our devotion to Mary as a surest, safest, and most beautiful way to come closer to Jesus. This can be done through studying St. Louis' treatise on "True Devotion to Our Lady" or the "33-day Preparation for Consecration with St. Maximilian Kolbe" published by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.

Finally, it's shared that voluntary slavery can lead to a friendship with God. While it may seem paradoxical, willingly submitting to God's authority leads to greater spiritual growth and freedom. So, either renew your consecration to Our Lady or consider exploring it. This will allow you to experience significant spiritual growth and bring you closer to Jesus through Mary.

For further growth in love and knowledge of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, consider subscribing to the Missio Immacalatae magazine at https://missiomagazine.com. Ave Maria.

Books Mentioned

True Devotion to Our Lady by St. Louis de Montfort - https://tanbooks.com/products/books/the-virgin-mary/consecration/true-devotion-to-mary-with-preparation-for-total-consecration/

The Secret of the Rosary - de Montfort - https://tanbooks.com/products/booklets-bulk-pricing/the-secret-of-the-rosary/

Preparation for Total Consecration to the Immaculate according to St Maximilian M. Kolbe - https://academyoftheimmaculate.com/products/preparation-for-total-consecration-to-the-immaculate-according-to-st-maximilian-m-kolbe

00:00 – Introduction
00:11 – St. Paul's Chains: Symbol of Hope
00:45 – Spiritual Growth from Slavery to Christ
01:57 – Holy Slavery to Jesus in Mary: The Teachings of St. Louis de Montfort
02:58 – Exploring Different Types of Slavery: Natural, Enforced, and Voluntary
04:10 – Voluntary Slavery: The Highest Honor
04:47 – Mary and Voluntary Slavery: An Integral Connection
05:50 – Voluntary Servitude to Jesus: The Christian's Choice
06:20 – Choosing Mary as the Means to Reach Jesus
07:42 – Conclusion: Invitation to Consecration to Our Lady

Ave Maria!

Mass: Saturday 7th Week of Easter (Opt 2) - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/052723.cfm
1st: act 28:16-20, 30-31
Resp: psa 11:4, 5, 7
Gsp: joh 21:20-25

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1733

Also on Facebook: https://fb.watch/kO1R7b9B18/
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/oRyZFvngMk8