for a period of one year, with the intention of renewing it (if he sees fit to do so) every
year, or to make it for life at a later time? If the consecration can be made for one
year, it will probably be easier to get more people interested.
De Montfort's consecration taken in its fullness is limitless as regards time. Here are
his very words: This devotion consists, then, in giving ourselves entirely to our Lady
... And we must do it also for all eternity. (True Devotion no. 121) He says elsewhere,
speaking of the difference between a slave and a servant: the servant is only for a
time in his master's service; the slave, always. (T.D. No. 71) And, in his formula of
total consecration, our Saint writes: I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave, my
body and soul ... For the greater glory of God, in time and in eternity. In his Secret of
Mary, St. Louis Mary writes in the same vein: A servant is free to leave his master
when he likes-he serves him only for a time; a slave belongs to his master for life and
has no right to leave him. (no. 33)
There can be no doubt then that in Montfort's estimation a perfect consecration to
Mary must be limitless and eternal as love itself. Any practice, therefore, tending to
limit that gift whether with respect to time or quantity would, by the very fact, diminish
its fullness, not to say alter its very nature.
True, there is nothing that prevents one from making this act of total consecration for,
let us say, a period of one year, in view of trying it out. However, let it be noted that
nowhere in his writings does St. Louis warrant such a tryout.. ; Indeed he does mention
a 33-day preparation for the consecration (T.D. No. 227), but the gift-of-self is always
spoken of as being entire,and total, both as regards quantity and time.
It is then easy to understand that a person who would make this consecration for only
one year at a time would not be practicing this total consecration in its fullness. It may
be true that if it can be made for one year at a time it will probably be easier to get
more people interested. However, is there not also a danger of watering the total
consecration down to something Montfort never intended? Better it is, experience
teaches, to explain this consecration as fully as possible to souls and then, after giving
them sufficient time for preparation (as recommended by Montfort), encourage them to
undertake it wholeheartedly, as it stands.
It is difficult to visualize any possible situation that would cause a person to revoke his
consecration to Mary, though this may be done at will. No one ever -regrets his acts of
love, his Holy Communions, etc. ... Why then should he ever regret making this act of
perfect consecration to Jesus through Mary? To the weak and timid soul, St. Louis De
Montfort says: This Mother of fair love will take away from your heart all scruple and
all disorder of servile fear. (T.D. No. 215) Isn't that a sufficient guarantee for you to
make this act of consecration, and to make it forever?
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