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Today is Marian Consecration day. The preparation lasted for 46 days, in accordance with the number of stars on Our Lady of Guadalupe’s mantle. Every star/day represents a virtue, with a short reading for each. Some of the virtues were easy to handle, others reminded me uncomfortably of my shortcomings. Meekness and humility clearly are my two weakest points, with obedience a close third.
The chapter on meekness particularly hits home: “In the evangelical sense, meekness is humility, resignation, submission to the Divine Will without murmuring or peevishness. It is mildness of temper, softness in dealing with others, and forbearance under difficulties, setbacks, and injuries. One who is meek is not easily provoked or irritated.”
Sure, I can be mild and soft and super-kind… as long as everything goes my way. It gets a lot harder when obstacles arise, or when other people fail to meet my expectations.
“The meek person,” says the book, “knows how much he is cherished by God; he knows how safe he is in the Lord’s love, no matter what happens to the body. The meek one knows that his worth comes solely from God, not from any human opinion—not even his own. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)”
Conceptually, I can agree with this. But knowing something intellectually and really knowing it from your heart are two very different things. I envy those people who are able to lean completely on God, who can actually believe that He loves them that much. It requires a level of vulnerability that I’m just not ready for.
I’d thought I was done with all the stuff from yesteryear, but in the last five years, the ever-increasing liberal bullying—both on social media and in real life—has rebuilt the emotional walls that I believed I didn’t need anymore. I’ve been feeling like I’m on the defense 24/7, and it sure hasn’t made me any meeker. Thank you, God, for the many kindred spirits you sent my way last year when I was running for office. I don’t know what I would have done without them.
Back to my consecration. Unfortunately, I haven’t been all too consistent with the daily readings and prayers. I’ve been doing better with the daily Rosaries in the last few weeks, but when it comes to the readings, I often had to do several a day—rushing through them instead of really meditating on them—to make up for the days I missed. Sorry, Holy Mother, if I neglected you. I hope it’ll still be okay.
In the introduction to the book, Mary’s Mantle Consecration, author Christine Watkins said people in the preparation groups saw amazing miracles happen in their lives. Nothing for me so far.
Oh well, it certainly won’t hurt to consecrate myself, especially since Mary is the “terror of demons.” I’ve read statements from famous exorcists like the late Fr. Gabriele Amorth that during exorcisms, demons are supposedly even more terrified of the name of Mary than of the name of Jesus Christ himself. The reason is that she, a lowly creature, was raised up by God to be Queen of Heaven and exceeds every other human in humility and purity of heart. Satan can’t stand to be around her, so whenever she is invoked during an exorcism, the demons flee, kicking and screaming. To me, she’s an extra layer of protection against what I call “the Dark Side.”
Time for the consecration. I’ll read the prayer for a one-person consecration out loud. I still feel kind of bad that the small group I assembled in December fell apart so quickly—partially through my own fault because I skipped some of the weekly Zoom meetings—but it is what it is.
O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of the true God and Mother of the Church, who from this place reveal your clemency and your pity to all those who ask for your protection, hear the prayer that I address to you with filial trust, and present it to your Son Jesus, our sole Redeemer…
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A Catholic convert's meandering path to holiness