In our faith life there are often moments that we look back and say, “Wow that was a changing point!” This month I wanted to share a couple of those moments in my life. Quite a few years ago I did the 33 Days to Morning Glory Marian Consecration with my daughter Erica. It was a wonderful experience and we had quite the mini miracle happen on our consecration day, but that is a story for another day. After the consecration I wish I could say my life drastically changed but it didn’t. While I felt a greater closeness to Mary I can’t say I made any major changes in my life.

But Mary is patient with us! Fast forward some years later, I was in a bit of a period of spiritual dryness and decided to go on a pilgrimage to Ireland with a group from our diocese. I went alone, without any family members, which I had never done! It really gave me time to quite my brain. We said the rosary every day and when I retuned home I wanted to try and keep some of what I had found on that journey with me. I decided to try saying the rosary daily. Perhaps it was time to let my mother Mary teach me how to slow down. I was not a rosary lover and I picked up this little book The Secrets of the Rosary by St Louis de Montfort. This book and this daily rosary practice changed my life! It started a fire in me for sure! I wanted to be an instrument in Mary’s hands to bring people to her son. I decided to try and re-do my Marian Consecration and she placed the perfect people in my life to do it with! We still meet weekly to this day, and each of them has their own fire to do the same thing! We have all tried to help spread this devotion and have seen many fruits of those labors, including our husbands doing the consecration together, which is a miracle for sure!! I am certain that I would not have applied for this position if these little moments had not happened in my life. I know for certain my life has achieved a richness that I could not adequately explain in words.

So as we enter this month dedicated to the patron saint of our diocese, The Immaculate Heart of Mary, I challenge you to take a step out of your comfort zone and let Mary lead you in a new direction. There are lots of options:

Add a new Marian prayer to your routine (see our prayer page),

Read our featured book of the month, The Secrets of the Rosary

Join one of our events and see the fruits of spending time with other women of faith.

Learn more about Marian Consecration and start a group to share it with.

Say the Rosary more often.

Ask our Mother to lead you to a more intimate relationship with her son! She is patient and will lead you at your own pace. I promise you, placing yourself in her care will be the best decision you will ever make.

Watch for more information on our Marian Consecration efforts to be coming out soon. If you have consecrated yourself to Mary and would like to be part of helping us grow this devotion email me at bprasad@diojeffcity.org

As Catholics we have been baptized into a family. We do not have to go it alone! We are blessed to have each other in this time and place as we do our part to pass on the faith. And we are called to invite others. Let us join the Marian saints like Louis de Montfort in helping Mary bring the world to her Son.

We Are Better Together!

Barb