How to make a consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Several popes in the last century have not only recommended the practice of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, but have practiced it themselves. Pius XII and St. John Paul II even consecrated the peoples of the earth to her heart.

Pope Francis has recommended this practice in the past and followed the example of his predecessors by consecrating the entire world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He related to the crowds gathered at St. Peter's for the consecration how Mary "takes us with the hand of a mother to the embrace of the Father, to the Father of mercy."

Consecration to the Blessed Mother reminds us of the close connection Mary has with Jesus, and how she treasured everything she saw, “in her heart” (cf. Luke 2:19,51). Pope Benedict XVI reflected on this profound mystery on the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, where he said, “The heart that resembles that of Christ more than any other is without a doubt the Heart of Mary, his Immaculate Mother, and for this very reason the liturgy holds them up together for our veneration.” Marian consecration is an exterior way that speaks of our interior desire to follow God’s will and unite our heart with His.

However, few know what is involved in making such a consecration, or where to start. Here are some great resources; choose whichever one your heart feels most comfortable with.

33 Days to Morning Glory – Currently one of the most popular methods of Marian consecration, this book by Father Michael Gaitley takes you through 33 days of 5-minute readings, to prepare your heart to be consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is a method based on St. Louis de Montfort’s writings and simplified so that anyone can participate.

True Devotion to Mary: with Preparation for Total Consecration – St. Louis de Montfort is widely known as the principal advocate for what he calls, “Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary.” This is the traditional approach that has been used by many since the saint’s death. It includes numerous prayers, litanies and readings to be read in preparation for Total Consecration. St. John Paul II was an avid supporter of St. Louis de Montfort and even made Montfort’s words apart of his papal motto.

Consecration.com – Put together by the Militia of the Immaculata, this website has a great resource for total consecration to the Immaculate Mary that was central to the spirituality of St. Maximilian Kolbe.

After you have prepared yourself and your family for the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, here are some prayers that you may use. Often these prayers are said in front of a statue or image of Mary.

Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of Your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to You, all the people of our country and all the world.

Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as You wish to accomplish Your designs in the world.

O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully.

We come with confidence to You, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed Your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes Your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home.

Amen.

O Immaculata, Queen of heaven and earth, our life, our sweetness, and our hope, on this day we the (Family Surname) family come before you to consecrate ourselves to you as your possession and property. We praise God because he has brought us together to give ourselves to you our Mother. We do this because Jesus said on the Cross, “Behold your Mother.”

We need you, Mother Mary, to help us to be a truly Catholic family. Enter into our family life. Repeat to us the words you spoke at Cana, “Do whatever He tells you.”

Help us to overlook one another’s faults, to forgive as Jesus has forgiven us, and to love one another as Our Lord has asked us to love.

Please use our family to crush the head of the serpent. Ask your Spouse, St. Joseph, Protector of the universal Church, to keep us one in mind and heart with your Son’s Vicar, Pope ___________. Today you have become the Queen of our hearts and home. May our home be a “City of the Immaculata,” where the Sacred Heart of Jesus reigns forever. Amen.

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, (name), a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you.

If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: “She will crush your head,” and, “You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world.” Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for intro­ducing and increasing your glory to the maxi­mum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holi­ness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

I, N., a faithless sinner-- renew and ratify today in thy hands, O Immaculate Mother, the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before.

In the presence of all the heavenly court I choose thee this day, for my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greater glory of God, in time and in eternity. Amen.