Scientia (Sep 2023)
Saint Louis Montfort’s Perfect Consecration “Totus Tuus”
Abstract
The consecration to Mary, as taught by Saint Louis de Montfort, is a profound and transformative spiritual practice that has touched the lives of countless believers throughout the centuries. At the heart of Montfort's teaching is the understanding that Mary, as the Mother of Jesus and our spiritual mother, plays a vital role in our journey toward God. Through the act of consecration, we entrust ourselves entirely to Mary's care and guidance, acknowledging her as our advocate, intercessor, and protector. This act of consecration is not a mere formality but a profound commitment to live our lives in imitation of Mary's virtues, surrendering our will to hers and allowing her to lead us closer to her Son, Jesus Christ. By consecrating ourselves to Mary, we open ourselves to her powerful maternal love, inviting her to mold and shape us into instruments of God's grace, and to deepen our relationship with her Son. In essence, the consecration to Mary is an invitation to walk the path of holiness under her guidance, trusting in her maternal care as we strive to live authentic Christian lives. In St. Louis Montfort’s teaching, there exist two vital elements of the Totus Tuus consecration, namely: the nature of the consecration and the practices of the consecration. It has four fundamental characteristics that remarkably reflect the scriptural aspect of the consecration. There are also the so-called interior and exterior practices that provide people the knowledge of how to concretely bring the consecration to reality.
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