Preparation for Total Consecration according to Saint Louis de Montfort

The term "consecration" derives from Latin "consecrare," meaning to dedicate or make holy. "Total" signifies completeness, an absolute surrender. The phrase itself, while not ancient, captures a perennial spiritual aspiration found across traditions: the offering of the self to the divine.

Preparation for Total Consecration according to Saint Louis Marie de Montfort was inspired by Louis de Montfort and published in 2001. Saint Louis dedicated his life to following and praying to the Virgin Mary. His devotion to Mary was even considered "the best and most acceptable form of devotion to Our Lady" by Pope Pius IX. Four of his performed miracles were examined by the Sacred Congregation. Saint Louis de Montfort was canonized by Pope Pius XII on July 20, 1947, over two hundred years after...

The notion of "Preparation for Total Consecration" as articulated by Saint Louis de Montfort, while rooted in a specific Christian context, speaks to a universal human yearning for profound spiritual integration. It is not a passive resignation but an active, disciplined engagement with the self and the divine. The emphasis on Mary as a conduit for this consecration offers a compelling archetype of receptivity and surrender, a concept Mircea Eliade might recognize as a sacred mediator, bridging the human and the divine realms.

This preparation involves a conscious shedding of attachments, a spiritual decluttering that echoes the ascetic practices described by desert fathers and the yogic concept of vairagya (non-attachment). The purification sought is akin to the alchemical process of refining base metals into gold, a transformation of the ego's dross into a vessel worthy of divine indwelling. It is a journey inward, guided by an external model of perfect devotion, much like a student learning a complex art form by diligently studying a master's technique.

The concept of total consecration, in its essence, is the ultimate act of trust. It is the soul's courageous leap into the unknown, believing that in giving everything, one receives infinitely more. This is not about losing oneself, as some might fear, but about finding one's truest self in union with the divine source. It is the realization that our individual existence finds its deepest meaning and fulfillment when it is willingly aligned with the grander cosmic purpose, a theme explored by thinkers from Plotinus to contemporary non-dual teachers. The rigorous preparation underscores the profound respect for the sacred mystery being approached, acknowledging that such an intimate union requires a soul prepared for its immensity.

RELATED_TERMS: Surrender, Devotion, Purification, Spiritual Discipline, Asceticism, Divine Union, Mystical Marriage, Vairagya