I am renewing
my consecration to Jesus through Mary. This will be my 5 year
anniversary of practicing this devotion. March 25th is
the suggested date for those practicing this devotion because it is
the Feast of the Annunciation when the Word became flesh. It is also
recognized by the Church as the actual day of Our Lord's death. This
year March 25th is Good Friday.
As I was
reflecting on what to write about regarding this devotion, I strayed
to my journal that I kept when I made my first consecration.
On March 25,
2011-I was performing in a tour of Theater of the Word, Inc.'s show
The Little Saint of the Poor
in Virginia. We were staying in Washington DC near the Cathedral of
the Immaculate Conception. I was overjoyed because what a fantastic
place to first say my words of consecration. I knew that I needed to
go to confession, so I looked up the confession time that was
scheduled before the morning mass.
I walked to the Cathedral and
wandered from confessional to confessional. No one. Morning mass
was in the crypt. I felt so blessed to be there. There were
religious sisters from various orders there and I always feel a
consolation when I am among religious sisters. I received Our Lord
and as I was praying after receiving Him I heard a sweet voice tell
me “Teach them to pray.” After mass, I stopped at a side alter
to the Immaculate Conception near an empty confessional. “Sweet,
Lady, where can I go?” My answer “Go to Monseigneur.” I then
headed to breakfast.
I
had breakfast with one of our actors and a lady who was part of the
Association for Jeanne Jugan (AJJ). She too was consecrating herself
that day. The retired Monseigneur, who lived as a resident at our
lodgings appeared at our breakfast table. “Two questions for you,”
he said. “How was last night's show?” The actor and I gave him
the review. Then Monseigneur pointed to my book on the consecration.
“Have you done it?” “Not yet.” I replied. “Can you hear my
confession?” “Sure.” We finished breakfast and I followed
Monseigneur back to his apartment. He showed me his stole, which was
hand woven and made in New Mexico. I told him that I had never done
face-to-face confession before. “Why?” he asked. “I know that
you are in the person of Christ in this sacrament, but I still have a
hard time getting past the fact that I am confessing to a man. I
find comfort behind the screen.” Monseigneur put two chairs side
by side. “Try.” he said as he sat down in one putting on his
purple hand woven stole. I sat down in the other chair and as I said
“Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned...” I saw a transformation
occur. (He did not turn into Jesus, but a change came over
Monseigneur and I knew
that I was in the presence of Christ). I made my confession and I
started to pull out my card and recite the Act of Contrition.
Monseigneur said, “No. No recitations. I want to hear you speak
from the heart.” So I did. I was sorry for my sins. Yes, I do
desire heaven and not the flames of hell. I do not recall what else
I said, but I felt like I had made a real
Act
of Contrition. I was given a penance and absolution. I then went
into the chapel that the Little Sisters of the Poor have at their
residence. In that simple chapel, I performed my penance and made my
consecration to Jesus through Mary. The lady from the AJJ came by to
renew her consecration and she exchanged hugs. I then went over to
one of the elderly residents that the Little Sisters of the Poor take
care of. I had grown quite attached to this elderly resident and she
said, “Keep praying like you are. Our Lady loves you.”
The rest
of the day was filled with enjoying the sights of Washington DC such
as
the White House
The Old Postal Museum,
the Washington Monument
and eating at the oldest pub in Washington DC. The sight that
surpassed all of these historic monuments was that the cherry trees
were in full blossom
and we were there to see it before the festival
kicked off the next day! That evening I lit a candle in front of the
statue of Mary at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manass, VA before
our performance that evening of The Little
Saint of the Poor.
As I waited backstage for my cue to come on I kept hearing “Teach
them to pray.”
Me as St. Jeanne Jugan next to a statue of her
Every
time I do this devotion I am blessed with consolations and I am
challenged with something that pushes me out of my comfort zone.
These are things that I do not seek out-especially THE CHALLENGES
(who really enjoys getting pushed out of their comfort zone?). I
just try to be open to them because the whole purpose as to why I
practice this devotion is to know Jesus better.
This
year, I will be on the road as I renew my consecration. I will be
traveling between shows on Good Friday. I will not have all the
“bells and smells” that sometimes have accompanied the Feast of
the Annunciation. I will need to go to confession this evening and I
will not be able to receive Our Lord in the Eucharist until Easter.
I will be stripped of all the extra trappings that make this
experience so much more joyful. I will be more with Our Lord in His
sorrow as I stare at Our Lord on the Cross from a rosary at 3pm no
doubt traveling through some desolate place.
Lord, teach me to pray
so that in turn I may teach others.
