On the Path to Consecration

I am renewing my consecration to Jesus through Mary. This will be my 5 year anniversary of practicing this devotion. March 25^th 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 25^th 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.