By Sr. Sara, Kowal, SCTJM

In 2 Kgs 5, we hear the story of Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, who has leprosy. He hears that there is a prophet in Israel — Elisha — who might be able to cure him of his leprosy, so he makes the journey to go see him and ask for healing. When he arrives at Elisha’s home, Elisha instructs him to go wash in the Jordan River seven times. Naaman is not pleased by this, complaining that he had much better rivers in Syria in which to wash — why would he have traveled all this way to wash in the muddy and insignificant Jordan? He is so angry by this command, he plans to travel back home without doing it. His servant saves the day and says to him, “My father, if the prophet told you to do something extraordinary, would you not do it?” Heeding the logic of his servants, he decides to take up Elisha’s invitation; and washing seven times in the Jordan, he is cured.

Sometimes, we find ourselves much like Naaman. We are looking for healing from the Lord, but we think it needs to come through extraordinary means and experiences. However, most of the time, the Lord is looking to impart that healing through the ordinary means He has already established — prayer, the Sacraments, and various other spiritual practices.

When I think about consecrating ourselves to Our Lady, I often compare this devotion to the story of Naaman. It seems very ordinary and simple — so much so that we might be tempted to overlook it and seek to do something more “extraordinary” instead. However, this very simple act has incredible power.

St. Louis de Montfort (1673-1716), who popularized this powerful devotion during his lifetime and through his book “True Devotion to Mary,” explains that, because Jesus chooses to come to us through Mary, we also return to Him through her. He assures us that going to Jesus through Mary is “the easiest, shortest, most perfect and secure way of obtaining union with our Lord.” He continues and says, “Since she is the sure means, the direct and immaculate way to Jesus and the perfect guide to him, it is through her that souls who are to shine forth in sanctity must find him.”

St. John Paul II read St. Louis’ book while in his early 20s and said it was “a decisive turning point in my life … This ‘perfect devotion’ is indispensable to anyone who means to give himself without reserve to Christ and to the work of redemption.”

The Saints and the long history of the Church teach us that consecration to Jesus through Mary is a powerful act with great consequences for our holiness and spiritual growth. To do it as a diocese will yield powerful fruit. +Bishop Peter supported the idea and promised to “do his part” before he passed.

What does a consecration to Jesus through Mary entail?

Traditionally, a Consecration to Jesus through Mary is preceded by 33 days of preparation, in which the participant learns more deeply about what it means to consecrate oneself to Our Lady and enters into a deeper spirit of prayer. During the 33 days, the person says specific prayers and reads daily reflections, for the purpose of doing the Consecration more perfectly. As well, these meditations will help the participant to understand better what Consecration to Jesus through Mary really means.

How do I participate?

Practically, people participate by beginning the preparation on April 28, the feast of St. Louis de Montfort. There are various resources one can use for the 33 days of preparation – booklets, apps, and other resources can be found on the diocesan website www.rapidcitydiocese.org. Then, on May 31, the feast of the Visitation, everyone in the diocese will pray the actual consecration prayer. There will be two diocesan events in Rapid City that we encourage everyone to take part in if they are able. The first will be the Vita Christi retreat on April 26-28; the theme of the retreat will be “The Victory will Come Through Mary.” It will focus on the role of Our Lady in our lives and prepare us to begin the Consecration preparation on April 28 — the last day of the retreat. The second will be a Mass on May 31, the feast of the Visitation. At the conclusion of this Mass, we will do the consecration prayer as a group.

All parishes are also encouraged to do their own activities and events for the Consecration within their local communities. Parishioners should contact their pastors to help arrange for local preparation events. In the end, the goal is having as many people in the diocese as possible consecrate themselves to Jesus through Mary.

Finally, the common intentions we will have in mind as we offer this Consecration are as follows: (1) That each person may grow in his or her personal union with Jesus and Mary; (2) for our diocese and all the priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful: for a continual growth in holiness and spiritual and physical protection; (3) for the repose of the soul of +Bishop Peter.

May we all unite in this spiritually powerful practice and bring a torrent of grace upon our diocese and the lives of the faithful within it.