TOTAL CONSECRATION: DAY 31 / by Joe Castorino

SACRED ART: "Pietà" by Michelangelo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_art_in_the_Catholic_Church#/media/File:Michelangelo's_Pieta_5450_cropncleaned.jpg

(Left-click once or twice on the picture to see the painting at closer range)

PRAYER: Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary ***OPTIONAL***

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

God our Father in heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

Most honored of virgins, pray for us.

Chosen daughter of the Father, pray for us.

Mother of Christ the King, pray for us.

Glory of the Holy Spirit, pray for us.

Virgin daughter of Zion, pray for us.

Virgin poor and humble, pray for us.

Virgin gentle and obedient, pray for us.

Handmaid of the Lord, pray for us.

Mother of the Lord, pray for us.

Helper of the Redeemer, pray for us.

Full of grace, pray for us.

Fountain of beauty, pray for us.

Model of virtue, pray for us.

Finest fruit of the redemption, pray for us.

Perfect disciple of Christ, pray for us.

Untarnished image of the Church, pray for us.

Woman transformed, pray for us.

Woman clothed with the sun, pray for us.

Woman crowned with stars, pray for us.

Gentle Lady, pray for us.

Gracious Lady, pray for us.

Our Lady, pray for us.

Joy of Israel, pray for us.

Splendor of the Church, pray for us.

Pride of the human race, pray for us.

Advocate of peace, pray for us.

Minister of holiness, pray for us.

Champion of God’s people, pray for us.

Queen of love, pray for us.

Queen of mercy, pray for us.

Queen of peace, pray for us.

Queen of angels, pray for us.

Queen of patriarchs and prophets, pray for us.

Queen of apostles and martyrs, pray for us.

Queen of confessors and virgins, pray for us.

Queen of all saints, pray for us.

Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.

Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us.

Queen of all the earth, pray for us.

Queen of heaven, pray for us.

Queen of the universe, pray for us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, spare us O Lord.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, hear us O Lord.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Pray for us O glorious Mother of the Lord, that we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.

God of mercy,

Listen to the prayers of your servants

Who have honored your handmaid Mary

As mother and queen;

Grant that by your holy grace

We may serve you and our neighbor on earth

And be welcomed into your eternal kingdom;

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

SACRED ART: "The Baptism of Christ" by Antoine Coypel

https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-baptism-of-christ/LgHelLtisHOerA?hl=en&ms=%7B%22x%22%3A0.5%2C%22y%22%3A0.5%2C%22B%22%3A9.382795305175723%2C%22z%22%3A9.382795305175723%2C%22size%22%3A%7B%22width%22%3A3.279152163465748%2C%22height%22%3A1.2375%7D%7D

(Left-click the white slider bar in the mini picture, then drag the white slider bar left or right to find your preferred size — you might have to play with it because it’s a little tricky)

PRAYER: Invocation of the Holy Spirit ***REQUIRED***

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,

And enkindle in them the fire of your love.

Lord, send forth your Spirit,

And you will renew the face of the earth.

O God,

Who instructs the hearts of your faithful

With the light of your Holy Spirit,

Make us responsive to his inspirations

So that we may be truly wise and

Ever rejoice in his consolations,

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

SACRED ART: "The Crucified Christ" by Diego Velázquez

https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-crucified-christ/72cbb57e-f622-4531-9b25-27ff0a9559d7

(For optimal viewing, click once on the minus sign to the right)

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 53: 3-12 ***REQUIRED***

He was spurned and avoided by men,

a man of suffering, knowing pain,

Like one from whom you turn your face,

spurned, and we held him in no esteem.

Yet it was our pain that he bore,

our sufferings he endured.

We thought of him as stricken,

struck down by God and afflicted,

But he was pierced for our sins,

crushed for our iniquity.

He bore the punishment that makes us whole,

by his wounds we were healed.

We had all gone astray like sheep,

all following our own way;

But the LORD laid upon him

the guilt of us all.

Though harshly treated, he submitted

and did not open his mouth;

Like a lamb led to slaughter

or a sheep silent before shearers,

he did not open his mouth.

Seized and condemned, he was taken away.

Who would have thought any more of his destiny?

For he was cut off from the land of the living,

struck for the sins of his people.

He was given a grave among the wicked,

a burial place with evildoers,

Though he had done no wrong,

nor was deceit found in his mouth.

But it was the LORD’s will to crush him with pain.

By making his life as a reparation offering,

he shall see his offspring, shall lengthen his days,

and the LORD’s will shall be accomplished through him.

Because of his anguish he shall see the light;

because of his knowledge he shall be content;

My servant, the just one, shall justify the many,

their iniquity he shall bear.

Therefore I will give him his portion among the many,

and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty,

Because he surrendered himself to death,

was counted among the transgressors,

Bore the sins of many,

and interceded for the transgressors.

SACRED ART: "Founder Statue of St. Louis de Montfort" by Giacomo Parsini

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_de_Montfort#/media/File:2016_-_Statues_in_Saint_Peter%27s_Basilica_06.jpg

(Left-click once or twice on the picture to get a closer view)

REFLECTION BY ST. LOUIS DE MONTFORT: Letter to the Friends of the Cross ***REQUIRED***

Reflect on the wounds and sufferings of Christ crucified. He himself has told us, All you who pass by the way of thorns and the cross, look and see. Look with the eyes of your body, and see through the eyes of your contemplation whether your poverty, destitution, disgrace, sorrow, desolation are like mine; look upon me who am innocent, and lament, you who are guilty! The Holy Spirit tells us, through the Apostles, to contemplate the crucified Christ. He bids us arm ourselves with this thought, for it is the most powerful and formidable weapon against our enemies. When you are assailed by poverty, disrepute, sorrow, temptation, and other crosses, arm yourselves with the shield, breastplate, helmet and two-edged sword, which is the remembrance of Christ crucified. It is there you will find the solution of every problem and the means to conquer all your enemies.

RESOLUTION ***REQUIRED***

Dedicate time today to making a thorough examination of conscience and to recognizing that your sins cause the suffering of Christ. Ask the Lord for a genuine horror of sin and its consequences. Go to confession before making the Act of Total Consecration.

SACRED ART: "The Visitation" by Raphael and Giulio Romano or Giovanni Francesco Penni

https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-visitation/c02d195f-fdc4-4c61-bedf-e19216dd7335

(Either leave the picture as it is, or you may left-click on the minus sign once or twice in order to get a farther view)

PRAYER: Jesus Living in Mary ***REQUIRED***

O Jesus living in Mary,

Come and live in your servant,

In the Spirit of your holiness,

In the fullness of your gifts,

In the perfection of your ways,

In the truth of your virtues,

In the communion of your mysteries.

Subdue within me

The power of flesh and demon

By your Holy Spirit,

For the glory of God the father.

Amen.

SACRED ART: "The Resurrection" by Carl Bloch

https://www.wikiart.org/en/carl-bloch/resurrection-of-christ-1875

(Left-click twice on the picture to get a closer view)

PRAYER: Prayer of St. Augustine ***REQUIRED***

O Jesus Christ,

You are my father,

My merciful God,

My great king,

My good shepherd,

My only master,

My best helper,

My beloved friend

Of overwhelming beauty,

My living bread,

My eternal priest;

You are my guide

To my heavenly home,

My one true light,

My holy joy,

My true way,

My shining wisdom,

My unfeigned simplicity,

The peace and harmony

Of my soul,

My perfect safeguard,

My bounteous inheritance,

My everlasting salvation;

My loving Lord,

Jesus Christ,

Why have I ever loved or desired

Anything else in my life but you, my God?

Where was I

When I was not in communion with you?

From now on,

I direct all my desires

To be inspired by you

And centered on you;

I direct them to press forward

For they have tarried long enough,

To hasten towards their goal,

To seek the one they yearn for;

O Jesus,

Let him who does not love you

Be accursed,

And filled with bitterness;

O gentle Jesus,

Let every worthy feeling of mine

Show you love,

Take delight in you

And admire you;

O God of my heart

And my inheritance,

Christ Jesus,

May my heart mellow

Before the influence of your spirit

And may you live in me;

May the flame of your love

Burn in my soul;

May it burn incessantly

On the altar of my heart;

May it glow

In my innermost being;

May it spread its heat

Into the hidden recesses

Of my soul

And on the day

Of my consummation

May I appear before you

Consumed in your love.

Amen.