Consecrating ourselves to Mary means accepting her help to offer ourselves and the whole of mankind to him who is holy, infinitely holy.
(Saint John Paul II, May 13, 1982)
We are all called to holiness. God created us to be saints. We are made to know the Lord, to love Him, and to serve Him. To consecrate means to make holy, and specifically the response we humans can make to the work of God’s grace. Consecrating ourselves to Mary is one way that we grow in that knowledge, love, and service. We allow Mary to take us by the hand and lead us to her Son. She knows, loves, and serves Him best. We have so much to learn from her life, and so much to gain by placing ourselves in her hands. When we consecrate ourselves to Mary, we are really consecrating ourselves to Jesus through Mary. They are so intimately united that truly giving ourselves to Mary can lead to nothing but total surrender to God.
The 33-day program of preparation for consecration described in the resources below consists of various prayers and readings to help the faithful detach themselves from the world and bond themselves more closely with Christ through the example and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The consecration itself is not unlike a vow that is to be done in a solemn manner. Once you make the consecration, it is for life. It can then be renewed annually.
For those wishing to perform the 33-day preparation according to the plan for consecration, it is suggested that one choose a Marian Feast Day on which to officially make the Act of Consecration and begin the preparation exactly 33 days before that date.
For those wishing to make the Act of Consecration on the Feast of the Holy Rosary on Friday, October 7, the preparation should begin on Sunday, September 4.
The preparation start dates for consecration on other Marian Feast Days is <HERE>.
Resources:
True Devotion to Mary: with Preparation for Total Consecration by St. Louis de Montfort
Thirty-three Days to Morning Glory: A Do-it-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration by Michael E. Gaitley
Totus Tuus: A Consecration to Jesus through Mary with Saint John Paul II by Father Brian McMaster
Preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus Christ Through Mary: According to St. Louis DeMontfort by Father Hugh Gillespie, SMM
Behold Your Mother: The Path to Total Consecration to Our Lady in the Spirit of St. Maximilian Kolbe by the Militia of the Immaculata. Audio recording is available <HERE>. This does not follow a specific 33-day schedule; use your own pace.
Mary, Mother of God, Mother of the Church, and Our Mother, pray for us!