Consecrations (to Mary, Immaculate Heart, Sacred Heart of Jesus, etc.) QUESTION from Jonathon Blackwin on April 30, 2002 Dear Bro. Ignatius,
I am having a slight crisis of faith.
I have been trying to improve my prayer life, but my Protestant friends argue that I sould not have to go through Mary to Jesus - I can talk to Him directly.
However, I see all types of Consecrations: to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to St. Joseph, and the Montfortian Total Consecration to Mary.
Can I be consecrated both to the Immaculate Heart and to the Sacred Heart? If I'm consecrated to Mary, can Jesus use me as He wills?
Finally, although I've always prayed to our Blessed Mother, and have found much comfort within her protection, I'm starting to question the orthodoxy of this practice. Now, when I say my rosary, I lose focus and begin wondering about the whole practice.
I would like to consecrate my entire life and my family to the service of God, but I am confused by all of this. Can you help with this confusion?
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius, OLSM on May 18, 2002 Dear Mr. Blackwin:
The first thing is stop listening to your Protestant friends -- what do they know?
The Church has taught communion of the saints (praying to the saints) since the beginning -- for 2000 years. The Protestants have been around for only 500 years and have all sorts of notions that are counter to the historic faith of the Church.
If the Protestants are right, it would meant that God kept his children in confusion for 1500 years until the true Christians emerged in the 16th Century. Right? wrong! God is not so cruel as to leave His people in confusion for 1500 years or to leave His people to the whims of personal opinion *(which is all Protestants have -- personal opinion).
Stay with the faith you know. It is the faith of our Fathers, the faith of Jesus and the Apostles.
Yes, it is orthodox to pray to Mary. Mary always points us to her Son, Jesus.
Yes, you can be consecrated to both the Immaculate Heart and to the Sacred Heart. Mary only give us to Jesus. Thus we give ourselves to Jesus even when we consecrate ourselves to Mary.
God is concerned about us associating with people who might rob us of our faith. Beware! Do not allow friendship with someone to be an opportunity for the devil to ruin your faith.
Remember the advice of the Bible:
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
2 Thessalonians 3:14 If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.
Ephesian 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not associate with them, 8 for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
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