Saint Louis Montfort’s Perfect Consecration “Totus Tuus”

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.57106/scientia.v12i2.162

Keywords:

Consecration, Totus Tuus, Marian, interior and exterior practices

Abstract

The consecration to Mary, as taught by Saint Louis de Montfort, is a profound and transformative spiritual practice that has touched the lives of countless believers throughout the centuries. At the heart of Montfort's teaching is the understanding that Mary, as the Mother of Jesus and our spiritual mother, plays a vital role in our journey toward God. Through the act of consecration, we entrust ourselves entirely to Mary's care and guidance, acknowledging her as our advocate, intercessor, and protector. This act of consecration is not a mere formality but a profound commitment to live our lives in imitation of Mary's virtues, surrendering our will to hers and allowing her to lead us closer to her Son, Jesus Christ. By consecrating ourselves to Mary, we open ourselves to her powerful maternal love, inviting her to mold and shape us into instruments of God's grace, and to deepen our relationship with her Son. In essence, the consecration to Mary is an invitation to walk the path of holiness under her guidance, trusting in her maternal care as we strive to live authentic Christian lives.

In St. Louis Montfort’s teaching, there exist two vital elements of the Totus Tuus consecration, namely: the nature of the consecration and the practices of the consecration. It has four fundamental characteristics that remarkably reflect the scriptural aspect of the consecration. There are also the so-called interior and exterior practices that provide people the knowledge of how to concretely bring the consecration to reality.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Belotti, Mario, SMM. 2003. As Free as The Cloud: Montfort Spirituality in Action. Balaka, Malawi: Montfort Media.

_____. 2016. Jesus Living in Mary: Totus Tuus Journey. Manila: Kadena Press-Asia Inc.

_____. 2000. The Quest For Wisdom: The Montfortian Month as a Process of Wholistic Growth for Today’s Laity. Balaka, Malawi: Montfort Media.

Benedict XVI. 2011. “General audience.” Holy See: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, April 6. Accessed July 21, 2022. https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20110406.html.

Carre, A. M, O.P. 1956. Baptized in Christ. Translated by S. Wyn Griffiths. Minnesota: The Liturgical Press.

Carroll, Eamon R, O.Carm. 1979. Understanding The Mother of Jesus. Wilmington, Delaware: Michael Glazier, Inc.

Cranny, Titus, S.A. 1970. Is Mary Relevant? New York: Exposition Press.

Cuoc doi va tinh than (Life and Spirituality). Ho Chi Minh: Unpublic.

Cuttaz, Francoise. 1962. Baptism: Divine BIrth. Translated by Malachy Gerard Carrol. New York: Alba House.

Doan Sung, Linh Dao, Su Vu Dong Trinh Vuong (Charism, Spirituality, Mission of The Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin, Queen of the World). Ho Chi Minh City: Unpublished.

E.C.Bolger, SMM. 2005. The Man Called Montfort. Liverpool: Montfort Press.

Father Benardo Maria. 2019. The Conferences about Living Consecration to Mary. Ho Chi Minh City: Unpublished.

Fiesole, Marie De. 1974. La Toute Petitesse ou La Vie In Ipsa. Translated by Leo Vu Duc Chinh. Résiac.

Flannery, Austin, ed. December 7, 1965. Gaudium et Spes: Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. Vatican City.

Flannery, Austin, ed. November 21, 1964. Lumen Gentium: Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. Vatican City.

Flannery, Austin, ed. 1995. Vatican II. New York: Costello Publishing Company. Accessed February 02, 2022. https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html.

Flores, Deyanira. 2016. “‘By Mary’s Heart We Love the Heart of Jesus’: The Teachings of St. Louis M. de Montfort (+1716) on Jesus’ and Mary’s Heart.” Marian Studies Vol. 67: 209-300.

Fondevilla, Ana Marie F. 2013. Montfortian Consecration: The Relational and Transformational Process of Growth of the Friends of Wisdom in the Philippines. Quezon City: unpublished, MST Library.

Francis. 2013. Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. Vatican, Nov 24.

_____. 2018. “Gaudete Et Exsultate.” Apostolic Exhortation on the Call to Holiness in Today’s World. March 19. Accessed February 20, 2022. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20180319_gaudete-et-exsultate.html.

_____. 2021. “Mary is the Road We Must Travel to Reach Jesus.” Vatican News. January 01. Accessed January 05, 2023. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-01/pope-mary-is-the-road-we-must-travel-to-reach-jesus.html.

_____. 2013. “The Faith of Mary - Pope Francis’ catechesis on Mary.” Media. October 12. Accessed August 09, 2022. https://slmedia.org/blog/the-faith-of-mary-pope-francis-catechesis-on-mary.

Gabriel-Marie, s.g. 1979. Grignion De Montfort The Gospel Pilgrim. Boys’ Town: Cum Permissu.

Gabriel-Marie, S.G. 1979. Grignion De Montfort The Gospel Pilgrim. Boys’ Town: Cum Permissu.

Gaffney, J. Patrick. 1987. “True Devotion to Mary.” In God Alone: the Collected Writings of St. Louis Marie De Montfort. Bay Shore, NY: Montfort Publications.

Gaffney, Patrick J, SMM. 2018. “The Holy Slavery of Love.” Edited by Juniper B. Carol. Mariology (Mediatrix Press) Vol. 3: 463-511.

Galot, Jean. 1992. Abba, Father: We Long to See Your Face : Theological Insights into the First Person of the Trinity. 1st American edition. Alba House.

Gentle, Judith Marie, and Robert L. Fastiggi. 2009. The Significance of the Catholic Doctrines on the Blessed Virgin Mary for All People. Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America, Inc.

Gillespie, Hugh, SMM. 2016. Living Total Consecration. Bay Shore, NY: Montfort Publications.

Hahn, Scott. 2001. Hail Holy Queen, The Mother of God in the Word of God. New York: Doubleday.

Hauke, Rev. Manfred . 2019. “ The Second Vatican Council’s Doctrine on Mary and St. Pope John Paul II’s Interpretation of It.” Dogmatic Theology, February 18. Accessed February 02, 2022. https://repozytorium.uwb.edu.pl/jspui/bitstream/11320/8909/1/RTK_18_2019_M_Hauke_The_Second_Vatican_Council%E2%80%99s_Doctrine_on_Mary.pdf.

Hawkswell, Vincent. 2018. “Baptism: Gateway to life in the Spirit.” B.C Catholic. June 18. Accessed October 20, 2022. https://bccatholic.ca/voices/fr-vincent-hawkswell/baptism-gateway-to-life-in-the-spirit.

Hien Chuong Dong Trinh Vuong (Constitutions of the Congregation of The Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin, Queen of the World). Ho Chi Minh City: Unpublished.

John Paul II. 1988. Apostolic Letter Mulieris Dignitatem Of The Supreme Pontiff John Paul II On The Dignity and Vocation of Women on the Occasion of the Marian Year. Vatican Press, August 15. Accessed July 10, 2022. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1988/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_19880815_mulieris-dignitatem.html.

_____. 1988. “Apostolic Letter Mulieris Dignitatem Of The Supreme Pontiff John Paul II On The Dignity and Vocation of Women on the Occasion of the Marian Year.” Vatican. August 15. Accessed July 10, 2022. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1988/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_19880815_mulieris-dignitatem.html.

John Paul II. 1997. Apostolic Letter: Divini Amoris Scientia - Saint Thérèse Of The Child Jesus And The Holy Face. Vatican Press. Accessed July 21, 2022. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1997/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_19101997_divini-amoris.html.

_____. 1994. Crossing The Threshold of Hope. New York: Alfred A. Kanopf, Inc.

John Paul II. 2004. Letter of John Paul II to the Montfort Religious Family. Vatican Press. Accessed February 02, 2022. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/letters/2004/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_20040113_famiglie-monfortane.html.

_____. 1995. “Mary is a pattern of the Church’s holiness.” Totus Tuus. September 6. Accessed December 29, 2021. http://www.totus2us.co.uk/teaching/jpii-catechesis-on-mary-mother-of-god/mary-is-a-pattern-of-the-churchs-holiness/.

John Paul II. 1987. Redemptoris Mater: Encyclical Letter on the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life of the Pilgrim Church. Vatican Press, March 25. Accessed February 02, 2022. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031987_redemptoris-mater.html.

_____. 1990. Redemptoris Missio: On the permanent validity of the Church’s missionary mandate. Vatican.

_____. 1995. “To honour Mary is to go to Jesus.” Totus Tuus. November 15. Accessed December 29, 2021. http://www.totus2us.co.uk/teaching/jpii-catechesis-on-mary-mother-of-god/to-honour-mary-is-to-go-to-jesus/.

John Paul II. 1996. Vita Consecrata. Vatican, March 25. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_25031996_vita-consecrata.htmlhttps://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_25031996_vita-consecrata.html.

Jose Cristo Rey Garcia Paredes, CMF. 2006. Mary and The Reign of God. Translated by Joseph Daries, CMF and Josefina Martinez, MMB. Quezon, Philippines: Claretian Publications.

Kempis, Thomas à. 2004. Imitation of Christ. Translated by Aloysius Croft and Harold Bolton. The Catholic Primer.

Lich Su Dong Trinh Vuong Phan I (The History of the Congregation of The Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin, Queen of the World Part I). Ho Chi Minh City: Unpublished.

Logister, Wiel, SMM. 2014. In The Footsteps of The Crucified Jesus. Tilburg: Dutch Provincial Office of The Montfortians.

_____. 2013. Touched by the Humility of God: Spirituality in the line of Louis-Marie De Montfort. Tilburg: Dutch Provincial Office of the Montfortians.

Martin, Gabriel. 2012. The Little Way Of Spiritual Childhood: According To The Life And Writings Of Blessed Therese De l’Enfant Jesus. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

Medved, Goran. 2016. “The Fatherhood of God in the Old Testament.” Sep: 203-214.

Michel , Bertrand, SMM. 2000. A History of the Company of Mary. Roma: Montfortians.

Miller, Frederick L. 2014. “St. Louis de Montfort: Priest of Jesus Christ and.” Marian Studies Vol. 65: 213-232.

Montfort, Louis Marie De. 1987. God Alone: The Collected Writing of St. Louis Marie De Montfort. Edited by Rogert Charest. Bay Shore: Montfort Publications.

Montfort, Louis Marie De. 1987. “Love of Eternal Wisdom.” In God Alone: the Collected Writing of St. Louis Marie De Montfort, edited by Rogert Charest. Bay Shore: Montfort Publications.

_____. n.d. “Salvation.” EWTN. Accessed October 03, 2020. https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/true-devotion-12808.

_____. 1998. The Secret of Mary. Printed. Tan Books.

Paredes, Jose Cristo Rey Garcia, CMF. 2006. Mary and The Reign of God. Translated by Joseph, CMF Daries and Josefina, MMB Martinez. Quezon: Claretian Publication.

Paul VI. 1975. Evangelii Nuntiadi: Apostolic Exhortation To The Episcopate, To The Clergy And To All The Faithful Of The Entire World. Vatican Press, December 8. Accessed June 2, 2022. https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19751208_evangelii-nuntiandi.html.

_____. 1974. Marialis Cultus: Apostolic Exhortation For The Right Ordering and Development of Devotion to The Blessed Virgin Mary. Boston: Daughter of St. Paul.

_____. 1965. Perfectae Caritatis: Decree on the adaptation and renewal of religious life. Vatican: Vatican Press.

_____. 1965. Perfectae Caritatis: Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life. Vatican: Vatican Press.

Paul VI. 1967. Signum Magnum: Apostolic Exhortation to the Catholic Bishop of the World. Vatican Press, May 13. Accessed February 20, 2022. https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19670513_signum-magnum.html.

Pelikan, Jaroslav. 1996. Mary Through the Centuries Her Place in the History of Culture, Mother of God. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.

Perrott, M.J.L. 1997. Newman’s Theology. Southampton: The Saint Austin Press.

Philippe, Marie-Dominique, O.P. 1989. The Morning Star. Translated by Marcia Potempa. Paris: Peimon Press.

Quy Luat Dong Trinh Vuong (The Statutes of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin, Queen of the World). Ho Chi Minh: Unpublished.

Ramos, Arlene S. 2017. The Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception : critical study of its missionary charism and praxis in the light of today’s understanding of mission. Quezon City: CICM, Maryhill School of Theology.

Rancour-Laferriere, Daniel. 2018. Imagining Mary A Psychoanalytic Perspective on Devotion to the Virgin Mother of God. New York and London: Taylor and Francis Group. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315121550

Ryan, Joel. 2020. “How Did Jesus Interact with Children.” Christianity. March 24. Accessed November 20, 2022. https://www.christianity.com/wiki/jesus-christ/how-did-jesus-interact-with-children-meaning-and-significance.html.

_____. 2020. “How Did Jesus Interact with Children?” Christianity. March 24. Accessed 11 20, 2022. https://www.christianity.com/wiki/jesus-christ/how-did-jesus-interact-with-children-meaning-and-significance.html.

Saint Theresa of Lisiex. 2012. The Story of a Soul (L’Histoire d’une Âme): The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux. Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Accessed July 21, 2022. doi:https://d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net/2232/documents/2018/5/The%20Story%20of%20a%20Soul.pdf.

Salvatore J. Bonano, CMF. 2006. Mary’s Best Memories. Quezon City: Claretian Publications.

Schmidt, Joseph. 2012. “The Science of Love, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church, Teacher for Our Time, Icon of God.” The Word Among Us . Accessed July 22, 2022. https://wau.org/resources/article/the_science_of_love/.

Seeger, Mary Olivia. 2019. Mary For Today: Renewing Catholic Marian Devotion after The Second Vatican Council Through Saint Louis-Marie De Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary. Dayton: Ohio: University of Dayton.

Seeger, Mary Olivia, B.A. 2019. Mary For Today: Renewing Catholic Marian Devotion after The Second Vatican Council Through Saint Louis-Marie De Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary. Dayton, Ohio: University of Dayton.

Sheen, Fulton J. 1952. The World’s First Love. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company.

Sigouin, Claude, and Mario Belotti. 2003. Totus Tuus: A Marian Way to Christ-Wisdom. Quezon: Montfort Missionaries.

Sr. Naumann, Isabell, ISSM. n.d. “University of Dayton.” Assumption: History of Doctrin. Accessed December 10, 2021. https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/a/assumption-history-of-doctrine.phpv.

Stamwitz, Alicia Von. 2022. “Pope Francis on Mother Mary.” Franciscan Spirit Blog. May 26. Accessed August 20, 2022. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/pope-francis-on-mother-mary/.

_____. 2022. “Pope Francis on Mother Mary.” Franciscan Spirit Blog. May 26. Accessed August 20, 2022. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/pope-francis-on-mother-mary.

Stefano, De Fiores, and Patrick Gaffney, . 1994. Jesus Living in Mary: Handbook of the Spirituality of St. Louis Marie De Montfort. Bay Shore: Montfort Publications.

Swan, Billy. 2018. “The Spirituality of Totus Tuus.” Word on Fire. April 27. Accessed February 02, 2022. https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/the-spirituality-of-totus-tuus/.

Teilhard de Chardin. 1923. “Key Elements in Theresa’s Spirituality.” Ron Rolheiser, September 9: 1-15. Accessed July 22, 2022.

Tibbetts, James J, SFO . 1995. “The Historical Development Of Biblical Mariology Pre- And Post-Vatican II.” Accessed February 02, 2022. https://etd.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_etd/send_file/

Downloads

Published

09/30/2023

How to Cite

Thi Thu Trang, L. (2023). Saint Louis Montfort’s Perfect Consecration “Totus Tuus”. Scientia - The International Journal on the Liberal Arts, 12(2), 35–50. https://doi.org/10.57106/scientia.v12i2.162

Issue

Section

Articles