"We never give more honor to Jesus than when we honor his Mother, and we honor her simply and solely to honor Him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek - Jesus, her Son."    --Saint Louis Marie de Montfort
 
This fall we are beginning something that is a dream come true to me, a parish consecration to Jesus through Mary. You may be asking yourself “Why?” Mary changed my life forever, just like she changed the life of JPII and many other saints, so let me answer the question of “Why?” with my own story of how My Heavenly Mom has changed my life.
 
It didn’t begin overnight, but it did begin with a miracle. I was lost and running from God when in college I met the “perfect” boy. We had so many hobbies in common including reptiles, shooting, hiking, and the outdoors. But the one thing we didn’t have in common was Faith. After a year and a half of dating a man I thought would be my husband, I finally realized what God had been telling me all along, that I didn’t want to marry someone who wasn’t Catholic, who didn’t share my love of Jesus and was far from it. I put off for months the idea of breaking up with him until I finally listened. In a powerful moment of Eucharistic Exposition I heard God telling me that it was time to act. I had a million reasons why I couldn't, but God made it clear to me that the upcoming Friday was finally the day.
 
That Friday was July 13, 2012. It was also the day I began my 33 day retreat preparation to make my consecration to Jesus through Mary. My oldest sister had told my family with great enthusiasm that we had to read this book. She had consecrated herself to Mary and was filled with so much zeal she wanted to share this message with everyone. We decided as a family to begin our consecration leading up to the feast of the Assumption, meaning we would begin July 13.
 
I didn’t know everything there was to know about God and Mary before making my consecration. How could I? I just consecrated myself in my littleness and weakness and Mary took over. My life changed forever, maybe not on the exact day I consecrated myself, but in little ways everyday. I learn a little more each day and each year about what this devotion means as I renew my consecration. I didn’t need to know everything all at once, Mary took me right where I was.
 
When I returned to college in the fall without my boyfriend, but with my Mama Mary, everything changed. I knew I needed to finally find community. I began volunteering at my local Church. I began driving the 45 minutes to Michigan State University to join their young adult group. I began questioning and really asking God if I was where I should be and He answered.
 
Being stubborn by nature, God knew I wouldn’t listen without a direct response from Him, which meant failing one lab competency in a class I had an A+ in, but that’s all it took to fail. That’s all it took to be told I couldn’t continue on in my vet tech program. I was broken, but not discouraged, because I knew that my prayers had been answered. I came home and sat on my couch that day only to see in seconds what others had waited hours to see, Pope Francis stepping out for the first time, a small, but significant light of God in a difficult moment. The very next morning I received a text from my dad that my boss from a previous summer job would love to have me back and work for her. She was not only looking for a worker, but looking for a worker to do my EXACT job as the previous summer. In less than 24 hours I had the next step of God’s plan. I had a job that would teach me how to evangelize. I had a job that prepared me for exactly where God wanted me.
 
The miracles didn’t end there, but it would take several books to share them all. I felt Mary’s presence. I learned to trust better. I found more joy and more hope. I was on fire and wanted to help spread this fire to all the world. So why should you consecrate yourself to Mary? Because why not? What do you have to lose? What do you have to gain? If you don’t understand it now, that’s okay. Mary will take you right where you are. She will take your hand like a little child and guide you to Her Son just like she did for me. My life changed the day I consecrated myself to Mary. Yours can too. Mary was the first one to give her yes, her Fiat, to Jesus. Let us imitate her in giving this same yes to Mary and begin giving ourselves totally to Jesus through Mary.

~ Trisha Trout ~ Totus Tuus ~ Totally Yours