3rd Order Marian Consecration

On April 28th, 2012, twelve members of the Third Order of the Institute of the Incarnate Word made their consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary at the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Emmitsburg, MD.

In addition to being a significant spiritual commitment in keeping with the Marian Vow taken by members of our religious family, this particular consecration was made especially meaningful in that it took place on the feast of St. Louis Marie Grignon de Montfort, whom our religious family takes as a special example of love for the Blessed Virgin.

St. Louis de Monfort wrote in his book True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary about the practice of taking thirty-three days of prayer and preparation, culminating in a solemn consecration of oneself to our Blessed Mother in what he calls a “maternal slavery of love.”  To prepare for their consecration, the the twin constitutions of the Institute of the Incarnate Word and the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará both mention this devotion of St. Louis de Montfort as a foundational aspect of our consecrated life.

Congratulations to all those Third Order members who made their consecration on the feast of this great doctor of Marian Spirituality!