Marian Consecration is like Baptism in that it’s a one-time deal. Once Mary’s, you’re totally Mary’s. However, there are various times during the liturgical year and sacramental life that we renew our baptismal promises, in particular during the Easter Vigil. It should be the same for Marian Consecration—we should have a renewal of sorts that we do every year to remember that we are, indeed, hers.
Many people repeat the same format that they completed for their initial consecration, usually a 33-day book or series of readings popularized by St. Louis de Montfort and Fr. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC (and, if you’ll have me share the podium unworthily with these legends, my book Rosary Consecration can be added to the pile).
However, seasons change and so do our spiritual inclinations. If you’ve done the 33-day method and are looking for a new means to renew your Marian Consecration, then take a look at the following 9 options below.
Or, if you want to consecrate yourself to Our Lady totally and don’t want to take 33 days to do it, then read on, my brother or sister in Christ! These options can fulfill the requirements for first-time total consecration as well.
See you beneath her mantle.
1. Recite Your Consecration Prayer Before God
While a simple declaration like “Mary, I consecrate myself to you totally” will do, the heart must be ready to make such a promise with the total act of one’s will. That’s why it’s recommended that you take a substantial amount of time to build up your heart so as to make it a gift to Our Lady. Since you’ve already done that (for those who are renewing their consecration), simply attending a single Mass (especially on a Marian Feast Day) would be a quick and simple way to re-up your promise. Don’t forget to recite your consecration prayer at some point before or after the Mass.
2. Give to the Church and to the Poor
When Jesus was presented in the temple, Joseph and Mary gave a humble offering of two doves. They didn’t have thousands of dollars in bitcoin or a savings account or the stock exchange, but they gave. Sacrificing economic stability is a much-sought-after practice of the saints (especially the Franciscan breed). Find a way to go beyond that regular tithe. Bust your budget a bit and let the God in whom you trust build up your treasure in heaven.
3. Fast for Three Days
The most underrated form of prayer is fasting. We don’t like it because it’s uncomfortable. I mean, sure, we’re already uncomfortable with the sacrifices we’re forced to make to survive, but giving up time, food, sleep, or anything else that makes us feel good—and doing it willingly?
Please.
Actually, thank you. Self-inflicted sacrifices showcase the maturity of your active will. In choosing delayed gratification (or no gratification), you show your lower nature that you are elevated, superior even. Fasting raises you up toward God in the most intimate way. It lifts you higher because it is a cross. Stuck on the barren, lifeless wood of fasting, you come to know suffering. Stay there long enough (and consistently enough), and you’ll know the mysterious joy that suffering provides.
Fast for three days:
Day 1: Fast as penance for your own sins (and go to Confession).
Day 2: Fast as penance for the souls in purgatory.
Day 3: Fast as penance for the sins of those who are living.
A lot can change in the world if you fast. A lot more can if you can make that fasting a habit.
Fast. Fast. Fast.
4. Study the Four Marian Dogmas
The One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church has promulgated FOUR definitive, ex-cathedra truths about Our Lady so that we can come to know and love her more.
Study them.
Here are a few videos (created by yours truly) to get you started:
And here are some papal documents to help you study each:
- Munificentissimus Deus: Defining the Dogma of the Assumption (November 1, 1950)
- Sacra Virginitas: Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on Consecrated Virginity (March 25, 1954)
- Ineffabilis Deus: Apostolic Constitution of Pope Pius IX on the Immaculate Conception (December 8, 1854)
- Mater populi fidelis, “On Some Marian Titles Regarding Mary’s Cooperation in the Work of Salvation” (Nov. 4, 2025)
5. Pray the World Missionary Rosary
I wrote about this a while back, and I’ll continue to promote it because it is the single most impactful means to unite with our missionary brothers and sisters worldwide (save the Mass, of course…and actually serving with them, side-by-side).
It’s easy! As you pray the mysteries, add on the following petitions:
1st Mystery – For missionaries in Africa
2nd Mystery – For missionaries in the Pacific Islands
3rd Mystery – For missionaries in Europe
4th Mystery – For missionaries in the Americas
5th Mystery – For missionaries in Asia
6. Add a Sixth Decade to Your Rosary
When I was working with the Lasallians (Brothers of St. John Baptist De La Salle) as a missionary in Mexico, I discovered that their rosaries are slightly different than others’—they have a sixth decade! You can imagine my surprise when we were praying the rosary together and, after the Coronation of Mary…they kept on going.
It turns out they always added a decade to their rosaries dedicated to their religious order—they simply pull their beads back and repeat that fifth strand with their fingers and souls. Some even went as far as actually adding 10 more beads to their rosaries, extending the circumference of their prayers.
You can also ground that sixth decade in Scripture by adding other mysteries not included in the current mysteries. Here are a few I’d recommend:
- Joyful – The Creation of Adam and Eve (Gen. 2)
- Sorrowful – The Fall (Gen. 3)
- Glorious – Mary and the Dragon (Revelation 12)
- Luminous – Mary and the First Christians (Acts 1: 13-14)
7. Get Familiar with Mary’s Seven Swords
Every Christian has a date with the cross. It is inevitable. In fact, Jesus told us, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mt. 16:24-25).
From now until that point, you are in preparation for crucifixion. St. Peter tells us that, “like living stones, you are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5). And later, “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard ‘delay,’ but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).
So, until you are nailed to it, your cross (physical and/or spiritual) awaits.
Our Lady can guide you toward it.
Here are her Seven Sorrows and the scriptural passages you can read and reflect on to delve deeper into the mystery of suffering:
- The Prophecy of Simeon (Lk. 2:34-35)
- The Flight into Egypt (Mt. 2:13-21)
- The Loss of Jesus for Three Days (Lk. 2:41-50)
- The Carrying of the Cross (Jn. 19:17)
- The Crucifixion of Jesus (Jn. 19:18-30)
- Jesus Taken Down from the Cross (Jn. 19:39-40)
- Jesus Laid in the Tomb (Jn. 19:39-42)
8. Contemplate the Double Crown
When he was a youth, St. Maximilian Kolbe was graced with a vision of the Virgin Mary, who set before him two crowns— a white crown that symbolized a life of purity and heroic virtue, and a red crown which represented martyrdom. She asked him, “Which shall you choose?” He replied, “I’ll have both.”
Kolbe’s story is remarkable, and one very powerful way to reignite your love for Our Lady and for the salvation of souls is to watch the latest movie about his life. Triumph of the Heart is a breathtaking depiction of Maximilian’s passion while being starved to death with a group of nine other men at Auschwitz. When it comes to spiritual gravity, the film is right up there with The Passion of the Christ. You can stream it for life right now by clicking here to purchase the movie.
Another option would be to study Kolbe’s writings:
St. Maximilian Kolbe is a powerful companion to help you consecrate (or re-consecrate) your life to Jesus through Our Lady. Read his collected works. Watch the film. And you’ll fall more in love with The Immaculata than ever before.
9. Pray a Marian Novena
From 33 days to 9, your declaration of consecration to Mary can be encapsulated in a simple but strong novena. I love this option because it provides just enough preparation time to genuinely come to a contemplative state. What’s more, my friend Devin Rose has spent the better part of the last decade creating a resource for those who love to pray novenas. It is called Intercede, and it is an app that houses hundreds of novenas on both Android and Apple devices.
It’s flawless—it keeps track of your progress (so you never miss a day), can send you alerts, allows for individual petitions for each new novena you pray, and the library consists of just about every novena that’s ever been published, especially those dedicated to Our Lady. It even has community prayer as an option. Click here to get the app.
Dedicating your life to Our Lady through Marian Consecration is easy. Maintaining your love for her Son, His Church, and her honor is hard.
Remember these options for re-consecration when times are tough…and watch how those times change into true Christian joy.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
