I have to ask your patience with me; this post is another late one. I could list all the reasons why, but it is easily summed up in one word…Life.
So how do you like 33 Days to Morning Glory so far? I would like to see more discussion going on in the comments. This is such a rich book, I would love to hear your thoughts as you’ve read certain passages that made you stop, put your finger under the line and follow word for word as you tried to make sense of what you’ve just read. Or am I the only one who has to do that?
I was particularly moved by Mother Teresa’s letter which was referenced today in the reading.
Be careful of all that block that personal contact with the living Jesus. The devil may try to use the hurts of life, and sometimes our own mistakes–to make you feel it is impossible that Jesus really loves you, is really cleaving to you. This is a danger for all of us. And so sad, because it is completely opposite of what Jesus is really wanting, waiting to tell you. Not only that He loves you, but even more–He longs for you. He misses you when you don’t come close…My children, you don’t have to be different for Jesus to love you.
33 Days to Morning Glory pg 71
Wow. Wow. If you read that passage and had to stop and re-read it, or pause to catch your breath, leave an Amen {So be it} in the comments. I want to know how many of you are reading along with us. I want to know how many of you may have heard, I mean really heard, maybe for the first time that Jesus is cleaving to you. That He longs for you. That He misses you when you don’t come close.
I mean, this is better than being back in grade school and getting a note from the little boy two desks over telling you he likes you.
And way better than being in high school and hearing through the grape-vine that a certain boy you’ve noticed likes you; all the excitement, none of the high school drama.
This is even better than your husband or children telling you how much they miss you when you are away.
This is Jesus passing you that love note! This is The Lover of your soul expressing His longing for you!
He wants only your love, wants only the chance to love you.
33 Days to Morning Glory pg 72
Tell us what those passages meant to you as you read them. Tell us how He changes you, by loving you.
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I’m joining you late, but I purchased this book and plan to start the Consecration in November so that the end coincides with the feast of the Immaculate Conception! It’s very inspiring to read your comments and the excerpts from the book. Thank you so much!
Hi Betsy. My oldest daughter will will mark her two year anniversary of Total Consecration on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Congratulations!
Chiming in late here (I was offline for a while due to computer issues). I saw your post about starting this book just a couple of days before the beginning date. I didn’t have much hope of being able to get the book in time to start with all of you, since I live in Japan, but I checked Amazon Japan just in case. Lo, and behold, they not only had the book listed, but had it in stock. In Japan! Usually I have to wait 2-3 weeks for Catholic books to get to me from the US. I received the book the next day and was able to start on time.
I can identify with Teri in VA’s comments above, as I am a recent convert myself, but I felt like God was gently leading me to give it a try (finding the book available to me when I didn’t think it would be was one thing, then a few days later finding out that my best friend in the US also “happens” to be going through the book with her prayer group at the same time).
I have enjoyed the readings so much every day, and am feeling more and more ready to make my consecration. God bless you lovely ladies!
So excited to find this book club online! There are a group of us at our church that started the Marian Consecration last week using this book/booklet. This will be a renewal of my Consecration to Mary that I made 27 years ago. May Our Blessed Mother, the most powerful and beautiful Mother bless all of you!
I Love this book. I really look forward to reading it everyday.
Just realized I can review this book for the Catholic Company….yayyy! Finally getting a copy. It sounds like a wonderful book.
Amen! I was thrilled to see you chose this book for May (especially since my plan to prepare for Marian consecration on March 25 did not work out). This book has provided something new to contemplate each week. This week I was also struck by the priest’s explanation of Mother Teresa’s dryness as a sharing in Jesus’ burning thirst for souls. The abandonment she felt was not Jesus abandoning her, but man abandoning Jesus.
I have been really sick this week and am hoping to be able to get caught up to everyone.
God Bless,
Marcie
I am a little bit behind where everyone else is. Today I was reading day 11, and was struck by this :
“Creatures, by following the natural law implanted in them by God, reach their perfection, become like him, and go back to him. Intelligent creatures [human beings] love him in a conscious manner; through this love they unite themselves more and more closely with him, and so find their way back to him.”
The first thing that jumped out at me was the idea that creatures become like God and go back to him. I had never thought that all of God’s creations strive to become like him. Am I the only one who never considered this?
Secondly, it makes growing close with God sound so easy, all you have to do is “love him in a conscious manner”. Yet, I continually struggle with finding the path that God wants me to follow, and to continually do his will.
I’ve already read Day 11 twice, and I will probably read it a few more times, because I keep mulling over Mary’s ability to do God’s will.
Lovely thought! I wrote that paragraph down and have gone back to read it several more times. I like how all things are praising God when they are being what they were made to be.
I am responding a bit late, but I am following right along with you in the reading. Yes! This is a great book. I am going to have to read and reread this one because there is so much to glean.
As for Jesus loving me…I’ve always known that I am loved. I have always known and felt God’s love for me. I have been blessed with examples of His love for me through the love others have for me: my parents, family, spouse, children and friends. But I have to admit there was one point when I experienced Chris’t love for me that truly overwhelmed me, that he longed for me and wanted an intimate union with me – and my initial response was “I am not worthy”. However, this doesn’t deter Him from continuing to pursue me. I can accept this awesome love He has for me, but then I am met with this challenge…How do I respond to this kind of love? Do a respond in kind to others with this same love, this ‘thirst’? Sadly, not always. This is where this consecration steps in. I need Mary’s heart. “Mary, lend me your Immaculate Heart.” Earlier I read that Mary was the Mother of Mercy, in fact, I say she is the Mother of Mercy every time I recite the “Hail Holy Queen” at the end of the Rosary. I realized that mother’s love their children even when they mess up and disappoint. Therefore, I need this heart to love others, especially those difficult to love, those that I see ‘mess up’ or hurt me and to love them anyway. Like Mary.
Me! Me! I’m reading along with you all…albeit slowly and quietly.
I’m an old christian but a new Catholic. I find myself still having knee jerk reactions to things that offend my old Protestant sensibilities. So I slow down, reread, pray. I pray the Memorare after every reading.
I’m committed to reading the book, but I’m not sure I’ll make the consecration this year. I don’t want to enter it with anything less than 100%.
Thanks for choosing this book. It’s not something I would have picked up on my own.
Hi Teri! I completely understand the 100%. It took me 2-3 years before I made my Total Consecration. Blessed Mother lead me gently, answered my questions and allayed any fears or doubts I had.
I agree, as well, with the struggle to get to 100% i can’t count how many times I’ve done the preparation with St. Louis de Montfort materials, only to give up. I do encourage you to keep reading this particular book. in my own experience, I read it all at once and was ready to do the consecration, then and there. I mentally searched for a Marian feast that must fall on that particular day. Finding none, I realized that it was April 2nd, the day John Paul II died. I remembered some very fervent prayers I begged of him that day and I was certain that this consecration was a big answer to those prayers. I went ahead and made it that day. I can’t begin to enumerate the profound effects on my life, almost immediately. Now, I’m working my way through the book day by day with my family. We’re discussing as we go. The kids are loving this time. Not all of them are certain that they will make the consecration on the Feast of the Visitation, but they’ve all grown closer to her and to Christ through this time.