Announcing A Call to Consecrate

Why is this year different from most other years?

Because this year you can begin your 33 day preparation for Marian consecration on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, and end on April 27, Divine Mercy Sunday.

This is uniquely awesome. Why?

Because God's mercy breaks into history at the Annunciation, when Mary said yes to becoming God's mother and Jesus became incarnate. All grace comes through Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ comes through Mary's yes. Mary's yes opens wide the doors between heaven and earth. Her yes allows the Divine Mercy to take on flesh and dwell among us.

That splendor of divine love, which the Annunciation makes possible, finds its highest expression and celebration on Divine Mercy Sunday, the eighth day celebration concluding the Octave of Easter. Jesus made some pretty extraordinary promises about Divine Mercy Sunday to St. Faustina, the so-calledSecretary of Divine Mercy:

My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy (Diary, 699).

I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My mercy (1109).

Whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment (300).

The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion will obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment (699).

What better day to receive the grace of consecration to Jesus through Mary than Divine Mercy Sunday?

Father Michael Gaitley, MIC, author of 33 Days to Morning Glory, discussed this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in his Ash Wednesday homily at the Oratory of Our Lady of Mercy on Eden Hill in Stockbridge, Mass.

To download the e-book version of 33 Days to Morning Glory, click here.