Living the Consecration: Mother? Refuge? Queen?

Fr. Kolbe Missionaries of the Immaculata

Lent is a time of conversion, a time to renew our baptismal promises and commitment, and a time to be transformed by grace. The consecration to Mary is one, powerful way to live out these baptismal promises and be transformed to His glory. It is right, then, that we take time during this holy season to examine our conscience in the light of our total consecration to Mary. Therefore, day by day, little by little we would like to aid your reflection by breaking down the prayer of total consecration as written by St. Maximilian Kolbe. 

In the very first line of the prayer of consecration to Mary as written by St. Maximilian Kolbe, we pray: 

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Refuge of Sinners, and our Most Loving Mother... 

Many of us have prayed them so often that the  words roll off of our tongue as smoothly as the Hail Mary or the Our Father. If you are a member of the Militia of the Immaculata, you prayed these words at least once, namely on the day of your consecration. Habit or not to us, they were deliberately  chosen by St. Maximilian to address the Blessed Mother in this special prayer. Since we pray them, we should mean these words with our minds and our hearts, and if we do, then we will LIVE them in our daily life. 

Do I recognize Mary as the Immaculate Conception?

Do I recognize Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth?

Does she reign in my home? My heart? Do I act in order to please her?

In the face of temptation, to whom do I turn? 

Do I recognize in Mary an "icon" of God's unfathomable mercy? 

Is she a sign of hope?

Do I trust in her love for me? 

Do I have confidence in her maternal intercession?

Do I seek her intercession? 

HAS MY LOVE FOR CHRIST INCREASED?