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Dear Rachel,
I'm glad you asked this question as it can be a very confusing issue for Catholic and non-Catholic Christians alike.
I think it's important to get a grasp on what this Consecration is, and is not.
Several helpful postings can be found at the very bottom of our FAQ page.
You said:
- Does this consecration require only asking Mary for her help and prayers, while forsaking praying to other saints or am I taking this too literally?
No, it does not mean your total consecration to Mary forfeits your praying to other saints.
I'm positive St. Louis de Montfort most definitely would confirm this view.
Maybe an analogy is appropriate.
If I've been born and raised in the sports mecca of the United States, Boston, Massachusetts, and have been a life-long Red Sox fan. Does this mean:
- I can't be a Bruins fan?
- I can't be a Patriots fan?
- I can't be a Celtics fan?
- I can't be a Revolutions fan? (Soccer)
- I can't be a Lobsters fan? (Tennis)
Of course not! I vaguely remember making my Total Consecration to Mary according to St. Louis de Montfort. I think it was about 30 years ago. From what I remember, it did seem to be a very pious consecration, but no matter how pious or devotional a religious practice is, it should always maintain a proper spiritual balance.
When Catholics consecrate themselves to Mary, they are just manifesting the same love Our Lord had for his mother and our spiritual mother.
- He did it in His Flesh.
- We imitate His love for our spiritual mother, in our flesh, seeing we are in Christ through the Eucharist.
This does not take away from the sole worship we give to Our Lord alone, and Our Blessed Mother would be the first to insist on this.
Hope this helps,
Mike
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