Marian Consecration With Aquinas: A Nine Day Path for Growing Closer to the Mother of God

by Matt Fradd, Gregory Pine, O.P.

St. Louis de Montfort’s classic Total Consecration to Mary has seen a strong resurgence in recent years, with Catholics around the world consecrating themselves to Our Lady. Building off this momentum, we wanted to encourage this closeness to Jesus through Mary, but with a preparation that reflected the Church’s love for St. Thomas Aquinas. In Aquinas’s writings, we found ample resources for the task. Especially in his preaching, we discovered passages detailing the graces bestowed on Mary and the role afforded her in leading us to Christ. Special inspiration came from a passage where Aquinas describes what motivates religious to consecrate themselves. He writes that it is their great desire to “offer to God all that one has.” Wow! That struck a chord. We wrote this book to assist others in offering all that they have in consecration, with the Angelic Doctor as a teacher and guide. After all, it’s not just religious who are called to holiness. We all are! It is our hope that this method will captivate you like it has us, and lead you to closer union with Jesus as you offer yourselves to Him through Mary.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

67 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2020

About the author

Matthew Fradd is Australian by birth and Catholic by choice. After experiencing a profound conversion at World Youth Day in Rome in 2000, Matthew committed himself to inviting others to know Jesus Christ and the Church He founded. As a missionary in Canada and Ireland, Matthew proclaimed the Gospel to over ten thousand teens and young adults. Matthew has also served the Church through full-time lay ministry in Australia,Ireland, Canada, and Texas. Matthew has been seen or heard on the BBC, EWTN, The Irish Morning Show, and Catholic Answers Live, where he has shared his personal story of sin, redemption, and healing to people all over the world.

Recently, Matthew, his fearless Texan wife, and their three beautiful children (Liam, Avila, and baby on the way) moved to sunny San Diego where Matthew now works as an Apologist and Speaker with Catholic Answers. Matthew best demonstrates his infectious passion for the faith when he speaks about the many wounds that pornography inflicts, the healing that Christ offers in the Sacraments, and the freedom that the Church proposes in Her teachings on the virtue of chastity.

In recent years, Matthew has confronted our pornographic culture and has launched the website www.theporneffect.com. With patient understanding and yet with firm resolve, Matthew has pointed those who are addicted to or who have been wounded by pornography to the only source of true freedom and lasting healing: Jesus Christ and the Sacraments.

Matthew Fradd has been heard or seen on the BBC, EWTN, The Irish Morning Show, and Catholic Answers Live, and he continues to share his personal story of addiction, redemption, and healing to people all over the world.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This consecration will be a bit more theological than most,” Matt Fradd warns — or promises? — in the introduction, and in the next 75 pages he delivers. But if you winced at the thought of a theological read — or if, like me, you thought that Aquinas being attached to it made it harder — I can assure you you’re in for a treat. First, it’s only nine days, so this is a consecration — a setting aside, Fradd explains in English any of my kids — ages five to 15 — can understand. And nine days is doable. It doesn’t feel impossible. And that gets the gateway to consecration propped right on open, doesn’t it?

Whether you have an hour a day or five minutes, this book will introduce you to a deeper Marian devotion through the quite lovely writings of St. Thomas Aquinas who, it turns out, was brilliant enough to write in ways that non-brilliant humans can understand. Each day includes a reflection and then some Aquinas.

When you’re done you may find, like I did, that you want to do it again, more slowly. Beautifully done and easily accomplished, with a side order of grace and roses.

[Maggie Lunsford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great, simple Marian consecration prep book. I would recommend for those renewing their consecration.

[Emily Woodham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is perfect for converts, which is what I am, or for Catholics who are uncomfortable with flowery devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Fradd and Father Pine do an excellent job explaining consecration, or entrustment, to Mary. They also shed light on different Church teachings about Mary. I especially appreciated what they had to say about the Immaculate Conception.

I did the 33 Days to Morning Glory in 2016. I wanted to do a consecration to Mary again, but I wanted to try something different. This nine day novena was exactly what I needed.

This is not a fussy or emotional book, which I appreciated. However, it still has some beautiful thoughts to meditate on. Each day has two sections: a theological reflection and then a passage from Aquinas. Then a rosary is to be said after the readings.

To those who have a lot on their plate and like a straightforward approach, I highly recommend this booklet for consecration to the Blessed Mother.

[Stephen Duquaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dismissing a saint’s book because you don’t like it (True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort) is juvenile. Ok, he doesn’t like the tone and some of the wording or imagery the saint uses. He says that this is much more theological than other consecration books but I don’t know if it is. The writing was schizophrenic. It was obvious what Matt Fradd wrote because it was so informal.

I don’t know what the target audience for this book is. It was like he was trying to defend Catholic belief. Why? The person most likely picking this up is a devout Catholic. I couldn’t get past the conversational bar talk tone of this book. I don’t need Fradd’s commentary about how challenging Aquinas is or how easy it is to misunderstand him. Give your readers some credit. I thought I liked Fradd but maybe only his videos. Writing doesn’t seem to be his thing.

[Maximilian Nightingale]

A good set of meditations, especially for one wanting to understanding better devotion to Mary, but perhaps wary of more devotional/affective approaches.

[Gil Michelini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good presentation of Aquinas' insights on Mary. This helped me find new sources to try to answer my questions about Mary, but I still don't have the answer to the question that has bugged me for years: WHY is Marian devotion needed? I understand why people do it, but why invest time in this instead of deepening devotion to the Lord?

The book seems written for college age readers, which makes it understandable but the writing style is a little too hipster. At points, it sounds like something a middle schooler would write, which is surprising given the authors. There are audio glitches from sloppy

[Luke Daghir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will recommend this book to many people in my life. I know Mary more now- and as the Dominicans teach often, "we can not love what we do not know." I know Mary more now, therefore I can love Mary more now.

Give this book a read- do the 9 day path. Join the angel Gabriel in seeing Mary, "as she really is."

[chelo aresgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful prayer

Powerful consecration to the Lord through our Lady, beautiful reflections and prayer each day to guide you in your 9 day journey. To be honest 9 days is more doable comparing to 33 days and the 54 day rosary novena, but that’s just my opinion of course you can do whatever devotion you feel you are being called to.

[Thomas worst · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Book for this time of our lives.

I liked this book. The Book of consecrated of Mary help me to come closer to my Jesus through my mother Mary.

[Stefano Crosio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true consecration

Thank you Matt and Fr. Gregory for making me discover my true vocation as a husband father and son. Holy Mary mother of God pray for us!

[Florence Bernice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah. Aquinas gave me Summa to think about after reading this one.

A solid nine-day Marian consecration book I used for my third year renewal. The reflections were more on the theological side considering they were taken from St. Thomas' Marian preaching, but still palatable to non-academic readers.