Greatest Adventure

Composed by: Sr. Rose Martina de Porres

“To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.”  ― Augustine of Hippo

As 2017 starts to wind down with friends, family, Christmas parties, endless food, and hope for a blessed new year, I’ve started reflecting on how much my life has changed because of this adventure that I have embarked on in seeking Him. Almost four years ago I made my first (of many) “Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary.”   Since that day I’ve been consumed by a fire to lead others to Jesus through Mary.  I first began to buy books to hand out and encourage others.  Then I tried gathering people that I knew to form a small group.  My feeble attempts failed miserably.  I did not feel qualified.   I swore I would/could not do this anymore; it was crazy but doing this only made me relate to Jeremiah (20:9):  “Then I said: I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name; and there came in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was wearied, not being able to bear it. I learned to be faithful and not perfect because it’s He who calls people to Himself.”  I’m just the instrument in Mary’s beautiful hands.  I tried again to lead a small group and things went better.  Never in a million years had I imagined myself leading any kind of group to do anything. 

“But in the designs of divine providence there are no mere coincidences.” – Pope St. John Paul II

Two years went by when a feeling to grow spiritually started to awaken inside of me.  I did a little research on Third Order communities.  I visited a Carmelite community and decided it was probably not for me.  I then encountered two other women on the same quest, a God-incidence, as I like to call them.  Together we visited a couple other lay communities, and we found Joy of the Just.  In January 2017, we were received into the Dominican family. 

Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.  – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Indeed I felt like a new creation.  I don’t wish to disillusion you and say that all things were easy because the pains of life still continue.  In fact, just completing my Consecration was a challenge.  I’ve since learned that by week three, the evil one will do all it can to stop you.  You are sure to be discouraged, fearful, hesitant to continue, anything negative to get you to stop will happen.  But the spiritual growth that you obtain from your Consecration can mark a turning point in your life.

I encourage you to take some time before the New Year to consider the greatest adventure by renewing your own Consecration or making your first.  The easiest preparation to use is, “33 Days to Morning Glory” by Fr. Michael Gaitley.  Get the video also if you can.  If you like a little more scripture and reflections,then use “Preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus Christ through Mary” by Fr. Hugh Gillespie.  If you are a bigger soul use the original by St. Louis De Montfort, “True Devotion to Mary.”I will be starting 31 December so that I can renew my Consecration on 2 February on the Presentation of the Lord.  I pray that you join me in seeking Him, falling in love with Him, and finding Him.