# The second greatest book ever written
*2018-04-12*

> Bill Young discusses the spiritual impact of the retreat '33 Days to Morning Glory' and proposes the creation of an audio version to make the experience more accessible.

## A Path to Total Consecration

I want to talk about what I consider the second greatest book ever written. The first, of course, is the Holy Bible. The second is '33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration' by Father Michael Gaitley. While St. Louis de Montfort wrote the foundational work on total consecration to Jesus through Mary, Father Gaitley had the advantage of writing later, incorporating the wisdom of four great Marian saints: St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. John Paul II, and St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The retreat is broken down with one week dedicated to each of these saints.

## Making the Retreat Accessible

Consecrating ourselves to Jesus through Mary is a life-changing experience, but some people struggle to complete the self-retreat. I have heard excuses ranging from frequent travel and lack of time to language barriers and eyesight problems. Because of this, I have a proposal for Father Gaitley and the Marian Fathers: an audio version of '33 Days to Morning Glory.'

I believe an audio version would be a huge hit. It would help those who are traveling, those with failing eyesight, and those for whom English is a second language but who can comprehend spoken English more easily than written text. I even have a specific suggestion for a narrator: Bill O'Reilly. I've enjoyed the audio versions of his history books, and as a Roman Catholic, I think he would do a wonderful job bringing this text to life. Bill, if you are listening, I encourage you to pick up the book and consider this project.

## Reflections on Days 3 and 4

I am currently on the third and fourth days of the retreat. On Day 2, we reflect on St. Louis de Montfort's trust in God, specifically how he responded when a monument he helped build was destroyed by telling the people to 'build it in our hearts.' It asks us to consider our own disappointments and how we can still please God in spite of them.

Day 3 focuses on the significance of our baptism. It asks us to reflect on the vows made on our behalf as infants and how we renew them during the Easter season. We are challenged to think about the most significant days of our lives and why our relationship with God makes our baptismal day the most important of all. We also ponder the difference between humility and humiliation, striving to imitate Mary's humility.

Day 4 asks why we should give ourselves to Mary. Is it because she is selfless, because she belongs totally to God, or because she is human like us? We reflect on giving her the four intimate aspects of our lives: our body, our soul, our exterior goods, and our interior spiritual goods. By giving these to her, we deepen our relationship with Jesus.

## The Fruits of Consecration

I began this journey of consecration two years ago, and I have seen wonderful things happen in my family. My wife had been trying to return to the school system for nearly a decade without success. After this consecration, a spot opened up at the Broward County School Board headquarters, and within nine months, she was promoted to office manager. I believe this was the guidance of Mary.

My son's business has also seen phenomenal growth. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., to see Pope Francis, where I was unexpectedly interviewed by ABC Channel 10 and the Miami Herald. Later, I traveled to Rome and was present for the canonization of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. During the ceremony in St. Peter's Square, I saw incredible formations in the clouds that looked like a cross and a giant angel—perhaps St. Michael. It felt as though heaven and earth merged into one.

*Total consecration to Jesus through Mary does not remove the crosses we must bear, but it ensures that our lives will never be the same.*