St. Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary with its 33-day preparation for consecration to Mary is a Christian classic. Many adults also use 33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley to prepare for Marian consecration (this is my personal favorite – if you have never completed the Marian consecration, I highly recommend this book). But what if you want to encourage your child to consecrate themselves to Mary? Are there any resources available that explain the consecration at an age-appropriate level? The answer is yes. Here are a few to choose from to help you and your child as your child walks the road to consecration to Mary. Any of these would be a great addition to a homeschool religion program.
Child Consecration to Jesus through Mary – Blythe Marie Kaufman – This book was handed to me by an older woman at church who thought I should read it with my daughter. I read it on my own and found it delightful. I am working through it with my 11-year old daughter as part of our Lent. It is designed for elementary school children. It begins with an introductory story of a young girl named Daisy learning how to garden from her mother. At the end, Daisy gets to present all the good things she has grown to her father who rewards her. The following days explain how Mary helps lead us to Jesus and God the Father and all the ways she can help us in our lives. The book is not available on Amazon, but https://childconsecration.com/ offers a list of places it can be purchased.
Marian Consecration for Children – Carrie Gress, PhD – This is the most well-known children’s consecration book. Gress weaves in tales of saints, kings, queens, knights, and princesses as a way to teach children about virtue, courage, and their spiritual mother who loves them. In addition, she draws valuable spiritual lessons from contemporary stories such as The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Winnie the Pooh, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and many other fables and fairy tales that have brought children’s imaginations to life for decades.
Divided into 34 days, Marian Consecration for Children includes a short meditation for each day and accompanying discussion questions. Each day concludes with prayers and a “Did You Know?” feature that delivers fun and interesting facts.
While many people love this book, some have commented that it is not as focused on Mary as it could have been.
Consecration to Mary for Little Ones – Kimberly Fries – This is a beautiful picture book designed for young children (ages 5 and up). Children learn about Mary’s life, how to pray with her, and why having a relationship with her will bring them closer to her son, Jesus. Each day also includes a special quote from a saint or Marian apparition.
Marian Consecration for Families with Young Children – Colleen Pressprich – This book is designed for family use with children as young as three years old. Each day includes an image of Mary, a short reflection, and discussion questions to spark faith-filled conversations. Supplementary material for parents helps you lead your family through preparation for the consecration at a pace that works for you. Marian Consecration for Families with Young Children combines magnificent, original Marian art and simple, child-accessible text to immerse your entire family in Mary’s love and care.
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