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| Fr. Michael Gaitley |
MADISON — Men’s apostolates from across the state have joined together to consecrate themselves to Jesus through Mary. It is also their way of becoming “medics” for the Church after a recent interview with Pope Francis where he called the Church a “field hospital after battle.”
Groups such as the Knights of Divine Mercy in the Madison area, Esto Vir in Green Bay, Men of Christ in Milwaukee, and others are joining together and going through a “revision” of St. Louis de Montfort’s Preparation for Total Consecration.
The work the men are using is Fr. Michael Gaitley’s 33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration. The 2011 book revises and simplifies St. Louis de Montfort’s consecration, which is ideal for “busy people,” according to Fr. Rick Heilman, founder of the Knights of Divine Mercy and pastor of St. Mary Parish in Pine Bluff and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Mt. Horeb and Perry.
They are using a parish program, based on the book, in the form of a six-week retreat.
Father Gaitley’s book uses the writings of St. Louis de Montfort, as well as St. Maximilian Kolbe, Blessed Mother Teresa, and Blessed Pope John Paul II.
All of them “had a great love for the Blessed Mother,” said Tim Virnig, national director of the Knights of Divine Mercy, who is participating in the retreat.