The Diocese of Columbus recently began the Preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary, continuing through Dec. 8 to conclude with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. 

The Diocese stated in posts on Facebook that the Preparation for the consecration began Nov. 5 and is modeled on the premise set forth by St. Louis de Montfort. 

That premise, as explained on the New Evangelizers' website is "that Jesus came into the world through Mary and that for us to always be assured of being close to Jesus, even closer than ever before, we should go through Mary." 

“Mary’s life was set aside for the sole purpose of serving our Lord. By following her example, we, too, can completely give ourselves to Christ in a fundamental way that consecrates us to Him. We give our lives to Him in service and love,” the group states on its website.

The website explains Preparation for Total Consecration as “a 33-day period of prayerful preparation followed by the actual act of consecration itself.” The 33 days include 12 days of prayers to help us "free ourselves from the spirit of the world," followed by three weeks devoted to knowledge: Week one, the knowledge of ourselves; week two, the Blessed Virgin, and the third week to Jesus Christ. The cycle is designed to conclude on a Marian Feast Day.

St. Louis de Montfort was born in 1673 and was devoted to his faith from a young age. He was ordained to the priesthood at age 27 and founded the Sisters of Wisdom and the Company of Mary in 1715, one year before his death in 1716. de Montfort was canonized in 1947 by Pope Pius XII.

The Diocese of Columbia is presenting a series of videos on its Facebook page on the daily themes and prayers during the Preparation for the Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary.