St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort
St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716) taught people to give themselves entirely to Jesus Christ through the hands of Mary, and he asked for a preparation first: at least twelve days to empty oneself of the spirit of the world, then three weeks to be filled with Jesus Christ through the Blessed Virgin. This plan follows the order of the Treatise on True Devotion (§§ 227-233) and gives the 2026 dates for making the consecration on the Immaculate Conception, 8 December.
To consecrate yourself on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Tuesday 8 December 2026), start on Thursday 5 November. That gives 33 days of preparation, 5 November to 7 December, and the consecration on day 34, after confession and Communion. The First Sunday of Advent (29 November) falls near the end of the second week (day 25).
Montfort speaks of “three weeks” without saying how many days they have, and when describing the first he mentions “the six days of this week” (§ 228). That is why 30-day plans (12 + 3 × 6) also exist. The 33-day plan (12 + 3 × 7) is the most common today.
Each day has a short reading (Scripture, the Imitation of Christ or Montfort's Treatise) and the prayers of the period. The excerpts below are our own translations from the original Latin and French; the reference tells you where to read the full text. The prayers follow the traditional four-part plan; the ones Montfort himself asks for in the Treatise are the Litany of the Holy Spirit, the Ave Maris Stella, the Litany of the Blessed Virgin, the Rosary (or at least five decades), the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus and the prayer of St Augustine.
Also commonly prayed (no page here yet): Litany of the Holy Spirit; St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Mary (from The Secret of Mary); O Jesus living in Mary (O Jesu vivens in Maria); St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Jesus (from The Secret of Mary); St Augustine's prayer (the one Montfort gives in the first part of the Treatise).
Montfort asks for “at least twelve days” spent emptying oneself of the spirit of the world, which is contrary to the spirit of Jesus Christ. The readings come from the Sermon on the Mount and book I of the Imitation of Christ: detachment, watchfulness, the thought of death, taking up the cross.
ReferenceTreatise on True Devotion, § 227
Reading: Imitation of Christ, book I, ch. 1; Matthew 5:1-12
“He who follows me does not walk in darkness,” says the Lord. [...] Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity, except to love God and to serve him alone.Imit. I,1,1 and I,1,3 (Latin)
Prayers: Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Creator Spirit), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Magnificat (included in many editions)
Reading: Matthew 5:13-16; Imitation of Christ, book I, ch. 3
You are the light of the world. [...] O how quickly the glory of the world passes away!Mt 5:14 (Vulgate); Imit. I,3,6
Prayers: Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Creator Spirit), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Magnificat (included in many editions)
Reading: Matthew 5:38-48; Imitation of Christ, book I, ch. 7
Vain is the one who puts his hope in men or in creatures. [...] Do not rest upon yourself, but set your hope in God.Imit. I,7,1
Prayers: Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Creator Spirit), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Magnificat (included in many editions)
Reading: Matthew 6:1-15
But you, when you pray, go into your room, shut the door and pray to your Father in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.Mt 6:6 (Vulgate)
Prayers: Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Creator Spirit), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Magnificat (included in many editions)
Reading: Matthew 6:19-34
Where your treasure is, there is your heart also. [...] No one can serve two masters. [...] You cannot serve God and mammon.Mt 6:21.24 (Vulgate)
Prayers: Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Creator Spirit), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Magnificat (included in many editions)
Reading: 1 John 2:15-17; Imitation of Christ, book I, ch. 1
Do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world. [...] The world passes away, and its desire; but whoever does the will of God abides for ever.1 Jn 2:15.17 (Vulgate)
Prayers: Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Creator Spirit), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Magnificat (included in many editions)
Reading: Imitation of Christ, book I, ch. 13
As long as we live in the world we cannot be without tribulation and temptation. That is why it is written in Job: the life of man upon earth is a temptation.Imit. I,13,1
Prayers: Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Creator Spirit), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Magnificat (included in many editions)
Reading: Matthew 7:1-14; Imitation of Christ, book I, ch. 18
Enter by the narrow gate. [...] Look at the living examples of the holy Fathers, in whom true perfection shone, and you will see how little, how almost nothing, is what we do.Mt 7:13; Imit. I,18,1
Prayers: Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Creator Spirit), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Magnificat (included in many editions)
Reading: Imitation of Christ, book I, ch. 23
Very soon all will be over with you here; see then how you live. Today a man is here, and tomorrow he is seen no more.Imit. I,23,1
Prayers: Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Creator Spirit), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Magnificat (included in many editions)
Reading: Imitation of Christ, book I, ch. 25
Whoever does not avoid small faults little by little slides into greater ones. [...] You will make progress in the measure that you do violence to yourself.Imit. I,25 (end)
Prayers: Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Creator Spirit), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Magnificat (included in many editions)
Reading: Romans 12:1-2; Imitation of Christ, book III, ch. 27
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. [...] Son, you must give all for all, and keep nothing of yourself for yourself.Rom 12:2 (Vulgate); Imit. III,27,1
Prayers: Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Creator Spirit), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Magnificat (included in many editions)
Reading: Imitation of Christ, book III, ch. 56; Matthew 16:24-26
Son, the more you are able to go out of yourself, the more you will be able to pass over into me. [...] Follow me: I am the way, the truth and the life.Imit. III,56,1
Prayers: Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Creator Spirit), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Magnificat (included in many editions)
Ask for knowledge of oneself and contrition for sin, doing everything in a spirit of humility. Montfort suggests meditating on what he says about our corrupted nature (§§ 78-82) and repeating “Lord, that I may see” or “Let me know myself.”
ReferenceTreatise on True Devotion, § 228
Reading: Treatise on True Devotion, §§ 78-80
Our best actions are usually stained and spoiled by the bad ground that is in us. [...] To empty ourselves of ourselves we must, first, come to know well, by the light of the Holy Spirit, this bad ground of ours.TD §§78-79 (French, 1859 ed.)
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of Loreto (Litany of the Blessed Virgin), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Come, Holy Spirit (short invocation suggested by Montfort himself)
Reading: Treatise on True Devotion, §§ 81-82
To empty ourselves of ourselves we must die to ourselves every day. [...] Unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, and bears no fruit worth having.TD §81 (French)
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of Loreto (Litany of the Blessed Virgin), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Come, Holy Spirit (short invocation suggested by Montfort himself)
Reading: Imitation of Christ, book III, ch. 8
Shall I speak to my Lord, I who am dust and ashes? [...] But if I humble myself and bring myself to nothing, and give up all esteem of myself, your grace will be gracious to me.Imit. III,8,1
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of Loreto (Litany of the Blessed Virgin), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Come, Holy Spirit (short invocation suggested by Montfort himself)
Reading: Imitation of Christ, book II, ch. 5
We cannot trust ourselves too much, for grace often fails us, and there is little light in us. [...] We blame small things in others and pass over our own, which are greater.Imit. II,5,1
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of Loreto (Litany of the Blessed Virgin), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Come, Holy Spirit (short invocation suggested by Montfort himself)
Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Reading: Luke 18:9-14
The tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but struck his breast, saying: “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”Lk 18:13 (Vulgate)
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of Loreto (Litany of the Blessed Virgin), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Come, Holy Spirit (short invocation suggested by Montfort himself)
Solemnity of Christ the King (where kept on this Sunday).
Reading: Imitation of Christ, book I, ch. 2; Treatise on True Devotion, § 228
This is the highest and most profitable lesson: the true knowledge and contempt of oneself. [...] They will pray Our Lord and his Holy Spirit to enlighten them with these words: “Lord, that I may see” (Domine, ut videam), or “Let me know myself” (Noverim me), or “Come, Holy Spirit” (Veni, Sancte Spiritus).Imit. I,2,4; TD §228 (French)
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of Loreto (Litany of the Blessed Virgin), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Come, Holy Spirit (short invocation suggested by Montfort himself)
Reading: Luke 15:11-24
I will arise and go to my father, and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.Lk 15:18-19 (Vulgate)
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of Loreto (Litany of the Blessed Virgin), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Come, Holy Spirit (short invocation suggested by Montfort himself)
Ask the Holy Spirit for knowledge of Mary, reading and meditating on what the Treatise says about her. Montfort adds the Rosary each day, or at least five decades, for this intention.
ReferenceTreatise on True Devotion, § 229
Reading: Treatise on True Devotion, §§ 1-3
It was through the most Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus Christ came into the world, and it is also through her that he must reign in the world. Mary was very hidden in her life.TD §1 (French)
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of Loreto (Litany of the Blessed Virgin), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Mary (from The Secret of Mary), The Rosary (at least five decades a day)
Reading: Treatise on True Devotion, §§ 14-17
God the Father gave his only Son to the world only through Mary. [...] The Son of God became man for our salvation, but in Mary and through Mary.TD §16 (French)
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of Loreto (Litany of the Blessed Virgin), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Mary (from The Secret of Mary), The Rosary (at least five decades a day)
Reading: Luke 1:26-38
Then Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.Lk 1:38 (Vulgate)
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of Loreto (Litany of the Blessed Virgin), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Mary (from The Secret of Mary), The Rosary (at least five decades a day)
Reading: Treatise on True Devotion, §§ 105-110
True devotion to the Blessed Virgin is interior, tender, holy, constant and disinterested. It is interior, that is, it comes from the mind and the heart.TD §§105-106 (French)
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of Loreto (Litany of the Blessed Virgin), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Mary (from The Secret of Mary), The Rosary (at least five decades a day)
Reading: Luke 1:39-56; Treatise on True Devotion, § 255
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, because he has looked upon the lowliness of his handmaid.Lk 1:46-48 (Vulgate)
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of Loreto (Litany of the Blessed Virgin), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Mary (from The Secret of Mary), The Rosary (at least five decades a day)
First Sunday of Advent.
Reading: Treatise on True Devotion, §§ 120-121
This devotion consists, then, in giving oneself entirely to the most Blessed Virgin, in order to belong entirely to Jesus Christ through her.TD §121 (French)
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of Loreto (Litany of the Blessed Virgin), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Mary (from The Secret of Mary), The Rosary (at least five decades a day)
Reading: John 19:25-27; Treatise on True Devotion, §§ 257-265
Then he said to the disciple: Behold your mother. And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. [...] To do everything through Mary, with Mary, in Mary and for Mary.Jn 19:27 (Vulgate); TD §§257-265
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Litany of Loreto (Litany of the Blessed Virgin), Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Mary (from The Secret of Mary), The Rosary (at least five decades a day)
Seek to know Jesus Christ, reading what the Treatise says about him and saying St Augustine's prayer; Montfort suggests repeating with the same saint: “Let me know you” (Noverim te). The Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus is added to the prayers of the earlier weeks. At the end come confession and Communion with the intention of giving oneself to Jesus Christ through the hands of Mary.
ReferenceTreatise on True Devotion, §§ 230-231
Reading: Treatise on True Devotion, §§ 61-62
Jesus Christ our Saviour, true God and true man, must be the final end of all our other devotions; otherwise they would be false and deceptive.TD §61 (French)
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, St Augustine's prayer (the one Montfort gives in the first part of the Treatise), O Jesus living in Mary (O Jesu vivens in Maria), St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Jesus (from The Secret of Mary)
Reading: Imitation of Christ, book II, ch. 7
Blessed is he who understands what it is to love Jesus and to despise himself for his sake. [...] Jesus wills to be loved alone, above all things.Imit. II,7,1
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, St Augustine's prayer (the one Montfort gives in the first part of the Treatise), O Jesus living in Mary (O Jesu vivens in Maria), St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Jesus (from The Secret of Mary)
Reading: Imitation of Christ, book II, ch. 8
When Jesus is present, all is good and nothing seems hard; but when Jesus is not present, everything is hard.Imit. II,8,1
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, St Augustine's prayer (the one Montfort gives in the first part of the Treatise), O Jesus living in Mary (O Jesu vivens in Maria), St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Jesus (from The Secret of Mary)
Reading: John 15:1-11
I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.Jn 15:5 (Vulgate)
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, St Augustine's prayer (the one Montfort gives in the first part of the Treatise), O Jesus living in Mary (O Jesu vivens in Maria), St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Jesus (from The Secret of Mary)
Reading: Imitation of Christ, book III, ch. 5
Love is a great thing, a truly great good: it alone makes light everything that is heavy, and bears evenly everything that is uneven.Imit. III,5,3
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, St Augustine's prayer (the one Montfort gives in the first part of the Treatise), O Jesus living in Mary (O Jesu vivens in Maria), St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Jesus (from The Secret of Mary)
Second Sunday of Advent.
Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
Have this mind in you which was in Christ Jesus: [...] he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, [...] becoming obedient unto death, even death on a cross.Phil 2:5.7-8 (Vulgate)
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, St Augustine's prayer (the one Montfort gives in the first part of the Treatise), O Jesus living in Mary (O Jesu vivens in Maria), St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Jesus (from The Secret of Mary)
Eve of the Immaculate Conception: a good day for confession, if you have not yet gone.
Reading: Treatise on True Devotion, §§ 243-248
[...] according to that beautiful prayer of so many great men: “O Jesus, living in Mary, come and live in us, in your spirit of holiness.” [...] Jesus is wholly in Mary, and Mary wholly in Jesus; [...] one could sooner separate light from the sun than Mary from Jesus.TD §§246-247 (French)
Prayers: Litany of the Holy Spirit, Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, St Augustine's prayer (the one Montfort gives in the first part of the Treatise), O Jesus living in Mary (O Jesu vivens in Maria), St Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Jesus (from The Secret of Mary)
Tuesday 8 December 2026
At the end of the three weeks they should go to confession and Communion with the intention of giving themselves to Jesus Christ, as slaves of love, through the hands of Mary; and after Communion they should say the formula of consecration, write it out and sign it on the same day.
Treatise on True Devotion, §§ 231-232
The prayer page gives the heart of the act in the original French, with translation. The full act Montfort wrote, addressed to Eternal and Incarnate Wisdom, is much longer and comes at the end of the Treatise.
For any other feast: start 33 days before it. The preparation ends on the eve, and the consecration is made on the feast itself.
| Feast | Start on | |
|---|---|---|
| Mary, Mother of God | Friday 1 January 2027 | Sunday 29 November 2026 |
| Annunciation of the Lord (25 March)In 2027, 25 March falls on Holy Thursday, so the solemnity is transferred to Monday 5 April. To consecrate on the liturgical day, start on 3 March; to keep 25 March itself (the date Montfort singles out, § 243), start on 20 February. | Thursday 25 March 2027 | Saturday 20 February 2027 |
| Annunciation, transferred (5 April 2027) | Monday 5 April 2027 | Wednesday 3 March 2027 |
| Our Lady of Fatima | Thursday 13 May 2027 | Saturday 10 April 2027 |
| Assumption of Our Lady | Sunday 15 August 2027 | Tuesday 13 July 2027 |
| Nativity of Our Lady | Wednesday 8 September 2027 | Friday 6 August 2027 |
| Immaculate Conception (if you miss 2026) | Wednesday 8 December 2027 | Friday 5 November 2027 |
Montfort's text does not fix a number: he asks for “at least twelve days” to empty oneself of the spirit of the world, then three weeks. Adding 12 + 3 × 7 gives the 33 days that most people use today; some follow a 30-day version.
Generally no: pick up where you left off and, if you can, add the missed reading to the day's. The prayers and readings are a means of preparation, not a condition for the consecration to count. What Montfort asks at the end is confession, Communion and the act made from the heart.
No. It is a private devotion: you say the act after Communion, alone or with a group. Montfort asks for confession and Communion at the end of the three weeks; many parishes also hold a group consecration.
Montfort distinguishes three kinds of slavery: by nature, by constraint and by choice (Treatise, § 70). The consecration is the third, the “slavery of love,” freely chosen: giving to Jesus, through Mary, all that one is and has, even the value of one's good works. For Montfort it is the perfect renewal of the promises of Baptism. He prefers to say “slave of Jesus in Mary” precisely to make clear that the end is Jesus Christ.