Fall-Winter 2013-2014

I magine the potential for evangeli- zation and renewal of the culture if 1.5 million saints were living in our midst here in the United States — including one million saints among Spanish-speaking Catholics, many of whom currently lack the resources they need to grow in the faith. Father Michael Gaitley, MIC, director of the Association of Marian Helpers, aims to make this inspiring vision a reality through his latest initiative for the New Evangelization: making the contents of his bestselling book 33 Days to Morning Glory more accessible, particularly to Spanish speakers. The book is a do-it-yourself 33-day retreat in preparation for total consecration to Jesus through Mary. And as Fr. Michael explains, “Total consecration is, according to the pioneer of consecration St. Louis de Montfort, the quickest, easiest, surest, and most perfect way to become a saint.” Part of the Hearts Afire Parish-based Programs from the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception (HAPP R ), 33-Days to Morning Glory is used by parishes as a small-group retreat. Plans for the booklet Funded by an anonymous benefac- tor, the initiative calls for publishing 3 3 Days to Morning Glory as a booklet in the same size and format as Marian Helper magazine, with print runs of a million copies in Spanish and half a million in English, and offering it for free. Father Michael said, “English copies will be given to youth groups, young adults, college students, the poor, prisoners — those who normally might not be able to afford it.” The goal is to make the booklets in Spanish available for order before Nov. 9, so people can time their 33-day preparation to conclude with total consecration to Mary on Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In fact, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe adorns the front cover of the Spanish edition of the booklet. “The majority of the Spanish-speaking population in the United States finds its ori- gins in Mexico, which has the famous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It’s big in Mexican culture,” Fr. Michael said of the decisions regarding cover art and recommending Marian consecration on the feast day. Serving Spanish speakers “Spanish speakers in the United States are a group that is most in need. There are just not many resources available to them,” Fr. Michael said, explaining why so many of the booklets are being printed in Spanish. “It’s difficult for a lot of major [U.S.] Catholic publishers to do translations and marketing P otential for 1.5 million saints Initiative aims to bring many Spanish speakers to Jesus through Mary. by Chris Sparks M arian H elper • F all /W inter 2013 •  www.marian.org 33 This initiative calls for publishing 33 Days to Morning Glory as a booklet in the same size and format as Marian Helper magazine, with print runs of a million copies in Spanish and half a million in English, and offering it for free. F elix C arroll