A Human and Divine Experience, January/February 1998
by Michael Einarsen
I have always had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother. When
I was in my early-thirties, I came to realize that the only thing
that really matters in life is how we live as Christians, and
then to share the teachings of Jesus. I noticed that evangelization
was something people spoke about but generally did not know how
to put it into practice. I also learned that many people spoke
about Mary but didn't really know who she is.
In 1990, I began a Catholic apostolate
called the Angelus Center to respond to these issues. The Angelus
Center is located at my company's headquarters, Second City Systems
and CITIFAX Corporation, in Lake Forest, Illinois. The name Angelus
was chosen because it is so central to our mission. It is the
prayer and the story of the Incarnation, the real beginning of
the Christian faith. The name means a great deal to me as it
shows how central to everything Jesus' Mother is.
Our primary mission is to practice various ways to evangelize.
I and John Maurath, a friend, business associate and colleague,
have developed programs to distribute quality books and videos
on matters of faith to secular outlets. We also practice evangelization
on the internet and try to heighten the awareness of the importance
of religious education. It has always been comfortable for me
to tell someone about the apparitions at Lourdes, Fatima or Medjugorje.
Often I will follow conversation with a copy of Song of Bernadette
or a documentary on Medjugorje, giving the person a chance to
spend some quality time with the Immaculata. Videos on Guadalupe,
Kibeho and Akita are of equal importance. We try to focus our
evangelization efforts in a way that a person can really relate
to. For example, a person who is Japanese we will focus more
on Akita and so on. We have recently found the internet to be
a tremendous forum in seeking out people who are Fundamentalists,
atheists, Muslims or those who are unchurched. Consecration means
we have a special calling for creativity and stamina in sharing
with souls who Jesus and his mother Mary are. It is a reaffirmation
of Catholic religious education and the Gospel message.
Understanding consecration took
some time, in my case. Even though I was raised Catholic, when
I returned to the Faith after having left for about ten years,
I was plagued with doubts about some of the Church's dogmas.
When several of my friends made their consecrations I watched
but was not ready to do so. Only after years of praying, studying
and crisis did I finally come to understand. At the time of my
consecration, my life was in a state of turmoil. My wife, Marianne,
told me she wanted a divorce. Marriage counseling was not working.
We had gone so far as to tell our four young children that I
was going to be leaving. The situation seemed hopeless. I went
to Marytown and prayed while my wife went to meet her divorce
lawyer. I then read Fr. Anselm Romb's book, Total Consecration
to Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, and made my formal consecration.
I prayed to the Madonna of Cana to intercede and to protect our
marriage.
As the weeks progressed the situation in our home life became
less toxic. As the months progressed Marianne and I became closer
and closer. Eventually talk of separation and divorce stopped.
The consecration I made to the Immaculata was done at a pivotal
moment in my life. Since then my wife has begun working with
young adults preparing them for their Confirmation. This is my
miracle story. I still can't believe it.
For me, to live the consecration
to the Blessed Mother means being prepared to duplicate Mary's
decision at the Annunciation: to be a bearer of Christ. It means
to be ready for trouble, especially in an age when some members
of the Church misunderstand so much about Marian devotion. It
means to have apostolic zeal and to not be afraid to stand at
the foot of the cross with the Blessed Mother when called to
do so.
I once heard Marytown's Brother Camillus Dulude say, "I
am aware of the sin in my life." This testimony has stayed
with me and has helped me to understand that the life of consecration
provides a special awareness of my own wrongdoings. The life
of faith begins with me, first, and then the mission field extends
to family, neighbors, strangers, enemies. No matter what happens
to me, I feel I am protected in a special way, particularly in
times of doubt and confusion. This is a peaceful, steady and
ever-present experience. It is a divine and human experience.
It is an experience of love.
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of the Immaculata. All rights reserved.
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