True Devotion ring honors, reflects Marian consecration, and a way to share faith

By Christina Galeone | CFP Correspondent

More than 25 years ago, when the Sisters of the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Harvard wondered what item could best represent someone’s true devotion to the Blessed Mother, they recognized that a ring was the answer. Keeping in mind the loyalty and devotion expressed by wedding rings, class rings and Claddagh rings, the nuns chose to design a True Devotion ring.    
Along with the beauty of that ring, the beauty of the heartfelt commitment it symbolizes remains untarnished. Its circular nature has also been reflected in the lives of its designers.
When Sister Marie-Celine, MICM, directress of St. Benedict Center’s Morning Star Camp, was in junior high school, she consecrated herself to Jesus through Mary. She wore the True Devotion ring she was given throughout her teens.
“Now, I wear it, as do the other Sisters of my community, as a profession ring – wedding ring – which we received after making our vows as brides of Christ,” Sister Marie-Celine said. “Every time I look at it, it reminds me that I belong to Our Lady, and that since I have given all to Jesus through her, I know that she will take care of all my needs, both physical and spiritual, and always give her protection and guidance. Our Lady is never outdone in generosity.”
The nuns still sell the sterling silver ring at truedevotionals.com and at their True Devotionals gift shop on the grounds of the St. Benedict Center. Located at 271 Still River Road in Harvard, the gift shop supports the monastery, which provides faith-nurturing ministries.  While everything the traditional Catholic shop sells is intended to bring people closer to God, the ring is particularly special to the Sisters of the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of the St. Benedict Center since it represents souls that have completed Marian consecration – an act of profound commitment based on St. Louis de Montfort’s treatise “True Devotion to Mary” that the nuns fully embrace.
Not surprisingly, the ring was thoughtfully designed. It’s sterling silver to represent both Blessed Mother’s purity and the poverty she practiced. The ring’s centerpiece is a majestic letter “M” entwined in the Cross, which represents consecration to Jesus through Mary. The three links on either side of the centerpiece represent both the Holy Trinity and holy chains of love. 
Although it was created for men and women who have been consecrated to Jesus through Mary, the ring may be worn by people who aren’t consecrated. Sister Marie-Celine said that she believes it’s a good way to share the faith.
“‘Mary,’ says St. Louis, ‘must shine forth more than ever in mercy, power and grace,’ and I feel that this ring will help Mary shine and bring other people to Mary when they see it, or ask about it,” she explained. She later added, “I know a young man who made his consecration together with his fiancée, and since it was such a special event for them, he got his True Devotion ring gold-plated and used it as his wedding ring.”
Additionally, the ring could be a treasured Christmas gift. It sells for $59.95. Sister Marie-Celine suggested it could also be a way to introduce people to Marian consecration and its spiritual benefits. But it goes beyond that.
“The ring itself is a beautiful meditation at any time of the year, but thinking about it during the Christmas season, it really encapsulates the intimacy of the Virgin Mother and Divine Babe,” she shared. “St. Louis de Montfort … says, ‘It was through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus came into the world, and it is also through her that he must reign in the world.’
“And what better way to remind ourselves of this wonderful and awe-filled mystery of Christmas, the Word becoming flesh, than with something very visible.”
A “sign of hope and a unifying factor as devotees of Our Lady” is what Sister Marie-Celine hopes the untarnished circle of love and loyalty will be for everyone who wears it.
“It’s unifying because,  in its uniqueness, it’s something that people can recognize,” she said. “For instance, we’ve met people in the airport all the way across the country who have come up to us and said, ‘Hey Sisters, I’m consecrated, too! I have the ring!’ It’s the ring that shows our devotion, and people will see that!”

– The True Devotionals gift shop’s hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Friday and noon to 3 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. The shop’s hours vary on Monday and Saturday.