SECTION 2: Contemplate the Our Father as we take St. Maximilian Kolbe as our guide.
Action:
1. Resolve to pray a complete set of mysteries of the Rosary every day – as an act of love to God and in fulfillment of Mary’s requests to us.
Start by contemplating the Joyful mysteries of the Rosary – see day 8 for instructions/ guidance on how to fit this into your day.
2. Skim
through the accompanying pictures and the extraordinary wisdom of
St. Louis and St. Maximilian Kolbe, and read through as much below as possible.
There are two parts of St. Louis’ teaching just for today alone.
3.
Continue to choose to enter more deeply into the daily prayer program (below)
at least in this way:
Ponder
and pray the Our Father today and the accompanying Scripture texts as you
meditate and pray one decade of the Rosary – the 4th Luminous Mystery of the
Rosary- the Transfiguration – while praying for the grace to listen, to hear
and respond to God as Mary does.
Praying also for the grace to surrender whatever is keeping me from responding
fully – in and through and with Mary’s love and help.
Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
teaching entering into the Mystery of Transfiguration, I will not add more
teaching here, except to share a few words in summary.
Transfigured to help us stand fast in the midst of the seeming triumph of evil
and sin that would come upon them; and to prepare his disciples for his death which would come shortly after
this manifestation – this Theophany of His Heavenly Glory… demonstrating to
them that His upcoming death is even a part of God’s plan…
Heavenly plan… for He tells us unless a grain of wheat fall to the
ground and die, it remains just a grain of wheat. But, if it suffers to fall to
the ground and die it will yield thirty, or sixty or one hundred fold.
He shares that His real glory is in dying on the Cross to save us:
For it is written:“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world
foolish?
For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through
wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to
save those who have faith. For Jews demand signs and Greeks
look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a
stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but
to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the
wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than
human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” 1
Cor 1:18-25
the video we also look deeper into the lives of the other people present at the
Transfiguration… Moses and Elijah and Peter and James and John… briefly
contemplating each of their lives, their place in this mystery and in God’s
plan of salvation.
is more about the apparition of Mary that James had that I referenced in the
video: https://priestlyconsecration.com/2018/07/st-james-and-mary-does-mary-come-in.html
we hear of the amazing transfiguration of a man condemned to die on death
row.
don’t miss hearing it! It’s one of my absolute favorite stories of all time!
Daily Prayer Program for these 33 Days:
is important to make a commitment to strive to pray more deeply, more
intensely and with more of your heart during these days of preparation.
Here are some guidelines and suggestions for how to live these days.
Pray about how you can grow in each of these areas listed below and
while living out this prayer program it is especially important to
• To Jelena: “I’m going to reveal a spiritual secret to you:
if you want to be stronger than evil, make yourself a plan of personal
prayer. Take a certain time in the morning, read a text from Holy
Scripture, anchor the Divine word in your heart, and strive to live it
during the day, particularly during the moment of trials. In this way,
you will be stronger than evil.” (Our Lady of Medjugorje, April 19,
1984)
• St. Louis de Montfort – Mary will form the greatest saints
who ever lived – easiest shortest most sure way to sanctity
PART 2: “Only love creates”: Day 5 in the Preparation for Total Consecration According to St. Maximilian Kolbe
In turn, we love in and through the Immaculata –
(St. Maximilian’s favorite name for Mary –
the one she herself used at Lourdes, saying: “I am the Immaculate Conception”)
– because she, also, first loved us!
“Only at the time of God’s judgment in Heaven shall we become aware of the solicitude that our tender Heavenly Mother has had for each of us, ever since the beginning, of the solicitude that she has toward every soul, her child, to shape it according to the pattern of Jesus, her firstborn Son, the prototype of holiness, God and man” (KW1313).
Pope Benedict XVI said at the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, “Christ does not take anything and gives everything.” As already proclaimed by the Second Vatican Council: “Only Christ fully reveals man to himself. Only in the mystery of the incarnate Word does the mystery of man take on light” (GS22). And this is the motherhood of the Militia of the Immaculata, according to the desire of St. Maximilian, proclaiming Jesus Christ!
“That is the MI: to let her into all hearts, to bring her into being within all hearts, that by entering those hearts and taking most perfect possession of them, she may there give birth to the sweet Jesus, God, and there raise Him to perfect age. What a beautiful mission! … Is that not true? … The elevation of man to God Man, through Man God’s Mother” (KW508). http://missionimmaculata.com/images/Documents/preparation_for_consecration/Preparation_for_MI_Consecration_Part_5.pdf
This
beautiful mission that St. Maximilian longed to live out and share with
all souls developed a step further in 1930… when the City of the
Immaculate in Poland had been established for three years … St.
Maximilian and four other friars journeyed to Japan in order to found
another “City for Mary.”
The Garden of the Immaculate
A saint’s heart can never be constrained to geographical boundaries.
He is, by grace, always a missionary. This was especially true of St.
Maximilian Kolbe. He loved the Immaculate with the Heart of Jesus, and
he loved Jesus with the heart of Mary. It is manifested in a similar,
universal desire to win all souls to Jesus and the Immaculate.
With
the permission of his superiors, St. Maximilian, considering the need
for further expansion, started a mission in Japan with four other friars
in 1930. At Nagasaki, they established a new “City of the Immaculate”
(Mugenzai no Sono – literally “Garden of the Immaculate”), thereby
introducing his ideal, the Immaculate, to the Orient. In spite of
problems with local authorities, language, culture, and climate – one
month after their arrival, Father Maximilian was, nevertheless, able to
publish the first issue of “Seibo no Kishi,” the Japanese version of the
magazine “Knight of the Immaculate.”
He wrought numerous conversions among the Japanese; most of them
thanked him for his heroic and unconditional sacrifice to draw them to
the true Faith. But St. Maximilian recognized that this apostolic
success could only be attributed to a pure and undivided love for the
Immaculate. Where there is love and charity, there is God. (https://saintmaximiliankolbe.com/biography/)
WithTo announce Jesus Christ is a beautiful mission, because every person finds in Him the happiness and fullness of meaning for his or her life. We may share the spiritual motherhood of Mary, not only listening to the Word of God, but also by becoming co–workers in her maternal mission. In fact Maximilian writes that Mary does not want to carry out her mission alone, but that she wants to engage us too. Motherhood means care, love, attention to others. Maximilian is an effective witness to it. The proclamation of the Gospel is the greatest act of love; it is the first charity. The Gospel message transforms the proud-hearted and gives the humble the awareness of their dignity, as already announced by the Virgin of Nazareth in her Magnificat. The proclamation of the Gospel is also the first form of charity for every member of the Militia of the Immaculata.
Maximilian Kolbe, facing the reality of his time (atheism in particular) said that:
“These poor people, therefore, need light, a great deal of supernatural light, of supernatural energy. They are unhappy, discontented, because they take as their ultimate goal what is only a means and therefore, after reaching the happiness to which they aspire, cannot find what they were looking for. And they continue to search with a dejected heart, with bitterness in their souls. How can we fail to reach out to them? How can we not to help them placate their hearts, lift their mind above all that passes toward the one ultimate purpose, God? Love for one’s neighbor pushes those souls who have already found the true ideal of life not to forget their brothers and sisters around them. One of the many associations that practice this love of one’s neighbor is the Militia of the Immaculata” (KW1237).
Maximilian is also a witness of that love which is ready for martyrdom. Maximilian is the “man for man,” who lived with the conviction that “Only love creates” (cf. KW1205). This is the lesson he learned in his deep and intimate daily experience of communion with Christ through his consecration to the Immaculata.
Being at the school of Mary led Maximilian, and can lead each of us, to be “for others” in everyday life, in the family, at work, in our social relationships. The Marian manner of life has love as its center, its heart, its fundamental dimension. http://missionimmaculata.com/images/Documents/preparation_for_consecration/Preparation_for_MI_Consecration_Part_5.pdf
From the Writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe (KW 925)
“Mutual love does not consist in the fact that no one ever causes any sorrow in us, but that we strive not to cause grief to others and we become accustomed to forgiving whatever hurts us immediately and completely. In such mutual forbearance lies the essence of mutual love.
St. Thérèse writes: “I saw only too well how very imperfect was my love for my Sisters; I did not really love them as Jesus loves them. I see now that true charity consists in bearing with the faults of those about us, never being surprised at their weaknesses, but edified at the least sign of virtue. I see above all that charity must not remain hidden in the bottom of our hearts, for ‘no man lighteth a candle and putteth it in a hidden place, nor under a bushel; but upon a candle–stick, that they who come in may see the light’ [Lk 11:33]. It seems to me that this candle is the symbol of charity; it must shine out not only to cheer those we love best, but ALL those who are of the household.”
And later she writes: “I know, my Jesus, that You never command the impossible; You know better than I do how frail and imperfect I am. You know perfectly well that I can never hope to love my Sisters as You love them, unless You Yourself love them in me. It is only because You are willing to do this that You have given us a New Commandment, and I love it because it is my assurance that You desire to love in me all those whom You command me to love.” The deeper such love, the more effective will missionary activity be.”
The deeper our love, the more effective all our activity will be…
What a profound truth!
May we never forget this
nor neglect to ask for and be open to more and more love.
For this deeper love that is so effective is nothing less than Divine Love and forgiveness.
Remembering “To Forgive is Divine.”
Thus, may this preparation fill us with ever deeper love that forgives all those who have harmed us in order to help create a “Garden of the Immaculata” in our hearts and in our lives.
So that, in and through our Total Consecration to her,
Mary is able
to love others with her own Motherly heart through us!
– especially those who are the hardest ones for us to love.
Let us pray:
Come Holy
Spirit, living in Mary, help us to prepare well for our Total Consecration.
St. Maximilian,
Be with us and help us become the love of Mary and Jesus as we give
ourselves entirely and without reserve to both of them in complete
surrender.
So, that Mary, in turn, can draw us ever closer to Jesus
and make of us great saints!
Pray for us and help us live out the love you poured out to win all souls for Christ through Mary and the Miraculous Medal!
We ask this in Jesus’s Name, Amen.
Lastly, may
we never forget to recognize that the prayer Mary taught us and that wearing the miraculous medal are true gifts of heaven. May they help us
to be a garden of Mary’s and Jesus’s love where there is hatred,
unforgiveness and hurt, disbelief and discontent:
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you,
and for all those who do not have recourse to you, especially the
enemies of Holy Church and all those recommended to you.
Montfort’s Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary
Readings and Prayers for St. Louis-Marie de Montfort’s Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary
12 Days of Preparation renouncing the spirit of the world
WEEK
THEME FOR THE WEEK:
KNOWLEDGE OF SELF
Prayers,
examinations, reflection, acts of renouncement of our own will, of contrition for
our sins, of contempt of self, all performed at the feet of Mary, for it is
from her that we hope for light to know ourselves. It is near her, that we
shall be able to measure the abyss of our miseries without despairing.
of ourselves and contrition of our sins: and we should do this in a spirit of
piety. During this period, we shall consider not so much the opposition that
exists between the spirit of Jesus and ours, as the miserable and humiliating
state to which our sins have reduced us. Moreover, the True Devotion being an
easy, short, sure and perfect way to arrive at that union with Our Lord which
is Christlike perfection, we shall enter seriously upon this way, strongly
convinced of our misery and helplessness. But how attain this without a
knowledge of ourselves’?
12 of 33:
Meditate
on Imitation of Christ, by Thomas á Kempis: Book 1, Chapter 25., cont.
But if thou observest
any thing worthy of reproof, beware thou do not the same. And if at any time
thou hast done it, labor quickly to amend thyself. As thine eye observeth
others, so art thou by others noted again.
How sweet and
pleasant a thing it is, to see brethren fervent and devout, obedient and
well-disciplined! How sad and grievous a thing it is, to see them walk
disorderly, not applying themselves to that for which they are called! How
hurtful a thing it is, when they neglect the purpose of their calling and busy
themselves in things not committed to their care!
Be mindful of the
purpose thou hast embraced, and set always before thee the image of the
Crucified. Good cause thou hast to be ashamed in looking upon the life of Jesus
Christ, seeing thou hast not as yet endeavored to conform thyself more unto
Him, though thou hast been a long time in the way of God. A religious person
that exercizeth himself seriously and devoutly in the most holy life and
passion of our Lord, shall there abundantly find whatsoever is profitable and
necessary for him, neither shall he need to seek any better thing, besides
Jesus. O if Jesus crucified would come into our hearts, how quickly and fully
should we be. A man fervent and diligent is prepared for all things.
It is harder toil to
resist vices and passions, than to sweat in bodily labors. He that avoideth not
small faults, by little and little falleth into greater. Thou wilt always
rejoice in the evening, if thou spend the day profitably. Be watchful over
thyself, stir up thyself, warn thyself, and whatsoever becometh of others,
neglect not thyself. The more violent thou uses against thyself, the more shalt
thou progress. Amen.
Readings and Prayers for St. Louis-Marie de Montfort’s Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary
THEME FOR THE WEEK: KNOWLEDGE OF SELF
Prayers, examinations, reflection, acts of renouncement of our own will, of contrition for our sins, of contempt of
self, all performed at the feet of Mary, for it is from her that we hope for light to know ourselves. It is near her, that
we shall be able to measure the abyss of our miseries without despairing.
We should employ all our pious actions in asking for a knowledge of ourselves and contrition of our sins: and we
should do this in a spirit of piety. During this period, we shall consider not so much the opposition that exists
between the spirit of Jesus and ours, as the miserable and humiliating state to which our sins have reduced us.
Moreover, the True Devotion being an easy, short, sure and perfect way to arrive at that union with Our Lord
which is Christlike perfection, we shall enter seriously upon this way, strongly convinced of our misery and
helplessness. But how attain this without a knowledge of ourselves’?
Day 13 of 33:
Meditate on Scripture: Luke 11:1-10
Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said to them: When you pray, say: Father,
hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also
forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.
And he said to them: Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and shall say to him:
Friend, lend me three loaves, Because a friend of mine is come off his journey to me, and I have not what to set
before him. And he from within should answer, and say: Trouble me not, the door is now shut, and my children
are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. Yet if he shall continue knocking, I say to you, although he will not
rise and give him, because he is his friend; yet, because of his importunity, he will rise, and give him as many as
he needeth.
every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
Meditate
on Scripture: Luke 11:1-10
came to pass, that as he was in a certain place praying, when he ceased, one of
his disciples said to him: Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his
disciples. And he said to them: When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be thy
name. Thy kingdom come. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our
sins, for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not
into temptation.
And he
said to them: Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at
midnight, and shall say to him: Friend, lend me three loaves, Because a friend
of mine is come off his journey to me, and I have not what to set before him.
And he from within should answer, and say: Trouble me not, the door is now
shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. Yet if
he shall continue knocking, I say to you, although he will not rise and give
him, because he is his friend; yet, because of his importunity, he will rise,
and give him as many as he needeth.
say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock,
and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he
that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on
us. Lord, have mercy on us. Father all powerful, have mercy on us Jesus, Eternal Son of the Father, Redeemer of
the world, save us. Spirit of the Father
and the Son, boundless life of both, sanctify us. Holy Trinity, hear us Holy Ghost, Who proceedest from the Father
and the Son, enter our hearts. Holy
Ghost, Who art equal to the Father and the Son, enter our hearts. Promise of God the Father, have mercy on
us. Ray of heavenly light, have mercy on
us Author of all good, have mercy on
us Source of heavenly water, have mercy
on us Consuming fire, have mercy on us Ardent charity, have mercy on us Spiritual unction, have mercy on us Spirit of love and truth, have mercy on us Spirit of wisdom and understanding, have
mercy on us Spirit of counsel and
fortitude, have mercy on us Spirit of
knowledge and piety, have mercy on us
Spirit of the fear of the Lord, have mercy on us Spirit of grace and prayer, have mercy on
us Spirit of peace and meekness, have
mercy on us Spirit of modesty and
innocence, have mercy on us Holy Ghost,
the Comforter, have mercy on us Holy
Ghost, the Sanctifier, have mercy on us
Holy Ghost, Who governest the Church, have mercy on us Gift of God, the Most High, have mercy on
us Spirit Who fillest the universe, have
mercy on us Spirit of the adoption of
the children of God, have mercy on us
Holy Ghost, inspire us with horror of sin. Holy Ghost, come and renew the face of the
earth. Holy Ghost, shed Thy light in our
souls. Holy Ghost, engrave Thy law in
our hearts Holy Ghost, inflame us with
the flame of Thy love. Holy Ghost, open
to us the treasures of Thy graces Holy
Ghost, teach us to pray well. Holy
Ghost, enlighten us with Thy heavenly inspirations. Holy Ghost, lead us in the way of
salvation Holy Ghost, grant us the only
necessary knowledge. Holy Ghost, inspire
in us the practice of good. Holy Ghost,
grant us the merits of all virtues. Holy
Ghost, make us persevere in justice.
Holy Ghost, be Thou our everlasting reward. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of
the world, Send us Thy Holy Ghost.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, pour down into our souls the gifts of the Holy Ghost. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the
world, grant us the Spirit of wisdom and
piety. V. Come, Holy Ghost! Fill the
hearts of Thy faithful, R. And enkindle
in them the fire of Thy love. Let Us
Pray Grant, 0 merciful Father, that Thy
Divine Spirit may enlighten, inflame and
purify us, that He may penetrate us with His heavenly dew and make
us fruitful in good works, through Our
Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with
Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, liveth and reigneth forever
and ever. R. Amen.
God’s own Mother blest,
Ever sinless Virgin,
Gate of heavenly rest.
Which from Gabriel came,
Peace confirm within us,
Changing Eva’s name.
Light on blindness pour,
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore.
May the Word Divine,
Born for us thy Infant,
Hear our prayers through thine.
Mildest of the mild,
Freed from guilt, preserve us,
Pure and undefiled.
Keep our life all spotless,
Make our way secure,
Till we find in Jesus
Joy forevermore.
Through the highest heaven
To the Almighty Three,
Father, Son and Spirit,
One same glory be. Amen.
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary,
pray for us.
Holy Mother of God,
pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins,
pray for us.
Mother of Christ,
pray for us.
Mother of divine grace,
pray for us.
Mother most pure,
pray for us.
Mother most chaste,
pray for us.
Mother inviolate,
pray for us.
Mother undefiled,
pray for us.
Mother most amiable,
pray for us.
Mother most admirable,
pray for us.
Mother of good counsel,
pray for us.
Mother of our Creator,
pray for us.
Mother of our Savior,
pray for us.
Virgin most prudent,
pray for us.
Virgin most venerable,
pray for us.
Virgin most renowned,
pray for us.
Virgin most powerful,
pray for us.
Virgin most merciful,
pray for us.
Virgin most faithful,
pray for us.
Mirror of justice,
pray for us.
Seat of wisdom,
pray for us.
Cause of our joy,
pray for us.
Spiritual vessel,
pray for us.
Vessel of honor,
pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion,
pray for us.
Mystical rose,
pray for us.
Tower of David,
pray for us.
Tower of ivory,
pray for us.
House of gold,
pray for us.
Ark of the Covenant,
pray for us.
Gate of Heaven,
pray for us.
Morning star,
pray for us.
Health of the sick,
pray for us.
Refuge of sinners,
pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted,
pray for us.
Help of Christians,
pray for us.
Queen of angels,
pray for us.
Queen of patriarchs,
pray for us.
Queen of prophets,
pray for us.
Queen of apostles,
pray for us.
Queen of martyrs,
pray for us.
Queen of confessors,
pray for us.
Queen of virgins,
pray for us.
Queen of all saints,
pray for us.
Queen conceived without Original Sin,
pray for us.
Queen assumed into Heaven,
pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
pray for us.
Queen of peace,
pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the
world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the
world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the
world,
Have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of
Christ.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we Thy Servants may enjoy perpetual
health of mind and body and by
the glorious intercession of
the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enjoy
eternal happiness. Through Christ Our
Lord. Amen.
St. Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary paragraphs 90-104.
90. Now that we have established these five basic truths, it is all the more necessary to make the right
choice of the true devotion to our Blessed Lady, for now more than ever there are false devotions to her
which can easily be mistaken for true ones. The devil, like a counterfeiter and crafty, experienced deceiver,
has already misled and ruined many Christians by means of fraudulent devotions to our Lady. Day by day
he uses his diabolical experience to lead many more to their doom, fooling them, lulling them to sleep in sin
and assuring them that a few prayers, even badly said, and a few exterior practices, inspired by himself, are
authentic devotions. A counterfeiter usually makes coins only of gold and silver, rarely of other metals,
because these latter would not be worth the trouble. Similarly, the devil leaves other devotions alone and
counterfeits mostly those directed to Jesus and Mary, for example, devotion to the Holy Eucharist and to the
Blessed Virgin, because these are to other devotions what gold and silver are to other metals.
91. It is therefore very important, first, to recognise false devotions to our Blessed Lady so as to avoid
them, and to recognise true devotion in order to practise it. Second, among so many different forms of true
devotion to our Blessed Lady we should choose the one most perfect and the most pleasing to her, the one
that gives greater glory to God and is most sanctifying for us.
1. False devotion to our Lady
92. There are, I find, seven kinds of false devotion to Mary, namely, the devotion of (1) the critical, (2)
the scrupulous, (3) the superficial, (4) the presumptuous, (5) the inconstant, (6) the hypocritical, (7) the self-
interested.
Critical devotees
93. Critical devotees are for the most part proud scholars, people of independent and self-satisfied
minds, who deep down in their hearts have a vague sort of devotion to Mary. However, they criticise nearly
all those forms of devotion to her which simple and pious people use to honour their good Mother just
because such practices do not appeal to them. They question all miracles and stories which testify to the
mercy and power of the Blessed Virgin, even those recorded by trustworthy authors or taken from the
chronicles of religious orders. They cannot bear to see simple and humble people on their knees before an
altar or statue of our Lady, or at prayer before some outdoor shrine. They even accuse them of idolatry as if
they were adoring the wood or the stone. They say that as far as they are concerned they do not care for
such outward display of devotion and that they are not so gullible as to believe all the fairy tales and stories
told of our Blessed Lady. When you tell them how admirably the Fathers of the Church praised our Lady,
they reply that the Fathers were exaggerating as orators do, or that their words are misrepresented. These
false devotees, these proud worldly people are greatly to be feared. They do untold harm to devotion to our
Lady. While pretending to correct abuses, they succeed only too well in turning people away from this
devotion.
Scrupulous devotees
94. Scrupulous devotees are those who imagine they are slighting the Son by honouring the Mother.
They fear that by exalting Mary they are belittling Jesus. They cannot bear to see people giving to our Lady
the praises due to her and which the Fathers of the Church have lavished upon her. It annoys them to see
more people kneeling before Mary’s altar than before the Blessed Sacrament, as if these acts were at
variance with each other, or as if those who were praying to our Lady were not praying through her to Jesus.
They do not want us to speak too often of her or to pray so often to her.
Here are some of the things they say: “What is the good of all these rosaries, confraternities and
exterior devotions to our Lady? There is a great deal of ignorance in all this. It is making a mockery of
religion. Tell us about those who are devoted to Jesus (and they often pronounce his name without
uncovering their heads). We should go directly to Jesus, since he is our sole Mediator. We must preach
Jesus; that is sound devotion.” There is some truth in what they say, but the inference they draw to prevent
devotion to our Lady is very insidious. It is a subtle snare of the evil one under the pretext of promoting a
greater good. For we never give more honour to Jesus than when we honour his Mother, and we honour her
simply and solely to honour him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we
seek – Jesus, her Son.
women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.” Not that Mary is greater than Jesus, or even equal to
him – that would be an intolerable heresy. But in order to bless Jesus more perfectly we should first bless
Mary. Let us say with all those truly devoted to her, despite these false and scrupulous devotees: “O Mary,
blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.”
Superficial devotees
96. Superficial devotees are people whose entire devotion to our Lady consists in exterior practices.
Only the externals of devotion appeal to them because they have no interior spirit. They say many rosaries
with great haste and assist at many Masses distractedly. They take part in processions of our Lady without
inner fervour. They join her confraternities without reforming their lives or restraining their passions or
imitating Mary’s virtues. All that appeals to them is the emotional aspect of this devotion, but the substance
of it has no appeal at all. If they do not feel a warmth in their devotions, they think they are doing nothing;
they become upset, and give up everything, or else do things only when they feel like it. The world is full of
these shallow devotees, and there are none more critical of men of prayer who regard the interior devotion
as the essential aspect and strive to acquire it without, however, neglecting a reasonable external expression
which always accompanies true devotion.
Presumptuous devotees
97. Presumptuous devotees are sinners who give full rein to their passions or their love of the world,
and who, under the fair name of Christian and servant of our Lady, conceal pride, avarice, lust,
drunkenness, anger, swearing, slandering, injustice and other vices. They sleep peacefully in their wicked
habits, without making any great effort to correct them, believing that their devotion to our Lady gives them
this sort of liberty. They convince themselves that God will forgive them, that they will not die without
confession, that they will not be lost for all eternity. They take all this for granted because they say the
Rosary, fast on Saturdays, are enrolled in the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary or the Scapular, or a sodality
of our Lady, wear the medal or the little chain of our Lady.
When you tell them that such a devotion is only an illusion of the devil and a dangerous
presumption which may well ruin them, they refuse to believe you. God is good and merciful, they reply,
and he has not made us to damn us. No man is without sin. We will not die without confession, and a good
act of contrition at death is all that is needed. Moreover, they say they have devotion to our Lady; that they
wear the scapular; that they recite faithfully and humbly every day the seven Our Fathers and seven Hail
Marys in her honour; that sometimes they even say the Rosary and the Office of our Lady, as well as fasting
and performing other good works.
Blinding themselves still more, they quote stories they have heard or read – whether true or false
does not bother them – which relate how people who had died in mortal sin were brought back to life again
to go to confession, or how their soul was miraculously retained in their bodies until confession, because in
their lifetime they said a few prayers or performed a few pious acts, in honour of our Lady. Others are
supposed to have obtained from God at the moment of death, through the merciful intercession of the
Blessed Virgin, sorrow and pardon for their sins, and so were saved. Accordingly, these people expect the
same thing to happen to them.
98. Nothing in our Christian religion is so deserving of condemnation as this diabolical presumption.
How can we truthfully claim to love and honour the Blessed Virgin when by our sins we pitilessly wound, pierce, crucify and outrage her Son? If Mary made it a rule to save by her mercy this sort of person, she
would be condoning wickedness and helping to outrage and crucify her Son. Who would even dare to think
of such a thing?
Communion, is the greatest and the least pardonable sin, because devotion to our Lady is the holiest and
best after devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
I admit that to be truly devoted to our Lady, it is not absolutely necessary to be so holy as to avoid
all sin, although this is desirable. But at least it is necessary (note what I am going to say), (1) to be
genuinely determined to avoid at least all mortal sin, which outrages the Mother as well as the Son; (2) to
practise self-restraint in order to avoid sin; (3) to join her confraternities, say the Rosary and other prayers,
fast on Saturdays, and so on.
100. Such means are surprisingly effective in converting even the hardened sinner. Should you be such a
sinner, with one foot in the abyss, I advise you to do as I have said. But there is an essential condition. You
must perform these good works solely to obtain from God, through the intercession of our Lady, the grace
to regret your sins, obtain pardon for them and overcome your evil habits, and not to live complacently in
the state of sin, disregarding the warning voice of conscience, the example of our Lord and the saints, and
the teaching of the holy gospel.
Inconstant devotees
101. Inconstant devotees are those whose devotion to our Lady is practised in fits and starts. Sometimes
they are fervent and sometimes they are lukewarm. Sometimes they appear ready to do anything to please
our Lady, and then shortly afterwards they have completely changed. They start by embracing every
devotion to our Lady. They join her confraternities, but they do not faithfully observe the rules. They are as
changeable as the moon, and like the moon Mary puts them under her feet. Because of their fickleness they
are unworthy to be included among the servants of the Virgin most faithful, because faithfulness and
constancy are the hallmarks of Mary’s servants. It is better not to burden ourselves with a multitude of
prayers and pious practices but rather adopt only a few and perform them with love and perseverance in
spite of opposition from the devil the world and the flesh.
Hypocritical devotees
102. There is another category of false devotees of our Lady, – hypocritical ones. These hide their sins
and evil habits under the mantle of the Blessed Virgin so as to appear to their fellow-men different from
what they are.
Self-interested devotees
103. Then there are the self-interested devotees who turn to her only to win a court-case, to escape some
danger, to be cured of some ailment, or have some similar need satisfied. Except when in need they never
think of her. Such people are acceptable neither to God nor to his Mother.
104. We must, then, carefully avoid joining the critical devotees, who believe nothing and find fault with
everything; the scrupulous ones who, out of respect for our Lord, are afraid of having too much devotion to
his Mother; the exterior devotees whose devotion consists entirely in outward practices; the presumptuous
devotees who under cover of a fictitious devotion to our Lady wallow in their sins; the inconstant devotees
who, being unstable, change their devotional practices or abandon them altogether at the slightest
temptation; the hypocritical ones who join confraternities and wear emblems of our Lady only to be thought
of as good people; finally, the self-interested devotees who pray to our Lady only to be rid of bodily ills or
to obtain material benefits.
Read:
St. Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary paragraphs 105-114.
After
having explained and condemned false devotions to the Blessed Virgin we shall
now briefly describe what true devotion is. It is interior, trustful, holy,
constant and disinterested.
106.
First,
true devotion to our Lady is interior, that is, it comes from within the mind
and the heart and follows from the esteem in which we hold her, the high regard
we have for her greatness, and the love we bear her.
107.
Second,
it is trustful, that is to say, it fills us with confidence in the Blessed
Virgin, the confidence that a child has for its loving Mother. It prompts us to
go to her in every need of body and soul with great simplicity, trust and
affection. We implore our Mother’s help always, everywhere, and for everything.
We pray to her to be enlightened in our doubts, to be put back on the right
path when we go astray, to be protected when we are tempted, to be strengthened
when we are weakening, to be lifted up when we fall into sin, to be encouraged
when we are losing heart, to be rid of our scruples, to be consoled in the
trials, crosses and disappointments of life. Finally, in all our afflictions of
body and soul, we naturally turn to Mary for help, with never a fear of
importuning her or displeasing our Lord.
108.
Third,
true devotion to our Lady is holy, that is, it leads us to avoid sin and to
imitate the virtues of Mary. Her ten principal virtues are: deep humility,
lively faith, blind obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial,
surpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic kindness, and heavenly
wisdom.
109.
Fourth,
true devotion to our Lady is constant. It strengthens us in our desire to do
good and prevents us from giving up our devotional practices too easily. It
gives us the courage to oppose the fashions and maxims of the world, the
vexations and unruly inclinations of the flesh and the temptations of the
devil. Thus a person truly devoted to our Blessed Lady is not changeable,
fretful, scrupulous or timid. We do not say however that such a person never
sins or that his sensible feelings of devotion never change. When he has
fallen, he stretches out his hand to his Blessed Mother and rises again. If he
loses all taste and feeling for devotion, he is not at all upset because a good
and faithful servant of Mary is guided in his life by faith in Jesus and Mary,
and not by feelings.
110.
Fifth,
true devotion to Mary is disinterested. It inspires us to seek God alone in his
Blessed Mother and not ourselves. The true subject of Mary does not serve his
illustrious Queen for selfish gain. He does not serve her for temporal or
eternal well-being but simply and solely because she has the right to be served
and God alone in her. He loves her not so much because she is good to him or
because he expects something from her, but simply because she is lovable. That
is why he loves and serves her just as faithfully in weariness and dryness of
soul as in sweet and sensible fervour. He loves her as much on Calvary as at
Cana. How pleasing and precious in the sight of God and his holy Mother must these
servants of Mary be, who serve her without any self-seeking. How rare they are
nowadays! It is to increase their number that I have taken up my pen to write
down what I have been teaching with success both publicly and in private in my
missions for many years.
111.
I
have already said many things about the Blessed Virgin and, as I am trying to
fashion a true servant of Mary and a true disciple of Jesus, I have still a
great deal to say, although through ignorance, inability, and lack of time, I
shall leave infinitely more unsaid.
112.
But
my labour will be well rewarded if this little book falls into the hands of a
noble soul, a child of God and of Mary, born not of blood nor the will of the
flesh nor of the will of man. My time will be well spent if, by the grace of
the Holy Spirit, after having read this book he is convinced of the supreme
value of the solid devotion to Mary I am about to describe. If I thought that
my guilty blood could help the reader to accept in his heart the truths that I
set down in honour of my dear Mother and Queen, I, her most unworthy child and
slave, would use it instead of ink to write these words. I would hope to find
faithful souls who, by their perseverance in the devotion I teach, will repay
her for the loss she has suffered through my ingratitude and infidelity.
113.
I
feel more than ever inspired to believe and expect the complete fulfilment of
the desire that is deeply engraved on my heart and what I have prayed to God
for over many years, namely, that in the near or distant future the Blessed
Virgin will have more children, servants and slaves of love than ever before,
and that through them Jesus, my dear Lord, will reign more than ever in the
hearts of men.
I
clearly foresee that raging beasts will come in fury to tear to pieces with
their diabolical teeth this little book and the one the Holy Spirit made use of
to write it, or they will cause it at least to lie hidden in the darkness and
silence of a chest and so prevent it from seeing the light of day. They will
even attack and persecute those who read it and put into practice what it
contains. But no matter! So much the better! It even gives me encouragement to
hope for great success at the prospect of a mighty legion of brave and valiant
soldiers of Jesus and Mary, both men and women, who will fight the devil, the
world, and corrupt nature in the perilous times that are sure to come.
him accept this teaching who can.”
taste of Fr. Gaitley’s 33 Days to
Morning Glory if you have time:
living in Mary. Unite my will to the will of the Immaculata, which is one
with your will.”
CLICK
HERE for Podcast of day 12
living in Mary. Prepare me to be a fit instrument in the hands of the
Immaculata”.
CLICK
HERE for podcast of Day 13
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