(True Devotion, 233).
DAY 21 of 33:
SECTION 3: Entering
into the Mystery of Jesus Being Crowned with Thorns
Contemplating the Sorrowful Mysteries with Mary St. Mother Teresa and St. Louis de Montfort as our guides.
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. So, therefore,
PRAY the Joyful mysteries of the Rosary today and every day – 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 de Montfort and St. Mother Teresa and read through as much (below) as possible.
3.
Continue to choose to enter more deeply into the daily prayer program (below)
at least in this way:
Ponder
and pray The Nicene Creed today and the accompanying Scripture texts as you
meditate and PRAY THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES AND ALL THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY – while praying for the grace to
listen, to hear and respond to God as Mary does.
And to pray for the grace to surrender whatever is keeping us from responding
fully to God – in and through and with Mary’s love and help.
Begin to take steps to make the Mass the center of your life.
Father Gaitley shares Mother Teresa’s desire to console our Lord today
in his teachings. She counseled her daughters to “Be the one” who
responds to console Jesus, for He laments in Scripture: “My heart had
expected reproach and misery. And I looked for one that would grieve
together with me, and there was none: and I sought one that would
console me, and I found none.” Ps 68:21
Contemplating Jesus being
crowned with thorns with the compassionate heart and mind and will of
Mary, who alone loves God perfectly, is the perfect way for us to
console Him – to comfort and encourage Him.
Dear Jesus, You Who are
the God of Gods, Light from Light, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, of all
things visible and invisible – You allowed Yourself to be derided by
Your own creatures in their most prideful and vicious and hateful
contempt of You.
You humbled Yourself in the Most unimaginable way to free us from the sin of pride.
May we seek to console You, then, in the most humble of ways – just as You gave us Yourself as an example …
Dear
Jesus, there was no more humble way than to come through a creature
(Mary) to save all creatures or else You would have taken it…
therefore,
there is no more humble way for us to take, as well, than to give
ourselves completely to Mary as a means of loving You, O Lord and God,
alone.
For by doing so, we will be loving You with her heart and mind
and will – for we are so changeable and so distracted.. and so full of
pride and the vanities of the world… we are so fickle and so often
seek the praise of men… or our own satisfaction in fleeting things
such as power or prestige or honor…
Mary alone loves and honors You fully without stain of sin…
When we unite ourselves, then, to her, we are able to love You, the Most Blessed Trinity in the most perfect way.
It
doesn’t seem like this should be the way of perfection – of ultimate
holiness or union with You — it is too humble and simple… yet, You
always work and act in humility. In the most hidden and derided ways…
You show forth Your Greatness and power.
So therefore, in perfect
humility – and thus, perfect joy – we abandon ourselves to Mary out of
love for You… knowing that no matter the trials and humiliations – You
are with us always – You are our Light shining in the darkness and Our
Hope of eternal glory and Joy beyond compare. For You wouldn’t humble
Yourself so completely – allowing Yourself to be abused and subjected to
the most terrible torments – to leave us now alone.
You still seek to save us by any and all means possible, so we can be confident and rejoice!
For
You, O Lord of all, are close at Hand! You, Whom we contemplate in the
Creed below are Our Savior, Emmanuel, God with us unto the end of the
ages!
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
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: Day 21 Readings and Prayers for St. Louis de Montfort’s 33 Day of Consecration to Jesus through Mary – An Online Guide
Readings and Prayers for St. Louis-Marie de Montfort’s Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary
SECOND WEEK
THEME FOR THE WEEK: KNOWLEDGE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN
of love, pious affection for the Blessed Virgin, imitation of her
virtues, especially her profound humility, her lively faith, her blind
obedience, her continual mental prayer, her mortification in all things,
her surpassing purity, her ardent charity, her heroic patience, her
angelic sweetness, and her divine wisdom: “there being,” as St. Louis De
Montfort says, “the ten principal virtues of the Blessed Virgin.”
We
must unite ourselves to Jesus through Mary – this is the characteristic
of our devotion; therefore, Saint Louis De Montfort asks that we employ
ourselves in acquiring a knowledge of the Blessed Virgin.
Mary
is our sovereign and our mediatrix, our Mother and our Mistress. Let us
then endeavor to know the effects of this royalty, of this mediation,
and of this maternity, as well as the grandeurs and prerogatives which
are the foundation or consequences thereof. Our Mother is also a perfect
mold wherein we are to be molded in order to make her intentions and
dispositions ours. This we cannot achieve without studying the interior
life of Mary; namely, her virtues, her sentiments, her actions, her
participation in the mysteries of Christ and her union with Him.
Meditation From Secret of Mary: Nos. 23-24
True Devotion to Our Blessed Lady
be made Man and to impart His graces to us. This means is a true devotion to our Blessed Lady. There are
several true devotions to our Lady: here I do not speak of those which are false. The first consists in fulfilling our
Christian duties, avoiding mortal sin, acting more out of love than with fear, praying to our Lady now and then,
honoring her as the Mother of God, yet without having any special devotion to her. The second consists in entertaining for our Lady more perfect feelings of esteem and love, of confidence and veneration. It leads us to
join the Confraternities of the Holy Rosary and of the Scapular, to recite the five or the fifteen decades of the Holy
Rosary, to honor Mary’s images and altars, to publish her praises and to enroll ourselves in her modalities. This
devotion is good, holy and praiseworthy if we keep ourselves free from sin. But it is not so perfect as the next, nor
so efficient in severing our soul from creatures, in detaching ourselves in order to be united with Jesus Christ. The
third devotion to our Lady, known and practiced by very few persons, is this I am about to disclose to you,
predestinate soul. It consists in giving one’s self entirely and as a slave to Mary, and to Jesus through Mary, and
after that, to do all that we do, through Mary, with Mary in Mary and for Mary. We should choose a special feast
day on which we give, consecrate and sacrifice to Mary voluntarily lovingly and without constraint, entirely and
without reserve: our body and soul, our exterior property such as house, family and income, and also our interior
and spiritual possessions: namely, our merits, graces, virtues, and satisfactions.
Lord, 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, O 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.
Lord, 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.
Mary, beloved Daughter of the Eternal Father! Hail Mary, admirable
Mother of the Son! Hail Mary, faithful spouse of the Holy Ghost! Hail
Mary, my dear Mother, my loving Mistress, my powerful sovereign! Hail my
joy, my glory, my heart and my soul! Thou art all mine by mercy, and I
am all thine by justice. But I am not yet sufficiently thine. I now give
myself wholly to thee without keeping anything back for myself or
others. If thou still seest in me anything which does not belong to
thee, I beseech thee to take it and to make thyself the absolute
Mistress of all that is mine. Destroy in me all that may be displeasing
to God, root it up and bring it to nought; place and cultivate in me
everything that is pleasing to thee.
May the light of thy faith dispel the darkness of my mind; may thy profound humility take the place of my pride; may thy sublime contemplation check the distractions of my wandering imagination; may thy continuous sight of God fill my memory with
His presence; may the burning love of thy heart inflame the
lukewarmness of mine; may thy virtues take the place of my sins; may thy
merits be my only adornment in the sight of God and make up for all that is wanting in me. Finally, dearly beloved Mother, grant, if it be possible, that I may have no other spirit but thine to know Jesus and His divine will; that I may have no other soul but thine to praise and glorify the Lord; that I may have no other heart but thine to love God with
a love as pure and ardent as thine I do not ask thee for visions,
revelations, sensible devotion or spiritual pleasures. It is thy privilege to see God clearly; it is thy privilege to enjoy heavenly bliss; it is thy privilege to triumph gloriously in Heaven at the right hand of thy Son and to hold absolute sway over angels, men and demons; it is thy privilege to dispose of all the gifts of God, just as thou willest.
Such is, O heavenly Mary, the “best part,” which the Lord has
given thee and which shall never be taken away from thee–and this
thought fills my heart with joy. As for my part here below, I wish for
no other than that which was thine: to believe sincerely without
spiritual pleasures; to suffer joyfully without human consolation; to
die continually to myself without respite; and to work zealously and
unselfishly for thee until death as the humblest of thy servants. The
only grace I beg thee to obtain for me is that every day and every moment of my life I
may say: Amen, So be it–to all that thou didst do while on earth;
Amen, so be it–to all that thou art now doing in Heaven; Amen, so be
it–to all that thou art doing in my soul, so that thou alone mayest
fully glorify Jesus in me for time and eternity. Amen.
Read:
St. Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary paragraphs 171-182
171. It is of great benefit to our neighbour, for by it we show love for our neighbour in an outstanding
way since we give him through Mary’s hands all that we prize most highly – that is, the satisfactory and
prayer value of all our good works, down to the least good thought and the least little suffering. We give our
consent that all we have already acquired or will acquire until death should be used in accordance with our
Lady’s will for the conversion of sinners or the deliverance of souls from Purgatory.
Is this not perfect love of our neighbour? Is this not being a true disciple of our Lord, one who
should always be recognised by his love? Is this not the way to convert sinners without any danger of
vainglory, and deliver souls from Purgatory by doing hardly anything more than what we are obliged to do
by our state of life?
172. To appreciate the excellence of this motive we must understand what a wonderful thing it is to
convert a sinner or to deliver a soul from Purgatory. It is an infinite good, greater than the creation of
heaven and earth, since it gives a soul the possession of God. If by this devotion we secured the release of
only one soul from Purgatory or converted only one sinner in our whole lifetime, would that not be enough to
induce any person who really loves his neighbour to practise this devotion?
It must be noted that our good works, passing through Mary’s hands, are progressively purified.
Consequently, their merit and their satisfactory and prayer value are also increased. That is why they
become much more effective in relieving the souls in Purgatory and in converting sinners than if they did
not pass through the virginal and liberal hands of Mary. Stripped of self-will and clothed with disinterested
love, the little that we give to the Blessed Virgin is truly powerful enough to appease the anger of God and
draw down his mercy. It may well be that at the hour of death a person who has been faithful to this
devotion will find that he has freed many souls from Purgatory and converted many sinners, even though he
performed only the ordinary actions of his state of life. Great will be his joy at the judgement. Great will be
his glory throughout eternity.
8. It is a wonderful means of perseverance
173. Finally, what draws us in a sense more compellingly to take up this devotion to the most Blessed
Virgin is the fact that it is a wonderful means of persevering in the practice of virtue and of remaining
steadfast.
Why is it that most conversions of sinners are not lasting? Why do they relapse so easily into sin?
Why is it that most of the faithful, instead of making progress in one virtue after another and so acquiring
new graces, often lose the little grace and virtue they have? This misfortune arises, as I have already shown,
from the fact that man, so prone to evil, so weak and changeable, trusts himself too much, relies on his own
strength, and wrongly presumes he is able to safeguard his precious graces, virtues and merits.
By this devotion we entrust all we possess to Mary, the faithful Virgin. We choose her as the
guardian of all our possessions in the natural and supernatural sphere. We trust her because she is faithful, we
rely on her strength, we count on her mercy and charity to preserve and
increase our virtues and merits
in spite of the efforts of the devil, the world, and the flesh to rob us
of them. We say to her as a good child
would say to its mother or a faithful servant to the mistress of the
house, “My dear Mother and Mistress, I realize that up to now I have
received from God through your intercession more graces than I deserve.
But
bitter experience has taught me that I carry these riches in a very
fragile vessel and that I am too weak and
sinful to guard them by myself. Please accept in trust everything I
possess, and in your faithfulness and
power keep it for me. If you watch over me, I shall lose nothing. If you
support me, I shall not fail. If you
protect me, I shall be safe from my enemies.”
Mary supports you, you will not fail. With her as your protector, you will have nothing to fear. With her as
your guide, you will not grow weary. When you win her favour, you will reach the port of heaven.” St.
Bonaventure seems to say the same thing in even more explicit terms, “The Blessed Virgin,” he says, “not
only preserves the fullness enjoyed by the saints, but she maintains the saints in their fullness so that it does
not diminish. She prevents their virtues from fading away, their merits from being wasted and their graces
from being lost. She prevents the devils from doing them harm and she so influences them that her divine
Son has no need to punish them when they sin.”
175. Mary is the Virgin most faithful who by her fidelity to God makes good the losses caused by Eve’s
unfaithfulness. She obtains fidelity to God and final perseverance for those who commit themselves to her.
For this reason St. John Damascene compared her to a firm anchor which holds them fast and saves them
from shipwreck in the raging seas of the world where so many people perish through lack of such a firm
anchor. “We fasten souls,” he said, “to Mary, our hope, as to a firm anchor.” It was to Mary that the saints
who attained salvation most firmly anchored themselves as did others who wanted to ensure their
perseverance in holiness.
Blessed, indeed, are those Christians who bind themselves faithfully and completely to her as to a
secure anchor! The violent storms of the world will not make them flounder or carry away their heavenly
riches. Blessed are those who enter into her as into another Noah’s ark! The flood waters of sin which engulf
so many will not harm them because, as the Church makes Mary say in the words of divine Wisdom, “Those
who work with my help – for their salvation – shall not sin.” Blessed are the unfaithful children of unhappy
Eve who commit themselves to Mary, the ever-faithful Virgin and Mother who never wavers in her fidelity
and never goes back on her trust. She always loves those who love her, not only with deep affection, but
with a love that is active and generous. By an abundant outpouring of grace she keeps them from relaxing
their effort in the practice of virtue or falling by the wayside through loss of divine grace.
176. Moved by pure love, this good Mother always accepts whatever is given her in trust, and, once she
accepts something, she binds herself in justice by a contract of trusteeship to keep it safe. Is not someone to
whom I entrust the sum of a thousand francs obliged to keep it safe for me so that if it were lost through his
negligence he would be responsible for it in strict justice? But nothing we entrust to the faithful Virgin will
ever be lost through her negligence. Heaven and earth would pass away sooner than Mary would neglect or
betray those who trusted in her.
177. Poor children of Mary, you are extremely weak and changeable. Your human nature is deeply
impaired. It is sadly true that you have been fashioned from the same corrupted nature as the other children
of Adam and Eve. But do not let that discourage you. Rejoice and be glad! Here is a secret which I am
revealing to you, a secret unknown to most Christians, even the most devout.
Do not leave your gold and silver in your own safes which have already been broken into and rifled
many times by the evil one. They are too small, too flimsy and too old to contain such great and priceless
possessions. Do not put pure and clear water from the spring into vessels fouled and infected by sin. Even if
sin is no longer there, its odour persists and the water would be contaminated. You do not put choice wine
into old casks that have contained sour wine. You would spoil the good wine and run the risk of losing it.
178. Chosen souls, although you may already understand me, I shall express myself still more clearly.
Do not commit the gold of your charity, the silver of your purity to a threadbare sack or a battered old chest,
or the waters of heavenly grace or the wines of your merits and virtues to a tainted and fetid cask, such as you are. Otherwise you will be robbed by thieving devils who are on the look-out day and night waiting for
a favourable opportunity to plunder. If you do so all those pure gifts from God will be spoiled by the
unwholesome presence of self-love, inordinate self-reliance, and self-will.
She is a spiritual vessel, a vessel of honour, a singular vessel of devotion. Ever since God personally hid
himself with all his perfections in this vessel, it has become completely spiritual, and the spiritual abode of
all spiritual souls. It has become honourable and has been the throne of honour for the greatest saints in
heaven. It has become outstanding in devotion and the home of those renowned for gentleness, grace and
virtue. Moreover, it has become as rich as a house of gold, as strong as a tower of David and as pure as a
tower of ivory.
179. Blessed is the man who has given everything to Mary, who at all times and in all things trusts in
her, and loses himself in her. He belongs to Mary and Mary belongs to him. With David he can boldly say,
“She was created for me”, or with the beloved disciple, “I have taken her for my own”, or with our Lord
himself, “All that is mine is yours and all that is yours is mine.”
180. If any critic reading this should imagine that I am exaggerating or speaking from an excess of
devotion, he has not, alas, understood what I have said. Either he is a carnal man who has no taste for the
spiritual; or he is a worldly man who has cut himself off from the Holy Spirit; or he is a proud and critical
man who ridicules and condemns anything he does not understand. But those who are born not of blood, nor
of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God and Mary, understand and appreciate what I have to say. It is for
them that I am writing.
181. Nevertheless, after this digression, I say to both the critics and the devout that the Blessed Virgin,
the most reliable and generous of all God’s creatures, never lets herself be surpassed by anyone in love and
generosity. For the little that is given to her, she gives generously of what she has received from God.
Consequently, if a person gives himself to her without reserve, she gives herself also without reserve to that
person provided his confidence in her is not presumptuous and he does his best to practise virtue and curb
his passions.
182. So the faithful servants of the Blessed Virgin may confidently say with St. John Damascene, “If I
confide in you, Mother of God, I shall be saved. Under your protection I shall fear nothing. With your help I
shall rout all my enemies. For devotion to you is a weapon of salvation which God gives to those he wishes
to save.”