“I am all yours, and all that I have is yours, O most loving Jesus, through Mary, your most holy Mother” (True Devotion, 233).
DAY 24 of 33:
SECTION 3: Entering
into the Mystery of Jesus’ Crucifixion and Death
Contemplating the Sorrowful Mysteries with Mary, St.
Maximilian Kolbe, 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.
love, nothing stronger or higher or wider; nothing is more pleasant, nothing
fuller, and nothing better in heaven or on earth, for love is born of God and
cannot rest except in God, Who is above all created things.” (Imitation of Christ by
Thomas a Kempis)
Mysteries of the Holy Mass!
Ruspe, Bishop
for Us”
victims which our forefathers were commanded to offer to God by the holy
Trinity itself, the one God of the old and the new testaments, foreshadowed the
most acceptable gift of all. This was the offering which in his compassion the
only Son of God would make of himself in his human nature for our sake.
Christ offered himself for us to God as a fragrant offering and sacrifice. He
is the true God and the true high priest who for our sake entered once for all
into the holy of holies, taking with him not the blood of bulls and goats but
his own blood. This was foreshadowed by the high priest of old when each year
he took blood and entered the holy of holies.
one who in himself alone embodied all that he knew to be necessary to achieve
our redemption. He is at once priest and sacrifice, God and temple. He is the
priest through whom we have been reconciled, the sacrifice by which we have
been reconciled, the temple in which we have been reconciled, the God with whom
we have been reconciled. He alone is priest, sacrifice and temple because he is
all these things as God in the form of a servant; but he is not alone as God, for
he is this with the Father and the Holy Spirit in the form of God.
never doubt it: the only-begotten Son, God the Word, becoming man offered
himself for us to God as a fragrant offering and sacrifice. In the time of the
old testament, patriarchs, prophets and priests sacrificed animals in his
honor, and in honor of the Father and the Holy Spirit as well. Now in the time
of the new testament the holy catholic Church throughout the world never ceases
to offer the sacrifice of bread and wine, in faith and love, to him and to the
Father and the Holy Spirit, with whom he shares one godhead.
foreshadowed the flesh of Christ which he would offer for our sins, though
himself without sin, and the blood which he would pour out for the forgiveness
of our sins. In this sacrifice there is thanksgiving for, and commemoration of,
the flesh of Christ that he offered for us, and the blood that the same God
poured out for us. On this Saint Paul says in the Acts of the Apostles: Keep
watch over yourselves and over the whole flock, in which the Holy Spirit has
appointed you as bishops to rule the Church of God, which he won for himself by
his blood.
pointed in sign to what was to be given to us. In this sacrifice we see plainly
what has already been given to us. Those sacrifices foretold the death of the
Son of God for sinners. In this sacrifice he is proclaimed as already slain for
sinners, as the Apostle testifies: Christ died for the wicked at a time when we
were still powerless, and when we were enemies we were reconciled with God
through the death of his Son.
from God,
heart and mind,
But now, by Christ’s death in his mortal body, God has reconciled you to
himself, in order to welcome you into his presence as saints, without the
slightest impurity or imperfection.
sacrificial death
the means of expiating the
sins of all believers. (Colossians 1:21-22; Romans 3:25)
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
• LIVE Grace and Renew our Baptism – renounce sin and Satan
• Mass and the Eucharist the Center of our lives
• Confession frequently
• 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)
• Rosary – With and in Mary, contemplating Scripture and the mysteries of God
• God is sending Mary to earth for she is the Crusher of Satan. Listen to her words.
• St. John Paul II – example of life given over – Totus Tuus
• St. Maximilian Kolbe – Militia Immaculata every soul consecrated to Mary will save the world
• St. Louis de Montfort – Mary will form the greatest saints
who ever lived – easiest shortest most sure way to sanctity
• St. Mother Teresa and many more
PART 2: 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
Acts 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.”
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.
Day 24 of 33:
Meditation From True Devotion To the Blessed Virgin Mary, No. 152-164
This devotion is a smooth, short, perfect and sure way of attaining union with our Lord, in which Christian perfection consists.
(a)
This devotion is a smooth way. It is the path which Jesus Christ opened
up in coming to us
and in which there is no obstruction to prevent us reaching him. It is
quite true that we can attain to divine union by other roads, but these
involve many more crosses and exceptional setbacks and many difficulties
that we
cannot easily overcome.
(b) This devotion is a short way to discover Jesus, either because it is a road we do not
wander from, or because, as we have just said, we walk along this road with greater ease and joy, and
consequently with greater speed. We advance more in a brief period of submission to Mary and dependence on
her than in whole years of self-will and self-reliance.
(c) This devotion is a perfect way to reach our Lord and be
united to him, for Mary is the most perfect and the most holy of all creatures, and Jesus, who came to us in a
perfect manner, chose no other road for his great and wonderful journey. The Most High, the Incomprehensible
One, the Inaccessible One, He who is, deigned to come down to us poor earthly creatures who are nothing at all.
How was this done? The Most High God came down to us in a perfect way through the humble Virgin Mary,
without losing anything of his divinity or holiness. It is likewise through Mary that we poor creatures must ascend
to almighty God in a perfect manner without having anything to fear.
(d) This devotion to our Lady is a sure way to
go to Jesus and to acquire holiness through union with him. The devotion which I teach is not new. Indeed it could
not be condemned without overthrowing the foundations of Christianity. It is obvious then that this devotion is not
new. If it is not commonly practised, the reason is that it is too sublime to be appreciated and undertaken by
everyone. This devotion is a safe means of going to Jesus Christ, because it is Mary’s role to lead us safely to her
Son.
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 201-207.
201. Here now are the services which the Virgin Mary, as the best of all mothers, lovingly renders to
those loyal servants who have given themselves entirely to her in the manner I have described and following
the figurative meaning of the story of Jacob and Rebecca.
1. She loves them.
“I love those who love me.”
She loves them:
a) Because she is truly their Mother. What mother does not love her child, the fruit of her womb?
b) She loves them in gratitude for the active love they show to her, their beloved Mother.
c) She loves them because they are loved by God and destined for heaven. “Jacob I loved, but Esau
I hated.”
d) She loves them because they have consecrated themselves entirely to her and belong to her
portion, her inheritance. “In Israel receive your inheritance.”
202. She loves them tenderly, more tenderly than all the mothers in the world together. Take the
maternal love of all the mothers of the world for their children. Pour all that love into the heart of one
mother for an only child. That mother’s love would certainly be immense. Yet Mary’s love for each of her
children has more tenderness than the love of that mother for her child.
She loves them not only affectively but effectively, that is, her love is active and productive of good
like Rebecca’s love for Jacob -and even more so, for Rebecca was, after all, only a symbolic figure of Mary.
Here is what this loving Mother does for her children to obtain for them the blessings of their heavenly
Father:
203. 1) Like Rebecca she looks out for favourable opportunities to promote their interests, to ennoble
and enrich them. She sees clearly in God all that is good and all that is evil; fortunate and unfortunate
events; the blessings and condemnations of God. She arranges things in advance so as to divert evils from
her servants and put them in the way of abundant blessings. If there is any special benefit to be gained in
God’s sight by the faithful discharge of an important work, Mary will certainly obtain this opportunity for a
beloved child and servant and at the same time, give him the grace to persevere in it to the end. “She
personally manages our affairs,” says a saintly man.
204. 2) She gives them excellent advice, as Rebecca did to Jacob. “My son, follow my counsels.” Among
other things, she persuades them to bring her the two young goats, that is, their body and soul, and to confide them to her so that she can prepare them as a dish pleasing to God. She inspires them to observe
whatever Jesus Christ, her Son, has taught by word and example. When she does not give these counsels
herself in person, she gives them through the ministry of angels who are always pleased and honoured to go
at her request to assist one of her faithful servants on earth.
body and all that pertains to them without excepting anything? Just what Rebecca of old did to the little
goats Jacob brought her.
(a) She kills them, that is, makes them die to the life of the old Adam.
(b) She
strips them of their skin, that is, of their natural inclinations, their self-love and self-will and their every
attachment to creatures.
(c) She cleanses them from all stain, impurity and sin.
(d) She prepares them to
God’s taste and to his greater glory. As she alone knows perfectly what the divine taste is and where the
greatest glory of God is to be found, she alone without any fear of mistake can prepare and garnish our body
and soul to satisfy that infinitely refined taste and promote that infinitely hidden glory.
206. 4) Once this good Mother has received our complete offering with our merits and satisfactions
through the devotion I have been speaking about, and has stripped us of our own garments, she cleanses us
and makes us worthy to appear without shame before our heavenly Father.
She clothes us in the clean, new, precious and fragrant garments of Esau, the first born, namely, her
Son Jesus Christ. She keeps these garments in her house, that is to say, she has them at her disposal. For she
is the treasurer and universal dispenser of the merits and virtues of Jesus her Son. She gives and distributes
them to whom she pleases, when she pleases, as she pleases, and as much as she pleases, as we have said
above.
She covers the neck and hands of her servants with the skins of the goats that have been killed and
flayed, that is, she adorns them with the merits and worth of their own good actions. In truth, she destroys
and nullifies all that is impure and imperfect in them. She preserves and enhances this good so that it adorns
and strengthens their neck and hands, that is, she gives them the strength to carry the yoke of the Lord and
the skill to do great things for the glory of God and the salvation of their poor brothers.
She imparts new perfume and fresh grace to those garments and adornments by adding to them the
garments of her own wardrobe of merits and virtues. She bequeathed these to them before her departure for
heaven, as was revealed by a holy nun of the last century, who died a holy death. Thus all her domestics,
that is, all her servants and slaves, are clothed with double garments, her own and those of her Son. Now
they have nothing to fear from that cold which sinners, naked and stripped as they are of the merits of Jesus
and Mary, will be unable to endure.
207. 5) Finally, Mary obtains for them the heavenly Father’s blessing. As they are the youngest born and
adopted, they are not really entitled to it. Clad in new, precious, and sweet- smelling garments, with body
and soul well-prepared and dressed, they confidently approach their heavenly Father. He hears their voice
and recognises it as the voice of a sinner. He feels their hands covered with skins, inhales the aroma of their
garments. He partakes with joy of what Mary, their Mother, has prepared for him, recognising in it the
merits and good odour of his Son and his Blessed Mother.
a) He gives them a twofold blessing, the blessing of the dew of heaven, namely, divine grace, which
is the seed of glory. “God has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing,” and also the blessing of the
fertility of the earth, for as a provident Father, he gives them their daily bread and an ample supply of the
goods of the earth.
b) He makes them masters of their other brothers, the reprobate sinners. This domination does not
always show in this fleeting world, where sinners often have the upper hand. “How long shall the wicked
glory, mouthing insolent reproaches?” “I have seen the wicked triumphant and lifted up like the cedars of
Lebanon.” But the supremacy of the just is real and will be seen clearly for all eternity in the next world,
where the just, as the Holy Spirit tells us, will dominate and command all peoples.
c) The God of all majesty is not satisfied with blessing them in their persons and their possessions,
he blesses all who bless them and curses all who curse and persecute them.