Readings and Prayers for St. Louis-Marie de Montfort’s Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary
THIRD WEEK
THEME FOR THE WEEK: KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST
Meditation Imitation of Christ, by Thomas á Kempis: Book 2, Chapter 7
Of the Love of Jesus above All Things
Thou oughtest to leave thy beloved, for thy beloved (Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:37; Cant. 2:16); for that Jesus will be
loved alone above all things.
The love of things created is deceitful and inconstant; the love of Jesus is faithful and persevering. He that
cleaveth unto a creature, shall fall with that which is subject to fall; he that embraceth Jesus shall be made strong
for ever.
2. Love Him, and keep Him for thy friend, who, when all go away, will not forsake thee, nor suffer thee to perish in
the end. Some time or other thou must be separated from all, whether thou wilt or no. Keep close to Jesus both in
life and in death, and commit thyself unto His faithfulness, who, when all fail, can alone help thee.
Thy Beloved is of that nature, that He will admit of no rival; but will have thy heart alone, and sit on His throne as
King. If thou couldest empty thyself perfectly from all creatures, Jesus would willingly dwell with thee.
From True Devotion To the Blessed Virgin Mary, Nos. 257-260
There are some very sanctifying interior practices for those souls who feel called by the Holy Spirit to a high
degree of perfection. They may be expressed in four words, doing everything through Mary, with Mary, in Mary,
and for Mary, in order to do it more perfectly through Jesus, with Jesus, in Jesus, and for Jesus.
Through Mary
258. We must do everything through Mary, that is, we must obey her always and be led in all things by her spirit,
which is the Holy Spirit of God. “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God,” says St. Paul. Those
who are led by the spirit of Mary are children of Mary, and, consequently children of God, as we have already
shown. Among the many servants of Mary only those who are truly and faithfully devoted to her are led by her
spirit. I have said that the spirit of Mary is the spirit of God because she was never led by her own spirit, but
always by the spirit of God, who made himself master of her to such an extent that he became her very spirit.
That is why St. Ambrose says, “May the soul of Mary be in each one of us to glorify the Lord. May the spirit of
Mary be in each one of us to rejoice in God.” Happy is the man who follows the example of the good Jesuit
Brother Rodriguez, who died a holy death, because he will be completely possessed and governed by the spirit of
Mary, a spirit which is gentle yet strong, zealous yet prudent, humble yet courageous, pure yet fruitful.
With Mary
260. We must do everything with Mary, that is to say, in all our actions we must look upon Mary, although a
simple human being, as the perfect model of every virtue and perfection, fashioned by the Holy Spirit for us to
imitate, as far as our limited capacity allows. In every action then we should consider how Mary performed it or
how she would perform it if she were in our place. For this reason, we must examine and meditate on the great
virtues she practised during her life, especially:
1) Her lively faith, by which she believed the angel’s word without
the least hesitation, and believed faithfully and constantly even to the foot of the Cross on Calvary.
2) Her deep
humility, which made her prefer seclusion, maintain silence, submit to every eventuality and put herself in the last
place.
Listen, Sing and Watch or Pray just the words depending on your time constraints:
Litany of the Holy Ghost, Litany of the Holy Name, Ave Maris Stella, St. Louis’ Prayer to Mary, O Jesus, Living in Mary and the Rosary
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.
Litany of the Holy Name of JesusV. Lord, have mercy on us. |
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.
Come and live in Thy servants,
In the spirit of Thy holiness,
In the fullness of Thy might,
In the truth of Thy virtues,
In the perfection of Thy ways,
In the communion of Thy mysteries.
Subdue every hostile power
In Thy spirit, for the glory of the Father.
Amen.
Read:
St. Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary paragraphs 255-260.
255. To thank God for the graces he has given to our Lady, her consecrated ones will frequently say the
Magnificat, following the example of Blessed Marie d’Oignies and several other saints. The Magnificat is
the only prayer we have which was composed by our Lady, or rather, composed by Jesus in her, for it was
he who spoke through her lips. It is the greatest offering of praise that God ever received under the law of
grace. On the one hand, it is the most humble hymn of thanksgiving and, on the other, it is the most sublime
and exalted. Contained in it are mysteries so great and so hidden that even the angels do not understand
them.
Gerson, a pious and learned scholar, spent the greater part of his life writing tracts full of erudition
and love on the most profound subjects. Even so, it was with apprehension that he undertook towards the
end of his life to write a commentary on the Magnificat which was the crowning point of all his works. In a
large volume on the subject he says many wonderful things about this beautiful and divine canticle. Among
other things he tells us that Mary herself frequently recited it, especially at thanksgiving after Holy
Communion. The learned Benzonius, in his commentary on the Magnificat, cites several miracles worked
through the power of this prayer. The devils, he declare, take to flight when they hear these words, “He puts
forth his arm in strength and scatters the proud-hearted”.
7. Contempt of the world
256. Mary’s faithful servants despise this corrupted world. They should hate and shun its allurements,
and follow the exercises of the contempt of the world which we have given in the first part of this treatise.
2. Special interior practices for those who wish to be perfect
257. The exterior practices of this devotion which I have just dealt with should be observed as far as
one’s circumstances and state of life permit. They should not be omitted through negligence or deliberate
disregard. In addition to them, here are some very sanctifying interior practices for those souls who feel
called by the Holy Spirit to a high degree of perfection. They may be expressed in four words, doing
everything through Mary, with Mary, in Mary, and for Mary, in order to do it more perfectly through Jesus,
with Jesus, in Jesus, and for Jesus.
Through Mary
258. We must do everything through Mary, that is, we must obey her always and be led in all things by
her spirit, which is the Holy Spirit of God. “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God,”
says St. Paul. Those who are led by the spirit of Mary are children of Mary, and, consequently children of
God, as we have already shown. Among the many servants of Mary only those who are truly and faithfully
devoted to her are led by her spirit.
I have said that the spirit of Mary is the spirit of God because she was never led by her own spirit, but always by the spirit of God, who made himself master of her to such an extent that he became her very
spirit. That is why St. Ambrose says, “May the soul of Mary be in each one of us to glorify the Lord. May
good Jesuit Brother Rodriguez, who died a holy death, because he will be completely possessed and
governed by the spirit of Mary, a spirit which is gentle yet strong, zealous yet prudent, humble yet
courageous, pure yet fruitful.
259. The person who wishes to be led by this spirit of Mary:
1) Should renounce his own spirit, his own views and his own will before doing anything, for
example, before making meditation, celebrating or attending Mass, before Communion. For the darkness of
our own spirit and the evil tendencies of our own will and actions, good as they may seem to us, would
hinder the holy spirit of Mary were we to follow them.
2) We should give ourselves up to the spirit of Mary to be moved and directed as she wishes. We
should place and leave ourselves in her virginal hands, like a tool in the hands of a craftsman or a lute in the
hands of a good musician. We should cast ourselves into her like a stone thrown into the sea. This is done
easily and quickly by a mere thought, a slight movement of the will or just a few words as, “I renounce
myself and give myself to you, my dear Mother.” And even if we do not experience any emotional fervour
in this spiritual encounter it is none the less real. It is just as if a person with equal sincerity were to say –
which God forbid! – “I give myself to the devil.” Even though this were said without feeling any emotion, he
would no less really belong to the devil.
3) From time to time during an action and after it, we should renew this same act of offering and of
union. The more we do so, the quicker we shall grow in holiness and the sooner we shall reach union with
Christ, which necessarily follows upon union with Mary, since the spirit of Mary is the spirit of Jesus.
With Mary
260. We must do everything with Mary, that is to say, in all our actions we must look upon Mary,
although a simple human being, as the perfect model of every virtue and perfection, fashioned by the Holy
Spirit for us to imitate, as far as our limited capacity allows. In every action then we should consider how
Mary performed it or how she would perform it if she were in our place. For this reason, we must examine
and meditate on the great virtues she practised during her life, especially:
1) Her lively faith, by which she believed the angel’s word without the least hesitation, and believed
faithfully and constantly even to the foot of the Cross on Calvary.
2) Her deep humility, which made her prefer seclusion, maintain silence, submit to every
eventuality and put herself in the last place.
3) Her truly divine purity, which never had and never will have its equal on this side of heaven.
And so on for her other virtues.
Remember what I told you before, that Mary is the great, unique mould of God, designed to make
living images of God at little expense and in a short time. Anyone who finds this mould and casts himself
into it, is soon transformed into our Lord because it is the true likeness of him.