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 4, Chapter 11
That the Blood of Christ and the Holy Scriptures
Are Most Necessary unto a Faithful Soul
O most sweet Lord Jesus, how great is the pleasure of the devout soul that feasteth with Thee in Thy banquet;
where there is set for her no other food to be eaten but Thyself, her only Beloved, and most to be desired above
all the desires of her heart! To me also it would be indeed sweet, in Thy presence to pour forth tears from the very
bottom of my heart, and with the grateful Magdalene to wash Thy feet with tears (Luke 7:38). But where is that
devotion? Where that bountiful flowing of holy tears? Surely in the sight of Thee and Thy holy Angels, my whole
heart ought to burn, and to weep for joy. For in this Sacrament I have Thee mystically present, hidden under
another shape. For to look upon Thee in Thine own Divine brightness, mine eyes would not be able to endure; nor
could even the whole world stand in the splendor of the glory of Thy majesty. Herein then Thou hast regard to my
weakness, that Thou dost hide Thyself under this Sacrament.
From True Devotion To the Blessed Virgin Mary, Nos. 261-265
In Mary
261. We must do everything in Mary. To understand this we must realise that the Blessed Virgin is the true earthly
paradise of the new Adam and that the ancient paradise was only a symbol of her. There are in this earthly
paradise untold riches, beauties, rarities and delights, which the new Adam, Jesus Christ, has left there. It is in
this paradise that he “took his delights” for nine months, worked his wonders and displayed his riches with the
magnificence of God himself.In this earthly paradise grows the real Tree of Life which bore our Lord, the fruit of
Life, the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which bore the Light of the world. In this divine place there are trees
planted by the hand of God and watered by his divine unction which have borne and continue to bear fruit that is
pleasing to him. Only the Holy Spirit can teach us the truths that these material objects symbolise. 262. The Holy
Spirit speaking through the Fathers of the Church, also calls our Lady the Eastern Gate, through which the High
Priest, Jesus Christ, enters and goes out into the world. Through this gate he entered the world the first time and
through this same gate he will come the second time.
For Mary
265. Finally, we must do everything for Mary. We take Mary for our proximate end, our mysterious intermediary
and the easiest way of reaching him. Relying on her protection, we should undertake and carry out great things
for our noble Queen. We must defend her privileges when they are questioned and uphold her good name when it
is under attack. We must attract everyone, if possible, to her service and to this true and sound devotion. As a
reward for these little services, we should expect nothing in return save the honour of belonging to such a lovable
Queen and the joy of being united through her to Jesus, her Son, by a bond that is indissoluble in time and in
eternity.
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, 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.
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 261-265.
261. We must do everything in Mary. To understand this we must realise that the Blessed Virgin is the
true earthly paradise of the new Adam and that the ancient paradise was only a symbol of her. There are in
this earthly paradise untold riches, beauties, rarities and delights, which the new Adam, Jesus Christ, has
left there. It is in this paradise that he “took his delights” for nine months, worked his wonders and
displayed his riches with the magnificence of God himself. This most holy place consists of only virgin and
immaculate soil from which the new Adam was formed with neither spot nor stain by the operation of the
Holy Spirit who dwells there. In this earthly paradise grows the real Tree of Life which bore our Lord, the
fruit of Life, the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which bore the Light of the world.
which have borne and continue to bear fruit that is pleasing to him. There are flower-beds studded with a
variety of beautiful flowers of virtue, diffusing a fragrance which delights even the angels. Here there are
meadows verdant with hope, impregnable towers of fortitude, enchanting mansions of confidence and many
other delights.
Only the Holy Spirit can teach us the truths that these material objects symbolise. In this place the
air is perfectly pure. There is no night but only the brilliant day of the sacred humanity, the resplendent,
spotless sun of the Divinity, the blazing furnace of love, melting all the base metal thrown into it and
changing it into gold. There the river of humility gushes forth from the soil, divides into four branches and
irrigates the whole of this enchanted place. These branches are the four cardinal virtues.
262. The Holy Spirit speaking through the Fathers of the Church, also calls our Lady the Eastern Gate,
through which the High Priest, Jesus Christ, enters and goes out into the world. Through this gate he entered
the world the first time and through this same gate he will come the second time.
The Holy Spirit also calls her the Sanctuary of the Divinity, the Resting-Place of the Holy Spirit, the
Throne of God, the City of God, the Altar of God, the Temple of God, the World of God. All these titles and
expressions of praise are very real when related to the different wonders the Almighty worked in her and the
graces which he bestowed on her. What wealth and what glory! What a joy and a privilege for us to enter
and dwell in Mary, in whom almighty God has set up the throne of his supreme glory!
263. But how difficult it is for us to have the freedom, the ability and the light to enter such an exalted
and holy place. This place is guarded not by a cherub, like the first earthly paradise, but by the Holy Spirit
himself who has become its absolute Master. Referring to her, he says: “You are an enclosed garden, my
sister, my bride, an enclosed garden and a sealed fountain.” Mary is enclosed. Mary is sealed. The
unfortunate children of Adam and Eve driven from the earthly paradise, can enter this new paradise only by
a special grace of the Holy Spirit which they have to merit.
264. When we have obtained this remarkable grace by our fidelity, we should be delighted to remain in
Mary. We should rest there peacefully, rely on her confidently, hide ourselves there with safety, and
abandon ourselves unconditionally to her, so that within her virginal bosom:
1) We may be nourished with the milk of her grace and her motherly compassion.
2) We may be delivered from all anxiety, fear and scruples.
3) We may be safeguarded from all our enemies, the devil, the world and sin which have never
gained admittance there. That is why our Lady says that those who work in her will not sin, that is, those
who dwell spiritually in our Lady will never commit serious sin.
4) We may be formed in our Lord and our Lord formed in us, because her womb is, as the early
Fathers call it, the house of the divine secrets where Jesus and all the elect have been conceived. “This one
and that one were born in her.”
For Mary
265. Finally, we must do everything for Mary. Since we have given ourselves completely to her service,
it is only right that we should do everything for her as if we were her personal servant and slave. This does
not mean that we take her for the ultimate end of our service for Jesus alone is our ultimate end. But we take
Mary for our proximate end, our mysterious intermediary and the easiest way of reaching him.
Like every good servant and slave we must not remain idle, but, relying on her protection, we
should undertake and carry out great things for our noble Queen. We must defend her privileges when they
are questioned and uphold her good name when it is under attack. We must attract everyone, if possible, to
her service and to this true and sound devotion. We must speak up and denounce those who distort devotion
to her by outraging her Son, and at the same time we must apply ourselves to spreading this true devotion.
As a reward for these little services, we should expect nothing in return save the honour of belonging to such a lovable Queen and the joy of being united through her to Jesus, her Son, by a bond that is
indissoluble in time and in eternity. Glory to Jesus in Mary! Glory to Mary in Jesus! Glory to God alone!
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