3rd mark of "true" devotion : "holy"!

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we continue listening to St. Louis De Montfort’s words on the 5 marks of “true” devotion. This paragraph is brief as was the first one, for a similar reason – It is so very important! We need to spend time on it. “Holy” is so closely related to the first one of being “Interior” because both of these qualities are so very “obvious” in Mary, our Mother and Model. Today we hear St. Louis’ words from True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, describing how being “holy” leads us to avoid sin and to imitate ten prinicipal virtues of Mary. No surprise – the first virtue listed is humility!

1. 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.

As I’ve written in a few other replies to persons recently, that these 5 marks or qualities of “true” devotion work together toward the goal God has given us in Baptism - that is to grow in Christ. We were cleansed in Baptism and set on the journey to heaven and the Beatific Vision. However we still suffer on this earth the consequences of the Original sin. We have darkened intellects and weak wills.
But God sent Jesus through Mary to be our Way, our Truth and our Life, and when dying on His Cross, Jesus gave us his gift of Mary to be our Mother. If we are to become “other Christs” in the world, Mary is God’s Gift – she “cares for us” on this earth, as she “cared for Him” as her Child…

When Jesus told John on Calvary:

“Behold Your Mother”

John obeyed taking Mary into his life, and so must we, for she is the “perfect” follower of Jesus. Mary knows him as no other human person ever has or will know Him. He came to us through Mary the first time, and He continues to come to us through her, until He comes in Glory at the end of time. Come Holy Spirit, kindle in us the Fire of Your Love! Jesus, we trust in You! Mary, our Mother and Model, pray for us.

 

[patricius79]

May we all follow the holy inspirations of Mary, the Help of Christians.

Here is another beautiful passage from St. Bonaventure:

The foundations of life in the soul of the just: are to persevere in charity unto the end.
Thy grace raises up the poor man in adversity: and the invocation of thy name inspires
him with confidence.
Paradise is filled with thy tender mercies: and by the fear of thee the
infernal enemy is confounded.
He who hopes in thee, will find treasures of peace: and he who invokes thee
not in this life, will not attain to the kingdom of God.
Grant, O Lady, that we may live in the grace of the Holy Ghost: and lead
our souls to a holy end.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
https://d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.n...re-The Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary.pdf

 

[MariaChristi]

Grant, O Lady, that we may live in the grace of the Holy Ghost : and lead
our souls to a holy end.

Thanks patricius, for your “heart” and for this reply. St. Bonaventure lived before St. Louis de Montfort, but both of these saints wrote as lovingly as all the saints wrote or spoke in their own lifetimes of their love for Mary and their love for God through Mary.

The quote of St. Bonaventure which you posted is so very appropriate for us in pondering this 3rd mark of “True” devotion to Mary. It is “holy”. In pondering the virtues of Mary Who is all Holy from the first moment of her existence in her mother’s womb, we too by God’s Grace are called to grow in holiness. We are to obey God’s Word which tells us to : “Be Holy because I am Holy.” (1 Pet 1:16)

St. Louis de Montfort’s list of Mary’s virtues begins with Humility, and it the foundation from which we grow in holiness. Jesus told us: “Learn of Me for I am meek and humble of Heart.” Mary listened and pondered all Jesus said and did. She obeyed the Truth she heard. The Holy Spirit was sent at Pentecost to bring us all into the Truth of Jesus, and so like Mary, and with Mary, as St. Bonaventure wrote we may:

…live in the grace of the Holy Spirit, and lead our souls to a holy end.

.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear CarmilteKnight,

Thanks for your “heart”, letting us know you read the words of St. Louis de Montfort and appreciated what he shared in his treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin” . Looking at your “username” I’m sure you have already been devoted to May, under her title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The Carmelite Saints have always been dear to my heart as well. Especially St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Edith Stein whose works I’ve read and re-read and continue to read. Perhaps you are familiar with little St. Therese’s poem: “Why I love Thee, Mary!” It is a long but very beautiful poem. You may want to find a copy online See HERE scroll down the contents of her collected poems to find the title “Why I love Thee, Mary” it was her last poem written in May, 1897. It’s in “Part Two of the Contents” The Poem then begins on Page 54 and ends on Page 64. If you’ve never read it, it is worth your time to read it.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Dorothy,

Thanks for your “heart” and your love for Mary as you read and have heard in St. Louis de Montfort’s words from “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin” Please let us pray for one another, for the Church and for all those in most need of God’s Mercy, through Mary.