"...a mystery of grace unknown"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This first chapter in St. Louis De Montfort’s treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary” on the necessity of devotion to Mary is so important, yet how few have read or heard of this truth through Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium. It is there – but as St. Louis de Montfort said in paragraph 21, it remains: “… a mystery of grace unknown even to many of the most learned and spiritual of Christians.”

Having competed part 1. “Mary’s part in the Incarnation”, we go on today to part 2:

2. Mary’s part in the sanctification of souls

1. The plan adopted by the three persons of the Blessed Trinity in the Incarnation, the first coming of Jesus Christ, is adhered to each day in an invisible manner throughout the Church and they will pursue it to the end of time until the last coming of Jesus Christ.
2. God the Father gathered all the waters together and called them the seas (maria). He gathered all his graces together and called them Mary (Maria). The great God has a treasury or storehouse full of riches in which he has enclosed all that is beautiful, resplendent, rare, and precious, even his own Son. This immense treasury is none other than Mary whom the saints call the “treasury of the Lord”. From her fullness all men are made rich.
3. God the Son imparted to his mother all that he gained by his life and death, namely, his infinite merits and his eminent virtues. He made her the treasurer of all his Father had given him as heritage. Through her he applies his merits to his members and through her he transmits his virtues and distributes his graces. She is his mystical channel, his aqueduct, through which he causes his mercies to flow gently and abundantly.
4. God the Holy Spirit entrusted his wondrous gifts to Mary, his faithful spouse, and chose her as the dispenser of all he possesses, so that she distributes all his gifts and graces to whom she wills, as much as she wills, how she wills and when she wills. No heavenly gift is given to men which does not pass through her virginal hands. Such indeed is the will of God, who has decreed that we should have all things through Mary, so that, making herself poor and lowly, and hiding herself in the depths of nothingness during her whole life, she might be enriched, exalted and honoured by almighty God. Such are the views of the Church and the early Fathers.

Hopefully, those who read these paragraphs will not dismiss them, but rather take time to ponder them as Mary pondered all God gave her. Let us pray for the graces we need to understand God’s mysteries of grace, for without God’s help we cannot understand His Will for us. Nevertheless, Jesus tells us: “Ask and you will receive…” (cf Mt. 7: 7-11)

 

[petra22]

Yes, thank you for giving me great things to “ponder” today!

 

[chieft]

Wonderful. Thank you. Thank you !

Meditations on the Presentation and Mary… Spectacular

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Petra,

As I’ve said so many times - everytime I read St. Louis De Montfort’s “True Devotion” I hear more. May God help us all to continue to learn from the wisdom He has given to His saints! Thanks so much for your reply and for your love of Jesus through Mary.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks for your reply, chleft.

I watched the video and listened to the meditations. Thanks. Some ot the pictures used were really lovely. I’m especially fond of Icons but many of the paintings used in the video were ones I’d not seen before and it was good to have images along with the words.

Glad you also appreciated the words of St. Louis de Montfort. I will be forever grateful to the Dominican Sister who taught Religion to our sophomore class in high school. She introduced us to St. Louis de Montfort and invited us to consecrate ourselves to Jesus though Mary. I count it as a great grace in my life.
If you have never read his little Treatise on “True Devotion” I encourage you and any who may be reading this thread to read it online or purchase a copy.

St. JPII and St. Theresa of Calcutta both read De Montfort’s “True Devotion” and consecrated themselves to Jesus through Mary, praying De Montfort’s “Act of Total Consecration”. The world saw in their lives the fruitful living of God’s Truth.

 

[chieft]

Wonderful you paid attention to your Sisters. I too had a formal Catholic school education, but due to my own faults, did not pay enough attention. Mary has been a huge help in my rediscovery of faith since I returned to it 6 years ago. I plan on reading true devotion shortly. Thank you for posting.

Christ Bless you…

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks again, dear chieft,

Welcome home, to your Catholic Faith! Mary truly is our Mother and Model and I believe when Jesus told John on Calvary, “Behold your Mother”, Jesus gave her to us all. Like John we are likewise called to take Mary into our lives more and more that we may learn from her as she learned from Jesus.

The dear Sisters I had in grammar school taught me to love Jesus and Mary as a little child but when I entered high School the Dominican Sisters, having special devotion to Mary took me further along the “Way, the Truth and the Life” by inviting me into the Legion of Mary and giving me more opportunities to grow closer to Jesus through Mary in ways I may not have understood in earlier years.

God knows each soul He created and He guides us in mysteries ways. Now in my 80th year on this earth, I continue in the Legion of Mary and in renewing often, my total consecration to Jesus through Mary, taught by St. Louis de Montfort. I hope you will begin to read his little treatise not just once but many times and ponder it. St. Louis de Montfort was steeped in Scripture and you will see that – the more you read his “True Devotion”. Like our Mother Mary, St. Louis kept all Jesus said and did, and pondered all in his heart.