" ...A perfect renewal of baptismal promises..."

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

St. Louis de Montfort continues to explain more about "True devotion to the Blessed Virgin as well as more on how the Total Consecration of ourselves to Jesus through Mary is a perfect renewal of our baptismal promises:

2. A perfect renewal of baptismal promises

1. I have said that this devotion could rightly be called a perfect renewal of the vows and promises of holy baptism. Before baptism every Christian was a slave of the devil because he belonged to him. At baptism he has either personally or through his sponsors solemnly renounced Satan, his seductions and his works. He has chosen Jesus as his Master and sovereign Lord and undertaken to depend upon him as a slave of love. This is what is done in the devotion I am presenting to you. We renounce the devil, the world, sin and self, as expressed in the act of consecration, and we give ourselves entirely to Jesus through Mary. We even do something more than at baptism, when ordinarily our god-parents speak for us and we are given to Jesus only by proxy. In this devotion we give ourselves personally and freely and we are fully aware of what we are doing.

In holy baptism we do not give ourselves to Jesus explicitly through Mary, nor do we give him the value of our good actions. After baptism we remain entirely free either to apply that value to anyone we wish or keep it for ourselves. But by this consecration we give ourselves explicitly to Jesus through Mary’s hands and we include in our consecration the value of all our actions.

What a beautiful insight God gave to St. Louis de Montfort! However, as St. Louis also wrote in another chapter – some may choose not to take the first step, while others go no further than taking a first step – but who will continue by God’s Grace , to follow Jesus, as Mary did on this earth.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful; kindle in us the Fire of Your Love even as you filled Mary with Jesus.

 

[hazcompat]

All the way to the cross!

Peace

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear hazcompat,

Yes, surely following Jesus takes us “all the way to the cross” on this earth, — ah, but then comes an eternity of Love for all who remained faithful as Mary remained beneath His Cross.

 

[patricius79]

How wonderful to live out our baptismal promises with the help of our Mother, the Mother of God!

Here is another passage from St. Bonaventure:

Why have our enemies raged and our adversaries devised vain things?
May thy right hand protect us, O Mother of God: as a line of battle terrible in aspect,
confounding and destroying them.
Come ye to her, all who labor and are in trouble: and she will give refreshment to your
souls.
Draw nigh to her in your temptations: and the serenity of her countenance will bring you peace and confidence.
Bless her with your whole heart: for the earth is full of her mercy.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
https://www.freecatholicebooks.com/books/psalter_of_the_blessed_virgin_mary.pdf

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear patricius,

Thanks for your “heart” and for your reply. Yes, how Good God is to have inspired St. Louis de Montfort to write his treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin.” and St. Bonavenure and so many others to sing Mary’s praises in the words they wrote and the lives they lived!

How Good God is to promise Mary to be Mother and Model of the Church in Gen. 3: 15 and to send Jesus through her to us by the power of the Holy Spirit! In today’s First Mass Reading, we catch another glimpse of God’s Plan for Mary in the words of Baruch. Mary, like the City of Jerusalem is the personification of the City of God.

Today’s Gospel also reminds us, we are children of God and children of Mary because of Jesus’ coming to us through her and giving her to us as Mother from His Cross. We are to be humble and childlike as she was on this earth, listening and living the Truth of the Words she heard from Jesus: “Learn of Me for I am Meek and Humble of Heart.” – (cf Mt 11: 29)

God has given Mary His Love and Grace to disperse according to His Wll - and as St. Bonaventure points out in the quote you posted, we can:

Draw nigh to her in your temptations: and the serenity of her countenance will bring you peace and confidence.
Bless her with your whole heart: for the earth is full of her mercy .