Apr. 2 - Concluding words today

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today, we’ll be concluding the words of St. Louis de Montfort’s “Act of Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary.”. We’ve been pondering these words which we prayed – in order that they may not remain just “words” – but that by God’s Grace we may begin to LIVE the words we have prayed, especially renewing our Baptismal promises and committing ourselves to being slaves of Jesus and Mary .

The final words in the prayer are these:

…O admirable Mother, present me to thy dear Son as His eternal slave, so that as He has redeemed me by thee, by thee He may receive me! O Mother of mercy, grant me the grace to obtain the true Wisdom of God; and for that end receive me among those whom thou lovest and teachest, whom thou leadest, nourishest and protectest as thy children and thy slaves.

O faithful Virgin, make me in all things so perfect a disciple, imitator and slave of the Incarnate Wisdom, Jesus Christ thy Son, that I may attain, by thine intercession and by thine example, to the fullness of His age on earth and of His glory in Heaven. Amen.

Somewhere I read that Pope St. John Paul II prayed this “long form” of the Prayer every day, however, I’m not sure how many others have that practice. I’m more inclined to save the “Long Form” for Special Feast Days and pray the “short form” as often as I can, especially first thing in the morning: “O Mary, My Queen and My Mother, I am All yours; keep me; guard me as your property and possession”. We know Mary keeps nothing for herself but gives all to Jesus, and so we are giving ourselves to Him as we give ourselves to her.

May the Holy Spirit guide each of us to the holiness to which we have been called, through Mary.

Come, Holy Spirit fill the Hearts of Your Faithful. Kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Jesus, I trust in You! Father into Your Hands I commend my spirit. Mary, Mother and Model for the Church, pray for us. St. Joseph, Protector of Mary and “Little Jesus” pray for us. Amen.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Cath,

Thanks again for your “faith-full and loving heart” !

By God’s grace, I’ve begun to re-read from the beginning, – but am only up to Chapter 2 in St. Louis de Montfort’s book, “The Love of Eternal Wisdom” today, but I believe the Holy Spirit began leading me back to re-reading this beautiful little book and so I am finding much more to ponder than I found previously.

It is the same experience with “True Devotion” and most of all in Holy Scripture. We are continuing to learn – the more we LISTEN – as Mary listened to everything Jesus said and did, and pondered all in her heart.
In renewing our Total Consecration there is that same beautiful Mystery of how God works within us, working all things unto good for those who love Him. (cf Rom 8:28). Without Him we can do nothing! (cf Jn 15:5).

Hopefully, by God’s Grace, we will continue to grow closer to Jesus through Mary, moment by moment, until we find Him opening the door to our eternal Home.

 

[hazcompat]

AD DIEM ILLUM LAETISSIMUM
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS X
ON THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
TO THE PATRIARCHS, PRIMATES, ARCHBISHOPS,
BISHOPS, AND OTHER ORDINARIES
IN PEACE AND COMMUNION WITH THE APOSTOLIC SEE

1. Whoever moreover wishes, and no one ought not so to wish, that his devotion should be
   worthy of her and perfect, should go further and strive might and main to imitate her example. It is a divine law that those only attain everlasting happiness who have by such faithful following reproduced in themselves the form of the patience and sanctity of Jesus Christ: “for whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be made conformable to the image of His Son; that He might be the first-born amongst many brethren” (Romans viii., 29). But such generally is our infirmity that we are easily discouraged by the greatness of such an example: by the providence of God, however, another example is proposed to us, which is both as near to Christ as human nature allows, and more nearly accords with the weakness of our nature. And this is no other than the Mother of God. “Such was Mary,” very pertinently points out St. Ambrose, “that her life is an example for all.” And, therefore, he rightly concludes: “Have then before your eyes, as an image, the virginity and life of Mary from whom as from a mirror shines forth the brightness of chastity and the form of virtue”

Peace

 

[Inbonum]

@MariaChristi What if I tell you that there is maybe few words in my book of “True devotion” that aren’t underlined. It explains enough
I am happy that I will finish reading of “The Love of Eternal Wisdom” on time. Started last night and I will finish it on Great Saturday. Now on chapter 8-MARVELLOUS EFFECTS OF WISDOM IN THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO
POSSESS HIM.

:hugs:

God bless you!

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks, hazcompat,

The quote from Pope St. Pius X, echoes certainly what we have been listening to in the prayer of “Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary”. The Pope uses the words of St. Ambrose to emphasize in Writing of Mary’s Immaculate Conception at the end of paragraph 20:

1. “Such was Mary,” very pertinently points out St. Ambrose, “that her life is an example for all.” And, therefore, he rightly concludes: “Have then before your eyes, as an image, the virginity and life of Mary from whom as from a mirror shines forth the brightness of chastity and the form of virtue”

St. Louis de Montfort, likewise praises Mary in his book, “The Love of Eternal Wisdom” in Chapter 9, paragraphs 105 and 106:

1. At last, when the time appointed for the redemption of mankind came, eternal Wisdom built himself a house worthy to be his dwelling- place (Prov. 9:1). He created the most holy Virgin, forming her in the womb of St Anne with even greater delight than he had derived from creating the universe. It is impossible on the one hand to put into words the gifts with which the Blessed Trinity endowed this most fair creature, or on the other hand to describe the faithful care with which she corresponded to the graces of her Creator.
2. The torrential outpouring of God’s infinite goodness which had been rudely stemmed by the sins of men since the beginning of the world, was now released precipitately and in full flood into the heart of Mary. Eternal Wisdom gave to her all the graces which Adam and his descendants would have received so liberally from him had they remained in their original state of justice. The fulness of God, says a saint, was poured into Mary, in so far as a mere creature is capable of receiving it. O Mary, masterpiece of the Most High, miracle of eternal Wisdom, prodigy of the Almighty, abyss of grace! I join all the saints in the belief that only the God who created you knows the height, the breadth and the depth of the grace he has conferred on you.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Cath,

My copy of “True Devotion” also is filled with underlining! Sometimes, in re-reading I have underlined parts a second time or underlined in a different color!

Now re-reading St, Louis de Montfort’s book on "The Love of Eternal Wisdom", I’m on Chapter 9, and used 2 paragraphs from that chapter in my reply to hazcompat on this thread today.

Today is the First Friday of April and I want to post on new thread on “Reparation to the Sacred Heart” today, and then tomorrow, God willing, I hope to post on “Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary” for the First Saturday of April. May the Lord in His Great Love for us help us to grow in His grace honoring Him always through our Mother Mary!