Continuing to learn

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Sorry to be posting this so late in the day – actually it is now evening, and the Eve of a New Year – God’s perfect timing to open our book again! By His grace we are continuing to learn from the Wisdom He gave to St. Louis de Montfort in writing his “Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary”. For anyone who did not read my previous threads, I’m continuing the Introduction by St. Louis and pondering his next 3 paragraphs of this book and I’ve invited all who wish to read it with me:

1. God the Father willed that she should perform no miracle during her life, at least no public one, although he had given her the power to do so. God the Son willed that she should speak very little although he had imparted his wisdom to her.

Even though Mary was his faithful spouse, God the Holy Spirit willed that his apostles and evangelists should say very little about her and then only as much as was necessary to make Jesus known.

1. Mary is the supreme masterpiece of Almighty God and he has reserved the knowledge and possession of her for Himself. She is the glorious Mother of God the Son, who chose to humble and conceal her during her lifetime in order to foster her humility. He called her “Woman” as if she were a stranger, although in His heart He esteemed and loved her above all men and angels. Mary is the sealed fountain and the faithful spouse of the Holy Spirit where only He may enter. She is the sanctuary and resting-place of the Blessed Trinity where God dwells in greater and more divine splendour than anywhere else in the universe, not excluding His dwelling above the cherubim and seraphim. No creature, however pure, may enter there without being specially privileged.
2. I declare with the saints: Mary is the earthly paradise of Jesus Christ the new Adam, where He became man by the power of the Holy Spirit, in order to accomplish in her wonders beyond our understanding. She is the vast and divine world of God where unutterable marvels and beauties are to be found. She is the magnificence of the Almighty where he hid his only Son, as in his own bosom, and with Him everything that is most excellent and precious. What great and hidden things the all-powerful God has done for this wonderful creature, as she herself had to confess in spite of her great humility, “The Almighty has done great things for me.” The world does not know these things because it is incapable and unworthy of knowing them.

I’ve emphasized the words that stood out for me to ponder, but perhaps after reading them you may have heard more. In prayer today, I’ve asked the Lord to help me to be more docile to the Holy Spirit in this New Year, that I may become more like Mary, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit to receive Jesus and to give Him to others as Mary did for her cousin Elizabeth, and for the couple in Cana, and for John on Calvary – needs God answered in “hidden ways” He alone can accomplish. Blessed New Years’ Eve to all!