De Monfort Marian Consecration/Applicablity of Works

[salvereginadude]

I’ve been reading True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Monfort for awhile and feel that while I already have a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother that this would bring me even closer to her and ultimately to Jesus. But something perplexed me as I was reading last night. I understand it, de Monfort explained that everything we have must belong to Our Lady, even our works and sufferings, thus meaning, that we can no longer offer them for the intentions that we desire. After the consecration we can only offer them to Our Lady to do with them as she wills and whatever the will of her divine Son dictates. Is this really what Louis de Monforot is saying or am I looking at it the wrong way? If I am I’m a little saddened by this because I’ve always enjoined offering my sufferages up for others, especially my friends or any other people who don’t know the Lord as they should.

 

[ArAnMike]

I have not read any of St. Louis de Monfort’s works yet, so take this reply as it fits.

From what I have read from your post,

I understand it, de Monfort explained that everything we have must belong to Our Lady, even our works and sufferings, thus meaning, that we can no longer offer them for the intentions that we desire.

When you give them to Our Lady, does that necessarily mean that you can not ask where the works and sufferings will be applied. Something like, "Here are my sufferings, please use them for the salvation of "? You are not demanding that they are applied to certain situation, you are humbly asking.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

I asked this of a priest when I was preparing to make the de Montfort consecration several years ago. He said not to worry about it — if your heart tells you to pray or offer some work for a specific intention, Mary probably put it on your heart in the first place. Just have an “understanding” with Our Lady that if there is a more pressing intention on her heart, she has the right to apply it in that way. After all, Mary’s will is in perfect conformity with God’s, so I would never want to contradict her!

 

[ArAnMike]

I asked this of a priest when I was preparing to make the de Montfort consecration several years ago. He said not to worry about it — if your heart tells you to pray or offer some work for a specific intention, Mary probably put it on your heart in the first place. Just have an “understanding” with Our Lady that if there is a more pressing intention on her heart, she has the right to apply it in that way. After all, Mary’s will is in perfect conformity with God’s, so I would never want to contradict her!

Sounds good to me.

I think I will push St. Louis de Monfort up on the reading list.

 

[christcnection1]

I’ve been reading True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Monfort for awhile and feel that while I already have a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother that this would bring me even closer to her and ultimately to Jesus. But something perplexed me as I was reading last night. I understand it, de Monfort explained that everything we have must belong to Our Lady, even our works and sufferings, thus meaning, that we can no longer offer them for the intentions that we desire. After the consecration we can only offer them to Our Lady to do with them as she wills and whatever the will of her divine Son dictates. Is this really what Louis de Monforot is saying or am I looking at it the wrong way? If I am I’m a little saddened by this because I’ve always enjoined offering my sufferages up for others, especially my friends or any other people who don’t know the Lord as they should.

I’m currently in the process of going through the consecration and reading the book. The same concern came to mind as I was reading this. Although I’m sure there is more to the issue, and I do not have an exact quote, St. Louis expressed a simple idea. That is, if one offers all their works, prayers, and sufferings to Mary, she will happily acknowledge your desires and intentions according to the Lord’s perfect will. So in a nutshell, all bases will be covered according to His will. We should not fear that our deepest desires (the conversion of our loved ones) will be overlooked. Take a both/and approach; our Lord and Blessed Mother is not restricted to the either/or approach when it comes to this issue. Ultimately, our focus should be - His will be done, and we believe that Mary’s will is in perfect conformity to His.

 

[JeannetteCML]

In giving the value of our good actions to Mary without conditions on how they will be used opens our hearts to a great charity for all people, including people we haven’t met yet. Our love becomes more pure when we offer these things for persons we don’t have a special attachment to. However, God invites us to ask for all good things, especially for those who come into our lives, for whom we are called to demonstrate our love. For, if we don’t love the person we do see and know, how can we love the people we don’t?

 

[fin]

But can I still continue praying for myself and others?

 

[PhilotheaZ]

But can I still continue praying for myself and others?

Yes, of course. In fact, we are commanded to do so: “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all men … it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1–3).

Mary would never contradict that.