Disturbing passage of the Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin

[HomeschoolDad]

In English we wouldn’t say we “humiliate” ourselves. We would say we “humble” ourselves. In contemporary English, the former always has a negative connotation.

This is precisely what I was driving at, though I didn’t think of the world “humble”. Thank you for bringing this up. There is a subtle semantic difference in English between “I was humbled” and “I was humiliated”.

 

[TK421]

I’ve just begun to read the Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, by St. Louis de Montfort.
Right at the introductory part (more precisely at topic 5), St. Louis put the things this way:
“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.”
Well, what I thought disturbing is that the Treatise is a paramount book on Mariology and it seems to me that St. Louis is roughly overinterpreting the situation. Based on what could he make such an assumption?
To presume that Jesus, our savior, God himself made flesh, would humiliate and conceal (hide) his mother to foster her humility … For me, with all my respect, that’s too much. IMHO, he is simply victimizing Mary, what is absolutely unnecessary.
Also, calling her “woman” has nothing to do with disrespect. I’m not going to reproduce here two very interesting texts that could explain that. I cannot put links here, but you can google it with this terms: Why Jesus Called Mary “Woman”. One text is at Catholic Exchange and the other at Aleteia
Does someone has another view on that matters?

This is standard to spiritual formation. God permits us to experience temporary hardships in order for us to grow. When we ask God for virtues in prayer, he delivers on our petitions faithfully. God himself is the paragon of humility, since he makes himself like a servant to his creatures.

This is something every parent does as well. They make their child eat their vegetables, brush their teeth, do their homework, instill manners and respect and kindness, etc. We don’t do this as faithfully as God does, but we still try to do it even if/when the child finds it unpleasant.

Peace.

 

[Bluebright]

Read the rest of the book and you may well see what Louis de Montfort is getting at. It is very respectful of both Mary and Jesus. Other saints confirm this same line of thinking that Mary was tried and tested to bring out her humility. The fact that she’s barely mentioned in the gospels could show this too. But like another poster says this is only his opinion, though he is a saint. But don’t discount it without reading on.

 

[Mark121359]

OP, maybe this will help. This article explains the way that I always interpreted Jesus referring to His Mother as “Woman.”

Why Jesus Called Mary “Woman” at Cana

 

[Silvio]

What a enriching discution!!! So many points of view!
I’m expecting for more contributions, but I just sincerely want to express my deep gratitude for all of you that has already dedicated your precious time to help me in a question that truly has unrested and troubled my mind (and my heart).

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Silvio,

So happy to know you might want more contributions! I read your original post and many of the responses were good answers seeking to help you understand St. Louis de Montfort better. Hopefully, you’ll be encouraged to read the whole Treatise on True Devotion by St. Louis de Montfort and read it even more than once!

I’ve read this little treatise many times and each time I learn more by God’s Grace. It is not an “easy” read but a prime example of one who persevered in reading it many times before he understood his own difficulty is a man who was not impressed at all by his first reading! A friend kept telling him to read it again, and finally after reading it about half a dozen times, he suddenly knew that what he read was true!

You may be be interested in reading an article he wrote about how he came to realize the problem he had with “True Devotion” was not that something was wrong with St. Louis De Montfort’s words, but rather that he did not have the background to understand what St. Louis de Montfort was really saying. I think God inspired this man to write his article to help others who may be persevering find the Truth they seek. The article is can be read at: Frank Duff reveals his thoughts on The True Devotion to Mary | True Devotion | Legion of Mary

Thanks for beginning this thread for I believe God gave you the grace He gave this man to persevere in order to find Truth. Jesus always speaks the Truth and He told us “Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find…” (cf Mat 7: 7-11)

 

[Dan_Defender]

to humble and conceal her during her lifetime in order to foster her humility

I think St Louis de Montfort is partially right here. Jesus kept her mother in the background as it were during his ministry, also for her own protection, but after the Ascension it seems to me she became more prominent and revered. I also think she suffered persecution because of this and that is why it is likely that St John relocated her to Ephesus.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Silvio and Mark,

Thanks for reading my “little contribution” to this thread. When I first read Frank Duff’s letter I was grateful for his humility and also for the fruitfulness God gave to is life. Frank began to live the Truth he heard in St. Louis de Montfort’s treatise on True Devotion.

In the lives of St. Louis de Montfort and Frank Duff, we see Jesus’ Words proved true:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.” (Mt. 7:15-20)

St. Louis de Montfort did not have an “easy life” in his following of Christ and in his desire to see Jesus better known through Mary. He suffered much from critics inside and outside the Church and died young, but his work has lived on for over two centuries and so many have been blessed by his treatise! Many became saints as he did with extraordinary love for Jesus through Mary.

Frank Duff’s fruitfulness began in 1917 after being specially graced by God in his reading of “True Devotion”. He met with his parish Priest and a small group who had read the treatise and also wanted to live the Truth they heard. The night of Sept. 7 the night before Mary’s Feast of her Nativity celebrated on Sept. 8 they knelt and prayed to the Holy Spirit for guidance and then prayed the Rosary.

That night was the beginning of the largest Lay Apostolate in the Catholic Church, with millions of members all over the world. Servant of God Frank Duff’s cause for canononization is now in process as are two young members of this organization whom Frank sent from Ireland to spread devotion to Jesus through Mary: Venerable Edel Quinn a young woman spread devotion to Jesus through Mary in Africa and Servant of God Alphonsus Lamb who spread devotion in South America. Both died young in the counties where they labored.

It is really important to ask questions, Silvio, in order not to be deceived. Let us continue prayerfully, listening to Jesus and do as Jesus tells us! Let us look at the fruits God works in persons who are truly His. There is only ONE TRUTH. Let us seek to know, love and serve Him Alone. Let us remember Mary’s words to the servants at Cana: “Do whatever He tells you!” (cf Jn 2:5) The servants obeyed and Jesus performed His First Public Miracle!

 

[Victoria33]

St. Louis de Montfort considered humiliations to be blessings.