"Honoring the mystery of the Incarnation"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

During this last week of the Church year, we are preparing for the holy season of Advent.
In his book, “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin”, St. Louis de Montfort concludes his explanation and suggestions on wearing chains as an external devotion that can help our interior devotion, and goes on to write about “Honoring the mystery of the Incarnation”:

1. These loving slaves of Christ may wear their chains around the neck, on their arms, round the waist or round the ankles. Fr. Vincent Caraffa, seventh General of the Society of Jesus, who died a holy death in 1643, carried an iron band round his ankles as a symbol of his holy servitude and he used to say that his greatest regret was that he could not drag a chain around in public. Mother Agnes of Jesus, of whom we have already spoken, wore a chain around her waist. Others have worn it round the neck, in atonement for the pearl necklaces they wore in the world. Others have worn chains round their arms to remind them, as they worked with their hands, that they are the slaves of Jesus.

4. Honouring the mystery of the Incarnation

1. Loving slaves of Jesus in Mary should hold in high esteem devotion to Jesus, the Word of God, in the great mystery of the Incarnation, March 25th, which is the mystery proper to this devotion, because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit for the following reasons:

(a) That we might honour and imitate the wondrous dependence which God the Son chose to have on Mary, for the glory of his Father and for the redemption of man. This dependence is revealed especially in this mystery where Jesus becomes a captive and slave in the womb of his Blessed Mother, depending on her for everything.

(b) That we might thank God for the incomparable graces he has conferred upon Mary and especially that of choosing her to be his most worthy Mother. This choice was made in the mystery of the Incarnation. These are the two principal ends of the slavery of Jesus in Mary.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful; kindle in us the Fire of Your Love!

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks, Stephie, for your “faithful heart” letting us know you read and appreciated the words of St. Louis de Montfort in his book on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin”

Christmas has become so “commercialized” that Advent is not known in the present culture, as it was in the past, it seems. Nevertheless it is a very special time for us to ponder and honor the beautiful Mystery of the Incarnation. Too few seem to have "devotion to’ or “dependence upon” Mary – ah but, Jesus dwelt in the womb of His Mother, for 9 months utterly dependent on her, before His Birth in Bethlehem.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear patricius,

Thank you also, for your “faithful heart”, which seeks to know, love and serve Jesus through Mary – as St. Louis de Montfort has been given words by God to help us do.

By God’s continuing grace let us remain faithful to the Truth the Holy Spirit gives and let us trust in Jesus through Mary, to do the Truth we hear.