"If devotion to our Lady distracted us from our Lord, we would have to reject it ..."

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MariaChristi

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

How I wish more Catholics would read prayerfully the words of Scripture more! How I wish they might also read the Catechism of the Catholic Church! Finally I wish they would read St. Louis de Montfort’s little treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, as well as other saints, devoted to her in our time: St. John Paul II, and St. Maximillian Kolbe, as they loved and honored Mary our Mother and wrote by the power of the Holy Spirit, for the building up of the Body of Christ. It is so sad to hear not only non Catholics but also some who profess to be Catholic unwilling to see in Mary all that God has done. I can truly sympathize with St. Louis de Montfort in his “complaints” lovingly uttered to Jesus in paragraph 63:
  1. If then we are establishing sound devotion to our Blessed Lady, it is only in order to establish devotion to our Lord more perfectly, by providing a smooth but certain way of reaching Jesus Christ. If devotion to our Lady distracted us from our Lord, we would have to reject it as an illusion of the devil. But this is far from being the case. As I have already shown and will show again later on, this devotion is necessary, simply and solely because it is a way of reaching Jesus perfectly, loving him tenderly, and serving him faithfully.
  2. Here I turn to you for a moment, dear Jesus, to complain lovingly to your divine Majesty that the majority of Christians, and even some of the most learned among them, do not recognise the necessary bond that unites you and your Blessed Mother. Lord, you are always with Mary and Mary is always with you. She can never be without you because then she would cease to be what she is. She is so completely transformed into you by grace that she no longer lives, she no longer exists, because you alone, dear Jesus, live and reign in her more perfectly than in all the angels and saints. If we only knew the glory and the love given to you by this wonderful creature, our feelings for you and for her would be far different from those we have now. So intimately is she united to you that it would be easier to separate light from the sun, and heat from the fire. I go further, it would even be easier to separate all the angels and saints from you than Mary; for she loves you ardently, and glorifies you more perfectly than all your other creatures put together.
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Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful; kindle in us, the fire of Your Love!
 
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Completing Fr. Michael Gaitley’s 33 Days to Morning Glory for the second time now…

I have seen the work of the intercession of the Blessed Virgin so clearly in my life. 🙂
 
Thanks dear Maximillian75, for your reply and for your devotion to Jesus through Mary. I have also read Fr. Gaitley’s book, but I encourage you to read De Montfort’s treatise as well. It was from De Montfort that Fr. Gaitley drew the 33 day prepartaion, but De Montfort goes more deeply into our union with Jesus modeled after Mary’s union with Jesus ( i.e. by the power of the Holy Spirit) – at least it seems that way to me.

It is good to re-read books, because it helps us to understand more. If you read St. Louis De Montfort’s book, I think you will be blessed also. Each time I’ve read it, I’ve learned more – and I’ve lost track of how many times !'ve read it. 🙂
 
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another friend of mine who is doing 33 days is also doing De montford… he says it’s great
 
Glad to read that your friend is reading and beginning the 33 days of preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, as written and practised by St. Louis de Montfort and our modern saints : St. John Paul II wrote that reading St. Louis De Montfort’s treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin was a turning point in his young life, and also St. Teresa of Calcutta recommended De Montfort to her Missionaries of Charity. We know how those two saints gave great honor to God and helped so many of God’s children to honor Him more by living that Total Consecration, which St. Louis de Montfort described in his treatise.

I hope you will eventually read “True Devotion” by St. Louis de Montfort and begin to understand even more deeply how Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary can foster growth in holiness.
 
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Hello MariaChristi,

Interesting post. I do see a situation though in which there might be a valid reason to be less devoted to our Mother. Speaking from experiences I have largely gotten past now thanks be to God, certain devotions, rituals, etc. can be very difficult for scrupulous people and can confuse and damage us spiritually. I still have troubles with bowing for example because I’ll feel like I’m bowing to and worshiping whatever is in front of me at the time which can cause a lot of stress sometimes; other times my thought process is completely logical and natural. Devotion to our Mother can be really confusing to someone who is scrupulous and very careful when it comes to worshiping God alone. In this case I would recommend a simple devotion to begin with, at least until the scruples have gotten better. Reasoning out what is actually being done in a logical way helps as well.

Prayers to our Mother are important and efficacious and it is sad that devotion to her is not what it once was. God willing this will change.

May God bless you!
 
I have read and did the preparation according to Saint Louis de Monfort’s True Devotion to Mary. I trying my best to practice all the interior and exterior exercises of the Devotion.
 
Dear FortressGiant,

Thanks for your reply. Scrupulosity can be a painful situation, and if one finds that he is being extremely fearful of doing wrong, or finding himself confused about the practice of his faith, he may need a good confessor or good spiritual director to help him to overcome this obstacle to the peaceful and ardent practice of his Catholic faith.

I’m grateful to the Lord He has given you grace to get past some painful experiences, but the devotions approved by the Church, are not damaging in themselves. Rather the danger lies more in how they may be practiced or misunderstood. Bowing for instance is a beautiful practice of reverence. Worship is due to God and our devotion to Mary, is only intended to draw us closer to Him. Love of our Mother is an imitation of Christ Who loves and honors His Mother. Devotion grows through love. May the Lord enable us to grow more and more in our loving relationship with Him and with our Mother.
 
Dear SammyRose,

It is a blessing for you, I’m sure to have read and done the preparation according to St. Louis De Montfort. I’m hoping you will continue to read this little book very prayerfully and carefully. When you mentioned in your post, however, that you are trying to practice “all the interior and exterior exercises” – I hope you are staying with the words of the saint.

For instance in some copies of True Devotion there are added “suggestions” of prayers, reading and exercises, beyond what St. Louis wrote and if you are trying to do too much it may become burdensome.

Even within St. Louis’ description of the 33 day preparation, he uses the words “you may.…” or “you might” and not you must so as not put anyone under too much of a burden. For example in Chapter 7, writing about exterior practices:
  1. Preparation and Consecration
  2. Those who desire to take up this special devotion … should spend at least twelve days in emptying themselves of the spirit of the world, which is opposed to the spirit of Jesus, as I have recommended in the first part of this preparation for the reign of Jesus Christ. They should then spend three weeks imbuing themselves with the spirit of Jesus through the most Blessed Virgin. Here is a programme they might follow:
  3. During the first week they should offer up all their prayers and acts of devotion to acquire knowledge of themselves and sorrow for their sins.
Let them perform all their actions in a spirit of humility. With this end in view they may, if they wish, meditate on what I have said concerning our corrupted nature…
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Further on in this chapter St. Louis wrote:
  1. The exterior practices of this devotion which I have just dealt with should be observed as far as one’s circumstances and state of life permit. They should not be omitted through negligence or deliberate disregard. In addition to them, here are some very sanctifying interior practices for those souls who feel called by the Holy Spirit to a high degree of perfection. They may be expressed in four words, doing everything through Mary, with Mary, in Mary, and for Mary, in order to do it more perfectly through Jesus, with Jesus, in Jesus, and for Jesus.
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Prayer to the Holy Spirit is very important, Sammy and all of us need to remember that while we are all called to holiness, we are dependint on God’s Grace. We need His Holy Spirit to guide us as Jesus promised “into all Truth” (cf John 16:13). The more I pray to the Holy Spirit, through the intercession of Mary, the more grateful I am for God’s grace. As St. Therese of Lisieux said so wisely, “Everything is grace!” Without God, we can do nothing (cf John 15).

Please let us pray for one another, for the Church and for all those in most need of God’s Mercy. By God’s Grace, let us persevere in our call to holiness, grateful for the wisdom God has given to Mary and to all the saints to help us love Jesus more – He is our Way, our Truth, and our Life.
 
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Dear FortressGiant,
Thanks for your reply. Scrupulosity can be a painful situation, and if one finds that he is being extremely fearful of doing wrong, or finding himself confused about the practice of his faith, he may need a good confessor or good spiritual director to help him to overcome this obstacle to the peaceful and ardent practice of his Catholic faith.
I’m grateful to the Lord He has given you grace to get past some painful experiences, but the devotions approved by the Church, are not damaging in themselves. Rather the danger lies more in how they may be practiced or misunderstood. Bowing for instance is a beautiful practice of reverence. Worship is due to God and our devotion to Mary, is only intended to draw us closer to Him. Love of our Mother is an imitation of Christ Who loves and honors His Mother. Devotion grows through love. May the Lord enable us to grow more and more in our loving relationship with Him and with our Mother.
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Hello MariaChristi,
You bring up a very important point: The devotions are pure and not damaging in and of themselves. It’s our misuse, misunderstanding, or other difficulties we encounter that are the problem. Thank you for the thoughtful reply!

FG
 
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