If you are called to a Marian Spirituality but afraid of loving her more than God, then this may be for you

[Edwyn]

I love how St. Louis de Montfort seemed to jumpstart Marian spirituality in the Catholic Church at the beginning of the 20th century whose spread, at least to me, has not slowed down. Yet I am also not blind to how some people have reacted badly, even hostilely, to his way of devotion to Mary, and I can see why.

Montfortian Marian spirituality is encapsulated in the motto Ad Jesum per Mariam or “To Jesus through Mary”, and plumbing its truths has produced mountains of books, tracts, and debates showing that this does not make Mary as a barrier between us and Jesus but in fact enhances our unity with Him. Unfortunately St Louis’ flowery language can be hard to understand, and the way he presents his spirituality does not help things. But the main objection to St. Louis de Montfort’s spirituality is the truth that “the Lord is closer to us than we are to ourselves,” as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI quoted St. Augustine in one of his homilies.

If Jesus is closer to me than I am to myself, then why would I need Mary to get closer to Him, to pray to Him, to receive His graces?

There are many ways to answer this very satisfactorily (as I said, mountains of books etc.) but the point is it just seems to add more complexity on something so simple as God’s nearness to us. Indeed there are those (including me at one point) who felt that loving Mary as St. Louis presents it takes away our love for the Lord in favor of Mary. Evidence of these sentiments is as easy to find as to use the search function in this same forum.

And yet I found out it does not need to be so. My Ideal: Jesus Son of Mary is a book written by Rev. Fr. Emil Neubert, who was a contemporary of two other great Marian spiritualists, St. Maximilian Kolbe and Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary (in fact, they had written correspondences with each other). The book is presented as conversations between the reader and Jesus like in the latter part of Imitation of Christ, then between the reader and Mary.

The thesis of the book is seemingly to turn Monfortian spirituality on its head: it acknowledges that as Christians we already have accepted Christ into our hearts, into our minds, into our lives. Christ really is closer to us than we are to ourselves.

Jesus: I am more than a model placed before you, I am, for you, an interior principle of life.

The problem then is that we have kept Him there, inside us, and we have not let Him out. We pray, we read Scripture, we fast, and yet we still are fearful, trapped in habitual sins, so faltering in our love of God and men.

Jesus: There are too many obstacles to the free unfolding of My activity in your soul. Too often I live in your soul as a prisoner lives in his cell.

continued next post

 

[Edwyn]

The solution the book gives us is to let Jesus out of inside us by letting Him in us give ourselves to Mary, and in turn be reared by her as our mother.

Jesus: My brother, you cannot really reproduce My filial love toward Mary unless you are, as I am, her child. Do you know to what extent you are a child of Mary?..Many love Mary as if she were their Mother: tell Me, what would your mother answer you, if you said to her, “I love you as if you were my mother?”

Jesus: My brother, since My life is your life, and My Mother your Mother, it is easy for you to imitate My filial love toward her. But you should not imitate Me only as a disciple imitates his master, or as a Christian on earth imitates his celestial patron. I am more than a model placed before you, I am, for you, an interior principle of life. You live by Me. My dispositions must become your dispositions…Do you understand now why you are so happy in loving Mary? It is I in you who am happy in loving her.

Mary: My beloved child, to whom I gave birth when giving birth to Jesus, in whom I see Jesus, and whom I love with the same love I have for Him, my Firstborn Son has taught you to be a son to me as He Himself was. I am going to be a mother to you as I was to Him… Rearing you means teaching you to live fully the life of Jesus; it means making you think, love, will, speak, and act as He did; in a word, it means changing you into Him. It means bringing about in you a transformation similar to the Transubstantiation which the priest operates in the Sacred Host: to the physical eye the host always appears as bread, but to the eye of faith it is Jesus! You also, exteriorly, will remain yourself, but interiorly, in a certain way you will be Jesus Himself.

The book then gives out certain practices to start this transformation, and they are solid Catholic practices.

• A daily Rosary or at least one daily decade of the Rosary
• Lectio divina
• Daily prayer with Jesus
• Discerning one’s main vice, then fighting it with a corresponding virtue of Jesus and Mary
• Daily examen
• Spiritual renewals
• Retreats

And then to complete the “outing” of Jesus, the book encourages us to become “Mary’s Soldier” and fight for the Kingdom of God by

• apostolic prayer
• redemptive suffering
• preaching by example
• holy speech
• working with like-minded men and women (the book suggests the Legion of Mary)
• works of mercy

Honestly, I feel this book and spirituality needs to be spread much more than it is known now. It presents Marian spirituality in a clearer and, in my opinion, more touching way than St. Louis de Montfort’s.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Edwyn,

Do you really think any true devotion to Mary would include fear of loving her more than God? Have you read the whole of St. Louis De Montfort’s treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin? Have you read it more than once?

If you are willing to separate “Marian Spirituality” from love of Jesus than I can’t believe you have read St. Louis De Montfort’s treatise thoroughly, or prayerfully enough because St. Louis relies so heavily on the sources of God’s Revelation: Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium ( authentic teaching authority of the Church)

The Truth God inspired in St. Louis de Montfort does not change! The Catechism of the Catholic Chirch gives ample proof that there is never any conflict between the Church’s True devotion to Mary and the Church’s love for Jesus. The Catechism points this out in many paragraphs concerning Mary, but I’ll give one:

DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

971 “All generations will call me blessed”: "The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship." The Church rightly honors “the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs… This very special devotion … differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.” The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an “epitome of the whole Gospel,” express this devotion to the Virgin Mary

Fr. Neubert’s book does not turn Montfort’s treatise on its head if you read both authors carefully and prayerfully, and if you also have read the Handbook of the Legion of Mary by Frank Duff who was so inspired by De Montort, he and founded the Legion of Mary with others who had consecrated themselves totally to Jesus through Mary. St. Maximilian Kolbe also resembles De Montfort’s writings, especially in his Act of Consecration. I have prayed both Consecrations and they have only drawn me closer to Jesus, the Holy Spirit and to the Eternal Father. I do not want to debate with you on this, but I ask you and others to prayerfully read more on Mary in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and from the Saints and Doctors of the Church and ponder the words in Scripture “Behold your Mother”. (Jn 19) Mary is Mother and Model for the Church.

The unique union of Jesus and Mary deserves to be pondered deeply. God’s gift to us of Mary and her unique role in His Plan of salvation for us deserves to be pondered deeply. Come Holy Spirit, fill the herats of Your Faithful; kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Mary, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church, pray for us. Jesus, we trust in You.

 

[AveOTheotokos]

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[Edwyn]

I made my Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin more than 10 years ago and have renewed it yearly since; I have read and studied not only the Treatise but also The Secret of Mary, and the Handbook of Spirituality of St. Louis de Montfort, as well as the numerous articles compiled in this book and other writings (I did say mountains of books, right?) so I do consider myself more familiar with St. Louis de Montfort’s spirituality than most.

I also did write “at one point”, i.e. I did at one point in time have problems understanding St. Louis de Montfort’s writings, but I have overcome them through much effort, hence the mountains etc., and prayer. I take offense though at your wording of “willing to separate “Marian Spirituality” from love of Jesus”; I doubt anybody wants that! Again, look at the debates and questions regarding that same difficulty in these forums. Nobody wants that, but there truly is a documented problem of easy misunderstanding of Montfortian Spirituality.

And please note that I wrote “seemingly”: in the end (which should have been easily discerned by just reading my posts) Fr Neubert does reconcile with St Louis at the end with Ad Jesum per Mariam, but Fr Neubert does start from our nearness to Jesus instead of our farness from Him which is the starting point of St. Louis, which in the end makes the former’s presentation, in my opinion, easier to grasp and understand for beginners.

 

[Edwyn]

Jesus: Honor [Mary] to the limit of your power, for she is beyond all praise and you will never sufficiently praise her. Honor her with no fear of excess. You will never honor her as much as I did, nor so much as I wish her to be honored. (My Ideal: Jesus Son of Mary)

“The Marianist E. Neubert has published a book entitled My Ideal, Jesus, Son of Mary. The spirit that pervades this book is entirely the same as ours.” (St Maximilian Kolbe, in a letter. Source)

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Edwyn,

It seems to me, that the title of your thread in itself gives some credence to the thought that there is a possibility of as you put it “called to a Marian Spirituality but afraid of loving her more than God”. It seems to me far better to take the approach of St. Maximillian Kolbe who is quoted in this thread by AveOTheotokos:

Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did

It seems to me that would have been a far better title for your thread. It seems to me also a sad approach to say that “The thesis of Fr. Neubert’s book is seemingly to turn Montfortian spirituality on its head”. Did Fr. Neubert say that? I do not believe he did nor does it seem to me he would claim that his book is intended to that.

Granted, saints can give us different insights, while both are good. It seems to me far better to simply point out what is good in both than to seemingly claim one book turns another “on its head”. That to me is a demeaning comment on a classic spiritual book and seems likely to keep one from reading De Montfort. I am surprised you’ve read St. Louis De Montfort’s books and chose to write that comment even while seemingly “excusing it” by using the disclaimer “seemingly”.

I’m sorry to object so vigorously, usually I avoid debates but I think both authors, i.e. Fr. Neubert and St. Louis De Montfort, have good things to say and it saddened me to read your remarks which seemed to incline some to avoid St. Louis de Montfort’s treatise. St. John Paul II wrote that reading St. Louis De Montfort’s True Devotion was a turning point in his young life – that is high praise from another saint.

 

[Edwyn]

I am sorry if it seems that I am attacking St. Louis de Montfort’s writings but I am not. I am just acknowledging their shortcomings.

I both love and hate his writings: love the ideas but hate how they were presented. After all, they started the popularity of making consecrations to Jesus through Mary, and I heard that calling and I labored to understand his writings, and I made the consecration.

In the end, however, they are not people. I have kept my eyes open both towards myself, of how I struggled to understand St. Louis’ writings, and outside, of how other people have struggled all the same. I care for the people who want God, and if it means introducing to them a different spirituality that still is Catholic, then so be it.

St Louis de Montfort was correct in writing that Mary “is the safest, easiest, shortest and most perfect way of approaching Jesus,” and those that realize this “will surrender themselves to her, body and soul, without reserve in order to belong entirely to Jesus” (paragraph 55, Treatise). But it is the distance from God that is chaffing in his spirituality: he wrote also

1. (2) She enriches our good works by adorning them with her own merits and virtues. It is as if a poor peasant, wishing to win the friendship and favour of the king, were to go the queen and give her an apple - his only possession - for her to offer it to the king. The queen, accepting the peasant’s humble gift, puts it on a beautiful golden dish and presents it to the king on behalf of the peasant. The apple in itself would not be a gift worthy of a king, but presented by the queen in person on a dish of gold, it becomes fit for any king.
2. (3) Mary presents our good works to Jesus. She does not keep anything we offer for herself, as if she were our last end, but unfailingly gives everything to Jesus. So by the very fact we give anything to her, we are giving it to Jesus. Whenever we praise and glorify her, she sings today as she did on the day Elizabeth praised her, “My soul glorifies the Lord.”

[St. Louis de Montfort, Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, https://www.ewtn.com/library/Montfort/TRUEDEVO.HTM]

In our hearts that already thirst for God, how can this spirituality be a shortcut to Him?

continued next post

 

[Edwyn]

Now compare this to Fr. Emil Neubert’s approach, in the very first chapter he wrote:

Jesus: Devotion to My Mother is something so important, so beneficial to you, so acceptable to her and to Me, that you cannot be satisfied with something mediocre, or good enough, or even very good, but solely with what is perfect.

Do you know the most perfect kind of devotion to Mary? Search in books, consult theologians, ask the greatest servants of Mary that the earth has ever produced for the secret—and you will find nowhere a devotion more perfect than the one which I am going to teach you and which consists in sharing in My own filial love for My Mother. [emphasis in the text]

[Neubert, Rev. Fr. Emil. My Ideal Jesus: Son of Mary (with Supplemental Reading: Favorite Prayers to Our Lady) [Illustrated] (Kindle Locations 84-88). TAN Books. Kindle Edition.]

And a few chapters down:

Jesus: My brother, since My life is your life, and My Mother your Mother, it is easy for you to imitate My filial love toward her.

But you should not imitate Me only as a disciple imitates his master, or as a Christian on earth imitates his celestial patron. I am more than a model placed before you, I am, for you, an interior principle of life.

You live by Me. My dispositions must become your dispositions…

Do you understand now why you are so happy in loving Mary? It is I in you who am happy in loving her.

You participate in My life, but My life is far from being perfect in you. If it were perfect, you would think, you would feel, you would will, you would act in all things as I do. There are too many obstacles to the free unfolding of My activity in your soul. Too often I live in your soul as a prisoner lives in his cell.

[Neubert, Rev. Fr. Emil. My Ideal Jesus: Son of Mary (with Supplemental Reading: Favorite Prayers to Our Lady) [Illustrated] (Kindle Locations 192-196, 200-203). TAN Books. Kindle Edition.]

Which approach seems to be a shorter way to Jesus? Which approach would you give to someone who thirsts for Him?

 

[semper_catholicus]

I believe everyone is called to a Marian Spirituality.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Edwyn,

It seems to me that I would hesitate to tell a canonized saint such as St. Louis Marie De Montfort, whose writings are approved by the Church that his writings have “shortcomings”, especially when other very holy people like St. John Paul II, St. Teresa of Calcutta, Servant of God Frank Duff, Venerable Edel Quinn and countless others have all found so much help in his writings and continue to do so today.

If you prefer Fr. Neubert’s writing, that’s fine, but it seems better to simply state your own opinion as such, rather than run the risk of turning some people away from even trying to probe further into what St. Louis de Montfort wrote. Servant of God Frank Duff read “True Devotion” many times before – as he describes it – he came to understand it was “True”. He wrote an article on his experience in which he admitted the trouble was with himself and not with St. Louis de Montfort. You may want to read the article HERE

Reading your comment: “it is the distance from God that is chaffing in his spirituality”. It seems to me that St Louis’ writing in his treatise on True Devotion does not create or encourage distance, but our sins do. I will read your continued post.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Edwyn,

This will be my last reply to you, since I find no fruit in contrasting these two priests’ writings. Both are saying good things. Father Neubert has written a worthwhile book and he is taking a different approach. He is speaking about the beauty of God’s Grace infused into our souls at Baptism giving us a share in His Life – Mary lived perfectly because she had that Supernatural Life from the beginning of her existence. Fr. Olier’s prayer expresses it this way:

O Jesus, living in Mary, come and live in your servants, in the spirit of holiness, in the fullness of your power, in the perfection of your ways, in the truth of your virtues, in the communion of your mysteries. Rule over every adverse power, in your Spirit, for the glory of the Father. Amen. (Jean Jacques Olier, S.S. (1608-1657)

If you prefer Fr. Neubert’s writing to St. Louis de Montfort’s writing that is your choice, but again it seems far better to me not to discourage anyone from prayerfully reading St. Louis de Montfort’s treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Mother. That may not have been your intention at all, but it seemed to me to be a danger I needed to address for the sake of others who may read your post and decide not to attempt or continue or even attempt reading True Devotion. That seemed to me something you would not want to see happen either.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear semper_catholicus,

You are right in line with the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

II. DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

971 “All generations will call me blessed”: “The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.” The Church rightly honors "the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs… This very special devotion … differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration." The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an “epitome of the whole Gospel,” express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.

Thanks for reminding all of our readers at CAF how important Mary is. This Monday we will be celebrating the “Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church” to be celebrated hereafter every year on the Monday after Pentecost. May all of us hear deep in our hearts the words of Jesus to John: “Behold your Mother” and may we obey Jesus as John did, by taking Mary into our homes and into our lives.

 

[Edwyn]

That may not have been your intention at all, but it seemed to me to be a danger I needed to address for the sake of others who may read your post and decide not to attempt or continue or even attempt reading True Devotion.

There is another danger that is far more too real since I have seen it: that of people abandoning Marian Spirituality upon reading St. Louis de Montfort’s writings. This is the one thing that I want to address.

I have seen far too many heated arguments over his writings. While others choose to defend Marian spirituality by explaining St. Louis’ writings, I just propose an alternative. St. Louis de Montfort’s writings do not have a monopoly on how to love Mary.

 

[OsculeturMeOsculo]

One of the problems I have been having is how I am supposed to ask for graces if I have given away the rights of all my actions.

 

[Mtdobbs]

Winning post!

 

[Edwyn]

With St. Louis de Montfort, you really have to trust Mary your mother, in that although now you have given everything to her for the love and glory of her Son, she will not let herself be outdone in generosity:

1. The Blessed Virgin, mother of gentleness and mercy, never allows herself to be surpassed in love and generosity. When she sees someone giving himself entirely to her in order to honour and serve her, and depriving himself of what he prizes most in order to adorn her, she gives herself completely in a wondrous manner to him. She engulfs him in the ocean of her graces, adorns him with her merits, supports him with her power, enlightens him with her light, and fills him with her love. She shares her virtues with him - her humility, faith, purity, etc. She makes up for his failings and becomes his representative with Jesus. Just as one who is consecrated belongs entirely to Mary, so Mary belongs entirely to him. We can truthfully say of this perfect servant and child of Mary what St. John in his gospel says of himself, “He took her for his own.”

But now the thing is, with Fr. Emil Neubert, it is “easier” to think of how to do this, since you are not just a slave or instrument of Mary, nay, you shouldn’t be satisfied to be on as such:

Jesus: Do not be satisfied with giving yourself to Mary just to become her property. She wants to use you, not as an inert object, but as a beloved son who assists his mother.

Neubert, Rev. Fr. Emil. My Ideal Jesus: Son of Mary (with Supplemental Reading: Favorite Prayers to Our Lady) [Illustrated] (Kindle Locations 237-238). TAN Books. Kindle Edition.