Jan. 1 - Blessings on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God!

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Blessings on this beautiful Solemnity! How appropriate to ponder the words of St. Louis de Montfort today from his treatise, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin:

7. Contempt of the world

1. Mary’s faithful servants despise this corrupted world. They should hate and shun its allurements, and follow the exercises of the contempt of the world which we have given in the first part of this treatise.

8. Special interior practices for those who wish to be perfect

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.

Through Mary

1. We must do everything through Mary, that is, we must obey her always and be led in all things by her spirit, which is the Holy Spirit of God. “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God,” says St. Paul. Those who are led by the spirit of Mary are children of Mary, and, consequently children of God, as we have already shown. Among the many servants of Mary only those who are truly and faithfully devoted to her are led by her spirit.

I have said that the spirit of Mary is the spirit of God because she was never led by her own spirit, but always by the spirit of God, who made Himself master of her to such an extent that He became her very spirit. That is why St. Ambrose says, “May the soul of Mary be in each one of us to glorify the Lord. May the spirit of Mary be in each one of us to rejoice in God.” Happy is the man who follows the example of the good Jesuit Brother Rodriguez, who died a holy death, because he will be completely possessed and governed by the spirit of Mary, a spirit which is gentle yet strong, zealous yet prudent, humble yet courageous, pure yet fruitful.

“Contempt of the world” is not to hate God’s creation, but rather to hate the spirit of the world which is contrary to God’s Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, fill us with All Truth: Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary. As St. John of the Cross wrote: “God spoke ONE Word and His Name is Jesus!”

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Stephie,

Thanks for your “heart” once again! How good God is to give us such a Mother as Mary and also for giving us Saints like St. Louis de Montfort to preach and teach the Church how to honor her and become more like her!

Hopefully this year will be a time of special graces for all of us to continue growing closer to Jesus through Mary and appreciate more and more the love of Jesus in giving her to us !

 

[patricius79]

Mary’s faithful servants despise this corrupted world. They should hate and shun its allurements, and follow the exercises of the contempt of the world

I think we need more preaching and prayer about this since we in the Church have so been influenced by materialism and secularism.

Once we begin to see Mary as our only treasure (because of how she unites us to Jesus), and crosses as the greatest graces she obtains for us, we become more and more free.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear patricius,

You are so right, dear brother! Thanks for acknowledging this great need in the Church today! Only by God’s Grace can we do anything, but by His Grace, we can begin to hear with the ears of our hearts and ponder as Mary our Mother did!

Let us continue to pray for our clergy - Priests, Deacons and Seminarians that they will ask for the graces they need to be truly “good shepherds” after the the Lord’s Own Heart. Let us pray that they will draw closer to Mary as John the disciple did in hearing Jesus say from His Cross: “Behold your Mother!”

Let us also continue to pray for one another, for the Church and for all those in most need of God’s Mercy. The Catholic Laity need to hear the Gospel preached in sincerity and truth . May Our Lady help all of us to continue asking in order to receive; seeking in order to find and knocking that God the door will open for us to holiness, as Jesus taught us. (cf Mt. 7: 7-11)

Totus Tuus!