Oct. 27 - Do we "slight Jesus" by honoring Mary?

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In helping us grow closer to Jesus through Mary, St. Louis de Montfort in writing “True Devotion” points out ways we can be deceived by lies or confused by fears suggested to us by the evil one. He points out 7 kinds of false devotion to Mary. Yesterday we looked at “critical devotees” and today we look at the “scrupulous”. Let us keep in mind, we are listening to a Saint who has been given wisdom by God for the Church. Let us listen with the ears of our hearts to hear God’s Truth:

1. Scrupulous devotees are those who imagine they are slighting the Son by honouring the Mother. They fear that by exalting Mary they are belittling Jesus. They cannot bear to see people giving to our Lady the praises due to her and which the Fathers of the Church have lavished upon her. It annoys them to see more people kneeling before Mary’s altar than before the Blessed Sacrament, as if these acts were at variance with each other, or as if those who were praying to our Lady were not praying through her to Jesus. They do not want us to speak too often of her or to pray so often to her.

Here are some of the things they say: "What is the good of all these rosaries, confraternities and exterior devotions to our Lady? There is a great deal of ignorance in all this. It is making a mockery of religion. Tell us about those who are devoted to Jesus (and they often pronounce his name without uncovering their heads). We should go directly to Jesus, since he is our sole Mediator. We must preach Jesus; that is sound devotion." There is some truth in what they say, but the inference they draw to prevent devotion to our Lady is very insidious. It is a subtle snare of the evil one under the pretext of promoting a greater good. For we never give more honour to Jesus than when we honour his Mother, and we honour her simply and solely to honour him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek - Jesus, her Son.

1. The Church, with the Holy Spirit, blesses our Lady first, then Jesus, “Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.” Not that Mary is greater than Jesus, or even equal to him - that would be an intolerable heresy. But in order to bless Jesus more perfectly we should first bless Mary. Let us say with all those truly devoted to her, despite these false and scrupulous devotees: "O Mary, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus."

Being scrupulous can be a great trial for some who sincerely want to love both Jesus and Mary, and we need to pray for those who suffer this trial. I’ve known some who sincerely battle against the temptation and strive sincerely to love Jesus through Mary. St. Louis is merely warning us here, as he sees the evil one at work, seeking to devour souls as Holy Scripture warns us.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your Faithful. Kindle in us, the fire of your Love. Jesus we trust in You! Holy Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church, pray for us.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Inbonum,

Thanks for your reply. How I hope there are many more like you who read the words of St. Louis de Montfort’s from “True Devotion”, and recognize that God shares His wisdom with His Saints so they can preach His Good news by their example and some preach also by their words.

St. Louis de Montfort wrote not only for the Church in his own time and country but for the Church in all times and in all the world, and for God’s Holy Church in the End Times – especially, as he wrote in "True Devotion" Chapter 1 paragraphs 49 through 59 about ** Mary’s part in the latter times**

If you, or anyone reading this thread today has not read The Treatise on True Devotion I encourage you to click on the link and begin to read it prayerfully and slowly, asking the Holy Spirit for grace to Listen as our Mother Mary listened and pondered all the Truth she heard in her heart, by the power of His Holy Spirit. (Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[Dorothy]

I remember clearly the very first time I made St. Louis de Montfort’s Consecration and read the critical and scrupulous descriptions of devotion to Our Lady.

What wisdom it was to have that explained by him. It makes one think and helps them to focus on the best way to approach the devotion.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Dorothy,

I do not understand what happened yesterday i.e. how my intended reply to you was taken away.

I flagged the one that is here today because I tried to edit it yesterday, and it was duplicated on the thread, so I contacted the moderator and explained that the correct post below the one I flagged was fine and it was what I had intended to post.

Hope that makes some sense to you. Let me try to reconstruct my reply this morning. First, thanks for your reply and for sharing your own experience with reading St. Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion and Consecrating yourself totally to Jesus through Mary. It seems to me that many do not read St. Louis de Montfort’s words slowly, and prayerfully enough, asking for God’s Grace through the power of the Holy Spirit, to hear God’s Truth clearly. I can’t remember all I wrote yesterday, but I trust the Lord will help you and me to continue to honor Him through Mary. I was hoping the Moderator might post what I had edited and intended but … I just wanted you to know I am very grateful to you.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear patricius79,

It is good to hear from you again! Thanks for your heart and for your continuing love for Jesus through Mary. I know you have read “True Devotion” and prayerfully consecrated yourself to Jesus through Mary. It is alwasy a joy to remember Mary is the Refuge of Sinners and as we pray in the “Memorare” - Never has it been known that anyone who fled to her assistance was left unaided.

How the world needs Mary, our Mother! Thanks for loving her, dear brother, and for loving Jesus through, with, in and for her!

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“Totus Tuus” (All Yours)

 

[EugeneCharles]

That was a big AMEN!