Oct. 28 - Discerning what is true and what is false

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we continue listening to God’s wisdom coming through the writing of Saint Louis de Montfort in “True Devotion”:

Superficial devotees

1. Superficial devotees are people whose entire devotion to our Lady consists in exterior practices. Only the externals of devotion appeal to them because they have no interior spirit. They say many rosaries with great haste and assist at many Masses distractedly. They take part in processions of our Lady without inner fervour. They join her confraternities without reforming their lives or restraining their passions or imitating Mary’s virtues. All that appeals to them is the emotional aspect of this devotion, but the substance of it has no appeal at all. If they do not feel a warmth in their devotions, they think they are doing nothing; they become upset, and give up everything, or else do things only when they feel like it. The world is full of these shallow devotees, and there are none more critical of men of prayer who regard the interior devotion as the essential aspect and strive to acquire it without, however, neglecting a reasonable external expression which always accompanies true devotion

Presumptuous devotees

1. Presumptuous devotees are sinners who give full rein to their passions or their love of the world, and who, under the fair name of Christian and servant of our Lady, conceal pride, avarice, lust, drunkenness, anger, swearing, slandering, injustice and other vices. They sleep peacefully in their wicked habits, without making any great effort to correct them, believing that their devotion to our Lady gives them this sort of liberty. They convince themselves that God will forgive them, that they will not die without confession, that they will not be lost for all eternity. They take all this for granted because they say the Rosary, fast on Saturdays, are enrolled in the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary or the Scapular, or a sodality of our Lady, wear the medal or the little chain of our Lady.

When you tell them that such a devotion is only an illusion of the devil and a dangerous presumption which may well ruin them, they refuse to believe you. ( word limit prevents my continuing this paragraph so God willing, I’ll continue it tomorrow.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. Bring us into ALL Truth as Jesus promised, (cf Jn 16:13). Jesus we trust in You! Mary Mother of the Church, pray for us.

 

[Kininni]

Thank You!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Kininni,

Ah but it is the Lord through His beautiful Mother who gives us all the graces we need to share with others! Let us thank Jesus through Mary for all the good they have done in us and for us that we are enabled to love them in return, by the power of the Holy Spirit working within us.

Without God we can do nothing (cf Jn 15:5). One of the reasons I continue to read St. Louis de Montfort’s little treatise on “True Devotion” is because St. Louis de Montfort is steeped in Scripture. He writes from what He has heard in God’s Holy Word and what he has heard also from the saints who went before him, who also wrote by God’s grace.

I hope you will click on the link to read this little book online, if you have never read it before. If you have read it, perhps like me you also keep going back to it – for it is very much like continuing to read the Scriptures, the more we prayerfully read the books of the Bible the more of God’s Truth, by God’s grace, we hear and are enabled to do.

May we keep our eyes on Jesus as Mary did standing beneath His Cross on Calvary and hear deep in our hearts His Words:

Behold your Mother

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

 

[Kininni]

Thank you, I have saved a copy to my desktop from your link. I will be sure to read it and study it.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Kininni,

Ah – music to the ears of my heart! Thanks for letting me know that you plan to read “True Devotion”

Please don’t forget to pray to the Holy Spirit to help you as you Listen for God’s Truth in the words He gave St. Louis de Montfort. God is our Father Who knows how to give good gifts to His Children who ask to receive, seek to find, and knock on the door to open for us! (cf Mt. 7: 7-11)

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks Inbonum for your “heart”! It is always a joy to see anyone reply to the words God gave to His Saint that His Mother be honored. St. Louis points out that Mary is the echo of God – when we say “Mary”, she says “God”

In Luke’s Gospel we hear Mary’s cousin Elizabeth praise Mary but how beautiful is Mary’s response; Mary praises God:

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For He has looked upon His handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear Him. He has shown might with His arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry He has filled with good things; the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped Israel His servant, remembering His mercy, according to hHis promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” **

Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. (Lk 2: 41-56)

How beautiful is our Mother’s humility!