Pope St. JPII: "When one moves away from the Mother

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This first Chapter of St. Louis de Montfort’s treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin” has for its title - “Necessity of Devotion to Our Lady” - The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches this same truth in paragraph 971 "…“The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.”… God chose to send Jesus through Mary and so the Church’s devotion to Mary is “intrinsic” – Mary is essential.

Please let us by God’s Grace, continue listening prayerfully and carefully to Chap.1:

1. Secondly, we must conclude that, being necessary to God by a necessity which is called “hypothetical”, (that is, because God so willed it), the Blessed Virgin is all the more necessary for men to attain their final end. Consequently we must not place devotion to her on the same level as devotion to the other saints as if it were merely something optional.
2. The pious and learned Jesuit, Suarez, Justus Lipsius, a devout and erudite theologian of Louvain, and many others have proved incontestably that devotion to our Blessed Lady is necessary to attain salvation. This they show from the teaching of the Fathers, notably St. Augustine, St. Ephrem, deacon of Edessa, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Germanus of Constantinople, St. John Demascene, St. Anselm, St. Bernard, St. Bernardine, St. Thomas and St. Bonaventure. Even according to Oecolampadius and other heretics, lack of esteem and love for the Virgin Mary is an infallible sign of God’s disapproval. On the other hand, to be entirely and genuinely devoted to her is a sure sign of God’s approval.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful; kindle in us the Fire of Your Love and Your Truth. Enable us to “see” by the Supernatural Faith of our Baptism the truth Pope St. John Paul II spoke in 1982:

….When one moves away from the Mother, sooner or later he ends up keeping distant from the Son as well, It is no wonder that today, in various sectors of secularised society, we note a widespread crisis of faith in God, preceded by a drop in devotion to the Virgin Mother…

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear patricius and Justin Mary,

Thank you both for your “hearts” letting us know you read and appreciated the words of St. Louis de Montfort.

Today is also the Feast of St. John Eudes who preached missions in France and had great love for, and spread devotion to, the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. It is also the Anniversary of the 4th apparition of Our Lady to the tree shepherd children at Fatima. May Mary’s Immaculate Heart intercede for all, that we may open our hearts to the Holy Spirit as she did – to bring Jesus to the world so in need of Him!

 

[patricius79]

St. John Eudes’s book “The Admirable Heart of Mary” is extremely beautiful.

Here is a passage from his chapter, “Mary’s Heart, the Heavens”:

Thirdly, the Admirable Heart of Mary is the Heaven of Heaven, because, as St. Bernard says, it
contains the entire Church, which is called in Sacred Scripture the Kingdom of Heaven, and because
all the children of the Church receive through Mary the life of grace. (14) If St. Paul assured the
Christians of his time that they were in his heart, (15) who would dare to contradict St. Bernardine
of Siena, (16) who tells us that the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, like a good mother, carries all her
children in her Heart? Who will contradict me if I add that Our Lady will forever carry all the
inhabitants of heaven in her inmost Heart, which becomes the Heaven of Heaven, and a true Paradise
of the Elect, in which they find the fulness of delight and joy, due to the inconceivable love for each
soul which consumes her maternal Heart? Thus the blessed will forever sing: Sicut laetantium
omnium nostrum habitatio est in corde tuo, sancta Dei Genetrix. 0 holy Mother of God, thy boundless
charity has so vastly extended thy maternal Heart that it has become like a great city, or rather an
immense heaven, full of ineffable consolations and unspeakable joys for thy beloved children, whose
happy dwelling it shall be for all eternity.
Full text of "The Admirable Heart Of Mary by St John Eudes"

 

[patricius79]

Like St. Louis De Montfort, St. Alphonsus affirms the teaching that Marian devotion is necessary for salvation, as he quotes various doctors of the Church.

Of course, this does not refer to those who simply have no way of practicing conscious Marian devotion due to a true impediment.

Here is St. Alphonsus Liguori:

St. Anselm says, “that as it is impossible for one who is not devout to Mary, and consequently not protected by her, to be saved, so is it impossible for one who recommends himself to her, and consequently is beloved by her, to be lost” (“Sicut, O Beatissima! omnis a te aversus et a te despectus necesse est ut intereat, ita omnis ad te converses et a te respectus impossibile est ut pereat”— Orat . 51). St. Antoninus repeats the same thing and almost in the same words: “As it is impossible for those from whom Mary turns her eyes of mercy to be saved, so also are those towards whom she turns these eyes, and for whom she prays, necessarily saved and glorified” (“Sicut impossibile est, quod illi, a quibus Maria oculos suae misericordiae avertit, salventur; ita necessarium quod hi, ad quos convertit oculos suos, pro eis advocans, justificentur et glorificentur”— P . 4, tit. 15, c. 14, #7). Consequently the clients of Mary will necessarily be saved.

Let us pay particular attention to the first part of the opinions of these saints, and let those tremble who make but little account of their devotion to this divine Mother, or from carelessness give it up. They say that the salvation of those who are not protected by Mary is impossible. Mary others declare the same thing; such as Blessed Albert, who says, that “all those who are not thy servants, O Mary, will perish” (“Gens quae non servierit tibi peribit”— Bibl. Mar. Is. n. 20). And St. Bonaventure: “He who neglects the service of the blessed Virgin will die in his sins” (“Qui neglexerit illam, morietur in peccatis suis”). Again, “He who does not invoke thee, O Lady, will enver get to heaven” (“Qui te non invocat in hac vita, non perveniet ad regnum Dei”).
Chapter VIII

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear patricius,

Thanks so much for this passage from St. John Eudes’ book, “The Admirable Heart of Mary”. It is such a beautiful passage to quote especially since today is his Feast-day, Aug. 19.

What a precious thought to know Mary carries us in her heart! How sweet to hear saints rejoicing in each other’s words of praise for our Mother! How humbly St. John Eudes wrote:

Who will contradict me if I add that Our Lady will forever carry all the inhabitants of heaven in her inmost Heart, which becomes the Heaven of Heaven, and a true Paradise of the Elect, in which they find the fulness of delight and joy, due to the inconceivable love for each soul which consumes her maternal Heart? Thus the blessed will forever sing: Sicut laetantium omnium nostrum habitatio est in corde tuo, sancta Dei Genetrix. – 0 holy Mother of God, thy boundless charity has so vastly extended thy maternal Heart that it has become like a great city, or rather an immense heaven, full of ineffable consolations and unspeakable joys for thy beloved children, whose happy dwelling it shall be for all eternity.

Ah yes, the Wisdom of the Saints!

 

[fide]

I painfully cite here some “on the other hand” beliefs of a widely known and respected teacher/speaker author of one of the current “renewal movements du jour” - one that is endorsed by dioceses, bishops, priest-pastors, conferences etc. - on the latest “in” way to understand and advance “discipleship” in Catholic parishes. This “leader” in the field sees Marian devotion as entirely optional for Catholics! I groan to share this. Since I could hardly believe what I was reading on a discussion thread on their webpage, I copied and saved what I quote below, on this subject fortunately before she erased/deleted the whole conversation from the site:

The Church teaches that all approved devotions including Marian devotions are encouraged but not in any way required of disciples. We are free to participate and integrate devotions into our prayer life and spiritual practices or not.

I’ve met people for whom Mary was important at very different stages of spiritual development including the early thresholds. For some people, Mary is their bridge of trust, their entry point into the faith/Church, for others, Marian devotion is right at the heart of their following of Jesus and for some, traditional Marian devotions never play a major role in their spiritual life.

All that is required of any faithful Catholic is belief in the Marian Dogmas like the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption. There are many legitimate and fruitful spiritual paths with the whole of the Catholic Tradition. Some are deeply Marian and some are not. My whole reason for stating the obvious is to make sure that all who share regarding the role of Mary in their walk with Jesus do not fall into the rather common trap of stating or implying that said devotion or approach to prayer is necessary and required of all disciples. I will delete any comments along those lines.

…. I will not tolerate any implications that one cannot be a true discipleship [sic] without participating in Marian devotion because it does not reflect the Church’s teaching on our freedom in this area. If we can’t discuss the topic in a way that reflects the fullness of Church teaching, I will simply delete the post.

…… No matter what devotions or legitimate spiritual path I am drawn to by the Holy Spirit, I will automatically be participating in the “Marian dimension” to the extent that I am truly seeking to walk with Jesus as his disciple in the midst of his Church.

 

[patricius79]

All that is required of any faithful Catholic is belief in the Marian Dogmas like the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption.

I’m not sure where this idea came from. Vatican II said that Mary is our “Mother in the order of grace”, referred to the “union of the Mother and the Son in the work of salvation”, and stated that Mary, taken up to Heaven, “continues, by her intercession, to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation”.

In “Mother of the Redeemer”, Pope John Paul II wrote:

1. If John’s description of the event at Cana presents Mary’s caring motherhood at the beginning of Christ’s messianic activity, another passage from the same Gospel confirms this motherhood in the salvific economy of grace at its crowning moment, namely when Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, his Paschal Mystery, is accomplished…
   Undoubtedly, we find here an expression of the Son’s particular solicitude for his Mother, whom he is leaving in such great sorrow. And yet the “testament of Christ’s Cross” says more. Jesus highlights a new relationship between Mother and Son, the whole truth and reality of which he solemnly confirms. One can say that if Mary’s motherhood of the human race had already been outlined, now it is clearly stated and established. It emerges from the definitive accomplishment of the Redeemer’s Paschal Mystery. The Mother of Christ, who stands at the very center of this mystery-a mystery which embraces each individual and all humanity-is given as mother to every single individual and all mankind.
   Redemptoris Mater (25 March 1987) | John Paul II

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Fide,

Thanks for your post on this thread which, though it brings the sad news of such a speaker/author whom you quoted, is a “wake-up call”. Reading the dismissive comments, made about our Blessed Mother, as if Mary were not so important – and to learn this speaker/author is endorsed by dioceses, bishops, priest-pastors, conferences, etc. is something we need to be aware of and guard against.

It seems to me, this is part of the evil one’s deception – to simply lull Catholic clergy and laity into whatever “seems” good and so to miss the lie altogether. Pope St. John Paul II saw the danger in 1982 as I quoted him in the OP:

…When one moves away from the Mother, sooner or later he ends up keeping distant from the Son as well, it is no wonder that today, in various sectors of secularized society, we note a widespread crisis of faith in God, preceded by a drop in devotion to the Virgin Mother…

Holy Mary, Mother of God. pray for us. Guard and protect us from the snares of the devil.
Come Holy Spirit, enable us to discern truth from falsehood that we may remain faithful Children of God and Children of Mary. O Jesus, living in Mary, come and live in your servants.

 

[fide]

And thank you, MariaChristi. Also, the " widespread crisis of faith in God, preceded by a drop in devotion to the Virgin Mother…" seems to me to be traceable to a very widespread neglect in the Church - clergy and laity - of the new life given us by Christ, and consequently a lukewarm remaining in the old life of Adam instead. This can be verbalized or expressed in a number of ways, from the simple and blunt way, “a dumbing-down of the Faith”, to a more accurate and precise way, “a neglect unto denial of the interior life of holy grace.”

Instead of nurturing, growing, developing and maturing of the transforming graces of Baptism, the Church decides to push back in the collective recliner set in front of the TV, relax, and there become “catechized” - not in the Truth of the New in Christ but in the dark and the old, the poisonous fantasies of this dying world.

 

[patricius79]

It seems to me, this is part of the evil one’s deception – to simply lull Catholic clergy and laity into whatever “seems” good and so to miss the lie altogether. Pope St. John Paul II saw the danger in 1982 as I quoted him in the OP:

Yes, it is definitely a lie.

I don’t judge anyone who doesn’t practice devotion to Mary. I don’t know their subjectivity, and I went for many years without an understanding of the Church’s teaching about Mary, and I suffered dearly for it, as the devil deceived me and wounded me over and over.

But it’s so important to stay close to Mary, who, as the Church teaches, is the Mediatrix of All Graces.

So staying close to the Mother of Mercy means staying close to Christ, and it makes life so much happier.

Pope St. Pius X wrote this in a wonderful encyclical regarding the fiftieth anniversary of the promulgation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception:

1. It cannot, of course, be denied that the dispensation of these treasures is the particular and peculiar right of Jesus Christ, for they are the exclusive fruit of His Death, who by His nature is the mediator between God and man. Nevertheless, by this companionship in sorrow and suffering already mentioned between the Mother and the Son, it has been allowed to the august Virgin to be the most powerful mediatrix and advocate of the whole world with her Divine Son (Pius IX. Ineffabilis ). The source, then, is Jesus Christ “of whose fullness we have all received” ( John i., 16), “from whom the whole body, being compacted and fitly joined together by what every joint supplieth, according to the operation in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in charity” ( Ephesians iv., 16). But Mary, as St. Bernard justly remarks, is the channel (Serm. de temp on the Nativ. B. V. De Aquaeductu n. 4); or, if you will, the connecting portion the function of which is to join the body to the head and to transmit to the body the influences and volitions of the head - We mean the neck. Yes, says St. Bernardine of Sienna, “she is the neck of Our Head, by which He communicates to His mystical body all spiritual gifts” (Quadrag. de Evangel. aetern. Serm . x., a. 3, c. iii.).
   …Mary sitteth at the right hand of her Son - a refuge so secure and a help so trusty against all dangers that we have nothing to fear or to despair of under her guidance, her patronage, her protection. (Pius IX. in Bull Ineffabilis ).

…Those, alas! furnish us by their conduct with a peremptory proof of it, who seduced by the wiles of the demon or deceived by false doctrines think they can do without the help of the Virgin. Hapless are they who neglect Mary under pretext of the honor to be paid to Jesus Christ! As if the Child could be found elsewhere than with the Mother!
Ad Diem Illum Laetissimum (February 2, 1904) | PIUS X

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks again, fide!

I was struck by the accuracy of the image you gave of those in the Church who reject the “narrow road” with its call to holiness and deciding rather:

… to push back in the collective recliner set in front of the TV, relax, and there become “catechized” - not in the Truth of the New in Christ but in the dark and the old, the poisonous fantasies of this dying world.

God help us! Mary, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us.

 

[maryslegion]

MariaChristi, I was watching a rerun on EWTN of Mother Angelica’s program. She reminded people to know your teachers . Read the Holy Scripture to know God’s word. If you hear what is not coming from God, get up and leave.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks maryslegion,

Welcome to Catholic Answers!

Are you a member of the Legion of Mary too? If you are a member of the Legion of Mary, then you probably know that St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion” was the founding inspiration for the Legion almost 100 years ago. It was founded on the vigil of Mary’s Nativity, Sept. 7, 1921.

I hope you will continue to follow these threads on “True Devotion” and reply whenever you can. Mother Angelica was a strong woman who fearlessly fought against the wiles of the evil one. By God’s Grace, may we do the same, for God’s Glory, as Mary our Mother and all the saints have done!

.

 

[C.Longinus]

I’m not sure where this idea came from. Vatican II said that Mary is our “Mother in the order of grace”, referred to the “union of the Mother and the Son in the work of salvation”, and stated that Mary, taken up to Heaven, “continues, by her intercession, to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation”.

That is not an issue. What is an issue is implying that devotions like these are necessary for salvation.

 

[patricius79]

Hi C. Longinus,

The Marian spirituality of St. Louis DeMontfort is endorsed but the Church does not even demand that we read any of his books.

Since Mary is our “Mother in the order of grace”, I agree with doctors of the Church like St. Alphonsus Liguori and St. Anselm, who–as quoted in post number four-- tell us that we must have a relationship with Mary to be saved. Of course, this is different for people who have “invincible ignorance”–people who have no way of knowing about Mary.

Willfully ignoring Mary would be contrary to the love of God’s Mother, who suffered so much for us, and continues to save us by Christ’s grace.

But John Paul II tells us that each person’s relationship with Mary will be unique and unrepeatable.

 

[C.Longinus]

Since Mary is our “Mother in the order of grace”, I agree with doctors of the Church like St. Alphonsus Liguori and St. Anselm, who–as quoted in post number four-- tell us that we must have a relationship with Mary to be saved.

And is that part of the Catechism that salvation depends on a personal relationship with Mary?

What is necessary is to follow Mary’s own words: “Do whatever He tells you.”

Willfully ignoring Mary would be contrary to the love of God’s Mother, who suffered so much for us, and continues to save us by Christ’s grace.

And it is statements like these that scandalize others. Is there no room for the saying, “He must increase and I must decrease?”

 

[fide]

That is not an issue. What is an issue is implying that devotions like these are necessary for salvation.

“Necessary” is too strong a word. The Catholic Church is “necessary for salvation”,

CCC 846 - … Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church.

But one can be saved outside of her:

CCC 847. Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.

And again, the Church teaches

Catechism 1260 … Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved.

All that being said, the Church has the responsibility from Christ to make disciples and to teach them “to observe all that I have commanded you;” (Mt 28:20) - and that all includes all that the Holy Spirit has taught and guided the Church into, in these 2000 or so years.

Minimization of the Gospel is a sad work in these times, when the burden ought to be on all Catholics to proclaim from the roof tops not the lowest common denominator of theism, or even of Christian denominations of today - not the minimum of the Truth that might still get a soul into heaven - but the fullness of the Catholic Faith! Jesus wants us to proclaim ALL.

The world deserves to hear the ALL. It is very sad to hear a question or objection, “Yes but how much can I reject of the Catholic Faith and still not get God mad at me? Tell me the least I have to believe and do.”

Thus our mission:

Mission - a requirement of the Church’s catholicity
849 The missionary mandate. “Having been divinely sent to the nations that she might be ‘the universal sacrament of salvation,’ the Church, in obedience to the command of her founder and because it is demanded by her own essential universality, strives to preach the Gospel to all men”:<AG 1; cf. Mt 16:15> “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and Lo, I am with you always, until the close of the age.”<Mt 28:19-20>