Scrupulous devotees...( Sept 15 - Memorial of "Our Lady of Sorrows")

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It seems especially approriate today as we remember “Our Lady of Sorrows” that we are pondering another “false devotion” to Mary, as described by St. Louis de Montfort in “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin” How it must grieve the Immaculate Heart of Our Mother when we misunderstand God’s Plan for her and for us, and seem not to hear the Love of Jesus in His words from the Cross: “Behold Your Mother”. Jesus gave Mary to us and yet some choose not to receive her – even as He welcomed her womb to be His special resting place.

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."

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful. Kindle in us the Fire of Your Love that we may give some comfort to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary who suffered so much for us!

 

[patricius79]

For we never give more honour to Jesus than when we honour his Mother

That is powerful. I think St. Bonaventure agrees. Here is another passage from his wonderful “Psalter of the Blessed Virgin”:

My soul, praise Our Lady: I will glorify her as long as I live.
Never cease from her praises: and think of her every moment.
When my spirit shall go forth, Lady, let it be commended to thee: and in the unknown land
be thou its guide.
Let not past sins trouble it: nor let it be disturbed by the meeting with the malignant one.
Lead it to the harbor of salvation: there let it await securely the coming of the Redeemer.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
https://d2wldr9tsuuj1b.cloudfront.n...re-The Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary.pdf

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear patricius,

Thanks again for your “heart” and your reply. How great a Gift, Mary is to us from Jesus, to be our Spiritual Mother and our Model! The more we listen to what the Catholic Church has taught for centuries and the more we listen to the Saints who have grown in holiness, so as to love Jesus through Mary and sing their praises, how can we not begin to love them and grow also?

If anyone who is reading these threads is not growing closer to Jesus and Mary, I would urge them to pray for the grace they need to make the choice to change i.e. to let go of whatever may be holding them back from those two Hearts pierced for love of us!

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks VanitasVanitatum,

Thanks for your heart which lets us know that you have read and appreciated St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin.” It is an encouragement to know you and others continue to value and hopefully practice the Truth God has given to him and to all the Saints to share with us.