Sept. 16 - "True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin" continuing

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday seemed a good day, since it was the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, to begin a series of threads, starting with the Introduction of St. Louis de Montfort and continuing day by day through his little treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin”.

The purpose is to honor Jesus through Mary, by prayerfully listening to the words God gave St. Louis to write, in order that we might come to know Him through Mary. Yesterday we began with these first two paragarphs:

INTRODUCTION OF SAINT LOUIS MARIE

1. It was through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus came into the world, andit is also through her that He must reign in the world.
2. Because Mary remained hidden during her life she is called by the Holy Spirit and the Church “Alma Mater”, Mother hidden and unknown. So great was her humility that she desired nothing more upon earth than to remain unknown to herself and to others, and to be known only to God.

If we ponder St. Louis’ words, prayerfully asking the Holy Spirit to guide us, I believe we’ll continue to grow closer to Jesus through Mary. Today, let us ponder the next two paragraphs, slowly and prayerfully:

1. In answer to her prayers to remain hidden, poor and lowly, God was pleased to conceal her from nearly every other human creature in her conception, her birth, her life, her mysteries, her resurrection and assumption. Her own parents did not really know her; and the angels would often ask one another, “Who can she possibly be?”, for God had hidden her from them, or if He did reveal anything to them, it was nothing compared with what He withheld.
2. God the Father willed that she should perform no miracle during her life, at least no public one, although He had given her the power to do so. God the Son willed that she should speak very little although He had imparted His wisdom to her.

Even though Mary was his faithful spouse, God the Holy Spirit willed that His apostles and evangelists should say very little about her and then only as much as was necessary to make Jesus known.

How beautiful is the Humility of our Mother Mary! Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with Your Love as you filled Mary. Holy Trinity purify our hearts from the sin of boastful pride, and enable us to obey the Words of Jesus from His Cross:

Behold your Mother

Grant us Grace to “see” by the supernatural gift of of Faith, given to us in Baptism Mary our Mother and Model for the Church that we might follow Jesus as Mary did on this earth, and come closer to him through her.