Today is the Feast of St. Matthew who was a tax-collector when Jesus saw him and said: “Follow Me”. Jesus continues to say those words to every soul who is willing to Listen to His Words.
Today we begin Part 1, Chapter 1 in St. Lous de Montfort’s treatise on True Devotion to Mary:
CHAPTER ONE - NECESSITY OF DEVOTION TO OUR LADY
1. Mary’s part in the Incarnation
With the whole Church I acknowledge that Mary, being a mere creature fashioned by the hands of God is, compared to his infinite majesty, less than an atom, or rather is simply nothing, since he alone can say, “I am he who is”. Consequently, this great Lord, who is ever independent and self-sufficient, never had and does not now have any absolute need of the Blessed Virgin for the accomplishment of his will and the manifestation of his glory. To do all things he has only to will them.
However, I declare that, considering things as they are, because God has decided to begin and accomplish his greatest works through the Blessed Virgin ever since he created her, we can safely believe that he will not change his plan in the time to come, for he is God and therefore does not change in his thoughts or his way of acting.
God the Father gave his only Son to the world only through Mary. Whatever desires the patriarchs may have cherished, whatever entreaties the prophets and saints of the Old Law may have had for 4,000 years to obtain that treasure, it was Mary alone who merited it and found grace before God by the power of her prayers and the perfection of her virtues. “The world being unworthy,” said Saint Augustine, "to receive the Son of God directly from the hands of the Father, he gave his Son to Mary for the world to receive him from her."
The Son of God became man for our salvation but only in Mary and through Mary.
God the Holy Spirit formed Jesus Christ in Mary but only after having asked her consent through one of the chief ministers of his court.
Thanks again, for your love of Jesus through Mary - which your “heart” indicates to me! I’m really grateful for those who do not ignore threads on Mary when she seems in these days to be not only neglected but worse – blasphemed by those who would seek to destroy her images and to deny children true knowledge of her.
May the Lord have Mercy on all of us who may have neglected Mary our Mother, at any time in our lives and strive to offer loving reparation and repentance for anything we may have done to increase the sorrows of her Immaculate Heart!
Holy Trinity forgive us and enable us to grow in holiness. Give us the Graces we need to love You as Your saints love You, and especially our Mother Mary loves You.
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I’m really grateful for those who do not ignore threads on Mary when she seems in these days to be not only neglected but worse – blasphemed by those who would seek to destroy her images and to deny children true knowledge of her.