"slave?" of Jesus and Mary?

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday I was pondering the Mass reading from 1 Samuel and later read the Pope’s homily on the same verse concerning “appearances”. The Pope in his homily said:

Human beings are often the slaves of appearances, but God knows the truth, looking “into the heart.”

The word “slave” is a strong word. The Pope continued:

We are often the slaves of appearances and allow ourselves to pursue appearances: ‘But God knows the truth.’

I remembered the passage in God’s Word from Romans 6:16 in which we hear:

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Today, I’d like to look at the word “slave” as St. Louis De Montfort wrote of being a “slave of Jesus and Mary” or “a slave of Jesus through Mary” (both the same truth).

When I’ve tried to share St. Louis De Montfort’s classic: True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary or the “Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary”, to which his book leads, I sometimes hear from others they are “turned off” by the saint’s use of the word “slave” and/or slavery. They seem to miss the fact de Montort wrote of a “voluntary” slavery and not one that is imposed from the outside. It is “slavery freely chosen” by a person cooperating with God’s grace. Some would prefer the word, “servant” but St. Louis De Montfort is very purposeful in his use of the word "slave"and explains why:

1. There is a world of difference between a servant and a slave. 1) A servant does not give his employer all he is, all he has, and all he can acquire by himself or through others. A slave, however, gives himself to his master completely and exclusively with all he has and all he can acquire. 2) A servant demands wages for the services rendered to his employer. A slave, on the other hand, can expect nothing, no matter what skill, attention or energy he may have put into his work. 3) A servant can leave his employer whenever he pleases, or at least when the term of his service expires, whereas the slave has no such right. 4) An employer has no right of life and death over a servant. Were he to kill him as he would a beast of burden, he would commit murder. But the master of a slave has by law the right of life and death over him, so that he can sell him to anyone he chooses or - if you will pardon the comparison - kill him as he would kill his horse. 5) Finally, a servant is in his employer’s service only for a time; a slave for always.

1. No other human state involves belonging more completely to another than slavery. Among Christian peoples, nothing makes a person belong more completely to Jesus and his holy Mother than voluntary slavery. Our Lord himself gave us the example of this when out of love for us he “took the form of a slave”. Our Lady gave us the same example when she called herself the handmaid or slave of the Lord. The Apostle considered it an honour to be called “slave of Christ”. Several times in Holy Scripture, Christians are referred to as “slaves of Christ”.

The Latin word “servus” at one time signified only a slave because servants as we know them did not exist. Masters were served either by slaves or by freedmen. The Catechism of the Council of Trent leaves no doubt about our being slaves of Jesus Christ, using the unequivocal term “Mancipia Christi”, which plainly means: slaves of Christ. (Underlining is mine for emphasis)

Several persons on CAF have participated in discussions on the 33 Day Preparation for Total Consecration for the Feast of the Annunciation on Mar. 25, in previous years. We also discussed parts of the book “True Devotion”. I’d be grateful for any comments on this thread by new or old members of CAF – those familiar with “True Devotion” as well as those unfamiliar with it. Thanks.

 

[Lormar]

Being a slave of Jesus and Mary is most appropriate for us. Who was it that called us “proud ashes”?

This was brought home to me strongly by something that was in our local Sunday newspaper. There was a picture of a woman with her recently deceased husband’s ashes in a very small box sitting on a table. I thought to myself, “That is what all of us, sooner or later, will be reduced to, and that is all we are.” An appropriate thought now that Septuagesima Sunday is this week.

 

[cjforJesus]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday I was pondering the Mass reading from 1 Samuel and later read the Pope’s homily on the same verse concerning “appearances”. The Pope in his homily said:

The word “slave” is a strong word. The Pope continued:

I remembered the passage in God’s Word from Romans 6:16 in which we hear:

Today, I’d like to look at the word “slave” as St. Louis De Montfort wrote of being a “slave of Jesus and Mary” or “a slave of Jesus through Mary” (both the same truth).

When I’ve tried to share St. Louis De Montfort’s classic: True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary or the “Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary”, to which his book leads, I sometimes hear from others they are “turned off” by the saint’s use of the word “slave” and/or slavery. They seem to miss the fact de Montort wrote of a “voluntary” slavery and not one that is imposed from the outside. It is “slavery freely chosen” by a person cooperating with God’s grace. Some would prefer the word, “servant” but St. Louis De Montfort is very purposeful in his use of the word "slave"and explains why:

Several persons on CAF have participated in discussions on the 33 Day Preparation for Total Consecration for the Feast of the Annunciation on Mar. 25, in previous years. We also discussed parts of the book “True Devotion”. I’d be grateful for any comments on this thread by new or old members of CAF – those familiar with “True Devotion” as well as those unfamiliar with it. Thanks.

Very nice post!The slavery spoken about here is voluntary servitude with a joyful heart.

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be filled. [12] This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. [13] Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. [14] You are my friends, if you do the things that I command you. [15] I will not now call you servants: for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have called you friends: because all things whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you.

[16] You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. [17] These things I command you, that you love one another. [18] If the world hate you, know ye, that it hath hated me before you. [19] If you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. [20] Remember my word that I said to you: The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.

 

[MariaChristi]

Being a slave of Jesus and Mary is most appropriate for us. Who was it that called us “proud ashes”?

This was brought home to me strongly by something that was in our local Sunday newspaper. There was a picture of a woman with her recently deceased husband’s ashes in a very small box sitting on a table. I thought to myself, “That is what all of us, sooner or later, will be reduced to, and that is all we are.” An appropriate thought now that Septuagesima Sunday is this week.

Dear Lormar,

Thanks for your reply. It is true – as we may recall from past “Ash Wednesdays” the words: “Thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return.” It is significant and a blessing to me to begin usually during the season of Lent, my 33 Days in Preparation for renewing my Total Consecration to Jesus, through Mary on the Feast of the Incarnation, (Annunciation), Mar. 25, each year.

St. Louis de Montfort recommends this annual renewal as the perfect renewal of our Baptism and this too is so beautiful as we celebrate new life at Easter. While it is true that of ourselves we are nothing, we have also been “bought at a great price” by Jesus and given at our Baptism, the glorious new birth in Him unto Eternal Life. Our journey here on earth is through a valley of tears, but we are given in Baptism the faith, hope and charity and all the grace we need to begin our journey to live forever with Him, if we remain in Him, persevering and growing in grace.

I hope all who read this thread may be led to “look into” the book, “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin” and seriously consider consecrating themselves totally to Jesus through Mary. If you and others have already read De Montfort’s book and prayed the Act of Total Consecration, hopefully all of us can renew this consecration together on March 25.

May we not be “proud ashes” but humble sons and daughters of God and Mary.

 

[MariaChristi]

Very nice post!The slavery spoken about here is voluntary servitude with a joyful heart.

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be filled. [12] This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. [13] Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. [14] You are my friends, if you do the things that I command you. [15] I will not now call you servants: for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have called you friends: because all things whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you.

[16] You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. [17] These things I command you, that you love one another. [18] If the world hate you, know ye, that it hath hated me before you. [19] If you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. [20] Remember my word that I said to you: The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.

Thanks cjforJesus, for your reply and for the Scripture verses. St. Louis de Montfort’s book on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the other works I have read by him are steeped in Scripture. How important it is for us to listen carefully to the Word of God, if we are to Live in Him, as the saints learned to do!

 

[multitude]

The Saint did explain why he chose the word slave, rather than servant, of Mary. But I think it also serves as a reminder, as to who we truly belong to, that He created us, and not the other way round. So He truly has the right to do with us, how He pleases. We will always be a slave, to something. As much as we would like to deny it. So why not to Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary? Is She not Our Mother?

 

[MariaChristi]

The Saint did explain why he chose the word slave, rather than servant, of Mary. But I think it also serves as a reminder, as to who we truly belong to, that He created us, and not the other way round. So He truly has the right to do with us, how He pleases. We will always be a slave, to something. As much as we would like to deny it. So why not to Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary? Is She not Our Mother?

Dear multitude,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I agree that St. Louis de Montfort is clearly inviting us to choose whether we will serve God or not. We cannot serve two masters; we will either hate the one and love the other or love the one and hate the other, as Jesus has warned us.

St. Louis goes deeper into our hearts in his book, when speaking of becoming “slaves” of Jesus and Mary because God calls us to give ourselves in love, in voluntary imitation of Jesus who became a “slave” for us (cf Phil 2) because He is Love and shows His Love for us. Jesus in His Incarnation willed to become dependent on His human Mother Mary. True Devotion to Jesus through Mary helps us to be conformed to the image of Jesus.