"the best of all mothers"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

After comparing the two brothers, Jacob and Esau, St. Louis de Montfort goes on to describe how Mary our Mother is the best of all mothers, surpassing Rebecca and all others:

1. Here now are the services which the Virgin Mary, as the best of all mothers, lovingly renders to those loyal servants who have given themselves entirely to her in the manner I have described and following the figurative meaning of the story of Jacob and Rebecca.

1. She loves them.

“I love those who love me.” She loves them:

a) Because she is truly their Mother. What mother does not love her child, the fruit of her womb?

b) She loves them in gratitude for the active love they show to her, their beloved Mother.

c) She loves them because they are loved by God and destined for heaven. “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

d) She loves them because they have consecrated themselves entirely to her and belong to her portion, her inheritance. “In Israel receive your inheritance.”

1. She loves them tenderly, more tenderly than all the mothers in the world together. Take the maternal love of all the mothers of the world for their children. Pour all that love into the heart of one mother for an only child. That mother’s love would certainly be immense. Yet Mary’s love for each of her children has more tenderness than the love of that mother for her child.

She loves them not only affectively but effectively, that is, her love is active and productive of good like Rebecca’s love for Jacob -and even more so, for Rebecca was, after all, only a symbolic figure of Mary. Here is what this loving Mother does for her children to obtain for them the blessings of their heavenly Father:

1. 1. Like Rebecca she looks out for favourable opportunities to promote their interests, to ennoble and enrich them. She sees clearly in God all that is good and all that is evil; fortunate and unfortunate events; the blessings and condemnations of God. She arranges things in advance so as to divert evils from her servants and put them in the way of abundant blessings. If there is any special benefit to be gained in God’s sight by the faithful discharge of an important work, Mary will certainly obtain this opportunity for a beloved child and servant and at the same time, give him the grace to persevere in it to the end. “She personally manages our affairs,” says a saintly man.

1. 1. She gives them excellent advice, as Rebecca did to Jacob. “My son, follow my counsels.” Among other things, she persuades them to bring her the two young goats, that is, their body and soul, and to confide them to her so that she can prepare them as a dish pleasing to God. She inspires them to observe whatever Jesus Christ, her Son, has taught by word and example. When she does not give these counsels herself in person, she gives them through the ministry of angels who are always pleased and honoured to go at her request to assist one of her faithful servants on earth…

I’ve underlined some words which impressed me, and urged me to have more tenderness toward such a Mother. God willing, I hope to continue De Montfort’s description of how much Mary loves her children. It is a mystery to me how anyone cannot strive to love her more tenderly?

 

[Vic_Taltrees_UK]

Thank you! I hadn’t heard much about her and am developing an appetite!

 

[MariaChristi]

Thank you! I hadn’t heard much about her and am developing an appetite!

Dear Vic,

Thanks for your reply and for your “healthy and holy appetite”!

As you “taste the sweetness” of our Lord and our Mother Mary, you hunger for more! At least that has been my experience, and the experience I read in the writings of St. Louis de Montfort and other saints.

If you have never read “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary” by St. Louis De Montfort, you can read the online version HERE

The words of Jesus from the Cross are significant: “Behold your Mother”. By God’s Grace may we hear those words deeply and obey as John did, by taking Mary into our lives. Jesus gave her as Mother to all for He knew how much we need her example and her loving intercession. St. Bernard once said “Numquam satis de Mariae” (Never enough of Mary).