"The book is true... !"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Some may have read this article before, since I’ve posted it more than once but I’m reminded of it today. Let me share an excerpt that has blessed me and I hope it will encourage others to read this book:

…No specific result seemed to emerge from each new reading, and yet each one appeared to have the quality of a step towards an objective. And that was exactly what things worked out to. I was engaged on the final forced reading when a sort of phenomenon accomplished itself. Without any process of thought leading up to it, something which I would but regard as a Divine favour was granted to me. It was the sudden realisation that the book was true. But why should this be? I did not understand things any more than I had previously. But there it was: a complete conviction that what I had been regarding as exaggerated and unreal was fully justified.

That moment has remained in my mind with an absolute clarity. I have only to think of it and it stands before me in its original startling complexion. In that moment I knew that the book was true.

What effect had this upon me? Very roughly I would say that it was twofold. I saw that the fault was mainly in myself. I lacked a whole field of knowledge in regard to Our Lady which was neccessary for the comprehending of her position as presented by the Saint**. I would have to face up to the fact that I really knew nothing about her. The second part of this thought was that De Monfort was not writing for such as me but for a theologically educated class who possessed the foundation which the book required. He was presuming a knowledge of that foundation.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful; kindle in us, the Fire of Your Love. I ask you especially to enlighten the minds and hearts of all who will read this thread and lead them by your power to read the book you inspired St. Louis de Montfort to write for the Church to grow closer to Jesus through Mary.

 

[patricius79]

Of course, the book you are referring to is the masterpiece, “True Devotion to Mary”. And it is definitely true, which is why De Montfort’s spirituality has been recommended by Popes, even in at least one Encyiclical (St. JP II’s Mother of the Redeemer)

Frank Duff, in the quotation you gave, says that De Montfort was writing for a theologically educated class which posses the foundation which the book required.

Interestingly, in the book, De Montfort also notes somewhere that he is mainly writing for simple, faithful people rather than proud scholars.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear patricius,

Thanks for your faithful “heart” and for this reply. Yes, those sentences from the Servant of God, Frank Duff, surprised me too – however the more I thought about them, the more I think I understood. Read what he said again:

What effect had this upon me? Very roughly I would say that it was twofold. I saw that the fault was mainly in myself. I lacked a whole field of knowledge in regard to Our Lady which was neccessary for the comprehending of her position as presented by the Saint. I would have to face up to the fact that I really knew nothing about her. The second part of this thought was that De Monfort was not writing for such as me but for a theologically educated class who possessed the foundation which the book required. He was presuming a knowledge of that foundation.

It seems to me: First - Frank Duff was realizing by God’s Grace, that for him to appreciate what St. Louis had written, he needed to know Mary better. Even though Frank Duff was a Catholic he realized his lack of understanding was his fault. Second, and again by God’s Grace, he began prayerfully to read more from those who knew what St. Louis de Montfort was saying in his book.

St. Louis de Montfort preached to the poor and was poor himself. He knew how to teach the simple and illiterate poor who came to hear him. He taught by his example of selfless love and and by using words they could understand, but he also wanted to share with priests and theologians and those who could read – the rich and well educated – what they either had not learned themselves despite all their studies, or simply never learned to prayerfully seek God through Mary. He wrote the book so they might learn to help others know God’s Truth. Jesus, Who came to us through Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit continues to come through Mary.

Frank Duff after reading “True Devotion”, prayerfully sought to live the Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary which he had prayed. He met with a parish priest and some lay persons who had also consecrated themselves using the method taught by St. Louis de Montfort. They prayed to the Holy Spirit for guidance and then prayed the Rosary. From that meeting, The “Legion of Mary” was born Sept. 7, 1921. It seems to me Frank Duff understood St. Louis knew and loved both the simple people as well as the proud scholars. Saints in Imitation of Christ invite all to holiness. St. Louis wanted to all to know Jesus better through Mary.

At least that is how I understood those words which surprised me at first! Hope they help you, dear brother, and any other brother or sister who may have wondered.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Stephie,

Thanks for your faithful “heart” too. I’m grateful for patricius’ question because I believe Jesus spoke to the proud scholars of his time just as St. Louis de Montfort spoke to the proud scholars in his time.

Some believed in Jesus but many did not. Jesus also spoke to crowds of simple poor people who flocked to Him and listened to the Good News He brought to them. They believed and by their faith they were healed.

St. Louis de Montfort followed Jesus’ example in his priestly vocation by his preaching to crowds of simple poor people who came to his parish missions. He also wrote so that his brother priests and by God’s design, the future Church for centuries could learn from what St. Louis wrote in his treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin” in particular, and also “The Love of Eternal Wisdom”

Both books continue to be great blessings to me and to others. Hope some here who have read them are so blessed. If anyone reading this has not read either or both books, you can click on the links and read the online versions.

 

[StudentMI]

That’s a book I want to read.

 

[StephieNorthCo]

It’s a book worth reading!

 

[LoveMercyGrace]

A beautiful thread full of hope and yes, an urging perhaps to read this book. God bless you!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear StudentMI

Start today – if you didn’t begin to read it from the link yesterday! Read it prayerfully – and slowly.
Ponder as our Mother pondered all in her heart! Thanks so much for your reply. )

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks Stephie for your reply – may it encourage others!

Thanks also to Mark for liking Stephie’s reply also!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear LoveMercyGrace,

Thanks so much for your reply. I pray you will listen to the urging which the Holy Spirit put into your heart to read this book! St. Louis de Montfort’s book on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin” is not long, but it is very powerful and has been a blessing to saints like Pope St. John Paul II, and St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta who both read it and Consecrated themselves Totally to Jesus through Mary.

The author of the letter I quoted in the Original Post of this thread - Servant of God, Frank Duff, who began the “Legion of Mary” certainly grew in holiness after reading and practicing what St. Louis de Montfort wrote in his treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin.” His cause is in Rome and members of the Legion of Mary all over the world are praying for his Beatification and
Canonization. May God grant us more Lay Catholic Saints!

Two young persons who joined the Legion also practiced this True Devotion and Frank Duff sent one to Africa to spread the Legion of Mary there (she is now Venerable Edel Quinn) and the other he sent to Latin America to spread the Legion there, ( he is Servant of God Alphonsus Lamb). Their stories can be read HERE

We are all called to holiness!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Margaret_Ann, Mark and LoveMercyGrace,

Thank you all for your “hearts” to let us know you liked what you read, and I thank God for giving you each a love of Jesus and Mary which prompted you to read the thread and agree with it. It really is an encouragement for me and others whenever someone joins us in honoring our Mother, as Jesus honored her and desires each one to:

“Behold your Mother”