"This one and that one were born in her."

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

St. Louis de Montfort, like other saints, show us the power of God at work in human hearts who are open to receive Him. Mary our Mother and Model above all shows us the depth of faith and the beauty of her humility and all the virtues she received. Our Baptism was our birth into Jesus and the infusion of Divine Life into our souls. St. Louis puts much emphasis on our baptism and wrote that our Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary is a perfect renewal of our Baptismal promises. Let us continue to Listen to God’s Wisdom given in these words from “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin”:

1. But how difficult it is for us to have the freedom, the ability and the light to enter such an exalted and holy place. This place is guarded not by a cherub, like the first earthly paradise, but by the Holy Spirit himself who has become its absolute Master. Referring to her, he says: “You are an enclosed garden, my sister, my bride, an enclosed garden and a sealed fountain.” Mary is enclosed. Mary is sealed. The unfortunate children of Adam and Eve driven from the earthly paradise, can enter this new paradise only by a special grace of the Holy Spirit which they have to merit.
2. When we have obtained this remarkable grace by our fidelity, we should be delighted to remain in Mary. We should rest there peacefully, rely on her confidently, hide ourselves there with safety, and abandon ourselves unconditionally to her, so that within her virginal bosom:

1) We may be nourished with the milk of her grace and her motherly compassion.

2) We may be delivered from all anxiety, fear and scruples.

3) We may be safeguarded from all our enemies, the devil, the world and sin which have never gained admittance there. That is why our Lady says that those who work in her will not sin, that is, those who dwell spiritually in our Lady will never commit serious sin.

4) We may be formed in our Lord and our Lord formed in us, because her womb is, as the early Fathers call it, the house of the divine secrets where Jesus and all the elect have been conceived. "This one and that one were born in her."

We did not “merit” the gift of our Baptism. Our New Birth into Christ is His pure Supernatural Gift of Grace. St. Louis De Montfort, however, does speak of our “meriting” the grace of a true and deep Devotion to Mary, by being faithful to the graces we received as gift in our Baptism especially Supernatural Faith, Hope, and Charity as well as the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful. Kindle in us, the Fire of Your Love.

“O Jesus, living in Mary,
Come and live in Thy servants,
In the spirit of Thy holiness,
In the fullness of Thy might,
In the truth of Thy virtues,
In the perfection of Thy ways,
In the communion of Thy mysteries.
Subdue every hostile power
In Thy spirit, for the glory of the Father. Amen.” (Prayer of Fr. Olier)

 

[patricius79]

When we have obtained this remarkable grace by our fidelity, we should be delighted to remain in Mary. We should rest there peacefully, rely on her confidently, hide ourselves there with safety, and abandon ourselves unconditionally to her, so that within her virginal bosom…

Thanks be to God for such a place to live in peace!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear patricius,

Thanks for your reply! By God’s Grace, and your fidelity to Him, you are surely one who has obtained “this remarkable grace” – and you consistently share your delight to remain in Mary with us on the Forum!

I thank God with you that God has enabled me also by His Grace to continue seeking Him through Mary and to find in her, His Providential Care and to give myself totally to Him through her! Let us continue to pray for one another, for the Church and for all those in most need of God’s Mercy.

How very much our world is in need of Mary as Mother and Model!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Stephie and patricius,

Thanks again to both of you for your “hearts”, and the encouragement you bring to me and to others on the Forum, to continue listening to St. Louis de Montfort’s words given by God for all His Children.

If more persons would also Listen pondering in their hearts, Jesus’ Words, from His Cross:

Behold your Mother

And if persons would obey those words and take Mary into their lives, as the apostle John heard and obeyed the Truth He heard from Jesus – what a difference it would make in them. Let us continue to pray with Jesus and Mary for one another, for the Church and for all those in most need of God’s Mercy.

 

[patricius79]

Thanks, dear sister.

I don’t see this grace so much as something earned by fidelity, but as something we are moved to ask for with trust in Christ’s Mercy, given through Mary. Of course I agree we must cooperate, however.

By the way, thank you for doing your exposition of “The Love of Eternal Wisdom” as well, by St. Louis. That really helped, and continues to help me–particularly chapter fourteen, regarding the gift of suffering (crosses).

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear brother, patricius

I am grateful that St. Louis de Montfort’s little book, “The Love of Divine Wisdom” helped you. It also helped me each time I’ve read it!

In regard to my using the word “fidelity” in referring to you, I was quoting St. Louis De Montfort’s words in paragraph 264: "When we have obtained this remarkable grace by our fidelity, we should be delighted to remain in Mary.

I agree with your comment:

I don’t see this grace so much as something earned by fidelity, but as something we are moved to ask for with trust in Christ’s Mercy, given through Mary. Of course I agree we must cooperate, however.

However, I think St. Louis is pointing to our fidelity as our faithful perseverance. Truly, we know from Jesus that “Without Him we can do nothing” ( Jn 15: 5) and so we acknowledge that every grace comes to us from Him and through Mary. We could not be faithful in our perseverance or cooperate without Him – for without His Divine Love at work in us, we are nothing as St. Paul wrote in 1 Cor 13.

Mary surely is our Model and in her “Magnificat” proclaims, that God has looked on her in her lowliness! Sinless as Mary is, in her humility, she sees the truth of God’s greatness and our human littleness and she rejoices in God her Savior and our Savior!

 

[patricius79]

Thanks, dear sister. I think that St. Louis is right when he talks about how we will–if we make the total consecration–have great battles and hardships, but that these will mysteriously be “easy” to embrace because Mary “makes herself so present”.

My soul has found so much more rest and joy since I’ve been practicing this spirituality, even with having major personal crises or problems.

 

[patricius79]

I am grateful that St. Louis de Montfort’s little book, “The Love of Divine Wisdom” helped you. It also helped me each time I’ve read it!

Yes. Seeing loneliness, problems, pain, sorrow, being despised–etc-- as the greatest gifts our loving God gives us, is very liberating!

 

[MariaChristi]

Yes, Mary truly is a Gift, Jesus knew we all would need. No wonder He told us, looking at Mary, standing at the foot of the Cross:

Behold your Mother

He wanted us to have her as our Mother too that in our pain and especially at the hour of our death, we would see her too!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear patricius,

To receive God’s Grace to see lonliness, problems, pain, sorrow, being despised, etc. as the greatest gifts our loving God gives us is such a blessing – I agree – and as St. Louis assures us, we need to faithfully persevere as Mary and the saints show us in their following of Jesus.

 

[patricius79]

Yes, we need to joyously persevere. And it is so much easier to do so when one is looking to his Blessed Mother for help.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear patricius,

I couldn’t agree more! Our human tendency so easily can give way to discouragement or even pure laziness and self- love that can keep us from the “Narrow Road of perseverance”, which is, in fact. the “Royal Road of the Cross” whereon Jesus and Mary walked.

At the last supper, Jesus said that it was with Joy that He desired to celebrate the Passover with his disciples – even though He knew it would mean His Passion and Death:

He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God. (Lk 22:15-16)

Both the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary were pierced on Calvary and the more we give ourselves into their Hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit, the more we will produce the fruit of Joy in carrying our crosses. Thanks again for your reply and faithful devotion to Jesus through our Mother Mary.

 

[patricius79]

“give ourselves into their hearts”… I like that.

A saint said that “If I love Mary, I will certainly persevere”.