Total Consecration and idolatry

  • Thread starter Thread starter Monica4316
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Monica4316

Guest
Hi 🙂

I’ve made my Total Consecration to Mary a year ago, I’m still trying to understand it fully…

I can see why people sometimes feel it is idolatry, because it’s so centered on Mary, and involves giving yourself totally to Mary.

What do you all think about this?

I read about how St Louis de Montfort’s motto was “GOD ALONE”, and he makes it clear in the book “true devotion” that we only give ourselves to Mary *in order to *belong more fully to Christ. The end of the devotion is Christ… and if idolatry is putting something above God, perhaps this can never be idolatry, because Mary is not put first, and because she only leads us to Him. If we were to put Mary above Christ and if she lead us to herself, that would be a problem. But it seems to me this is not the case with this devotion.

I found this website… drvc.org/about-the-year-of-the-priest/st.-louis-de-montfort.html

From Wikipedia:

"God Alone was the motto of Saint Louis and is repeated over 150 time in his writings. God Alone is also the title of his collected writings. Briefly speaking, based on his writings, Montfortian spirituality can be summed up via the formula: “To God Alone, by Christ Wisdom, in the Spirit, in communion with Mary, for the reign of God.”

Although St Louis is perhaps best-known for his Mariology and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, his spirituality is founded on the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, and is centered on Christ."

Does anyone have any thoughts? Do you feel that this devotion is idolatry, or not? what about devotion to Mary in general?
 
from "True Devotion"
  1. Basic principles of devotion to Mary
  2. Having spoken briefly of the necessity of devotion to the Blessed Virgin, I must now explain what this devotion consists in. This I will do with God’s help after I have laid down certain basic truths which throw light on the remarkable and sound devotion which I propose to unfold.
First principle: Christ must be the ultimate end of all devotions
  1. Jesus, our Saviour, true God and true man must be the ultimate end of all our other devotions; otherwise they would be false and misleading. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and end of everything. “We labour,” says St. Paul, “only to make all men perfect in Jesus Christ.” For in him alone dwells the entire fullness of the divinity and the complete fullness of grace, virtue and perfection. In him alone we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing; he is the only teacher from whom we must learn; the only Lord on whom we should depend; the only Head to whom we should be united and the only model that we should imitate. He is the only Physician that can heal us; the only Shepherd that can feed us; the only Way that can lead us; the only Truth that we can believe; the only Life that can animate us. He alone is everything to us and he alone can satisfy all our desires. We are given no other name under heaven by which we can be saved. God has laid no other foundation for our salvation, perfection and glory than Jesus. Every edifice which is not built on that firm rock, is founded upon shifting sands and will certainly fall sooner or later. Every one of the faithful who is not united to him is like a branch broken from the stem of the vine. It falls and withers and is fit only to be burnt. If we live in Jesus and Jesus lives in us, we need not fear damnation. Neither angels in heaven nor men on earth, nor devils in hell, no creature whatever can harm us, for no creature can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Through him, with him and in him, we can do all things and render all honour and glory to the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit; we can make ourselves perfect and be for our neighbour a fragrance of eternal life.
  2. If then we are establishing sound devotion to our Blessed Lady, it is only in order to establish devotion to our Lord more perfectly, by providing a smooth but certain way of reaching Jesus Christ. If devotion to our Lady distracted us from our Lord, we would have to reject it as an illusion of the devil. But this is far from being the case. As I have already shown and will show again later on, this devotion is necessary, simply and solely because it is a way of reaching Jesus perfectly, loving him tenderly, and serving him faithfully.
 
  1. Here I turn to you for a moment, dear Jesus, to complain lovingly to your divine Majesty that the majority of Christians, and even some of the most learned among them, do not recognise the necessary bond that unites you and your Blessed Mother. Lord, you are always with Mary and Mary is always with you. She can never be without you because then she would cease to be what she is. She is so completely transformed into you by grace that she no longer lives, she no longer exists, because you alone, dear Jesus, live and reign in her more perfectly than in all the angels and saints. If we only knew the glory and the love given to you by this wonderful creature, our feelings for you and for her would be far different from those we have now. So intimately is she united to you that it would be easier to separate light from the sun, and heat from the fire. I go further, it would even be easier to separate all the angels and saints from you than Mary; for she loves you ardently, and glorifies you more perfectly than all your other creatures put together.
  2. In view of this, my dear Master, is it not astonishing and pitiful to see the ignorance and short-sightedness of men with regard to your holy Mother? I am not speaking so much of idolaters and pagans who do not know you and consequently have no knowledge of her. I am not even speaking of heretics and schismatics who have left you and your holy Church and therefore are not interested in your holy Mother. I am speaking of Catholics, and even of educated Catholics, who profess to teach the faith to others but do not know you or your Mother except speculatively, in a dry, cold and sterile way. These people seldom speak of your Mother or devotion to her. They say they are afraid that devotion to her will be abused and that you will be offended by excessive honour paid to her. They protest loudly when they see or hear a devout servant of Mary speak frequently with feeling, conviction and vigour of devotion to her. When he speaks of devotion to her as a sure means of finding and loving you without fear or illusion, or when he says this devotion is a short road free from danger, or an immaculate way free from imperfection, or a wondrous secret of finding you, they put before him a thousand specious reasons to show him how wrong he is to speak so much of Mary. There are, they say, great abuses in this devotion which we should try to stamp out and we should refer people to you rather than exhort them to have devotion to your Mother, whom they already love adequately. If they are sometimes heard speaking of devotion to your Mother, it is not for the purpose of promoting it or convincing people of it but only to destroy the abuses made of it. Yet all the while these persons are devoid of piety or genuine devotion to you, for they have no devotion to Mary. They consider the Rosary and the Scapular as devotions suitable only for simple women or ignorant people. After all, they say, we do not need them to be saved. If they come across one who loves our Lady, who says the rosary or shows any devotion towards her, they soon move him to a change of mind and heart. They advise him to say the seven penitential psalms instead of the Rosary, and to show devotion to Jesus instead of to Mary. Dear Jesus, do these people possess your spirit? Do they please you by acting in this way? Would it please you if we were to make no effort to give pleasure to your Mother because we are afraid of offending you? Does devotion to your holy Mother hinder devotion to you? Does Mary keep for herself any honour we pay her? Is she a rival of yours? Is she a stranger having no kinship with you? Does pleasing her imply displeasing you? Does the gift of oneself to her constitute a deprivation for you? Is love for her a lessening of our love for you?
 
  1. Nevertheless, my dear Master, the majority of learned scholars could not be further from devotion to your Mother, or show more indifference to it even if all I have just said were true. Keep me from their way of thinking and acting and let me share your feelings of gratitude, esteem, respect and love for your holy Mother. I can then love and glorify you all the more, because I will be imitating and following you more closely.
  2. As though I had said nothing so far to further her honour, grant me now the grace to praise her more worthily, in spite of all her enemies who are also yours. I can then say to them boldly with the saints, “Let no one presume to expect mercy from God, who offends his holy Mother.”
  3. So that I may obtain from your mercy a genuine devotion to your blessed Mother and spread it throughout the whole world, help me to love you wholeheartedly, and for this intention accept the earnest prayer I offer with St. Augustine and all who truly love you.
Prayer of Saint Augustine

O Jesus Christ, you are my Father, my merciful God, my great King, my good Shepherd, my only Master, my best helper, my beloved friend of overwhelming beauty, my living Bread, my eternal priest. You are my guide to my heavenly home, my one true light, my holy joy, my true way, my shining wisdom, my unfeigned simplicity, the peace and harmony of my soul, my perfect safeguard, my bounteous inheritance, my everlasting salvation. My loving Lord, Jesus Christ, why have I ever loved or desired anything else in my life but you, my God? Where was I when I was not in communion with you? From now on, I direct all my desires to be inspired by you and centred on you. I direct them to press forward for they have tarried long enough, to hasten towards their goal, to seek the one they yearn for. O Jesus, let him who does not love you be accursed, and filled with bitterness. O gentle Jesus, let every worthy feeling of mine show you love, take delight in you and admire you. O God of my heart and my inheritance, Christ Jesus, may my heart mellow before the influence of your spirit and may you live in me. May the flame of your love burn in my soul. May it burn incessantly on the altar of my heart. May it glow in my innermost being. May it spread its heat into the hidden recesses of my soul and on the day of my consummation may I appear before you consumed in your love. Amen.
 
Hi Monica4316 🙂

I think it would be best for us to understand how St. Louis de Montfort himself understood his own spirituality, and the best that I found to do this is learning how he called it…and he named it in so many ways:

“Consecration of oneself to Jesus Christ, Wisdom Incarnate, by the hands of Mary” (LEW 223).
“perfect renewal of baptism” (TD 120, 126)
“Consecration to the Blessed Virgin” (SM 31)
“perfect Consecration to Jesus Christ” (TD 120),
“Holy Slavery of Jesus and Mary” (SM 44)
“giving of oneself entirely and as a slave to Mary and to Jesus through Mary and after that to do all that we do through Mary, with Mary, in Mary and for Mary” (SM 28; cf. LEW 219; TD 118)
“Consecration to Jesus by the hands of Mary” (TD 35)
“Covenant Renewal” (cf. CG)
the “Tree of Life” (SM 70-78)
“most perfect and most profitable of all devotions to the Blessed Virgin” (LEW 219)

(source)

As you can see, St. Louis’ Total Consecration is a way to consecrate one’s self to Jesus by relying on His mother’s help.

It is therefore fitting that another way of characterizing St Louis de Montfort’s spirituality is by the motto “Ad Jesum per Mariam”: “To Jesus through Mary.”
 
Hi Monica 🙂

Who are these people who feel that that devotion to Mary is idolatry? My guess is that they are not Catholics or they do not understand.

I only recently learned about consecration to Jesus through Mary. - Thanks to you 👍

It seems like a wonderful way to follow Jesus. We do not devote ourselves to Mary because of who she is. We do it because of her reference to God. She is a perfect reflection of God. She is also mediatrix of all grace. She has nothing other than our interests in mind. Mary is totally worthy of our devotion. It does not take anything away from our love or adoration of God.
 
Edwin78 said:
Hi Monica4316 🙂

I think it would be best for us to understand how St. Louis de Montfort himself understood his own spirituality, and the best that I found to do this is learning how he called it…and he named it in so many ways:

“Consecration of oneself to Jesus Christ, Wisdom Incarnate, by the hands of Mary” (LEW 223).
“perfect renewal of baptism” (TD 120, 126)
“Consecration to the Blessed Virgin” (SM 31)
“perfect Consecration to Jesus Christ” (TD 120),
“Holy Slavery of Jesus and Mary” (SM 44)
“giving of oneself entirely and as a slave to Mary and to Jesus through Mary and after that to do all that we do through Mary, with Mary, in Mary and for Mary” (SM 28; cf. LEW 219; TD 118)
“Consecration to Jesus by the hands of Mary” (TD 35)
“Covenant Renewal” (cf. CG)
the “Tree of Life” (SM 70-78)
“most perfect and most profitable of all devotions to the Blessed Virgin” (LEW 219)

(source)

As you can see, St. Louis’ Total Consecration is a way to consecrate one’s self to Jesus by relying on His mother’s help.

It is therefore fitting that another way of characterizing St Louis de Montfort’s spirituality is by the motto “Ad Jesum per Mariam”: “To Jesus through Mary.”
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info! 🙂

I looked up the definition of idolatry, and it’s putting something above God… but it seems that with Our Blessed Mother, she just helps us come closer to Him. We don’t see her as equal to Him or above Him.

I’m trying to figure this out lol!
MtnDwellar said:
Hi Monica 🙂

Who are these people who feel that that devotion to Mary is idolatry? My guess is that they are not Catholics or they do not understand.
Click to expand...
I’ve spoken to both Catholics and non Catholics who worry about this… I’ve worried about it too, before I made my Consecration. In fact I was unsure about it up to Communion, but then after the Eucharist, God gave me lots of peace and I was able to say the prayer and mean it. I feel like I understand the basis of this devotion… but I’m trying to understand it fuller… when I think about this devotion, I don’t feel it is idolatry, but I know there are many people who struggle with the theology of it… like is it alright for us to be close to Mary? I know she leads us closer to Jesus, but should we ONLY focus on Him? Or is it good to focus on Jesus but be close to Mary also? I know the Saints were like this, and their love for God didn’t diminish because of their love for Mary; quite the opposite… I understand all this and it makes sense to me, but sometimes I wonder if i’m right or if I’ve misunderstood everything! So I wanted to check what other Catholics think… and I’ll pray about it too, for sure
I only recently learned about consecration to Jesus through Mary. - Thanks to you 👍
Click to expand...
🙂
It seems like a wonderful way to follow Jesus. We do not devote ourselves to Mary because of who she is. We do it because of her reference to God. She is a perfect reflection of God. She is also mediatrix of all grace. She has nothing other than our interests in mind. Mary is totally worthy of our devotion. It does not take anything away from our love or adoration of God.
Click to expand...
that is how I came to understand it also…

God bless!
 
**Look to those who have consecrated themselves to Mary, like St Maximillian Kolbe;

auschwitz.dk/kolbe.htm

He died in Auschwitz, but also witnessed in Nagasaki in the 1930’s!**

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

mark
 
Monica4316 said:
Thanks for the info! 🙂

I looked up the definition of idolatry, and it’s putting something above God… but it seems that with Our Blessed Mother, she just helps us come closer to Him. We don’t see her as equal to Him or above Him.

I’m trying to figure this out lol!
Click to expand...
Believe me, I am on the same boat as you. I also have consecrated myself to Jesus through Mary 3 years ago, and I still am having problems with understanding it. It just so happens that I have a clear mind about this today. Who knows how I will be in the next few days 😉

But anyways, I just learned this ancient Christian axiom, and I think it will help us both:
*
Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi

How I pray, is how I believe, is how I live.
*
 
Hey Monica, I’m glad your doing better in your journey of faith becoming more like Christ…I think you have more discernment than some coming from a orthodox and protestant background and would know when thing s are getting out of range…I been around a few Catholics that actual scared me with some of the things they said…I had read some prayers to her that made my jaw drop…Things I would only pray to the holy Trinity…To be honest I think there at some out there crossing into worship only intended to go to the God…God rewards those who diligently seek Him…Great peace to you dearly beloved of Christ.
 
Hiskid1973 said:
Hey Monica, I’m glad your doing better in your journey of faith becoming more like Christ…I think you have more discernment than some coming from a orthodox and protestant background and would know when thing s are getting out of range…I been around a few Catholics that actual scared me with some of the things they said…I had read some prayers to her that made my jaw drop…Things I would only pray to the holy Trinity…To be honest I think there at some out there crossing into worship only intended to go to the God…God rewards those who diligently seek Him…Great peace to you dearly beloved of Christ.
Click to expand...
It is interesting that for 33 days of preparation of this consecration is spent praying for discernment to the Holy Trinity. Have you thought of this as a threshing perhaps? The Mother of God loses focus as she presents her Son, or should I say, presents us to Him. If we lose that focus, another will benefit no doubt.
 
Thanks for the replies! 🙂

HisKid, I think that it’s important to interpret those prayers in the correct way. I dont personally view them as worship… 🙂

God bless
 
Samson01 said:
It is interesting that for 33 days of preparation of this consecration is spent praying for discernment to the Holy Trinity. Have you thought of this as a threshing perhaps? The Mother of God loses focus as she presents her Son, or should I say, presents us to Him. If we lose that focus, another will benefit no doubt.
Click to expand...
Please explain. :confused: How does the Mother of God lose focus?
 
MtnDwellar said:
Please explain. :confused: How does the Mother of God lose focus?
Click to expand...
I think maybe he trying to say like John, it’s Jesus the focus is on…Mary would be guide the focus there…Like John, He must increase, I must decrease…It’s all about where the focus should be…
 
Hiskid1973 said:
I think maybe he trying to say like John, it’s Jesus the focus is on…Mary would be guide the focus there…Like John, He must increase, I must decrease…It’s all about where the focus should be…
Click to expand...
Mary always leads us to God 🙂
 
Today I randomly opened my “Divine Mercy in My Soul” book (by St Faustina) and came across this passage:
  • It is with great zeal that I have prepared for the celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God. I have made an extra effort to keep recollected in spirit and have meditated on that unique privilege of Our Lady. And thus my heart was completely drowned in Her, thanking God for having accorded this great privilege to Mary.
1413 I prepared not only by means of the novena said in common by the whole community, but I also made a personal effort to salute Her a thousand times each day, saying a thousand “Hail Marys” for nine days in Her praise.
  • This is now the third time I have said such a novena to the Mother of God; that is, a novena made up of a thousand Aves each day. Thus the novena consists in nine thousand salutations. Although I have done this now three times in my life, and two of these while in the course of my duties, I have never failed in carrying out my tasks with the greatest exactitude. I have always said the novena outside the time of my exercises; that is to say, I have not said the Aves during Holy Mass or Benediction. Once, I made the novena while lying ill in the hospital. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Apart from recreation, I have only prayed and worked. I have not said a single unnecessary word during these days. Although I must admit that such a matter requires a good deal of attention and effort, nothing is too much when it comes to honoring the Immaculate Virgin.
1414 The Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Before Holy Communion I saw the Blessed Mother inconceivably beautiful. Smiling at me She said to me, My daughter, at God’s command I am to be, in a special and exclusive way your Mother; but I desire that you, too, in a special way, be My child.

1415 I desire, My dearly beloved daughter, that you practice the three virtues that are dearest to Me-and most pleasing to God. The first is humility, humility, and once again humility; the second virtue, purity; the third virtue, love of God. As My daughter, you must especially radiate with these virtues. When the conversation ended, She pressed me to Her Heart and disappeared. When I regained the use of my senses, my heart became so wonderfully attracted to these virtues; and I practice them faithfully. They are as though engraved in my heart.
 
MtnDwellar said:
Please explain. :confused: How does the Mother of God lose focus?
Click to expand...
I meant she doesn’t remain the focus, leading us to her Son, but ready to catch us, turn us around back toward Him if we wonder. Sorry for the confusion.
 
Hiskid1973 said:
I think maybe he trying to say like John, it’s Jesus the focus is on…Mary would be guide the focus there…Like John, He must increase, I must decrease…It’s all about where the focus should be…
Click to expand...
Yes, thank you.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top