When NOT to do "True Devotion to Mary"

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I’m reading St Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion to Mary” and find it quite inspiring. However, I do have a question, and its basically are there people who should not practice this particular devotion? I’m having trouble understanding some parts, mostly the part about giving all our spiritual goods to Mary. Don’t get me wrong, I love Our Lady very much and am devoted to her, but I always like to keep my devotions simple, mostly becuase I am a sort of “minimalist,” but also becasue I have a history of OCD/scrupolosity, and I get quite nervous and upset when my devotions get complicated, and I have a tendency to go overboard with them. But I also feel selfish if I don’t practice this devotion. Because of the OCD, I need some second party advice because I can’t think clearly on this myself. Thanks, Tom
 
Since you suffer from OCD/scrupolosity the best advice is to take this matter up with your confessor and/or spiritual adviser.

Peace
James
 
I think this devotion will definitely help you no matter what, but yes I think seek spiritual advice from a director or confessor before you decide when to do it.

When I did it, I was very nervous and unsure if I should do it (definitely the devil was not happy about me doing it), so I asked the Lord for a specific sign that I should do it. And He gave me a very specific sign, and the answer of when I should do it, so I did it.
 
First, thanks for your replys.

The problem is I have asked my confessor, and was told to ask my spiritual director. I don’t have access to a spiritual director, so I’m at a loss. And asking the Lord for signs is another manifestation of the OCD, so that’s a no-no. And I tend to think the devil’s after me too, so you can see the scrupulosity really messes things up.
 
0129141 said:
I also feel selfish if I don’t practice this devotion.
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You are under no obligation to perform this devotion, therefore, you must not consider yourself guilty of anything if you do not perform it.

It might be helpful to put away the idea of taking on this devotion for awhile, and then, if after a time (6 months or a year, perhaps?), you find yourself continually drawn back to it, you may consider again doing it.
 
I really like that idea, esp since I did kind of “rush” into this whole thing. I’ll give it some space for a while.
 
I agree with blenderx,

More especially because you are trying to keep things simple. 👍

You might want to consider asking your pastor if he can tell you how to get hooked up with a spiritual director.

Peace
James
 
0129141 said:
I’m reading St Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion to Mary” and find it quite inspiring. However, I do have a question, and its basically are there people who should not practice this particular devotion? I’m having trouble understanding some parts, mostly the part about giving all our spiritual goods to Mary. Don’t get me wrong, I love Our Lady very much and am devoted to her, but I always like to keep my devotions simple, mostly becuase I am a sort of “minimalist,” but also becasue I have a history of OCD/scrupolosity, and I get quite nervous and upset when my devotions get complicated, and I have a tendency to go overboard with them. But I also feel selfish if I don’t practice this devotion. Because of the OCD, I need some second party advice because I can’t think clearly on this myself. Thanks, Tom
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Hi, I also tend to over complicate things, but I think this devotion is not complicated in the way that you describe, ,it’s really childlike/simple because it’s based on trust in Mary… giving all your spiritual goods to Mary, is basically just giving her the value of all your actions, prayers, etc, so that she would use them depending on how God wants. It’s a way of giving everything of yourself to God. It’s difficult but not complicated, and results in much grace if practiced faithfully. I think if you understand this devotion interiorly or at least have a desire to consecrate yourself to Our Lady, that is already a grace 🙂 so that would mean that you can probably do it. I think the person who doesn’t have this desire, and doesn’t at all understand it, - maybe they shouldn’t do it. The 33 day preparation period helps a lot though. Even if you don’t feel ready now, maybe you could do the preparation period, and it would be clearer then 🙂

God bless!
 
I thought you would like to know I “went through with it.” I read “True Devotion” some more, got a better grasp on it. But I really realized was that I was trying to understand and comprehend this whole thing at once, which you really can’t, its too profound. So I went through with the consecration, and am going to take it simple for now. If Our Lady wishes to draw me to a deeper understanding of this devotion, than she will on her time. She knows me better than myself anyway. And as an aside, I think I received some motherly consolation from Mary, I had a bad headache all day trying to make up my mind, and when I finally made some sense out of everything and decided to go through with it, I made the sign of the cross with water from Lourdes, and my headache went away! So I guess Our Lady is happy. If you want to know why I had to make this decision today, don’t forget August 22 is the Feast of the Queenship of Mary and her Immaculate Heart, one of my favorite Marian feasts.
 
Glad you came to a decision you’re at peace with! And today is a great day to do it. 👍
 
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