St. Louis Marie de Montfort - True Devotion to Mary

[Shin]

True Devotion to Mary


INTRODUCTION OF SAINT LOUIS-MARIE

1.   It was through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus came into the world, and it is also through her that he must reign in the world.

2.   Because Mary remained hidden during her life she is called by the Holy Spirit and the Church “Alma Mater”, Mother hidden and unknown. So great was her humility that she desired nothing more upon earth than to remain unknown to herself and to others, and to be known only to God.

3.   In answer to her prayers to remain hidden, poor and lowly, God was pleased to conceal her from nearly every other human creature in her conception, her birth, her life, her mysteries, her resurrection and assumption. Her own parents did not really know her; and the angels would often ask one another, “Who can she possibly be?”, for God had hidden her from them, or if he did reveal anything to them, it was nothing compared with what he withheld.

4.   God the Father willed that she should perform no miracle during her life, at least no public one, although he had given her the power to do so. God the Son willed that she should speak very little although he had imparted his wisdom to her. Even though Mary was his faithful spouse, God the Holy Spirit willed that his apostles and evangelists should say very little about her and then only as much as was necessary to make Jesus known.

5.   Mary is the supreme masterpiece of Almighty God and he has reserved the knowledge and possession of her for himself. She is the glorious Mother of God the Son who chose to humble and conceal her during her lifetime in order to foster her humility. He called her “Woman” as if she were a stranger, although in his heart he esteemed and loved her above all men and angels. Mary is the sealed fountain and the faithful spouse of the Holy Spirit where only he may enter. She is the sanctuary and resting-place of the Blessed Trinity where God dwells in greater and more divine splendour than anywhere else in the universe, not excluding his dwelling above the cherubim and seraphim. No creature, however pure, may enter there without being specially privileged.

6.   I declare with the saints: Mary is the earthly paradise of Jesus Christ the new Adam, where he became man by the power of the Holy Spirit, in order to accomplish in her wonders beyond our understanding. She is the vast and divine world of God where unutterable marvels and beauties are to be found. She is the magnificence of the Almighty where he hid his only Son, as in his own bosom, and with him everything that is most excellent and precious. What great and hidden things the all-powerful God has done for this wonderful creature, as she herself had to confess in spite of her great humility, “The Almighty has done great things for me.” The world does not know these things because it is incapable and unworthy of knowing them.

7.   The saints have said wonderful things of Mary, the holy City of God, and, as they themselves admit, they were never more eloquent and more pleased than when they spoke of her. And yet they maintain that the height of her merits rising up to the throne of the Godhead cannot be perceived; the breadth of her love which is wider than the earth cannot be measured; the greatness of the power which she wields over one who is God cannot be conceived; and the depths of her profound humility and all her virtues and graces cannot be sounded. What incomprehensible height! What indescribable breadth! What immeasurable greatness! What an impenetrable abyss!

8.   Every day, from one end of the earth to the other, in the highest heaven and in the lowest abyss, all things preach, all things proclaim the wondrous Virgin Mary. The nine choirs of angels, men and women of every age, rank and religion, both good and evil, even the very devils themselves are compelled by the force of truth, willingly or unwillingly, to call her blessed. According to St. Bonaventure, all the angels in heaven unceasingly call out to her: “Holy, holy, holy Mary, Virgin Mother of God.” They greet her countless times each day with the angelic greeting, “Hail, Mary”, while prostrating themselves before her, begging her as a favour to honour them with one of her requests. According to St. Augustine, even St. Michael, though prince of all the heavenly court, is the most eager of all the angels to honour her and lead others to honour her. At all times he awaits the privilege of going at her word to the aid of one of her servants.

9.   The whole world is filled with her glory, and this is especially true of Christian peoples, who have chosen her as guardian and protectress of kingdoms, provinces, dioceses, and towns. Many cathedrals are consecrated to God in her name. There is no church without an altar dedicated to her, no country or region without at least one of her miraculous images where all kinds of afflictions are cured and all sorts of benefits received. Many are the confraternities and associations honouring her as patron; many are the orders under her name and protection; many are the members of sodalities and religious of all congregations who voice her praises and make known her compassion. There is not a child who does not praise her by lisping a Hail Mary. There is scarcely a sinner, however hardened, who does not possess some spark of confidence in her. The very devils in hell, while fearing her, show her respect.

10.  And yet in truth we must still say with the saints: De Maria numquam satis : We have still not praised, exalted, honoured, loved and served Mary adequately. She is worthy of even more praise, respect, love and service.

11.  Moreover, we should repeat after the Holy Spirit, “All the glory of the king's daughter is within”, meaning that all the external glory which heaven and earth vie with each other to give her is nothing compared to what she has received interiorly from her Creator, namely, a glory unknown to insignificant creatures like us, who cannot penetrate into the secrets of the king.

12.  Finally, we must say in the words of the apostle Paul, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has the heart of man understood” the beauty, the grandeur, the excellence of Mary, who is indeed a miracle of miracles of grace, nature and glory. “If you wish to understand the Mother,” says a saint, “then understand the Son. She is a worthy Mother of God.” Hic taceat omnis lingua : Here let every tongue be silent.

13.  My heart has dictated with special joy all that I have written to show that Mary has been unknown up till now, and that that is one of the reasons why Jesus Christ is not known as he should be. If then, as is certain, the knowledge and the kingdom of Jesus Christ must come into the world, it can only be as a necessary consequence of the knowledge and reign of Mary. She who first gave him to the world will establish his kingdom in the world.

[Shin]

Some lights however hidden, cannot be hidden, and shine forth.. in fact the more they are hidden the more they shine.

This reminds me of one of the Desert Fathers, who prayed not to be given glory before men. . . The more he prayed, the more his countenance shone, by God's will.

[Therese]

Has anyone ever read Ven. Mary of Agreda's Mystical City of God?  This 4-volume work is so excellent and is one of my all time favorites.  I am presently rereading the third volume.  One can not help but love Our Lady more strongly and deeply after reading about her life.   What a perfect, most loving and merciful soul Our Mother is!  God bless you.

[Paul]

We want to go out and do great things like the saints. We want to write great pious books, convert thousands, and be canonized and prayed to. But the saints who did such things were called to do so. We give greater glory to God when we are hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). Therefore it follows logically that we should pray to remain hidden. "Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. For the anger of man worketh not the justice of God." (James 1:19-20). Unfortunately, I'm almost exactly the opposite!  

As we discussed in the thread about separation from the world, worldlings think we have no lives. This is good in a way, because it keeps us hidden. They look at us, dismiss us as losers who make the Trekkies look like party animals, and pay little attention. Those of us who are thus hidden are all the closer to God for it.

[Shin]

Hiddenness.. what a blessing!!!

I have only read a small portion of that book Therese..

Thank you for reminding me of it again!!! I must read it.. 

I have it in electronic form and I think it is one of those books, because there is so much, I would do much better with printed. But then of course, the cost. But still.. I wish to.

If you think of any quotes from it share them please!

[Therese]

Here's a quote for you, Shin.

Taken from Ven. Mary of Agreda's Mystical City of God:

The most prudent Virgin never forgot or disregarded the first word which She had heard from the mouth of her divine Son as an infant: "Become like unto Me, my Beloved."

[Shin]

That's beautiful, thank you Therese.

[odhiambo]

7.   The saints have said wonderful things of Mary, the holy City of God, and, as they themselves admit, they were never more eloquent and more pleased than when they spoke of her. And yet they maintain that the height of her merits rising up to the throne of the Godhead cannot be perceived; the breadth of her love which is wider than the earth cannot be measured; the greatness of the power which she wields over one who is God cannot be conceived; and the depths of her profound humility and all her virtues and graces cannot be sounded. What incomprehensible height! What indescribable breadth! What immeasurable greatness! What an impenetrable abyss!

Sometimes my understanding of English is limited.  Take the above highlighted sentence. I understand it to mean that our Lady has power over God. If this is so , what does the author mean?

[Therese]

That's beautiful, thank you Therese.

Yes, it is truly beautiful.  I am glad to share this quote with you.  God bless you.

[Therese]

7.   The saints have said wonderful things of Mary, the holy City of God, and, as they themselves admit, they were never more eloquent and more pleased than when they spoke of her. And yet they maintain that the height of her merits rising up to the throne of the Godhead cannot be perceived; the breadth of her love which is wider than the earth cannot be measured; the greatness of the power which she wields over one who is God cannot be conceived; and the depths of her profound humility and all her virtues and graces cannot be sounded. What incomprehensible height! What indescribable breadth! What immeasurable greatness! What an impenetrable abyss!

Sometimes my understanding of English is limited.  Take the above highlighted sentence. I understand it to mean that our Lady has power over God. If this is so , what does the author mean?

It means that she is pretty much infinitely powerful with God, with inconceivably strong influence over him.  Her will is in effect the same thing as the Will of God.  In Ven. Mary of Agreda's Mystical City of God we read that everything Mary asks of God he grants -- there is nothing that he refuses her.  She is so pure, so perfect, so good and so wise; she is God's own Mother; and her will is the same as His --why wouldn't she wield the greatest power over Him?  She is the only creature that can wield such power over God.  God bless you.

BTW, I answered this same question CAF a few days ago.

[odhiambo]

7.   The saints have said wonderful things of Mary, the holy City of God, and, as they themselves admit, they were never more eloquent and more pleased than when they spoke of her. And yet they maintain that the height of her merits rising up to the throne of the Godhead cannot be perceived; the breadth of her love which is wider than the earth cannot be measured; the greatness of the power which she wields over one who is God cannot be conceived; and the depths of her profound humility and all her virtues and graces cannot be sounded. What incomprehensible height! What indescribable breadth! What immeasurable greatness! What an impenetrable abyss!

Sometimes my understanding of English is limited.  Take the above highlighted sentence. I understand it to mean that our Lady has power over God. If this is so , what does the author mean?

It means that she is pretty much infinitely powerful with God, with inconceivably strong influence over him.  Her will is in effect the same thing as the Will of God.  In Ven. Mary of Agreda's Mystical City of God we read that everything Mary asks of God he grants -- there is nothing that he refuses her.  She is so pure, so perfect, so good and so wise; she is God's own Mother; and her will is the same as His --why wouldn't she wield the greatest power over Him?  She is the only creature that can wield such power over God.  God bless you.

BTW, I answered this same question CAF a few days ago.

That makes her a great intercessor. Thank you Therese, I understand.

[Therese]

7.   The saints have said wonderful things of Mary, the holy City of God, and, as they themselves admit, they were never more eloquent and more pleased than when they spoke of her. And yet they maintain that the height of her merits rising up to the throne of the Godhead cannot be perceived; the breadth of her love which is wider than the earth cannot be measured; the greatness of the power which she wields over one who is God cannot be conceived; and the depths of her profound humility and all her virtues and graces cannot be sounded. What incomprehensible height! What indescribable breadth! What immeasurable greatness! What an impenetrable abyss!

Sometimes my understanding of English is limited.  Take the above highlighted sentence. I understand it to mean that our Lady has power over God. If this is so , what does the author mean?

It means that she is pretty much infinitely powerful with God, with inconceivably strong influence over him.  Her will is in effect the same thing as the Will of God.  In Ven. Mary of Agreda's Mystical City of God we read that everything Mary asks of God he grants -- there is nothing that he refuses her.  She is so pure, so perfect, so good and so wise; she is God's own Mother; and her will is the same as His --why wouldn't she wield the greatest power over Him?  She is the only creature that can wield such power over God.  God bless you.

BTW, I answered this same question CAF a few days ago.

That makes her a great intercessor. Thank you Therese, I understand.

Yes, odhiambo, she is a great intercessor -- in fact, she is our best and most powerful intercessor.  God has given Mary power over the entire universe and from what we have read -- even over Himself; she is blessed with so many prerogatives and gifts, it's so marvelous!  God bless you!

[odhiambo]

MEMORARE

We hasten to your patronage, O Virgin Mother of God.
Do not turn away from us in our necessities,
but, O pure and most blessed Lady
deliver us from every danger.

O Most glorious and Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ our God,
receive our prayers and carry them to your Son and our God,
that He, because of your intercession
may enlighten and save our souls.

[Paul]

A lot if people read the stuff about Mary having power over God and think it means she is more powerful than God. Yet she would have no power at all if God hadn't given it to her. If this was true of Pontius Pilate (John 19:11), how much more true is it of Mary, who has so much more power than an earthly ruler!

[odhiambo]

When I am reading a book such as this one or even the Bible, and I come across an expression that seems contrary to what we believe, I know automatically that it is me who has misunderstood so I seek help  to understand better.

[Shin]

FWIW think it's because God loves that in a certain sense others are spoken of as 'having power' over God. Because is Love and His love of His children moves Him.