Reflections/Consecration
to Jesus through Mary
TRUE DEVOTION TO
OUR LADY
By St. Louis-Marie de Montfort
Mary’s part in the sanctification of souls
Mary has authority over the angels and the
blessed in heaven. As a reward for her great humility, God gave her the power
and the mission of assigning to saints the thrones made vacant by the apostate
angels who fell away through pride.
Such is the will of almighty God who exalts
the humble, that the powers of heaven, earth and hell, willingly or
unwillingly, must obey the commands of the humble Virgin Mary. For God has made her queen of heaven and
earth, leader of his armies, keeper of his treasures, dispenser of his graces,
worker of his wonders, restorer of the human race, mediatrix on behalf of men,
destroyer of his enemies, and faithful associate in his great works and
triumphs.
God the Father wishes Mary to be the mother
of his children until the end of time and so he says to her, “Dwell in Jacob”,
that is to say, take up your abode permanently in my children, in my holy ones
represented by Jacob, and not in the children of the devil and sinners
represented by Esau.
Just as in natural and bodily generation
there is a father and a mother, so in the supernatural and spiritual generation
there is a father who is God and a mother who is Mary. All true children of God
have God for their father and Mary for their mother; anyone who does not have
Mary for his mother, does not have God for his father. This is why the
reprobate, such as heretics and schismatics, who hate, despise or ignore the
Blessed Virgin, do not have God for their father though they arrogantly claim
they have, because they do not have Mary for their mother. Indeed if they had
her for their mother they would love and honor her as good and true children
naturally love and honor the mother who gave them life.
An infallible and unmistakable sign by which
we can distinguish a heretic, a man of false doctrine, an enemy of God, from
one of God’s true friends is that the heretic and the hardened sinner show
nothing but contempt and indifference for our Lady. He endeavors by word and
example, openly or insidiously sometimes under specious pretexts to
belittle the love and veneration shown to her. God the Father has not told Mary
to dwell in them because they are, alas, other Esau's.
God the Son wishes to form himself, and, in a
manner of speaking, become incarnate every day in his members through his dear
Mother. To her he said: “Take Israel for your inheritance.” It is as if he said
God the Father has given me as heritage all the nations of the earth, all men
good and evil, predestinate and reprobate. To the good I shall be father and
advocate, to the bad a just avenger, but to all I shall be a judge. But you, my
dear Mother, will have for your heritage and possession only the predestinate
represented by Israel. As their loving mother, you will give them birth, feed them
and rear them. As their queen, you will lead, govern and defend them.
Imitation of
Christ, by Thomas á Kempis: Book 3, Chapter 40
Wherefore, but I did know well, how to cast
from me all human comfort, either for the sake of devotion, or through the
necessity by which I am compelled to seek Thee, because there is no man that
can comfort me. Then might I deservedly hope in Thy favor, and rejoice in the gift
of a new consolation. Thanks be to Thee from Whom all things proceed, as often
as it happens to me. I, indeed, am but vanity, and nothing in Thy sight , an
inconstant and weak man. Where, therefore, can I glory, or for what do I desire
to be thought of highly?
Forsooth of my very nothingness; and this is
most vain. Truly vainglory is an evil plague, because it draws away from true
glory, and robs us of heavenly grace. For, while a man takes complacency in
himself, he displeases Thee; while he wants for human applause, he is deprived
of true virtues. But true, glory and holy exultation is to glory in Thee, and
not in one's self; to rejoice in Thy Name, but not in one's own strength. To
find pleasure in no creature, save only for Thy sake. Let Thy Name be praised,
not mine; let Thy work be magnified, not mine; let Thy Holy Name be blessed,
but let nothing be attributed to me of the praise of men. Thou art my glory;
Thou art the exultation of my heart; in Thee, will I glory and rejoice all the
day; but for myself, I will glory in nothing but in my infirmities.
Recite: Veni Creator, Ave Maris Stella, Magnificat, and Glory Be
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