TRUE DEVOTION TO OUR LADY
By St. Louis-Marie de Montfort
WHAT DEVOTION TO MARY CONSISTS
IN
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.
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 recognize 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.
First Week - Day 13 of 33
Theme for the Week: Knowledge Of
Self
Prayers, examinations, reflection, acts of
renouncement of our own will, of contrition for our sins, of contempt of self,
all performed at the feet of Mary, for it is from her that we hope for light to
know ourselves. It is near her, that we shall be able to measure the abyss of
our miseries without despairing.
We should employ all our pious actions in asking for a
knowledge of ourselves and contrition of our sins: and we should do this in a
spirit of piety. During this period, we shall consider not so much the
opposition that exists between the spirit of Jesus and ours, as the miserable
and humiliating state to which our sins have reduced us. Moreover, the True
Devotion being an easy, short, sure and perfect way to arrive at that union
with Our Lord which is Christlike perfection, we shall enter seriously upon
this way, strongly convinced of our misery and helplessness. But how attain
this without a knowledge of ourselves'?
Luke 11:1-10
And it came to pass, that as he was in a certain place
praying, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him: Lord, teach us to
pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said to them: When you pray,
say: Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us this day our daily
bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one that is indebted
to us. And lead us not into temptation.
And he said to them: Which of you shall have a friend,
and shall go to him at midnight, and shall say to him: Friend, lend me three
loaves, Because a friend of mine is come off his journey to me, and I have not
what to set before him. And he from within should answer, and say: Trouble me
not, the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise
and give thee. Yet if he shall continue knocking, I say to you, although he
will not rise and give him, because he is his friend; yet, because of his
importunity, he will rise, and give him as many as he needeth.
Litany of the Holy Ghost
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Father all powerful, have mercy on us Jesus,
Eternal Son of the Father,
Redeemer of the world, save us.
Spirit of the Father and the Son, boundless life of
both, sanctify us.
Holy Trinity, hear us
Holy Ghost, Who proceedest from the Father and the
Son, enter our hearts.
Holy Ghost, Who art equal to the Father and the Son, enter our hearts.
Promise of God the Father, have mercy on us.
Ray of heavenly light, have mercy on us
Author of all good, have mercy on us
Source of heavenly water, have mercy on us
Consuming fire, have mercy on us
Ardent charity, have mercy on us
Spiritual unction, have mercy on us
Spirit of love and truth, have mercy on us
Spirit of wisdom and understanding, have mercy on us
Spirit of counsel and fortitude, have mercy on us
Spirit of knowledge and piety, have mercy on us
Spirit of the fear of the Lord, have mercy on us
Spirit of grace and prayer, have mercy on us
Spirit of peace and meekness, have mercy on us
Spirit of modesty and innocence, have mercy on us
Holy Ghost, the Comforter, have mercy on us
Holy Ghost, the Sanctifier, have mercy on us
Holy Ghost, Who governest the Church, have mercy on us
Gift of God, the Most High, have mercy on us
Spirit Who fillest the universe, have mercy on us
Spirit of the adoption of the children of God, have
mercy on us
Holy Ghost, inspire us with horror of sin.
Holy Ghost, come and renew the face of the earth.
Holy Ghost, shed Thy light in our souls.
Holy Ghost, engrave Thy law in our hearts
Holy Ghost, inflame us with the flame of Thy love.
Holy Ghost, open to us the treasures of Thy graces
Holy Ghost, teach us to pray well.
Holy Ghost, enlighten us with Thy heavenly
inspirations.
Holy Ghost, lead us in the way of salvation
Holy Ghost, grant us the only necessary knowledge.
Holy Ghost, inspire in us the practice of good.
Holy Ghost, grant us the merits of all virtues.
Holy Ghost, make us persevere in justice.
Holy Ghost, be Thou our everlasting reward.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Send us Thy Holy Ghost.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
pour down into our souls the gifts of the Holy Ghost.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
grant us the Spirit of wisdom and piety.
V. Come, Holy Ghost! Fill the hearts of Thy faithful,
R. And enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
Let Us Pray. Grant, O, merciful Father, that Thy
Divine Spirit may enlighten, inflame and purify us, that He may penetrate us
with His heavenly dew and make us fruitful in good works, through Our Lord
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, liveth
and reigneth forever and ever.
R. Amen.
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Litany
of Loreto)
Lord, have mercy on us,
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
have mercy on us
God the Holy Ghost,
have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us
Holy Mother of God, pray for
us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
Mother inviolate, pray for us.
Mother undefiled, pray for us.
Mother most amiable, pray for us.
Mother most admirable, pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Saviour, pray for us.
Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, pray for us.
Preparation for Consecration, pray for us.
Mirror of justice, pray for us.
Seat of wisdom, pray for us.
Cause of our joy, pray for us.
Vessel of honor, pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.
Mystical rose, pray for us.
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of ivory, pray for us.
House of gold, pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, pray for us.
Gate of Heaven, pray for us.
Morning star, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Queen of angels, pray for us.
Queen of patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of prophets, pray for us.
Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
Queen of martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of confessors, pray for us.
Queen of virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all saints, pray for us.
Queen conceived without Original Sin, pray for us.
Queen assumed into Heaven, pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
Queen of peace, pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto us Thy
servants, that we may rejoice in continual health of mind and body, and by the
glorious intercession of Blessed Mary, ever virgin, may be delivered from
present sadness, and enter into the joy of Thine eternal gladness. Through
Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
Ave Maris Stella
Hail, O Star of the ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
ever sinless Virgin,
gate of heav'nly rest.
Taking that sweet Ave,
which from Gabriel came,
peace confirm within us,
changing Eve's name.
Break the sinners' fetters,
make our blindness day,
Chase all evils from us,
for all blessings pray.
Show thyself a Mother,
may the Word divine,
born for us thine Infant
hear our prayers through thine.
Virgin all excelling,
mildest of the mild,
free from guilt
preserve us meek and undefiled.
Keep our life all spotless,
make our way secure
till we find in Jesus, joy for evermore.
Praise to God the Father,
honor to the Son,
in the Holy Spirit,
be the glory one.
Amen.
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