TRUE DEVOTION TO MARY
God the Father has not given
His Only-be gotten to the world except by Mary. Whatever sighs the patriarchs
may have sent forth, whatever prayers the prophets and the saints of the
ancient law may have offered up to obtain that treasure for full four thousand
years, it was but Mary that merited it; it was but Mary who found grace before
God by the force of her prayers and the eminence of her virtues. The world was
unworthy, says St. Augustine, to receive the Son of God immediately from the
Father's hands. He has given Him to Mary in order that the world might receive
Him through her. The Son of God has made Himself Man; but it was in Mary and by
Mary, God the Holy Ghost has formed Jesus Christ in Mary; but it was only after
having asked her consent by one of the first ministers of His court.
God the Father has
communicated to Mary His fruitfulness, as far as a mere creature was capable of
it, in order that He might give her the power to produce His Son, and all the members
of His mystical Body. God the Son has descended into her virginal womb, as the
new Adam into the terrestrial paradise, to take His pleasure there, and to work
in secret the marvels of His grace.
God, then, wishes to reveal
and discover Mary, the masterpiece of His hands, in these latter times : 1.
Because she hid herself in this world, and put herself lower than the dust by
her profound humility, having obtained of God and of His Apostles and
Evangelists that she should not be made manifest. 2. Because, being the
masterpiece of the hands of God, as well here below by grace as in heaven by
glory, He wishes to be glorified and praised in her by those who are living
upon the earth. 3. As she is the aurora which precedes and discovers the Sun of
Justice, who is Jesus Christ, she ought to be recognized and perceived, in
order that Jesus Christ may be so. 4. Being the way by which Jesus Christ came
to us the first time, she will also be the way by which He will come the second
time, though not in the same manner. 5. Being the sure means and the straight
and immaculate way to go to Jesus Christ, and to find Him perfectly, it is by
her that the holy souls, who are to shine forth especially in sanctity, have to
find our Lord. He who shall find Mary shall find life; that is, Jesus Christ,
who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. But no one can find Mary who does not
seek her; and no one can seek her, who does not know her: for we cannot seek or
desire an unknown object. It is necessary, then, for the greater knowledge and
glory of the Most Holy Trinity, that Mary should be more known than ever. 6.
Mary must shine forth more than ever in mercy, in might, and in grace, in these
latter times: in mercy, to bring back and lovingly receive the poor strayed
sinners who shall be converted and shall return to the Catholic Church; in
might, against the enemies of God, idolaters, schismatics, Mahometans, Jews,
and souls hardened in impiety, who shall rise in terrible re volt against God
to seduce all those who shall be contrary to them, and to make them fall by
promises and threats ; and, finally, she must shine forth in grace, in order to
animate and sustain the valiant soldiers and faithful servants of Jesus Christ,
who shall do battle for His interests. 7. And, lastly, Mary must be terrible to
the devil and his crew, as an army ranged in battle, principally in these
latter times, because the devil, knowing that he has but little time, and now
less than ever, to destroy souls, will every day redouble his efforts and his combats.
He will presently raise up new persecutions, and will put terrible snares
before the faithful servants and true children of Mary, whom it gives him more
trouble to surmount than it does to conquer others. It is principally of these
last and cruel persecutions of the devil, which shall go on increasing daily
till the reign of Antichrist that we ought to understand that first and
celebrated prediction and curse of God, pronounced in the terrestrial Paradise
against the serpent. It is to our purpose to explain this here, for the glory
of the most holy Virgin, for the salvation of her children, and for the
confusion of the devil.
Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort’s Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary
FIRST PERlOD
Twelve Preliminary Days
RENOUNCEMENT OF THE WORLD
12 Day Preparation
"The first part of the preparation should
be employed in casting off the spirit of the world, which is contrary to that
of Jesus Christ."
The spirit of the world consists essentially
in the denial of the supreme dominion of God, a denial which is manifested in
practice by sin and disobedience; thus, it is principally opposed to the spirit
of Christ, which is also that of Mary.
It manifests itself by the concupiscence of
the flesh, by the concupiscence of the eyes, and by the pride of life; by
disobedience to God's laws and the abuse of created things. Its works are,
first, sin in all its forms; and then all else by which the devil leads to sin;
works which bring error and darkness to the mind and seduction and corruption
to the will. Its pomps are the splendor and the charms employed by the devil to
render sin alluring in persons, places and things.
Day 1 of 33
Matthew 5:1-19
And seeing the multitudes, he
went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him.
And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek: for they shall
possess the land. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have
their fill. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are
the clean of heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for
they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they that suffer persecution
for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when
they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against
you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great
in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you. You are
the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savor, wherewith shall it be
salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden
on by men. You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot
be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a
candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house. So let your light
shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
who is in heaven. Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the
prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For amen I say unto you,
till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law,
till all be fulfilled. He therefore that shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom
of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven.
Recite: Veni Creator, Ave Maris Stella, Magnificat,
and Glory Be
Veni Creator
Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest, and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid to fill the hearts which Thou hast
made.
O comforter, to Thee we cry, O heavenly gift of God Most High, O fount
of life and fire of love, and sweet anointing from above.
Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known; Thou, finger of God's hand we
own; Thou, promise of the Father, Thou Who dost the tongue with power
imbue.
Kindle our sense from above, and make our hearts o'erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high the weakness of our flesh supply.
Far from us drive the foe we dread, and grant us Thy peace instead; so
shall we not, with Thee for guide, turn from the path of life aside.
Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow the Father and the Son to know; and Thee,
through endless times confessed, of both the eternal Spirit blest.
Now to the Father and the Son, Who rose from death, be glory given, with
Thou, O Holy Comforter, henceforth by all in earth and heaven. 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.
Magnificat
My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my
Savior. Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid; for behold, from
henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty
hath done great things to me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is from
generation to generations, to them that fear Him. He hath showed might in His
arm; He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat; and hath exalted the
humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent
empty away. He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy. As
He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever. Amen.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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