TRUE DEVOTION TO OUR LADY
By St. Louis-Marie de Montfort
Now there are three kinds of slavery: natural slavery,
enforced slavery, and voluntary slavery. All creatures are slaves of God in the
first sense, for “the earth and its fullness belong to the Lord”. The devils
and the damned are slaves in the second sense. The saints in heaven and the
just on earth are slaves in the third sense. Voluntary slavery is the most
perfect of all three states, for by it we give the greatest glory to God, who
looks into the heart and wants it to be given to him. Is he not indeed called
the God of the heart or of the loving will? For by this slavery we freely
choose God and his service before all things, even if we were not by our very
nature obliged to do so.
There is a world of difference between a servant and a slave. 1) A servant does not give his employer all he is, all he has, and all he can acquire by himself or through others. A slave, however, gives himself to his master completely and exclusively with all he has and all he can acquire. 2) A servant demands wages for the services rendered to his employer. A slave, on the other hand, can expect nothing; no matter what skill, attention or energy he may have put into his work. 3) A servant can leave his employer whenever he pleases, or at least when the term of his service expires, whereas the slave has no such right. 4) An employer has no right of life and death over a servant. Were he to kill him as he would a beast of burden, he would commit murder. But the master of a slave has by law the right of life and death over him, so that he can sell him to anyone he chooses or - if you will pardon the comparison - kill him, as he would kill his horse. 5) Finally, a servant is in his employer’s service only for a time: a slave for always.
Day 15 of 33
Luke 13:1-5 Examples inviting Repentance
And there were present, at
that very time, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had
mingled with their sacrifices. And he answering, said to them: Think you that
these Galileans were sinners above all the men of Galilee, because they
suffered such things? No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you
shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower fell in Siloe,
and slew them: think you, that they also were debtors above all the men that
dwelt in Jerusalem? No, I say to you; but except you do penance, you shall all
likewise perish.
We Need Mary
in order to Die to Ourselves
Secondly, in order to empty ourselves of self, we must die daily to
ourselves. This involves our renouncing what the powers of the soul and the
senses of the body incline us to do. We must see as if we did not see, hear as
if we did not hear and use the things of this world as if we did not use them.
This is what St. Paul calls "dying daily". Unless the grain of wheat
falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain and does not bear
any good fruit. If we do not die to self and if our holiest devotions do not lead
us to this necessary and fruitful death, we shall not bear fruit of any worth
and our devotions will cease to be profitable. All our good works will be
tainted by selflove and self-will so that our greatest sacrifices and our best
actions will be unacceptable to God. Consequently when we come to die we shall
find ourselves devoid of virtue and merit and discover that we do not possess
even one spark of that pure love which God shares only with those who have died
to themselves and whose life is hidden with Jesus Christ in him.
Thirdly, we must choose among all the devotions to the Blessed Virgin
the one which will lead us more surely to this dying to self. This devotion
will be the best and the most sanctifying for us.
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. 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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