33 CONSECRATION PREPARATION TO JESUS THROUGH MARY
Day
31 of 33
Imitation
of Christ, by Thomas á Kempis: Book 4, Chapter 2
That the Great Goodness and Love of God Is Exhibited to Man in This
Sacrament
In
confidence of Thy goodness and great mercy, O Lord, I draw near, sick to the
Healer, hungry and thirsty to the Fountain of life, needy to the King of
Heaven, a servant to his Lord, a creature to the Creator, desolate to my own
tender Comforter. "But whence is this to me," that Thou comest unto
me (Luke 1:43)? What am I, that Thou shouldest grant me Thine own self? how
dare a sinner appear before Thee?
And
how is it that Thou dost vouchsafe to come unto a sinner? Thou knowest Thy
servant, and art well aware that he hath in him no good thing, for which Thou
shouldest grant him this. I confess therefore mine own vileness, I acknowledge
Thy goodness, I praise Thy tender mercy, and give Thee thanks for Thy
transcendent love.
From True Devotion To the Blessed Virgin
Mary, Nos. 243-254 243.
Loving
slaves of Jesus in Mary should hold in high esteem devotion to Jesus, the Word
of God, in the great mystery of the Incarnation, March 25th, which is the
mystery proper to this devotion, because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit for
the following reasons: a) That we might honour and imitate the wondrous
dependence which God the Son chose to have on Mary, for the glory of his Father
and for the redemption of man. This dependence is revealed especially in this
mystery where Jesus becomes a captive and slave in the womb of his Blessed
Mother, depending on her for everything. b) That we might thank God for the
incomparable graces he has conferred upon Mary and especially that of choosing
her to be his most worthy Mother. This choice was made in the mystery of the
incarnation. These are the two principal ends of the slavery of Jesus in Mary.
245. a) Since we live in an age of pride when a
great number of haughty scholars, with proud and critical minds, find fault
even with long-established and sound devotions, it is better to speak of
"slavery of Jesus in Mary" and to call oneself "slave of
Jesus" rather than "slave of Mary". We then avoid giving any pretext
for criticism. In this way, we name this devotion after its ultimate end which
is Jesus, rather than after the way and the means to arrive there, which is
Mary. However, we can very well use either term without any scruple, as I
myself do.
b) Since the principal mystery celebrated
and honoured in this devotion is the mystery of the Incarnation where we find
Jesus only in Mary, having become incarnate in her womb, it is appropriate for
us to say, "slavery of Jesus in Mary", of Jesus dwelling enthroned in
Mary, according to the beautiful prayer, recited by so many great souls,
"O Jesus living in Mary".
249.
Those who accept this devotion should have a great love for the Hail Mary, or,
as it is called, the Angelic Salutation. Few Christians, however enlightened,
understand the value, merit, excellence and necessity of the Hail Mary. Our
Blessed Lady herself had to appear on several occasions to men of great
holiness and insight, such as St. Dominic, St. John Capistran and Blessed Alan
de Rupe, to convince them of the richness of this prayer.
Recite: Litany of the Holy Ghost, Ave Maris
Stella, Litany of the Holy Name, St. Louis de Montfort’s Prayer to Mary
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