TRUE DEVOTION TO MARY - DAY 11

 

TRUE DEVOTION TO OUR LADY

By St. Louis-Marie de Montfort

Mary’s part in the latter times - Part 2

Devotion to Mary is especially necessary in the latter times.

God in these times wishes his Blessed Mother to be more known, loved and honored than she has ever been. This will certainly come about if the elect, by the grace and light of the Holy Spirit, adopt the interior and perfect practice of the devotion. Then they will clearly see that beautiful Star of the Sea, as much as faith allows. Under her guidance they will perceive the splendors of this Queen and will consecrate themselves entirely to her service as subjects and slaves of love. They will experience her motherly kindness and affection for her children. They will love her tenderly and will appreciate how full of compassion she is and how much they stand in need of her help.  In all circumstances they will have recourse to her as their advocate and mediatrix with Jesus Christ. They will see clearly that she is the safest, easiest, shortest and most perfect way of approaching Jesus and will surrender themselves to her, body and soul, without reserve in order to belong entirely to Jesus. But what will they be like, these servants, these slaves, these children of Mary? They will be ministers of the Lord who, like a flaming fire, will enkindle everywhere the fires of divine love. They will become, in Mary’s powerful hands, like sharp arrows, with which she will transfix her enemies.

They will be as the children of Levi, thoroughly purified by the fire of great tribulations and closely joined to God.  They will carry the gold of love in their heart, the frankincense of prayer in their mind and the myrrh of mortification in their body. They will bring to the poor and lowly everywhere the sweet fragrance of Jesus, but they will bring the odor of death to the great, the rich and the proud of this world.

They will be like thunderclouds flying through the air at the slightest breath of the Holy Spirit. Attached to nothing, surprised at nothing, troubled at nothing, they will shower down the rain of God’s word and of eternal life. They will thunder against sin, they will storm against the world, they will strike down the devil and his followers and for life and for death, they will pierce through and through with the two-edged sword of God’s word all those against whom they are sent by Almighty God.

Lastly, we know they will be true disciples of Jesus Christ, imitating his poverty, his humility, his contempt of the world and his love. They will point out the narrow way to God in pure truth according to the holy Gospel, and not according to the maxims of the world. Their hearts will not be troubled, nor will they show favor to anyone; they will not spare or heed or fear any man, however powerful he may be.  They will have the two-edged sword of the word of God in their mouths and the bloodstained standard of the Cross on their shoulders. They will carry the crucifix in their right hand and the rosary in their left, and the holy names of Jesus and Mary on their heart. The simplicity and self-sacrifice of Jesus will be reflected in their whole behavior.

Such are the great men who are to come. By the will of God Mary is to prepare them to extend his rule over the impious and unbelievers. But when and how will this come about? Only God knows. For our part we must yearn and wait for it in silence and in prayer: “I have waited and waited.”

 Day 11 of 33

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.  

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 art 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 Thee, 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 heavenly 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 lives spotless, and 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 shown 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

 

TRUE DEVOTION TO MARY - TENTH DAY

 

TRUE DEVOTION TO OUR LADY

By St. Louis-Marie de Montfort

Mary’s part in the latter times - Part 2

God wishes to make Mary better known in the latter times.

God wishes therefore to reveal Mary, his masterpiece, and make her more known in these latter times:

(1) Because she kept herself hidden in this world and in her great humility considered herself lower than dust, having obtained from God, his apostles and evangelists the favor of being made known.

(2) Because, as Mary is not only God’s masterpiece of glory in heaven, but also his masterpiece of grace on earth, he wishes to be glorified and praised because of her by those living upon earth.

(3) Since she is the dawn, which precedes and discloses the Sun of Justice Jesus Christ, she must be known and acknowledged so that Jesus may be known and acknowledged.

(4) As she was the way by which Jesus first came to us, she will again be the way by which he will come to us the second time though not in the same manner.

(5) Since she is the sure means, the direct and immaculate way to Jesus and the perfect guide to him, it is through her that souls who are to shine forth in sanctity must find him. He who finds Mary finds life, that is, Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth and the life. But no one can find Mary who does not look for her. No one can look for her who does not know her, for no one seeks or desires something unknown. Mary then must be better known than ever for the deeper understanding and the greater glory of the Blessed Trinity.

(6) In these latter times Mary must shine forth more than ever in mercy, power and grace; in mercy, to bring back and welcome lovingly the poor sinners and wanderers who are to be converted and return to the Catholic Church; in power, to combat the enemies of God who will rise up menacingly to seduce and crush by promises and threats all those who oppose them; finally, she must shine forth in grace to inspire and support the valiant soldiers and loyal servants of Jesus Christ who are fighting for his cause.

Lastly, Mary must become as terrible as an army in battle array to the devil and his followers, especially in these latter times.

For Satan, knowing that he has little time—even less now than ever—to destroy souls, intensifies his efforts and his onslaughts every day.

He will not hesitate to stir up savage persecutions and set treacherous snares for Mary’s faithful servants and children whom he finds more difficult to overcome than others.

It is chiefly in reference to these last wicked persecutions of the devil, daily increasing until the advent of the reign of Antichrist, that we should understand that first and well-known prophecy and curse of God uttered against the serpent in the garden of paradise.

It is opportune to explain it here for the glory of the Blessed Virgin, the salvation of her children and the confusion of the devil. “I will place enmities between you and the woman, between your race and her race; she will crush your head and you will lie in wait for her heel” (Gen. 3:15).

God has established only one enmity—but it is an irreconcilable one—which will last and even go on increasing to the end of time. That enmity is between Mary, his worthy Mother, and the devil, between the children and the servants of the Blessed Virgin and the children and followers of Lucifer.

Thus the most fearful enemy that God has set up against the devil is Mary, his holy Mother. From the time of the earthly paradise, although she existed then only in his mind, he gave her such a hatred for his accursed enemy, such ingenuity in exposing the wickedness of the ancient serpent and such power to defeat, overthrow and crush this proud rebel, that Satan fears her not only more than angels and men but in a certain sense more than God himself. This does not mean that the anger, hatred and power of God are not infinitely greater than the Blessed Virgin’s, since her attributes are limited. It simply means that Satan, being so proud, suffers infinitely more in being vanquished and punished by a lowly and humble servant of God, for her humility humiliates him more than the power of God. Moreover, God has given Mary such great power over the evil spirits that, as they have often been forced unwillingly to admit through the lips of possessed persons, they fear one of her pleadings for a soul more than the prayers of all the saints, and one of her threats more than all their other torments.

Imitation of Christ, by Thomas á Kempis: Book 3, Chapter 10  

That it is sweet to despise the world and to serve God .

Now, will I speak again, O Lord, and will not be silent; I will say in the hearing of my God and my King Who is on  high: Oh, how great is the abundance of Thy sweetness, O Lord, which Thou hast hidden for those that fear Thee!  But what art Thou for those who love Thee? What to those who serve Thee with their whole heart? Unspeakable  indeed is the sweetness of Thy contemplation, which Thou bestowest on those who love Thee. In this most of all  hast Thou showed me the sweetness of Thy love, that when I had no being, Thou didst make me; and when I was  straying far from Thee, Thou brought me back again, that I might serve Thee: and Thou hast commanded me to  serve Thee. O Fountain of everlasting love, what shall I say of Thee? How can I forget Thee, Who hast  vouchsafed to remember me even after I was corrupted and lost? Beyond all hope Thou showest mercy to Thy  servant; and beyond all desert, hast Thou manifested Thy grace and friendship. What return shall I make to Thee  for this favor? For it is granted to all who forsake these things, to renounce the world, and to assume the monastic  life. Is it much that I should serve Thee, Whom the whole creation is bound to serve? It ought not to seem much to  me to serve Thee; but this does rather appear great and wonderful to me, that Thou vouchsafest to receive one  so wretched and unworthy as Thy servant. It is a great honor, a great glory, to serve Thee, and to despise all  things for Thee, for they who willingly subject themselves to Thy holy service, shall have great grace. They shall  experience the most sweet consolation of the Holy Spirit, Who for the love of Thee, have cast aside all carnal  delight.  

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 art 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 Thee, 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 heavenly 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 lives spotless, and 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 shown 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

TRUE DEVOTION TO MARY - NINTH DAY

 

DEVOTION TO OUR LADY

By St. Louis-Marie de Montfort 

If devotion to the Blessed Virgin is necessary for all men simply to work out their salvation, it is even more necessary for those who are called to a special perfection. I do not believe that anyone can acquire intimate union with our Lord and perfect fidelity to the Holy Spirit without a very close union with the most Blessed Virgin and an absolute dependence on her support.

Mary’s part in the latter times

The salvation of the world began through Mary and through her it must be accomplished. Mary scarcely appeared in the first coming of Jesus Christ so that men, as yet insufficiently instructed and enlightened concerning the person of her Son, might not wander from the truth by becoming too strongly attached to her. This would apparently have happened if she had been known, on account of the wondrous charms with which Almighty God had endowed even her outward appearance. So true is this that St. Denis the Areopagite tells us in his writings that when he saw her he would have taken her for a goddess, because of her incomparable beauty, had not his well-grounded faith taught him otherwise. But in the second coming of Jesus Christ, Mary must be known and openly revealed by the Holy Spirit so that Jesus may be known, loved and served through her. The reasons which moved the Holy Spirit to hide his spouse during her life and to reveal but very little of her since the first preaching of the gospel exist no longer.

Great power over the evil spirits that, as they have often been forced unwillingly to admit through the lips of possessed persons, they fear one of her pleadings for a soul more than the prayers of all the saints, and one of her threats more than all their other torments.

Imitation of Christ, by Thomas á Kempis: Book 1, Chapter 13, cont.  

Fire tries iron, and temptation a just man. We often know not what we are able to do, but temptations discover  what we are. Still, we must watch, especially in the beginning of temptation; for then the enemy is more easily overcome, if he be not suffered to enter the door of the mind, but is withstood upon the threshold the very moment he knocks. Whence a certain one has said "Resist beginnings; all too late the cure." When ills have gathered  strength, by long delay, first there comes from the mind a simple thought; then a strong imagination; afterwards, delight; and the evil motion and consent—so, little by little, the fiend does gain entrance when he is not resisted at the beginning. The longer anyone has been slothful in resisting, the weaker he becomes daily in  himself, and the enemy becomes so much the stronger in him. Some suffer grievous temptations in the beginning of their conversion; others in the end; and others are troubled nearly their whole life. Some are very lightly tempted,  according to the wisdom and equity of the ordinance of God who weighs man's condition and merits and preordained all things for the salvation of His elect. We must not, therefore, despair when we are tempted, but the  more fervently pray to God to help us in every tribulation: Who, of a truth, according to the sayings of St. Paul, will  make such issue with the temptation that we are able to sustain it.

Let us then humble our souls under the hand of God in every temptation and tribulation, for the humble in spirit,  He will save and exalt. In temptation and tribulations, it is proved what progress man has made; and there also is  great merit, and virtue is made more manifest.   

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 art 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 Thee, 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 heavenly 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 shown 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.

 

TRUE DEVOTION TO MARY - EIGHTH DAY

 

TRUE DEVOTION TO OUR LADY

By St. Louis-Marie de Montfort

Mary alone found grace before God without the help of any other creature. All those who have since found grace before God have found it only through her. She was full of grace when she was greeted by the Archangel Gabriel and was filled with grace to overflowing by the Holy Spirit when he so mysteriously overshadowed her. From day to day, from moment to moment, she increased this twofold plenitude so much that she attained an immense and inconceivable degree of grace. So much so that the Almighty made her the sole custodian of his treasures and the sole dispenser of his graces. She can now ennoble, exalt and enrich all she chooses. She can lead them along the narrow path to heaven and guide them through the narrow gate to life. She can give a royal throne, scepter and crown to whom she wishes. Jesus is always and everywhere the fruit and Son of Mary, and Mary is everywhere the genuine tree that bears that Fruit of life, the true Mother who bears that Son.

To Mary alone God gave the keys of the cellars of divine love and the ability to enter the most sublime and secret ways of perfection and lead others along them. Mary alone gives to the unfortunate children of unfaithful Eve entry into that earthly paradise where they may walk pleasantly with God and be safely hidden from their enemies. There they can feed without fear of death on the delicious fruit of the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They can drink copiously of the heavenly waters of that beauteous fountain which gushes forth in such abundance. As she is herself the earthly paradise, that virgin and blessed land from which sinful Adam and Eve were expelled, she lets only those whom she chooses enter her domain in order to make them saints.

 

'The Temptation of St. Jerome' 

Imitation of Christ, by Thomas á Kempis: Book 1, Chapter 13  

Of Resisting Temptations  

As long as we live in this world, we cannot be without temptations and tribulations. Hence it is written in Job "Man's life on earth is a temptation." Everyone therefore should be solicitous about his temptations and watch in  prayer lest the devil find an opportunity to catch him: who never sleeps, but goes about, seeking whom he can  devour. No one is so perfect and holy as sometimes not to have temptations and we can never be wholly free  from them. Nevertheless, temptations are very profitable to man, troublesome and grievous though they may be,  for in them, a man is humbled, purified and instructed. All the Saints passed through many tribulations and  temptations and were purified by them. And they that could not support temptations, became reprobate, and fell away.  

Many seek to flee temptations, and fall worse into them. We cannot conquer by flight alone, but by patience and  true humility we become stronger than all our enemies. He who only declines them outwardly, and does not pluck  out their root, will profit little; nay, temptations will sooner return and he will find himself in a worse condition. By  degrees and by patience you will, by God's grace, better overcome them than by harshness and your own  importunity. Take counsel the oftener in temptation, and do not deal harshly with one who is tempted; but pour in  consolation, as thou wouldst wish to be done unto yourself. Inconstancy of mind and little confidence in God, is  the beginning of all temptations. For as a ship without a helm is driven to and fro by the waves, so the man who  neglects and gives up his resolutions is tempted in many ways.  

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 art 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 Thee, 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 heavenly 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 shown 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.