My Thoughts on 28/04/2021
One of the saints that we remember today wrote a book about Mary that is still popular 390 years later. His name is Louis Marie de Montfort, and the book is “True Devotion to The Blessed Virgin”.
His aim in writing the book was to lead us to a closer union with Christ through a more faithful observance of our baptismal promises. In the edition I have, it says in the introduction:
“His theological outlook and style may not suit everyone. Certain expressions and comparisons may tend to put us off but, as Cardinal Suenens points out, St. Louis Marie’s theological formulations may surprise us, but we are indebted to him for a spiritual experience that has been the source of much grace.”
His aim was to promote genuine devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus and Mother of the Church. His personal motto was Totus Tuus (completely yours) which St Pope John Paul II adopted as his episcopal motto.
St Louis writes:
“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”. The late Raymond Brown , a renowned Scripture scholar, said “ Mary is the first and most perfect disciple.”
In a key document of the Second Vatican Council “Lumen Gentium” we read concerning devotion to Mary
“Following the study of Sacred Scripture, the Holy Fathers, the doctors and liturgy of the Church, and under the guidance of the Church’s magisterium, let them rightly illustrate the duties and privileges of the Blessed Virgin which always look to Christ, the source of all truth, sanctity and piety. Let them assiduously keep away from whatever, either by word or deed, could lead separated brethren or any other into error regarding the true doctrine of the Church. Let the faithful remember moreover that true devotion consists neither in sterile or transitory affection, nor in a certain vain credulity, but proceeds from true faith, by which we are led to know the excellence of the Mother of God, and we are moved to a filial love toward our mother and to the imitation of her virtues.”
