St. Louis Marie de Montfort - True Devotion to Mary

8/13/2019 St. Louis Marie de Montfort - True Devotion to Mary

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The Catholic Primers

Reference Series:

TREATISE ON TRUE DEVOTION

TO THE BESSED VIR!IN

St" o#is $e %ontfort


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Ca#tion re&ar$in& 'rintin&: Before (o# 'rint) 'lease chec* the

'a&e co#nt of

this $oc#ment after it is f#ll( loa$e$" %an( Catholic Primer

eBoo*s an$

$oc#ments are h#n$re$s or e+en tho#san$s of 'a&es in len&th)$e'en$in& #'on

in$i+i$#al 'rinter settin&s"

The Catholic Primer


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Co'(ri&ht Notice

The contents the Treatise On The Tr#e De+otion To The Blesse$

Vir&in ,( St" o#is $e %ontfort is in the '#,lic $omain"

Ho-e+er) this electronic +ersion is co'(ri&hte$" . The Catholic

Primer) /001" All Ri&hts Reser+e$"

This electronic +ersion ma( ,e $istri,#te$ free of char&e

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION O; SAINT OUIS

%ARIE""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

"""

CHAPTER ONE 3 NECESSIT= O; DEVOTION TO OUR

AD=""""""""""""""""""""""""">

%ar(?s 'art in the

Incarnation""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

""""""""""""""""""""""""""">

%ar(?s 'art in the sanctification of

so#ls""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

"60Conse4#ences"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""6@

%ar(?s 'art in the latter

times""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

"""""""""""""""""""6

!o$ -ishes to ma*e %ar( ,etter *no-n in the latter

times"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""6

De+otion to %ar( is es'eciall( necessar( in the latter

times"""""""""""""""""""""""""""/0

CHAPTER TO 3 IN HAT DEVOTION TO %AR=

CONSISTS""""""""""""""""""""""//

Basic 'rinci'les of $e+otion to%ar("""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

"""""""//

;irst 'rinci'le: Christ m#st ,e the #ltimate en$ of all

$e+otions"""""""""""""""""""""//

Pra(er of Saint

A#stine""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""/@

Secon$ 'rinci'le: e ,elon& to es#s an$ %ar( as their

sla+es"""""""""""""""""""/1

Thir$ 'rinci'le: e m#st ri$ o#rsel+es of -hat is e+il in

#s"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""/

;o#rth 'rinci'le: It is more h#m,le to ha+e an interme$iar( -ith

Christ"""""""/>

;ifth 'rinci'le: It is $iffic#lt to *ee' the &races recei+e$ from

!o$"""""""""""""""""0

%ar*s of false an$ a#thentic $e+otion to

%ar(""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""6

;alse $e+otion to o#r

a$("""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

""""""""""""""""""""""/


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Critical

$e+otees"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""/

Scr#'#lo#s

$e+otees"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""/

S#'erficial$e+otees"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Pres#m't#o#s

$e+otees"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Inconstant

$e+otees"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""1

H('ocritical

$e+otees"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""1

Self3intereste$$e+otees"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""1

%ar*s of a#thentic $e+otion to o#r

a$(""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

6

Before Hol(

Comm#nion""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""">6

D#rin& Hol(

Comm#nion""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""">6

After Hol(Comm#nion""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""">/


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INTRODUCTION O; SAINT OUIS %ARIE

6" It -as thro#&h the Blesse$ Vir&in %ar( that es#s came into

the -orl$) an$ it

is also thro#&h her that he m#st rei&n in the -orl$"

/" Beca#se %ar( remaine$ hi$$en $#rin& her life she is calle$ ,(

the Hol( S'irit

an$ the Ch#rch Alma %ater) %other hi$$en an$ #n*no-n" So &reat

-as her

h#milit( that she $esire$ nothin& more #'on earth than to remain

#n*no-n to

herself an$ to others) an$ to ,e *no-n onl( to !o$"

" In ans-er to her 'ra(ers to remain hi$$en) 'oor an$ lo-l() !o$

-as 'lease$

to conceal her from nearl( e+er( other h#man creat#re in her

conce'tion) her

,irth) her life) her m(steries) her res#rrection an$ ass#m'tion"

Her o-n 'arents

$i$ not reall( *no- her an$ the an&els -o#l$ often as* one

another) ho can

she 'ossi,l( ,eJ) for !o$ ha$ hi$$en her from them) or if he $i$

re+eal an(thin&

to them) it -as nothin& com'are$ -ith -hat he -ithhel$"

@" !o$ the ;ather -ille$ that she sho#l$ 'erform no miracle

$#rin& her life) at

least no '#,lic one) altho#&h he ha$ &i+en her the 'o-er to $o

so" !o$ the Son

-ille$ that she sho#l$ s'ea* +er( little altho#&h he ha$ im'arte$

his -is$om to

her"

E+en tho#&h %ar( -as his faithf#l s'o#se) !o$ the Hol( S'irit

-ille$ that his

a'ostles an$ e+an&elists sho#l$ sa( +er( little a,o#t her an$

then onl( as m#ch

as -as necessar( to ma*e es#s *no-n"


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1" %ar( is the s#'reme master'iece of Almi&ht( !o$ an$ he has

reser+e$ the

*no-le$&e an$ 'ossession of her for himself" She is the &lorio#s

%other of !o$

the Son -ho chose to h#m,le an$ conceal her $#rin& her lifetimein or$er to

foster her h#milit(" He calle$ her oman as if she -ere a

stran&er) altho#&h in

his heart he esteeme$ an$ lo+e$ her a,o+e all men an$ an&els"

%ar( is the

seale$ fo#ntain an$ the faithf#l s'o#se of the Hol( S'irit -here

onl( he ma(

enter" She is the sanct#ar( an$ restin&3'lace of the Blesse$

Trinit( -here !o$

$-ells in &reater an$ more $i+ine s'len$or than an(-here else in

the #ni+erse)

not e2cl#$in& his $-ellin& a,o+e the cher#,im an$ sera'him" Nocreat#re)

ho-e+er '#re) ma( enter there -itho#t ,ein& s'eciall( 'ri+ile&e$"


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thin&s for me" The -orl$ $oes not *no- these thin&s ,eca#se it

is inca'a,le an$

#n-orth( of *no-in& them"

" The saints ha+e sai$ -on$erf#l thin&s of %ar() the hol( Cit(of !o$) an$) as

the( themsel+es a$mit) the( -ere ne+er more elo4#ent an$ more

'lease$ than

-hen the( s'o*e of her" An$ (et the( maintain that the hei&ht of

her merits risin&

#' to the throne of the !o$hea$ cannot ,e 'ercei+e$ the ,rea$th

of her lo+e

-hich is -i$er than the earth cannot ,e meas#re$ the &reatness

of the 'o-er

-hich she -iel$s o+er one -ho is !o$ cannot ,e concei+e$ an$ the

$e'ths of

her 'rofo#n$ h#milit( an$ all her +irt#es an$ &races cannot ,eso#n$e$" hat

incom'rehensi,le hei&htK hat in$escri,a,le ,rea$thK hat

immeas#ra,le

&reatnessK hat an im'enetra,le a,(ssK

" E+er( $a() from one en$ of the earth to the other) in the

hi&hest hea+en an$ in

the lo-est a,(ss) all thin&s 'reach) all thin&s 'roclaim the

-on$ro#s Vir&in %ar("

The nine choirs of an&els) men an$ -omen of e+er( a&e) ran* an$reli&ion) ,oth

&oo$ an$ e+il) e+en the +er( $e+ils themsel+es are com'elle$ ,(

the force of

tr#th) -illin&l( or #n-illin&l() to call her ,lesse$"

Accor$in& to St" Bona+ent#re) all the an&els in hea+en

#nceasin&l( call o#t to

her: Hol() hol() hol( %ar() Vir&in %other of !o$" The( &reet

her co#ntless

times each $a( -ith the an&elic &reetin&) Hail) %ar() -hile'rostratin&

themsel+es ,efore her) ,e&&in& her as a fa+or to honor them -ith

one of her

re4#ests" Accor$in& to St" A#stine) e+en St" %ichael) tho#&h

'rince of all the

hea+enl( co#rt) is the most ea&er of all the an&els to honor her

an$ lea$ others to

honor her" At all times he a-aits the 'ri+ile&e of &oin& at her


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-or$ to the ai$ of

one of her ser+ants"

>" The -hole -orl$ is fille$ -ith her &lor() an$ this is

es'eciall( tr#e of Christian'eo'les) -ho ha+e chosen her as ar$ian an$ 'rotectress of

*in&$oms)

'ro+inces) $ioceses) an$ to-ns" %an( cathe$rals are consecrate$

to !o$ in her

name" There is no ch#rch -itho#t an altar $e$icate$ to her) no

co#ntr( or re&ion

-itho#t at least one of her mirac#lo#s ima&es -here all *in$s of

afflictions are

c#re$ an$ all sorts of ,enefits recei+e$" %an( are the

confraternities an$

associations honorin& her as 'atron man( are the or$ers #n$er

her name an$'rotection man( are the mem,ers of so$alities an$ reli&io#s of

all con&re&ations

-ho +oice her 'raises an$ ma*e *no-n her com'assion" There is not

a chil$ -ho

$oes not 'raise her ,( lis'in& a Hail %ar(" There is scarcel( a

sinner) ho-e+er

har$ene$) -ho $oes not 'ossess some s'ar* of confi$ence in her"

The +er(

$e+ils in hell) -hile fearin& her) sho- her res'ect"

60" An$ (et in tr#th -e m#st still sa( -ith the saints: De %aria

n#m4#am satis :

e ha+e still not 'raise$) e2alte$) honore$) lo+e$ an$ ser+e$

%ar( a$e4#atel("

She is -orth( of e+en more 'raise) res'ect) lo+e an$ ser+ice"


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66" %oreo+er) -e sho#l$ re'eat after the Hol( S'irit) All the

&lor( of the *in&?s

$a#&hter is -ithin) meanin& that all the e2ternal &lor( -hich

hea+en an$ earth

+ie -ith each other to &i+e her is nothin& com'are$ to -hat she

has recei+e$

interiorl( from her Creator) namel() a &lor( #n*no-n toinsi&nificant creat#res li*e

#s) -ho cannot 'enetrate into the secrets of the *in&"

6/" ;inall() -e m#st sa( in the -or$s of the a'ostle Pa#l) E(e

has not seen) nor

ear hear$) nor has the heart of man #n$erstoo$ the ,ea#t() the

&ran$e#r) the

e2cellence of %ar() -ho is in$ee$ a miracle of miracles of &race)

nat#re an$

&lor(" If (o# -ish to #n$erstan$ the %other) sa(s a saint)then #n$erstan$ the

Son" She is a -orth( %other of !o$" Hic taceat omnis lina :

Here let e+er(

tone ,e silent"

6" %( heart has $ictate$ -ith s'ecial Lo( all that I ha+e

-ritten to sho- that %ar(

has ,een #n*no-n #' till no-) an$ that that is one of the reasons

-h( es#s

Christ is not *no-n as he sho#l$ ,e"

If then) as is certain) the *no-le$&e an$ the *in&$om of es#s

Christ m#st come

into the -orl$) it can onl( ,e as a necessar( conse4#ence of the

*no-le$&e an$

rei&n of %ar(" She -ho first &a+e him to the -orl$ -ill esta,lish

his *in&$om in

the -orl$"


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PART I: TRUE DEVOTION TO OUR AD= IN !ENERA

CHAPTER ONE 3 NECESSIT= O; DEVOTION TO OUR AD=

%ar(?s 'art in the Incarnation

6@" ith the -hole Ch#rch I ac*no-le$&e that %ar() ,ein& a mere

creat#re

fashione$ ,( the han$s of !o$ is) com'are$ to his infinite

maLest() less than an

atom) or rather is sim'l( nothin&) since he alone can sa() I am

he -ho is"

Conse4#entl() this &reat or$) -ho is e+er in$e'en$ent an$ self3

s#fficient) ne+er

ha$ an$ $oes not no- ha+e an( a,sol#te nee$ of the Blesse$ Vir&in

for the

accom'lishment of his -ill an$ the manifestation of his &lor(" To

$o all thin&s he

has onl( to -ill them"

61" Ho-e+er) I $eclare that) consi$erin& thin&s as the( are)

,eca#se !o$ has

$eci$e$ to ,e&in an$ accom'lish his &reatest -or*s thro#&h theBlesse$ Vir&in

e+er since he create$ her) -e can safel( ,elie+e that he -ill not

chan&e his 'lan

in the time to come) for he is !o$ an$ therefore $oes not chan&e

in his tho#&hts

or his -a( of actin&"

6


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A#stine) to recei+e the Son of !o$ $irectl( from the han$s of

the ;ather) he

&a+e his Son to %ar( for the -orl$ to recei+e him from her"

The Son of !o$ ,ecame man for o#r sal+ation ,#t onl( in %ar( an$thro#&h

%ar("

!o$ the Hol( S'irit forme$ es#s Christ in %ar( ,#t onl( after

ha+in& as*e$ her

consent thro#&h one of the chief ministers of his co#rt"

6" !o$ the ;ather im'arte$ to %ar( his fr#itf#lness as far as a

mere creat#re

-as ca'a,le of recei+in& it) to ena,le her to ,rin& forth his Son

an$ all the

mem,ers of his m(stical ,o$("

6" !o$ the Son came into her +ir&inal -om, as a ne- A$am into

his earthl(

'ara$ise) to ta*e his $eli&ht there an$ 'ro$#ce hi$$en -on$ers of

&race"

!o$3ma$e3man fo#n$ free$om in im'risonin& himself in her -om," He

$is'la(e$

'o-er in allo-in& himself to ,e ,orne ,( this (o#n& mai$en" He

fo#n$ his &lor(

an$ that of his ;ather in hi$in& his s'len$ors from all creat#res

here ,elo- an$

re+ealin& them onl( to %ar(" He &lorifie$ his in$e'en$ence an$

his maLest( in

$e'en$in& #'on this lo+a,le +ir&in in his conce'tion) his ,irth)

his 'resentation in


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the tem'le) an$ in the thirt( (ears of his hi$$en life" E+en at

his $eath she ha$ to

,e 'resent so that he mi&ht ,e #nite$ -ith her in one sacrifice

an$ ,e immolate$

-ith her consent to the eternal ;ather) L#st as formerl( Isaac

-as offere$ in

sacrifice ,( A,raham -hen he acce'te$ the -ill of !o$" It -as%ar( -ho n#rse$

him) fe$ him) care$ for him) reare$ him) an$ sacrifice$ him for

#s"

The Hol( S'irit co#l$ not lea+e s#ch -on$erf#l an$ inconcei+a,le

$e'en$ence of

!o$ #nmentione$ in the !os'el) tho#&h he conceale$ almost all the

-on$erf#l

thin&s that is$om Incarnate $i$ $#rin& his hi$$en life in or$er

to ,rin& home to#s its infinite +al#e an$ &lor(" es#s &a+e more &lor( to !o$ his

;ather ,(

s#,mittin& to his %other for thirt( (ears than he -o#l$ ha+e

&i+en him ha$ he

con+erte$ the -hole -orl$ ,( -or*in& the &reatest miracles" Ho-

hi&hl( then $o

-e &lorif( !o$ -hen to 'lease him -e s#,mit o#rsel+es to %ar()

ta*in& es#s as

o#r sole mo$el"

6>" If -e e2amine closel( the remain$er of the life of es#s

Christ) -e see that he

chose to ,e&in his miracles thro#&h %ar(" It -as ,( her -or$ that

he sanctifie$

Saint ohn the Ba'tist in the -om, of his mother) Saint

EliMa,eth no sooner ha$

%ar( s'o*en than ohn -as sanctifie$" This -as his first an$

&reatest miracle of

&race" At the -e$$in& in Cana he chan&e$ -ater into -ine at her

h#m,le 'ra(er)

an$ this -as his first miracle in the or$er of nat#re" He ,e&an

an$ contin#e$ hismiracles thro#&h %ar( an$ he -ill contin#e them thro#&h her #ntil

the en$ of

time"

/0" !o$ the Hol( S'irit) -ho $oes not 'ro$#ce an( $i+ine 'erson)

,ecame fr#itf#l


18/180

thro#&h %ar( -hom he es'o#se$" It -as -ith her) in her an$ of her

that he

'ro$#ce$ his master'iece) !o$3ma$e3man) an$ that he 'ro$#ces

e+er( $a( #ntil

the en$ of the -orl$ the mem,ers of the ,o$( of this a$ora,le

Hea$" ;or this

reason the more he fin$s %ar( his $ear an$ inse'ara,le s'o#se ina so#l the

more 'o-erf#l an$ effecti+e he ,ecomes in 'ro$#cin& es#s Christ

in that so#l

an$ that so#l in es#s Christ"

/6" This $oes not mean that the Blesse$ Vir&in confers on the

Hol( S'irit a

fr#itf#lness -hich he $oes not alrea$( 'ossess" Bein& !o$) he has

the a,ilit( to

'ro$#ce L#st li*e the ;ather an$ the Son) altho#&h he $oes not#se this 'o-er

an$ so $oes not 'ro$#ce another $i+ine 'erson" B#t it $oes mean

that the Hol(

S'irit chose to ma*e #se of o#r Blesse$ a$() altho#&h he ha$ no

a,sol#te nee$

of her) in or$er to ,ecome acti+el( fr#itf#l in 'ro$#cin& es#s

Christ an$ his

mem,ers in her an$ ,( her" This is a m(ster( of &race #n*no-n

e+en to man( of

the most learne$ an$ s'irit#al of Christians"

%ar(?s 'art in the sanctification of so#ls

//" The 'lan a$o'te$ ,( the three 'ersons of the Blesse$ Trinit(

in the

Incarnation) the first comin& of es#s Christ) is a$here$ to each

$a( in an


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in+isi,le manner thro#&ho#t the Ch#rch an$ the( -ill '#rs#e it to

the en$ of time

#ntil the last comin& of es#s Christ"

/" !o$ the ;ather &athere$ all the -aters to&ether an$ calle$them the seas

maria" He &athere$ all his &races to&ether an$ calle$ them %ar(

%aria" The

&reat !o$ has a treas#r( or storeho#se f#ll of riches in -hich he

has enclose$ all

that is ,ea#tif#l) res'len$ent) rare) an$ 'recio#s) e+en his o-n

Son" This

immense treas#r( is none other than %ar( -hom the saints call the

treas#r( of

the or$" ;rom her f#llness all men are ma$e rich"

/@" !o$ the Son im'arte$ to his mother all that he &aine$ ,( his

life an$ $eath)

namel() his infinite merits an$ his eminent +irt#es" He ma$e her

the treas#rer of

all his ;ather ha$ &i+en him as herita&e" Thro#&h her he a''lies

his merits to his

mem,ers an$ thro#&h her he transmits his +irt#es an$ $istri,#tes

his &races" She

is his m(stical channel) his a4#e$#ct) thro#&h -hich he ca#ses

his mercies to

flo- &entl( an$ a,#n$antl("

/1" !o$ the Hol( S'irit entr#ste$ his -on$ro#s &ifts to %ar() his

faithf#l s'o#se)

an$ chose her as the $is'enser of all he 'ossesses) so that she

$istri,#tes all his

&ifts an$ &races to -hom she -ills) as m#ch as she -ills) ho- she

-ills an$ -hen

she -ills" No hea+enl( &ift is &i+en to men -hich $oes not 'ass

thro#&h her

+ir&inal han$s" S#ch in$ee$ is the -ill of !o$) -ho has $ecree$that -e sho#l$

ha+e all thin&s thro#&h %ar() so that) ma*in& herself 'oor an$

lo-l()) an$ hi$in&

herself in the $e'ths of nothin&ness $#rin& her -hole life) she

mi&ht ,e enriche$)

e2alte$ an$ honore$ ,( almi&ht( !o$" S#ch are the +ie-s of the

Ch#rch an$ the

earl( ;athers"


20/180

/


21/180

comman$ her chil$ -ho is ,eneath her" Since she is com'letel(

transforme$ in

!o$ ,( that &race an$ &lor( -hich transforms all the saints in

him) she $oes not

as* or -ish or $o an(thin& -hich is contrar( to the eternal an$

chan&eless -ill of

!o$" hen therefore -e rea$ in the -ritin&s of Saint Bernar$)Saint Bernar$ine)

Saint Bona+ent#re) an$ others that all in hea+en an$ on earth)

e+en !o$ himself)

is s#,Lect to the Blesse$ Vir&in) the( mean that the a#thorit(

-hich !o$ -as

'lease$ to &i+e her is so &reat that she seems to ha+e the same

'o-er as !o$"

Her 'ra(ers an$ re4#ests are so 'o-erf#l -ith him that he acce'ts

them as

comman$s in the sense that he ne+er resists his $ear mother?s

'ra(er ,eca#se it

is al-a(s h#m,le an$ conforme$ to his -ill"

%oses ,( the 'o-er of his 'ra(er c#r,e$ !o$?s an&er a&ainst the

Israelites so

effecti+el( that the infinitel( &reat an$ mercif#l or$ -as

#na,le to -ithstan$ him

an$ as*e$ %oses to let him ,e an&r( an$ '#nish that re,ellio#s

'eo'le" Ho-

m#ch &reater) then) -ill ,e the 'ra(er of the h#m,le Vir&in %ar()

-orth( %other

of !o$) -hich is more 'o-erf#l -ith the Gin& of hea+en than the'ra(ers an$

intercession of all the an&els an$ saints in hea+en an$ on earth"

/" %ar( has a#thorit( o+er the an&els an$ the ,lesse$ in hea+en"

As a re-ar$

for her &reat h#milit() !o$ &a+e her the 'o-er an$ the mission of

assi&nin& to

saints the thrones ma$e +acant ,( the a'ostate an&els -ho fell

a-a( thro#&h

'ri$e"

S#ch is the -ill of almi&ht( !o$ -ho e2alts the h#m,le) that the

'o-ers of

hea+en) earth an$ hell) -illin&l( or #n-illin&l() m#st o,e( the

comman$s of the

h#m,le Vir&in %ar(" ;or !o$ has ma$e her 4#een of hea+en an$


22/180

earth) lea$er of

his armies) *ee'er of his treas#res) $is'enser of his &races)

-or*er of his

-on$ers) restorer of the h#man race) me$iatri2 on ,ehalf of men)

$estro(er of his

enemies) an$ faithf#l associate in his &reat -or*s an$ tri#m'hs"

/>" !o$ the ;ather -ishes %ar( to ,e the mother of his chil$ren

#ntil the en$ of

time an$ so he sa(s to her) D-ell in aco,) that is to sa()

ta*e #' (o#r a,o$e

'ermanentl( in m( chil$ren) in m( hol( ones re'resente$ ,( aco,)

an$ not in the

chil$ren of the $e+il an$ sinners re'resente$ ,( Esa#"

0" #st as in nat#ral an$ ,o$il( &eneration there is a father

an$ a mother) so in

the s#'ernat#ral an$ s'irit#al &eneration there is a father -ho

is !o$ an$ a

mother -ho is %ar(" All tr#e chil$ren of !o$ ha+e !o$ for their

father an$ %ar(

for their mother an(one -ho $oes not ha+e %ar( for his mother)

$oes not ha+e

!o$ for his father" This is -h( the re'ro,ate) s#ch as heretics

an$ schismatics)

-ho hate) $es'ise or i&nore the Blesse$ Vir&in) $o not ha+e !o$

for their fathertho#&h the( arro&antl( claim the( ha+e) ,eca#se the( $o not ha+e

%ar( for their

mother" In$ee$ if the( ha$ her for their mother the( -o#l$ lo+e

an$ honor her as

&oo$ an$ tr#e chil$ren nat#rall( lo+e an$ honor the mother -ho

&a+e them life"


23/180

An infalli,le an$ #nmista*a,le si&n ,( -hich -e can $istinish a

heretic) a man

of false $octrine) an enem( of !o$) from one of !o$?s tr#e

frien$s is that the

heretic an$ the har$ene$ sinner sho- nothin& ,#t contem't an$

in$ifference for

o#r a$(" He en$ea+ors ,( -or$ an$ e2am'le) o'enl( or insi$io#sl(3 sometimes

#n$er s'ecio#s 'rete2ts 3 to ,elittle the lo+e an$ +eneration

sho-n to her" !o$

the ;ather has not tol$ %ar( to $-ell in them ,eca#se the( are)

alas) other

Esa#s"

6" !o$ the Son -ishes to form himself) an$) in a manner of

s'ea*in&) ,ecome

incarnate e+er( $a( in his mem,ers thro#&h his $ear %other" Toher he sai$:

Ta*e Israel for (o#r inheritance" It is as if he sai$) !o$ the

;ather has &i+en me

as herita&e all the nations of the earth) all men &oo$ an$ e+il)

're$estinate an$

re'ro,ate" To the &oo$ I shall ,e father an$ a$+ocate) to the ,a$

a L#st a+en&er)

,#t to all I shall ,e a L#$&e" B#t (o#) m( $ear %other) -ill ha+e

for (o#r herita&e

an$ 'ossession onl( the 're$estinate re'resente$ ,( Israel" As

their lo+in&

mother) (o# -ill &i+e them ,irth) fee$ them an$ rear them" Astheir 4#een) (o#

-ill lea$) &o+ern an$ $efen$ them"

/" This one an$ that one -ere ,orn in her" Accor$in& to the

e2'lanation of

some of the ;athers) the first man ,orn of %ar( is the !o$3man)

es#s Christ" If

es#s Christ) the hea$ of man*in$) is ,orn of her) the

're$estinate) -ho are

mem,ers of this hea$) m#st also as a necessar( conse4#ence ,e,orn of her"

One an$ the same mother $oes not &i+e ,irth to the hea$ -itho#t

the mem,ers

nor to the mem,ers -itho#t the hea$) for these -o#l$ ,e monsters

in the or$er of

nat#re" In the or$er of &race li*e-ise the hea$ an$ the mem,ers

are ,orn of the

same mother" If a mem,er of the m(stical ,o$( of Christ) that is)


24/180

one of the

're$estinate) -ere ,orn of a mother other than %ar( -ho &a+e

,irth to the hea$)

he -o#l$ not ,e one of the 're$estinate) nor a mem,er of es#s

Christ) ,#t a

monster in the or$er of &race"

" %oreo+er) es#s is still as m#ch as e+er the fr#it of %ar()

as hea+en an$

earth re'eat tho#san$s of times a $a(: Blesse$ is the fr#it of

th( -om,) es#s"

It is therefore certain that es#s is the fr#it an$ &ift of %ar(

for e+er( sin&le man

-ho 'ossesses him) L#st as tr#l( as he is for all man*in$"

Conse4#entl() if an( of

the faithf#l ha+e es#s forme$ in their heart the( can ,ol$l(

sa() It is than*s to%ar( that -hat I 'ossess is es#s her fr#it) an$ -itho#t her I

-o#l$ not ha+e

him" e can attri,#te more tr#l( to her -hat Saint Pa#l sai$ of

himself) I am in

la,or a&ain -ith all the chil$ren of !o$ #ntil es#s Christ) m(

Son) is forme$ in

them to the f#llness of his a&e" Saint A#stine) s#r'assin&

himself as -ell as all

that I ha+e sai$ so far) affirms that in or$er to ,e conforme$ to

the ima&e of the

Son of !o$ all the 're$estinate) -hile in the -orl$) are hi$$en

in the -om, of theBlesse$ Vir&in -here the( are 'rotecte$) no#rishe$) care$ for an$

$e+elo'e$ ,(

this &oo$ %other) #ntil the $a( she ,rin&s them forth to a life

of &lor( after $eath)

-hich the Ch#rch calls the ,irth$a( of the L#st" This is in$ee$ a

m(ster( of &race

#n*no-n to the re'ro,ate an$ little *no-n e+en to the

're$estinateK


25/180

@" !o$ the Hol( S'irit -ishes to fashion his chosen ones in an$

thro#&h %ar("

He tells her) %( -ell3,elo+e$) m( s'o#se) let all (o#r +irt#es

ta*e root in m(

chosen ones that the( ma( &ro- from stren&th to stren&th an$ from

&race to

&race" hen (o# -ere li+in& on earth) 'racticin& the most s#,lime+irt#es) I -as

so 'lease$ -ith (o# that I still $esire to fin$ (o# on earth

-itho#t (o#r ceasin& to

,e in hea+en" Re'ro$#ce (o#rself then in m( chosen ones) so that

I ma( ha+e

the Lo( of seein& in them the roots of (o#r in+inci,le faith)

'rofo#n$ h#milit() total

mortification) s#,lime 'ra(er) ar$ent charit() (o#r firm ho'e an$

all (o#r +irt#es"

=o# are al-a(s m( s'o#se) as faithf#l) '#re) an$ fr#itf#l as

e+er" %a( (o#r faith

&i+e me ,elie+ers (o#r '#rit() +ir&ins (o#r fr#itf#lness) electan$ li+in& tem'les"

1" hen %ar( has ta*en root in a so#l she 'ro$#ces in it -on$ers

of &race

-hich onl( she can 'ro$#ce for she alone is the fr#itf#l +ir&in

-ho ne+er ha$ an$

ne+er -ill ha+e her e4#al in '#rit( an$ fr#itf#lness" To&ether

-ith the Hol( S'irit

%ar( 'ro$#ce$ the &reatest thin& that e+er -as or e+er -ill ,e: a

!o$3man" She-ill conse4#entl( 'ro$#ce the mar+els -hich -ill ,e seen in the

latter times" The

formation an$ the e$#cation of the &reat saints -ho -ill come at

the en$ of the

-orl$ are reser+e$ to her) for onl( this sinlar an$ -on$ro#s

+ir&in can 'ro$#ce

in #nion -ith the Hol( S'irit sinlar an$ -on$ro#s thin&s"


26/180

from the moment the s#,stantial lo+e of the ;ather an$ the Son

es'o#se$ %ar(

to form es#s) the hea$ of the elect) an$ es#s in the elect) he

has ne+er

$iso-ne$ her) for she has al-a(s ,een faithf#l an$ fr#itf#l"

Conse4#ences

" e m#st o,+io#sl( concl#$e from -hat I ha+e L#st sai$:

;irst) that %ar( recei+e$ from !o$ a far3reachin& $ominion o+er

the so#ls of the

elect" Other-ise she co#l$ not ma*e her $-ellin&3'lace in them as

!o$ the

;ather has or$ere$ her to $o) an$ she co#l$ not concei+e them)

no#rish them)

an$ ,rin& them forth to eternal life as their mother" She co#l$

not ha+e them for

her inheritance an$ her 'ossession an$ form them in es#s an$

es#s in them"

She co#l$ not im'lant in their heart the roots of her +irt#es)

nor ,e the

inse'ara,le associate of the Hol( S'irit in all these -or*s of

&race" None of these

thin&s) I re'eat) co#l$ she $o #nless she ha$ recei+e$ from theAlmi&ht( ri&hts

an$ a#thorit( o+er their so#ls" ;or !o$) ha+in& &i+en her 'o-er

o+er his onl(3

,e&otten an$ nat#ral Son) also &a+e her 'o-er o+er his a$o'te$

chil$ren 3 not

onl( in -hat concerns their ,o$( 3 -hich -o#l$ ,e of little

acco#nt 3 ,#t also in

-hat concerns their so#l"


27/180

" %ar( is the 7#een of hea+en an$ earth ,( &race as es#s is

*in& ,( nat#re

an$ ,( con4#est" B#t as the *in&$om of es#s Christ e2ists

'rimaril( in the heart

or interior of man) accor$in& to the -or$s of the !os'el) The

*in&$om of !o$ is

-ithin (o#) so the *in&$om of the Blesse$ Vir&in is 'rinci'all(in the interior of

man) that is) in his so#l" It is 'rinci'all( in so#ls that she is

&lorifie$ -ith her Son

more than in an( +isi,le creat#re" So -e ma( call her) as the

saints $o) 7#een of

o#r hearts"

>" Secon$l() -e m#st concl#$e that) ,ein& necessar( to !o$ ,( a

necessit(

-hich is calle$ h('othetical) that is) ,eca#se !o$ so -ille$it) the Blesse$

Vir&in is all the more necessar( for men to attain their final

en$" Conse4#entl( -e

m#st not 'lace $e+otion to her on the same le+el as $e+otion to

the other saints

as if it -ere merel( somethin& o'tional"

@0" The 'io#s an$ learne$ es#it) S#areM) #st#s i'si#s) a

$e+o#t an$ er#$ite

theolo&ian of o#+ain) an$ man( others ha+e 'ro+e$ incontesta,l(that $e+otion

to o#r Blesse$ a$( is necessar( to attain sal+ation" This the(

sho- from the

teachin& of the ;athers) nota,l( St" A#stine) St" E'hrem)

$eacon of E$essa)

St" C(ril of er#salem) St" !erman#s of Constantino'le) St" ohn

Demascene) St"

Anselm) St" Bernar$) St" Bernar$ine) St" Thomas an$ St"

Bona+ent#re" E+en

accor$in& to Oecolam'a$i#s an$ other heretics) lac* of esteem an$

lo+e for the

Vir&in %ar( is an infalli,le si&n of !o$?s $isa''ro+al" On theother han$) to ,e

entirel( an$ &en#inel( $e+ote$ to her is a s#re si&n of !o$?s

a''ro+al"

@6" The t('es an$ te2ts of the Ol$ an$ Ne- Testaments 'ro+e the

tr#th of this)


28/180

the o'inions an$ e2am'les of the saints confirm it) an$ reason

an$ e2'erience

teach an$ $emonstrate it" E+en the $e+il an$ his follo-ers)

force$ ,( the

e+i$ence of the tr#th) -ere fre4#entl( o,li&e$ a&ainst their -ill

to a$mit it" ;or

,re+it(?s sa*e) I shall 4#ote one onl( of the man( 'assa&es -hichI ha+e

collecte$ from the ;athers an$ Doctors of the Ch#rch to s#''ort

this tr#th"

De+otion to (o#) O Blesse$ Vir&in) is a means of sal+ation -hich

!o$ &i+es to

those -hom he -ishes to sa+e St" ohn Damascene"

@/" I co#l$ tell man( stories in e+i$ence of -hat I ha+e L#st

sai$"

6 One is recor$e$ in the chronicles of St" ;rancis" The saint

sa- in ecstas( an

immense la$$er reachin& to hea+en) at the to' of -hich stoo$ the

Blesse$ Vir&in"

This is the la$$er) he -as tol$) ,( -hich -e m#st all &o to

hea+en"

/ There is another relate$ in the Chronicles of St" Dominic"Near

Carcassonne) -here St" Dominic -as 'reachin& the Rosar() there

-as an

#nfort#nate heretic -ho -as 'ossesse$ ,( a m#ltit#$e of $e+ils"

These e+il

s'irits to their conf#sion -ere com'elle$ at the comman$ of o#r

a$( to confess

man( &reat an$ consolin& tr#ths concernin& $e+otion to her" The(

$i$ this so

clearl( an$ forci,l( that) ho-e+er -ea* o#r $e+otion to o#r a$(

ma( ,e) -e


29/180

cannot rea$ this a#thentic stor( containin& s#ch an #n-illin&

tri,#te 'ai$ ,( the

$e+ils to $e+otion to o#r a$( -itho#t she$$in& tears of Lo("

@" If $e+otion to the Blesse$ Vir&in is necessar( for all mensim'l( to -or* o#t

their sal+ation) it is e+en more necessar( for those -ho are

calle$ to a s'ecial

'erfection" I $o not ,elie+e that an(one can ac4#ire intimate

#nion -ith o#r or$

an$ 'erfect fi$elit( to the Hol( S'irit -itho#t a +er( close

#nion -ith the most

Blesse$ Vir&in an$ an a,sol#te $e'en$ence on her s#''ort"

@@" %ar( alone fo#n$ &race ,efore !o$ -itho#t the hel' of an(other creat#re" All

those -ho ha+e since fo#n$ &race ,efore !o$ ha+e fo#n$ it onl(

thro#&h her"

She -as f#ll of &race -hen she -as &reete$ ,( the Archan&el

!a,riel an$ -as

fille$ -ith &race to o+erflo-in& ,( the Hol( S'irit -hen he so

m(sterio#sl(

o+ersha$o-e$ her" ;rom $a( to $a() from moment to moment) she

increase$ so

m#ch this t-ofol$ 'lenit#$e that she attaine$ an immense an$

inconcei+a,le

$e&ree of &race" So m#ch so) that the Almi&ht( ma$e her the solec#sto$ian of

his treas#res an$ the sole $is'enser of his &races" She can no-

enno,le) e2alt

an$ enrich all she chooses" She can lea$ them alon& the narro-

'ath to hea+en

an$ i$e them thro#&h the narro- &ate to life" She can &i+e a

ro(al throne)

sce'ter an$ cro-n to -hom she -ishes" es#s is al-a(s an$

e+er(-here the fr#it

an$ Son of %ar( an$ %ar( is e+er(-here the &en#ine tree that

,ears that ;r#it of

life) the tr#e %other -ho ,ears that Son"

@1" To %ar( alone !o$ &a+e the *e(s of the cellars of $i+ine lo+e

an$ the a,ilit(

to enter the most s#,lime an$ secret -a(s of 'erfection) an$ lea$

others alon&

them" %ar( alone &i+es to the #nfort#nate chil$ren of #nfaithf#l


30/180

E+e entr( into

that earthl( 'ara$ise -here the( ma( -al* 'leasantl( -ith !o$ an$

,e safel(

hi$$en from their enemies" There the( can fee$ -itho#t fear of

$eath on the

$elicio#s fr#it of the tree of life an$ the tree of the *no-le$&e

of &oo$ an$ e+il"The( can $rin* co'io#sl( the hea+enl( -aters of that ,ea#teo#s

fo#ntain -hich

shes forth in s#ch a,#n$ance" As she is herself the earthl(

'ara$ise) that

+ir&in an$ ,lesse$ lan$ from -hich sinf#l A$am an$ E+e -ere

e2'elle$ she lets

onl( those -hom she chooses enter her $omain in or$er to ma*e

them saints"

@


31/180

@" These &reat so#ls fille$ -ith &race an$ Meal -ill ,e chosen

to o''ose the

enemies of !o$ -ho are ra&in& on all si$es" The( -ill ,e

e2ce'tionall( $e+ote$

to the Blesse$ Vir&in" Ill#mine$ ,( her li&ht) stren&thene$ ,(her foo$) i$e$ ,(

her s'irit) s#''orte$ ,( her arm) sheltere$ #n$er her 'rotection)

the( -ill fi&ht

-ith one han$ an$ ,#il$ -ith the other" ith one han$ the( -ill

&i+e ,attle)

o+erthro-in& an$ cr#shin& heretics an$ their heresies)

schismatics an$ their

schisms) i$olaters an$ their i$olatries) sinners an$ their

-ic*e$ness" ith the

other han$ the( -ill ,#il$ the tem'le of the tr#e Solomon an$ the

m(stical cit( of

!o$) namel() the Blesse$ Vir&in) -ho is calle$ ,( the ;athers ofthe Ch#rch the

Tem'le of Solomon an$ the Cit( of !o$ " B( -or$ an$ e2am'le the(

-ill $ra- all

men to a tr#e $e+otion to her an$ tho#&h this -ill ma*e man(

enemies) it -ill also

,rin& a,o#t man( +ictories an$ m#ch &lor( to !o$ alone" This is

-hat !o$

re+eale$ to St" Vincent ;errer) that o#tstan$in& a'ostle of his

$a() as he has

am'l( sho-n in one of his -or*s"

This seems to ha+e ,een foretol$ ,( the Hol( S'irit in Psalm 1:

The or$ -ill

rei&n in aco, an$ all the en$s of the earth" The( -ill ,e

con+erte$ to-ar$s

e+enin& an$ the( -ill ,e as h#n&r( as $o&s an$ the( -ill &o

aro#n$ the cit( to

fin$ somethin& to eat" This cit( aro#n$ -hich men -ill roam at

the en$ of the

-orl$ see*in& con+ersion an$ the a''easement of the h#n&er the(

ha+e for

L#stice is the most Blesse$ Vir&in) -ho is calle$ ,( the Hol(

S'irit the Cit( of !o$

"

%ar(?s 'art in the latter times


32/180

@>" The sal+ation of the -orl$ ,e&an thro#&h %ar( an$ thro#&h her

it m#st ,e

accom'lishe$" %ar( scarcel( a''eare$ in the first comin& of es#s

Christ so that

men) as (et ins#fficientl( instr#cte$ an$ enli&htene$ concernin&

the 'erson of herSon) mi&ht not -an$er from the tr#th ,( ,ecomin& too stron&l(

attache$ to her"

This -o#l$ a''arentl( ha+e ha''ene$ if she ha$ ,een *no-n) on

acco#nt of the

-on$ro#s charms -ith -hich Almi&ht( !o$ ha$ en$o-e$ e+en her

o#t-ar$

a''earance" So tr#e is this that St" Denis the Areo'a&ite tells

#s in his -ritin&s

that -hen he sa- her he -o#l$ ha+e ta*en her for a &o$$ess)

,eca#se of her

incom'ara,le ,ea#t() ha$ not his -ell3&ro#n$e$ faith ta#&ht him

other-ise" B#tin the secon$ comin& of es#s Christ) %ar( m#st ,e *no-n an$

o'enl( re+eale$

,( the Hol( S'irit so that es#s ma( ,e *no-n) lo+e$ an$ ser+e$

thro#&h her"

The reasons -hich mo+e$ the Hol( S'irit to hi$e his s'o#se $#rin&

her life an$ to

re+eal ,#t +er( little of her since the first 'reachin& of the

&os'el e2ist no lon&er"

!o$ -ishes to ma*e %ar( ,etter *no-n in the latter times

10" !o$ -ishes therefore to re+eal %ar() his master'iece) an$

ma*e her more

*no-n in these latter times:


33/180

6 Beca#se she *e't herself hi$$en in this -orl$ an$ in her

&reat h#milit(

consi$ere$ herself lo-er than $#st) ha+in& o,taine$ from !o$) his

a'ostles an$

e+an&elists the fa+or of ,ein& ma$e *no-n"

/ Beca#se) as %ar( is not onl( !o$?s master'iece of &lor( in

hea+en) ,#t also

his master'iece of &race on earth) he -ishes to ,e &lorifie$ an$

'raise$ ,eca#se

of her ,( those li+in& #'on earth"

Since she is the $a-n -hich 'rece$es an$ $iscloses the S#n

of #stice

es#s Christ) she m#st ,e *no-n an$ ac*no-le$&e$ so that es#sma( ,e

*no-n an$ ac*no-le$&e$"

@ As she -as the -a( ,( -hich es#s first came to #s) she -ill

a&ain ,e the

-a( ,( -hich he -ill come to #s the secon$ time tho#&h not in the

same manner"

1 Since she is the s#re means) the $irect an$ immac#late -a(

to es#s an$

the 'erfect i$e to him) it is thro#&h her that so#ls -ho are to

shine forth in

sanctit( m#st fin$ him" He -ho fin$s %ar( fin$s life) that is)

es#s Christ -ho is

the -a() the tr#th an$ the life" B#t no one can fin$ %ar( -ho

$oes not loo* for

her" No one can loo* for her -ho $oes not *no- her) for no one

see*s or $esires

somethin& #n*no-n" %ar( then m#st ,e ,etter *no-n than e+er for

the $ee'er#n$erstan$in& an$ the &reater &lor( of the Blesse$ Trinit("


34/180

sinners an$

-an$erers -ho are to ,e con+erte$ an$ ret#rn to the Catholic

Ch#rch in 'o-er)

to com,at the enemies of !o$ -ho -ill rise #' menacin&l( to

se$#ce an$ cr#sh

,( 'romises an$ threats all those -ho o''ose them finall() she

m#st shine forthin &race to ins'ire an$ s#''ort the +aliant sol$iers an$ lo(al

ser+ants of es#s

Christ -ho are fi&htin& for his ca#se"

astl() %ar( m#st ,ecome as terri,le as an arm( in ,attle

arra( to the $e+il

an$ his follo-ers) es'eciall( in these latter times" ;or Satan)

*no-in& that he has

little time 3 e+en less no- than e+er 3 to $estro( so#ls)

intensifies his efforts an$his onsla#&hts e+er( $a(" He -ill not hesitate to stir #' sa+a&e

'ersec#tions an$

set treachero#s snares for %ar(?s faithf#l ser+ants an$ chil$ren

-hom he fin$s

more $iffic#lt to o+ercome than others"

16" It is chiefl( in reference to these last -ic*e$ 'ersec#tions

of the $e+il) $ail(

increasin& #ntil the a$+ent of the rei&n of anti3 Christ) that -e

sho#l$ #n$erstan$that first an$ -ell3*no-n 'ro'hec( an$ c#rse of !o$ #ttere$

a&ainst the ser'ent

in the &ar$en of 'ara$ise" It is o''ort#ne to e2'lain it here for

the &lor( of the

Blesse$ Vir&in) the sal+ation of her chil$ren an$ the conf#sion

of the $e+il" I -ill

'lace enmities ,et-een (o# an$ the -oman) ,et-een (o#r race an$

her race

she -ill cr#sh (o#r hea$ an$ (o# -ill lie in -ait for her heel

!en" :61"


35/180

1/" !o$ has esta,lishe$ onl( one enmit( 3 ,#t it is an

irreconcila,le one 3 -hich

-ill last an$ e+en &o on increasin& to the en$ of time" That

enmit( is ,et-een

%ar() his -orth( %other) an$ the $e+il) ,et-een the chil$ren an$

the ser+ants of

the Blesse$ Vir&in an$ the chil$ren an$ follo-ers of #cifer"

Th#s the most fearf#l enem( that !o$ has set #' a&ainst the $e+il

is %ar() his

hol( %other" ;rom the time of the earthl( 'ara$ise) altho#&h she

e2iste$ then

onl( in his min$) he &a+e her s#ch a hatre$ for his acc#rse$

enem() s#ch

in&en#it( in e2'osin& the -ic*e$ness of the ancient ser'ent an$

s#ch 'o-er to

$efeat) o+erthro- an$ cr#sh this 'ro#$ re,el) that Satan fearsher not onl( more

than an&els an$ men ,#t in a certain sense more than !o$ himself"

This $oes

not mean that the an&er) hatre$ an$ 'o-er of !o$ are not

infinitel( &reater than

the Blesse$ Vir&in?s) since her attri,#tes are limite$" It sim'l(

means that Satan)

,ein& so 'ro#$) s#ffers infinitel( more in ,ein& +an4#ishe$ an$

'#nishe$ ,( a

lo-l( an$ h#m,le ser+ant of !o$) for her h#milit( h#miliates him

more than the

'o-er of !o$" %oreo+er) !o$ has &i+en %ar( s#ch &reat 'o-er o+erthe e+il

s'irits that) as the( ha+e often ,een force$ #n-illin&l( to a$mit

thro#&h the li's of

'ossesse$ 'ersons) the( fear one of her 'lea$in&s for a so#l more

than the

'ra(ers of all the saints) an$ one of her threats more than all

their other torments"

1" hat #cifer lost ,( 'ri$e %ar( -on ,( h#milit(" hat E+e

r#ine$ an$ lost ,($iso,e$ience %ar( sa+e$ ,( o,e$ience" B( o,e(in& the ser'ent) E+e

r#ine$ her

chil$ren as -ell as herself an$ $eli+ere$ them #' to him" %ar( ,(

her 'erfect

fi$elit( to !o$ sa+e$ her chil$ren -ith herself an$ consecrate$

them to his $i+ine

maLest("


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1@" !o$ has esta,lishe$ not L#st one enmit( ,#t enmities) an$

not onl( ,et-een

%ar( an$ Satan ,#t ,et-een her race an$ his race" That is) !o$

has '#t

enmities) anti'athies an$ hatre$s ,et-een the tr#e chil$ren an$ser+ants of the

Blesse$ Vir&in an$ the chil$ren an$ sla+es of the $e+il" The(

ha+e no lo+e an$

no s(m'ath( for each other" The chil$ren of Belial) the sla+es of

Satan) the

frien$s of the -orl$) 3 for the( are all one an$ the same 3 ha+e

al-a(s 'ersec#te$

an$ -ill 'ersec#te more than e+er in the f#t#re those -ho ,elon&

to the Blesse$

Vir&in) L#st as Cain of ol$ 'ersec#te$ his ,rother A,el) an$ Esa#

his ,rother

aco," These are the t('es of the -ic*e$ an$ of the L#st" B#t theh#m,le %ar(

-ill al-a(s tri#m'h o+er Satan) the 'ro#$ one) an$ so &reat -ill

,e her +ictor(

that she -ill cr#sh his hea$) the +er( seat of his 'ri$e" She

-ill #nmas* his

ser'ent?s c#nnin& an$ e2'ose his -ic*e$ 'lots" She -ill scatter

to the -in$s his

$e+ilish 'lans an$ to the en$ of time -ill *ee' her faithf#l

ser+ants safe from his

cr#el cla-s"

B#t %ar(?s 'o-er o+er the e+il s'irits -ill es'eciall( shine

forth in the latter times)

-hen Satan -ill lie in -ait for her heel) that is) for her h#m,le

ser+ants an$ her

'oor chil$ren -hom she -ill ro#se to fi&ht a&ainst him" In the

e(es of the -orl$

the( -ill ,e little an$ 'oor an$) li*e the heel) lo-l( in the

e(es of all) $o-n3

tro$$en an$ cr#she$ as is the heel ,( the other 'arts of the

,o$(" B#t in


37/180

com'ensation for this the( -ill ,e rich in !o$?s &races) -hich

-ill ,e a,#n$antl(

,esto-e$ on them ,( %ar(" The( -ill ,e &reat an$ e2alte$ ,efore

!o$ in

holiness" The( -ill ,e s#'erior to all creat#res ,( their &reat

Meal an$ so stron&l(

-ill the( ,e s#''orte$ ,( $i+ine assistance that) in #nion -ith%ar() the( -ill

cr#sh the hea$ of Satan -ith their heel) that is) their h#milit()

an$ ,rin& +ictor( to

es#s Christ"

De+otion to %ar( is es'eciall( necessar( in the latter times

11" ;inall() !o$ in these times -ishes his Blesse$ %other to ,emore *no-n)

lo+e$ an$ honore$ than she has e+er ,een" This -ill certainl(

come a,o#t if the

elect) ,( the &race an$ li&ht of the Hol( S'irit) a$o't the

interior an$ 'erfect

'ractice of the $e+otion -hich I shall later #nfol$" Then the(

-ill clearl( see that

,ea#tif#l Star of the Sea) as m#ch as faith allo-s" Un$er her

i$ance the( -ill

'ercei+e the s'len$ors of this 7#een an$ -ill consecrate

themsel+es entirel( to

her ser+ice as s#,Lects an$ sla+es of lo+e" The( -ill e2'erienceher motherl(

*in$ness an$ affection for her chil$ren" The( -ill lo+e her

ten$erl( an$ -ill

a''reciate ho- f#ll of com'assion she is an$ ho- m#ch the( stan$

in nee$ of

her hel'" In all circ#mstances the( -ill ha+e reco#rse to her as

their a$+ocate

an$ me$iatri2 -ith es#s Christ" The( -ill see clearl( that she

is the safest)

easiest) shortest an$ most 'erfect -a( of a''roachin& es#s an$

-ill s#rren$er

themsel+es to her) ,o$( an$ so#l) -itho#t reser+e in or$er to,elon& entirel( to

es#s"

1


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The( -ill ,e ministers of the or$ -ho) li*e a flamin& fire) -ill

en*in$le

e+er(-here the fires of $i+ine lo+e" The( -ill ,ecome) in %ar(?s

'o-erf#l han$s)li*e shar' arro-s) -ith -hich she -ill transfi2 her enemies"

The( -ill ,e as the chil$ren of e+i) thoro#&hl( '#rifie$ ,( the

fire of &reat

tri,#lations an$ closel( Loine$ to !o$" The( -ill carr( the &ol$

of lo+e in their

heart) the fran*incense of 'ra(er in their min$ an$ the m(rrh of

mortification in

their ,o$(" The( -ill ,rin& to the 'oor an$ lo-l( e+er(-here the

s-eet fra&ranceof es#s) ,#t the( -ill ,rin& the o$or of $eath to the &reat) the

rich an$ the 'ro#$

of this -orl$"

1" The( -ill ,e li*e th#n$er3clo#$s fl(in& thro#&h the air at

the sli&htest ,reath of

the Hol( S'irit" Attache$ to nothin&) s#r'rise$ at nothin&)

tro#,le$ at nothin&)

the( -ill sho-er $o-n the rain of !o$?s -or$ an$ of eternal life"

The( -ill th#n$era&ainst sin) the( -ill storm a&ainst the -orl$) the( -ill stri*e

$o-n the $e+il an$

his follo-ers an$ for life an$ for $eath) the( -ill 'ierce

thro#&h an$ thro#&h -ith

the t-o3e$&e$ s-or$ of !o$?s -or$ all those a&ainst -hom the( are

sent ,(

Almi&ht( !o$"


39/180

1" The( -ill ,e tr#e a'ostles of the latter times to -hom the

or$ of Hosts -ill

&i+e elo4#ence an$ stren&th to -or* -on$ers an$ carr( off

&lorio#s s'oils from

his enemies" The( -ill slee' -itho#t &ol$ or sil+er an$) more

im'ortant still)

-itho#t concern in the mi$st of other 'riests) ecclesiastics an$clerics" =et the(

-ill ha+e the sil+er -in&s of the $o+e ena,lin& them to &o

-here+er the Hol(

S'irit calls them) fille$ as the( are -ith the resol+e to see*

the &lor( of !o$ an$

the sal+ation of so#ls" here+er the( 'reach) the( -ill lea+e

,ehin$ them nothin&

,#t the &ol$ of lo+e) -hich is the f#lfillment of the -hole la-"

1>" astl() -e *no- the( -ill ,e tr#e $isci'les of es#s Christ)imitatin& his

'o+ert() his h#milit() his contem't of the -orl$ an$ his lo+e"

The( -ill 'oint o#t

the narro- -a( to !o$ in '#re tr#th accor$in& to the hol( !os'el)

an$ not

accor$in& to the ma2ims of the -orl$" Their hearts -ill not ,e

tro#,le$) nor -ill

the( sho- fa+or to an(one the( -ill not s'are or hee$ or fear

an( man) ho-e+er

'o-erf#l he ma( ,e" The( -ill ha+e the t-o3e$&e$ s-or$ of the

-or$ of !o$ in

their mo#ths an$ the ,loo$3staine$ stan$ar$ of the Cross on theirsho#l$ers"

The( -ill carr( the cr#cifi2 in their ri&ht han$ an$ the rosar(

in their left) an$ the

hol( names of es#s an$ %ar( on their heart" The sim'licit( an$

self3sacrifice of

es#s -ill ,e reflecte$ in their -hole ,eha+ior"

S#ch are the &reat men -ho are to come" B( the -ill of !o$ %ar(

is to 're'are

them to e2ten$ his r#le o+er the im'io#s an$ #n,elie+ers" B#t-hen an$ ho- -ill

this come a,o#tJ Onl( !o$ *no-s" ;or o#r 'art -e m#st (earn an$

-ait for it in

silence an$ in 'ra(er: I ha+e -aite$ an$ -aite$"


40/180


41/180

CHAPTER TO 3 IN HAT DEVOTION TO %AR= CONSISTS

Basic 'rinci'les of $e+otion to %ar(


42/180

e are &i+en no other name #n$er hea+en ,( -hich -e can ,e sa+e$"

!o$ has

lai$ no other fo#n$ation for o#r sal+ation) 'erfection an$ &lor(

than es#s" E+er(

e$ifice -hich is not ,#ilt on that firm roc*) is fo#n$e$ #'on

shiftin& san$s an$ -ill

certainl( fall sooner or later" E+er( one of the faithf#l -ho isnot #nite$ to him is

li*e a ,ranch ,ro*en from the stem of the +ine" It falls an$

-ithers an$ is fit onl(

to ,e ,#rnt" If -e li+e in es#s an$ es#s li+es in #s) -e nee$

not fear $amnation"

Neither an&els in hea+en nor men on earth) nor $e+ils in hell) no

creat#re

-hate+er can harm #s) for no creat#re can se'arate #s from the

lo+e of !o$

-hich is in Christ es#s" Thro#&h him) -ith him an$ in him) -e

can $o all thin&s

an$ ren$er all honor an$ &lor( to the ;ather in the #nit( of theHol( S'irit -e can

ma*e o#rsel+es 'erfect an$ ,e for o#r nei&h,or a fra&rance of

eternal life"


43/180


44/180

offen$e$ ,(

e2cessi+e honor 'ai$ to her" The( 'rotest lo#$l( -hen the( see or

hear a $e+o#t

ser+ant of %ar( s'ea* fre4#entl( -ith feelin&) con+iction an$

+i&or of $e+otion to

her" hen he s'ea*s of $e+otion to her as a s#re means of fin$in&

an$ lo+in&(o# -itho#t fear or ill#sion) or -hen he sa(s this $e+otion is a

short roa$ free

from $an&er) or an immac#late -a( free from im'erfection) or a

-on$ro#s secret

of fin$in& (o#) the( '#t ,efore him a tho#san$ s'ecio#s reasons

to sho- him

ho- -ron& he is to s'ea* so m#ch of %ar(" There are) the( sa()

&reat a,#ses in

this $e+otion -hich -e sho#l$ tr( to stam' o#t an$ -e sho#l$

refer 'eo'le to (o#

rather than e2hort them to ha+e $e+otion to (o#r %other) -hom

the( alrea$( lo+ea$e4#atel("

If the( are sometimes hear$ s'ea*in& of $e+otion to (o#r %other)

it is not for the

'#r'ose of 'romotin& it or con+incin& 'eo'le of it ,#t onl( to

$estro( the a,#ses

ma$e of it" =et all the -hile these 'ersons are $e+oi$ of 'iet(

or &en#ine

$e+otion to (o#) for the( ha+e no $e+otion to %ar(" The( consi$er

the Rosar(an$ the Sca'#lar as $e+otions s#ita,le onl( for sim'le -omen or

i&norant

'eo'le" After all) the( sa() -e $o not nee$ them to ,e sa+e$" If

the( come across

one -ho lo+es o#r a$() -ho sa(s the rosar( or sho-s an( $e+otion

to-ar$s

her) the( soon mo+e him to a chan&e of min$ an$ heart" The(

a$+ise him to sa(


45/180

the se+en 'enitential 'salms instea$ of the Rosar() an$ to sho-

$e+otion to

es#s instea$ of to %ar("

Dear es#s) $o these 'eo'le 'ossess (o#r s'iritJ Do the( 'lease(o# ,( actin&

in this -a(J o#l$ it 'lease (o# if -e -ere to ma*e no effort to

&i+e 'leas#re to

(o#r %other ,eca#se -e are afrai$ of offen$in& (o#J Does $e+otion

to (o#r hol(

%other hin$er $e+otion to (o#J Does %ar( *ee' for herself an(

honor -e 'a(

herJ Is she a ri+al of (o#rsJ Is she a stran&er ha+in& no *inshi'

-ith (o#J Does

'leasin& her im'l( $is'leasin& (o#J Does the &ift of oneself to

her constit#te a

$e'ri+ation for (o#J Is lo+e for her a lessenin& of o#r lo+e for(o#J


46/180

-holehearte$l() an$ for this intention acce't the earnest 'ra(er

I offer -ith St"

A#stine an$ all -ho tr#l( lo+e (o#"

Pra(er of Saint A#stine

O es#s Christ) (o# are m( ;ather) m( mercif#l !o$) m( &reat

Gin&) m( &oo$

She'her$) m( onl( %aster) m( ,est hel'er) m( ,elo+e$ frien$ of

o+er-helmin&

,ea#t() m( li+in& Brea$) m( eternal 'riest" =o# are m( i$e to

m( hea+enl(

home) m( one tr#e li&ht) m( hol( Lo() m( tr#e -a() m( shinin&

-is$om) m(

#nfei&ne$ sim'licit() the 'eace an$ harmon( of m( so#l) m('erfect safear$)

m( ,o#nteo#s inheritance) m( e+erlastin& sal+ation"

%( lo+in& or$) es#s Christ) -h( ha+e I e+er lo+e$ or $esire$

an(thin& else in

m( life ,#t (o#) m( !o$J here -as I -hen I -as not in comm#nion

-ith (o#J

;rom no- on) I $irect all m( $esires to ,e ins'ire$ ,( (o# an$

centere$ on (o#" I

$irect them to 'ress for-ar$ for the( ha+e tarrie$ lon& eno#&h)to hasten to-ar$s

their &oal) to see* the one the( (earn for"

O es#s) let him -ho $oes not lo+e (o# ,e acc#rse$) an$ fille$

-ith ,itterness" O

&entle es#s) let e+er( -orth( feelin& of mine sho- (o# lo+e)

ta*e $eli&ht in (o#

an$ a$mire (o#" O !o$ of m( heart an$ m( inheritance) Christ

es#s) ma( m(


47/180

heart mello- ,efore the infl#ence of (o#r s'irit an$ ma( (o# li+e

in me" %a( the

flame of (o#r lo+e ,#rn in m( so#l" %a( it ,#rn incessantl( on

the altar of m(

heart" %a( it &loin m( innermost ,ein&" %a( it s'rea$ its heat

into the hi$$en

recesses of m( so#l an$ on the $a( of m( cons#mmation ma( Ia''ear ,efore

(o# cons#me$ in (o#r lo+e" Amen"

Secon$ 'rinci'le: e ,elon& to es#s an$ %ar( as their sla+es


48/180

All this 'ro+es that he -ishes to recei+e some fr#it from o#r

-retche$ sel+es)

namel() o#r &oo$ -or*s) -hich ,( ri&ht ,elon& to him alone)

create$ in es#sChrist for &oo$ -or*s" These -or$s of the Hol( S'irit sho- that

es#s is the sole

so#rce an$ m#st ,e the sole en$ of all o#r &oo$ -or*s) an$ that

-e m#st ser+e

him not L#st as 'ai$ ser+ants ,#t as sla+es of lo+e" et me

e2'lain -hat I mean"

" There are t-o -a(s of ,elon&in& to another 'erson an$ ,ein&

s#,Lect to his

a#thorit(" One is ,( or$inar( ser+ice an$ the other is ,(sla+er(" An$ so -e m#st

#se the terms ser+ant an$ sla+e" Or$inar( ser+ice in

Christian co#ntries is

-hen a man is em'lo(e$ to ser+e another for a certain len&th of

time at a -a&e

-hich is fi2e$ or a&ree$ #'on" hen a man is totall( $e'en$ent on

another for

life) an$ m#st ser+e his master -itho#t e2'ectin& an( -a&es or

recom'ense)

-hen he is treate$ L#st li*e a ,east of the fiel$ o+er -hich the

o-ner has the ri&ht

of life an$ $eath) then it is sla+er("

0" No- there are three *in$s of sla+er( nat#ral sla+er()

enforce$ sla+er() an$

+ol#ntar( sla+er(" All creat#res are sla+es of !o$ in the first

sense) for the earth

an$ its f#llness ,elon& to the or$" The $e+ils an$ the $amne$

are sla+es in the

secon$ sense" The saints in hea+en an$ the L#st on earth are

sla+es in the thir$


49/180

sense" Vol#ntar( sla+er( is the most 'erfect of all three states)

for ,( it -e &i+e

the &reatest &lor( to !o$) -ho loo*s into the heart an$ -ants it

to ,e &i+en to

him" Is he not in$ee$ calle$ the !o$ of the heart or of the

lo+in& -illJ ;or ,( this

sla+er( -e freel( choose !o$ an$ his ser+ice ,efore all thin&s)e+en if -e -ere

not ,( o#r +er( nat#re o,li&e$ to $o so"

6" There is a -orl$ of $ifference ,et-een a ser+ant an$ a sla+e"

6 A ser+ant

$oes not &i+e his em'lo(er all he is) all he has) an$ all he can

ac4#ire ,( himself

or thro#&h others" A sla+e) ho-e+er) &i+es himself to his master

com'letel( an$

e2cl#si+el( -ith all he has an$ all he can ac4#ire" / A ser+ant$eman$s -a&es

for the ser+ices ren$ere$ to his em'lo(er" A sla+e) on the other

han$) can e2'ect

nothin&) no matter -hat s*ill) attention or ener&( he ma( ha+e

'#t into his -or*"

A ser+ant can lea+e his em'lo(er -hene+er he 'leases) or at

least -hen the

term of his ser+ice e2'ires) -hereas the sla+e has no s#ch ri&ht"

@ An em'lo(er

has no ri&ht of life an$ $eath o+er a ser+ant" ere he to *ill

him as he -o#l$ a

,east of ,#r$en) he -o#l$ commit m#r$er" B#t the master of asla+e has ,( la-

the ri&ht of life an$ $eath o+er him) so that he can sell him to

an(one he chooses

or 3 if (o# -ill 'ar$on the com'arison 3 *ill him as he -o#l$

*ill his horse" 1

;inall() a ser+ant is in his em'lo(er?s ser+ice onl( for a time

a sla+e for al-a(s"

/" No other h#man state in+ol+es ,elon&in& more com'letel( to

another thansla+er(" Amon& Christian 'eo'les) nothin& ma*es a 'erson ,elon&

more

com'letel( to es#s an$ his hol( %other than +ol#ntar( sla+er("

O#r or$ himself

&a+e #s the e2am'le of this -hen o#t of lo+e for #s he too* the

form of a sla+e"

O#r a$( &a+e #s the same e2am'le -hen she calle$ herself the

han$mai$ or


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sla+e of the or$" The A'ostle consi$ere$ it an honor to ,e

calle$ sla+e of

Christ" Se+eral times in Hol( Scri't#re) Christians are referre$

to as sla+es of

Christ"

The atin -or$ ser+#s at one time si&nifie$ onl( a sla+e

,eca#se ser+ants as

-e *no- them $i$ not e2ist" %asters -ere ser+e$ either ,( sla+es

or ,(

free$men" The Catechism of the Co#ncil of Trent lea+es no $o#,t

a,o#t o#r

,ein& sla+es of es#s Christ) #sin& the #ne4#i+ocal term

%anci'ia Christi)

-hich 'lainl( means: sla+es of Christ"

" !rantin& this) I sa( that -e m#st ,elon& to es#s an$ ser+e

him not L#st as

hire$ ser+ants ,#t as -illin& sla+es -ho) mo+e$ ,( &enero#s lo+e)

commit

themsel+es to his ser+ice after the manner of sla+es for the

honor of ,elon&in& to

him" Before -e -ere ,a'tiMe$ -e -ere the sla+es of the $e+il) ,#t

,a'tism ma$e

#s the sla+es of es#s" Christians can onl( ,e sla+es of the

$e+il or sla+es of

Christ"

@" hat I sa( in an a,sol#te sense of o#r or$) I sa( in a

relati+e sense of o#r

Blesse$ a$(" es#s) in choosin& her as his inse'ara,le associate

in his life)

&lor( an$ 'o-er in hea+en an$ on earth) has &i+en her ,( &race in

his *in&$om

all the same ri&hts an$ 'ri+ile&es that he 'ossesses ,( nat#re"

All that ,elon&s


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to !o$ ,( nat#re ,elon&s to %ar( ,( &race) sa( the saints) an$)

accor$in& to

them) L#st as es#s an$ %ar( ha+e the same -ill an$ the same

'o-er) the( ha+e

also the same s#,Lects) ser+ants an$ sla+es"

1" ;ollo-in& therefore the teachin& of the saints an$ of man(

&reat men -e can

call o#rsel+es) an$ ,ecome) the lo+in& sla+es of o#r Blesse$ a$(

in or$er to

,ecome more 'erfect sla+es of es#s" %ar( is the means o#r or$

chose to

come to #s an$ she is also the means -e sho#l$ choose to &o to

him) for she is

not li*e other creat#res -ho ten$ rather to lea$ #s a-a( from !o$

than to-ar$s

him) if -e are o+er3attache$ to them" %ar(?s stron&estinclination is to #nite #s to

es#s) her Son) an$ her Son?s stron&est -ish is that -e come to

him thro#&h his

Blesse$ %other" He is 'lease$ an$ honore$ L#st as a *in& -o#l$ ,e

'lease$ an$

honore$ if a citiMen) -antin& to ,ecome a ,etter s#,Lect an$

sla+e of the *in&)

ma$e himself the sla+e of the 4#een" That is -h( the ;athers of

the Ch#rch) an$

St" Bona+ent#re after them) assert that the Blesse$ Vir&in is the

-a( -hich lea$s

to o#r or$"


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ri&ht of life

an$ $eath) for honor an$ 'o-er &i+en to the 4#een is honor an$

'o-er &i+en to

the *in&" Co#l$ -e 'ossi,l( ,elie+e that es#s) the ,est of all

sons) -ho share$

his 'o-er -ith his Blesse$ %other) -o#l$ resent her ha+in& her

o-n sla+esJ Hashe less esteem an$ lo+e for his %other than Ahas#er#s ha$ for

Esther) or

Solomon for Bathshe,aJ ho co#l$ sa( or e+en thin* s#ch a thin&J

" B#t -here is m( 'en lea$in& meJ h( am I -astin& m( time

'ro+in&

somethin& so o,+io#sJ If 'eo'le are #n-illin& to call themsel+es

sla+es of %ar()

-hat $oes it matterJ et them ,ecome an$ call themsel+es sla+es

of es#sChrist) for this is the same as ,ein& sla+es of %ar() since es#s

is the fr#it an$

&lor( of %ar(" This is -hat -e $o 'erfectl( in the $e+otion -e

shall $isc#ss later"

Thir$ 'rinci'le: e m#st ri$ o#rsel+es of -hat is e+il in #s

" O#r ,est actions are #s#all( tainte$ an$ s'oile$ ,( the e+ilthat is roote$ in

#s" hen '#re) clear -ater is 'o#re$ into a fo#l3smellin& L#&) or

-ine into an

#n-ashe$ cas* that 're+io#sl( containe$ another -ine) the clear

-ater an$ the

&oo$ -ine are tainte$ an$ rea$il( ac4#ire an #n'leasant o$or" In

the same -a(

-hen !o$ 'o#rs into o#r so#l) infecte$ ,( ori&inal an$ act#al

sin) the hea+enl(

-aters of his &race or the $elicio#s -ines of his lo+e) his &ifts

are #s#all( s'oile$


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an$ tainte$ ,( the e+il se$iment left in #s ,( sin" O#r actions)

e+en those of the

hi&hest +irt#e) sho- the effects of it" It is therefore of the

#tmost im'ortance that)

in see*in& the 'erfection that can ,e attaine$ onl( ,( #nion -ith

es#s) -e ri$

o#rsel+es of all that is e+il in #s" Other-ise o#r infinitel('#re or$) -ho has an

infinite hatre$ for the sli&htest stain in o#r so#l) -ill ref#se

to #nite #s to himself

an$ -ill $ri+e #s from his 'resence"

>" To ri$ o#rsel+es of selfishness) -e m#st first ,ecome

thoro#&hl( a-are) ,(

the li&ht of the Hol( S'irit) of o#r tainte$ nat#re" Of o#rsel+es

-e are #na,le to $o

an(thin& con$#ci+e to o#r sal+ation" O#r h#man -ea*ness ise+i$ent in

e+er(thin& -e $o an$ -e are ha,it#all( #nrelia,le" e $o not

$eser+e an( &race

from !o$" O#r ten$enc( to sin is al-a(s 'resent" The sin of A$am

has almost

entirel( s'oile$ an$ so#re$ #s) fillin& #s -ith 'ri$e an$

corr#'tin& e+er( one of

#s) L#st as lea+en so#rs) s-ells an$ corr#'ts the $o#&h in -hich

it is 'lace$" The

act#al sins -e ha+e committe$) -hether mortal or +enial) e+en

tho#&h for&i+en)

ha+e intensifie$ o#r ,ase $esires) o#r -ea*ness) o#r inconstanc(an$ o#r e+il

ten$encies) an$ ha+e left a se$iment of e+il in o#r so#l"

O#r ,o$ies are so corr#'t that the( are referre$ to ,( the Hol(

S'irit as ,o$ies of

sin) as concei+e$ an$ no#rishe$ in sin) an$ ca'a,le of an( *in$

of sin" The( are

s#,Lect to a tho#san$ ills) $eterioratin& from $a( to $a( an$

har,orin& onl(

$isease) +ermin an$ corr#'tion"

O#r so#l) ,ein& #nite$ to o#r ,o$() has ,ecome so carnal that it

has ,een calle$

flesh" All flesh ha$ corr#'te$ its -a(" Pri$e an$ ,lin$ness of

s'irit) har$ness of

heart) -ea*ness an$ inconstanc( of so#l) e+il inclinations)


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re,ellio#s 'assions)

ailments of the ,o$() 3 these are all -e can call o#r o-n" B(

nat#re -e are

'ro#$er than 'eacoc*s) -e clin& to the earth more than toa$s) -e

are more ,ase

than &oats) more en+io#s than ser'ents) &ree$ier than 'i&s)

fiercer than ti&ers)laMier than tortoises) -ea*er than ree$s) an$ more chan&ea,le

than -eather3

coc*s" e ha+e in #s nothin& ,#t sin) an$ $eser+e onl( the -rath

of !o$ an$ the

eternit( of hell"

0" Is it an( -on$er then that o#r or$ lai$ $o-n that an(one -ho

as'ires to ,e

his follo-er m#st $en( himself an$ hate his +er( lifeJ He ma*es

it clear thatan(one -ho lo+es his life shall lose it an$ an(one -ho hates his

life shall sa+e it"

No-) o#r or$) -ho is infinite is$om) an$ $oes not &i+e

comman$ments

-itho#t a reason) ,i$s #s hate o#rsel+es onl( ,eca#se -e richl(

$eser+e to ,e

hate$" Nothin& is more -orth( of lo+e than !o$ an$ nothin& is

more $eser+in& of

hatre$ than self"

6" Secon$l() in or$er to em't( o#rsel+es of self) -e m#st $ie

$ail( to o#rsel+es"

This in+ol+es o#r reno#ncin& -hat the 'o-ers of the so#l an$ the

senses of the

,o$( incline #s to $o" e m#st see as if -e $i$ not see) hear as

if -e $i$ not

hear an$ #se the thin&s of this -orl$ as if -e $i$ not #se them"

This is -hat St"

Pa#l calls $(in& $ail(" Unless the &rain of -heat falls to the

&ro#n$ an$ $ies) it


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remains onl( a sin&le &rain an$ $oes not ,ear an( &oo$ fr#it" If

-e $o not $ie to

self an$ if o#r holiest $e+otions $o not lea$ #s to this

necessar( an$ fr#itf#l

$eath) -e shall not ,ear fr#it of an( -orth an$ o#r $e+otions

-ill cease to ,e

'rofita,le" All o#r &oo$ -or*s -ill ,e tainte$ ,( self3lo+e an$self3-ill so that o#r

&reatest sacrifices an$ o#r ,est actions -ill ,e #nacce'ta,le to

!o$"

Conse4#entl( -hen -e come to $ie -e shall fin$ o#rsel+es $e+oi$

of +irt#e an$

merit an$ $isco+er that -e $o not 'ossess e+en one s'ar* of that

'#re lo+e

-hich !o$ shares onl( -ith those -ho ha+e $ie$ to themsel+es an$

-hose life is

hi$$en -ith es#s Christ in him"

/" Thir$l() -e m#st choose amon& all the $e+otions to the

Blesse$ Vir&in the

one -hich -ill lea$ #s more s#rel( to this $(in& to self" This

$e+otion -ill ,e the

,est an$ the most sanctif(in& for #s" ;or -e m#st not ,elie+e

that all that &litters

is &ol$) all that is s-eet is hone() or all that is eas( to $o

an$ is $one ,( the

maLorit( of 'eo'le is the most sanctif(in&" #st as in nat#re

there are secrets

ena,lin& #s to $o certain nat#ral thin&s 4#ic*l() easil( an$ atlittle cost) so in the

s'irit#al life there are secrets -hich ena,le #s to 'erform -or*s

ra'i$l() smoothl(

an$ -ith facilit(" S#ch -or*s are) for e2am'le) em't(in&

o#rsel+es of self3lo+e)

fillin& o#rsel+es -ith !o$) an$ attainin& 'erfection"

The $e+otion that I 'ro'ose to e2'lain is one of these secrets of

&race) for it is

#n*no-n to most Christians" Onl( a fe- $e+o#t 'eo'le *no- of itan$ it is

'ractice$ an$ a''reciate$ ,( fe-er still" To ,e&in the

e2'lanation of this $e+otion

here is a fo#rth tr#th -hich is a conse4#ence of the thir$"

;o#rth 'rinci'le: It is more h#m,le to ha+e an interme$iar( -ith


56/180

Christ

" It is more 'erfect ,eca#se it s#''oses &reater h#milit( to

a''roach !o$

thro#&h a me$iator rather than $irectl( ,( o#rsel+es" O#r h#mannat#re) as I

ha+e L#st sho-n) is so s'oilt that if -e rel( on o#r o-n -or*)

effort an$

're'are$ness to reach !o$ an$ 'lease him) it is certain that o#r

&oo$ -or*s -ill

,e tainte$ an$ carr( little -ei&ht -ith him" The( -ill not in$#ce

him to #nite

himself to #s or ans-er o#r 'ra(ers" !o$ ha$ his reasons for

&i+in& #s me$iators

-ith him" He sa- o#r #n-orthiness an$ hel'lessness an$ ha$ 'it(

on #s" To &i+e

#s access to his mercies he 'ro+i$e$ #s -ith 'o-erf#l a$+ocates)so that to

ne&lect these me$iators an$ to a''roach his infinite holiness

$irectl( an$ -itho#t

hel' from an( one of them) is to ,e lac*in& in h#milit( an$

res'ect to-ar$s !o$

-ho is so &reat an$ hol(" It -o#l$ mean that -e ha+e less esteem

for the Gin& of

*in&s than for an earthl( *in& or r#ler) for -e -o#l$ not $are

a''roach an earthl(

*in& -itho#t a frien$ to s'ea* for #s"

@" O#r or$ is o#r A$+ocate an$ o#r %e$iator of re$em'tion -ith

!o$ the

;ather" It is thro#&h him that -e m#st 'ra( -ith the -hole

Ch#rch) tri#m'hant

an$ militant" It is thro#&h him that -e ha+e access to !o$ the

;ather" e sho#l$

ne+er a''ear ,efore !o$) o#r ;ather) #nless -e are s#''orte$ ,(

the merits of

his Son) an$) so to s'ea*) clothe$ in them) as (o#n& aco, -as

clothe$ in the


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s*in of the (o#n& &oats -hen he a''eare$ ,efore his father Isaac

to recei+e his

,lessin&"

1" B#t ha+e -e no nee$ at all of a me$iator -ith the %e$iatorhimselfJ Are -e

'#re eno#&h to ,e #nite$ $irectl( to Christ -itho#t an( hel'J Is

es#s not !o$)

e4#al in e+er( -a( to the ;atherJ Therefore is he not the Hol( of

Holies) ha+in& a

ri&ht to the same res'ect as his ;atherJ If in his infinite lo+e

he ,ecame o#r

sec#rit( an$ o#r %e$iator -ith his ;ather) -hom he -ishe$ to

a''ease in or$er

to re$eem #s from o#r $e,ts) sho#l$ -e on that acco#nt sho- him

less res'ect

an$ ha+e less re&ar$ for the maLest( an$ holiness of his 'ersonJ

et #s not ,e afrai$ to sa( -ith St" Bernar$ that -e nee$ a

me$iator -ith the

%e$iator himself an$ the $i+inel(3honore$ %ar( is the one most

a,le to f#lfill this

office of lo+e" Thro#&h her) es#s came to #s thro#&h her -e

sho#l$ &o to him"

If -e are afrai$ of &oin& $irectl( to es#s) -ho is !o$) ,eca#se

of his infinite

&reatness) or o#r lo-liness) or o#r sins) let #s im'lore -itho#tfear the hel' an$

intercession of %ar() o#r %other" She is *in$) she is ten$er) an$

there is nothin&

harsh or for,i$$in& a,o#t her) nothin& too s#,lime or too

,rilliant" hen -e see

her) -e see o#r o-n h#man nat#re at its '#rest" She is not the

s#n) $aMMlin& o#r

-ea* si&ht ,( the ,ri&htness of its ra(s" Rather) she is fair an$

&entle as the

moon) -hich recei+es its li&ht from the s#n an$ softens it an$

a$a'ts it to o#r

limite$ 'erce'tion"

She is so f#ll of lo+e that no one -ho as*s for her intercession

is reLecte$) no

matter ho- sinf#l he ma( ,e" The saints sa( that it has ne+er

,een *no-n since

the -orl$ ,e&an that an(one ha$ reco#rse to o#r Blesse$ a$()


58/180

-ith tr#st an$

'erse+erance) an$ -as reLecte$" Her 'o-er is so &reat that her

'ra(ers are

ne+er ref#se$" She has ,#t to a''ear in 'ra(er ,efore her Son an$

he at once

-elcomes her an$ &rants her re4#ests" He is al-a(s lo+in&l(

con4#ere$ ,( the'ra(ers of the $ear %other -ho ,ore him an$ no#rishe$ him"


59/180

" /" The e+il s'irits) c#nnin& thie+es that the( are) can ta*e

#s ,( s#r'rise an$

ro, #s of all -e 'ossess" The( are -atchin& $a( an$ ni&ht for the

ri&ht moment"

The( roam incessantl( see*in& to $e+o#r #s an$ to snatch from #sin one ,rief

moment of sin all the &race an$ merit -e ha+e ta*en (ears to

ac4#ire" Their

malice an$ their e2'erience) their c#nnin& an$ their n#m,ers

o#&ht to ma*e #s

e+er fearf#l of s#ch a misfort#ne ha''enin& to #s" Peo'le) richer

in &race an$

+irt#e) more e2'erience$ an$ a$+ance$ in holiness than -e are)

ha+e ,een

ca#&ht off their ar$ an$ ro,,e$ an$ stri''e$ of e+er(thin&" Ho-

man( ce$ars

of e,anon) ho- man( stars of the firmament ha+e -e sa$l( -atche$fall an$

lose in a short time their loftiness an$ their ,ri&htnessK

hat has ,ro#&ht a,o#t this #ne2'ecte$ re+erseJ Not the lac* of

&race) for this

is $enie$ no one" It -as a lac* of h#milit( the( consi$ere$

themsel+es stron&er

an$ more self3s#fficient than the( reall( -ere" The( tho#&ht

themsel+es -ell a,le

to hol$ on to their treas#res" The( ,elie+e$ their ho#se sec#reeno#&h an$ their

coffers stron& eno#&h to safear$ their 'recio#s treas#re of

&race" It -as

,eca#se of their #nconscio#s reliance on self 3 altho#&h it

seeme$ to them that

the( -ere rel(in& solel( on the &race of !o$ 3 that the most L#st

or$ left them to

themsel+es an$ allo-e$ them to ,e $es'oile$" If the( ha$ onl(

*no-n of the

-on$erf#l $e+otion that I shall later e2'lain) the( -o#l$ ha+e

entr#ste$ their

treas#re to %ar() the 'o-erf#l an$ faithf#l Vir&in" She -o#l$

ha+e *e't it for them

as if it -ere her o-n 'ossession an$ e+en ha+e consi$ere$ that

tr#st an

o,li&ation of L#stice"

>" " It is $iffic#lt to 'erse+ere in holiness ,eca#se of the


60/180

e2cessi+el( corr#'tin&

infl#ence of the -orl$" The -orl$ is so corr#'t that it seems

almost ine+ita,le that

reli&io#s hearts ,e soile$) if not ,( its m#$) at least ,( its

$#st" It is somethin& of

a miracle for an(one to stan$ firm in the mi$st of this ra&in&

torrent an$ not ,es-e't a-a( to -eather this storm( sea an$ not ,e $ro-ne$) or

ro,,e$ ,(

'irates to ,reathe this 'estilential air an$ not ,e contaminate$

,( it" It is %ar()

the sinlarl( faithf#l Vir&in o+er -hom Satan ha$ ne+er an(

'o-er) -ho -or*s

this miracle for those -ho tr#l( lo+e her"

%ar*s of false an$ a#thentic $e+otion to %ar(

>0" No- that -e ha+e esta,lishe$ these fi+e ,asic tr#ths) it is

all the more

necessar( to ma*e the ri&ht choice of the tr#e $e+otion to o#r

Blesse$ a$() for

no- more than e+er there are false $e+otions to her -hich can

easil( ,e

mista*en for tr#e ones" The $e+il) li*e a co#nterfeiter an$

craft() e2'erience$

$ecei+er) has alrea$( misle$ an$ r#ine$ man( Christians ,( means

of fra#$#lent$e+otions to o#r a$(" Da( ,( $a( he #ses his $ia,olical

e2'erience to lea$

man( more to their $oom) foolin& them) l#llin& them to slee' in

sin an$ ass#rin&

them that a fe- 'ra(ers) e+en ,a$l( sai$) an$ a fe- e2terior

'ractices) ins'ire$

,( himself) are a#thentic $e+otions" A co#nterfeiter #s#all(

ma*es coins onl( of

&ol$ an$ sil+er) rarel( of other metals) ,eca#se these latter

-o#l$ not ,e -orth


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the tro#,le" Similarl() the $e+il lea+es other $e+otions alone

an$ co#nterfeits

mostl( those $irecte$ to es#s an$ %ar() for e2am'le) $e+otion to

the Hol(

E#charist an$ to the Blesse$ Vir&in) ,eca#se these are to other

$e+otions -hat

&ol$ an$ sil+er are to other metals"

>6" It is therefore +er( im'ortant) first) to reco&niMe false

$e+otions to o#r Blesse$

a$( so as to a+oi$ them) an$ to reco&niMe tr#e $e+otion in or$er

to 'ractice it"

Secon$) amon& so man( $ifferent forms of tr#e $e+otion to o#r

Blesse$ a$( -e

sho#l$ choose the one most 'erfect an$ the most 'leasin& to her)

the one that

&i+es &reater &lor( to !o$ an$ is most sanctif(in& for #s"

;alse $e+otion to o#r a$(

>/" There are) I fin$) se+en *in$s of false $e+otion to %ar()

namel() the $e+otion

of 6 the critical) / the scr#'#lo#s) the s#'erficial) @

the 'res#m't#o#s) 1

the inconstant)


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tr#st-orth( a#thors or ta*en from the chronicles of reli&io#s

or$ers" The( cannot

,ear to see sim'le an$ h#m,le 'eo'le on their *nees ,efore an

altar or stat#e of

o#r a$() or at 'ra(er ,efore some o#t$oor shrine" The( e+en

acc#se them of

i$olatr( as if the( -ere a$orin& the -oo$ or the stone" The( sa(that as far as

the( are concerne$ the( $o not care for s#ch o#t-ar$ $is'la( of

$e+otion an$

that the( are not so lli,le as to ,elie+e all the fair( tales

an$ stories tol$ of o#r

Blesse$ a$(" hen (o# tell them ho- a$mira,l( the ;athers of the

Ch#rch

'raise$ o#r a$() the( re'l( that the ;athers -ere e2a&&eratin&

as orators $o) or

that their -or$s are misre'resente$" These false $e+otees) these

'ro#$ -orl$l(

'eo'le are &reatl( to ,e feare$" The( $o #ntol$ harm to $e+otionto o#r a$("

hile 'reten$in& to correct a,#ses) the( s#ccee$ onl( too -ell in

t#rnin& 'eo'le

a-a( from this $e+otion"

Scr#'#lo#s $e+otees

>@" Scr#'#lo#s $e+otees are those -ho ima&ine the( are sli&htin&the Son ,(

honorin& the %other" The( fear that ,( e2altin& %ar( the( are

,elittlin& es#s"

The( cannot ,ear to see 'eo'le &i+in& to o#r a$( the 'raises $#e

to her an$

-hich the ;athers of the Ch#rch ha+e la+ishe$ #'on her" It anno(s

them to see

more 'eo'le *neelin& ,efore %ar(?s altar than ,efore the Blesse$

Sacrament) as

if these acts -ere at +ariance -ith each other) or as if those

-ho -ere 'ra(in& to


63/180

o#r a$( -ere not 'ra(in& thro#&h her to es#s" The( $o not -ant

#s to s'ea*

too often of her or to 'ra( so often to her"

Here are some of the thin&s the( sa(: hat is the &oo$ of allthese rosaries)

confraternities an$ e2terior $e+otions to o#r a$(J There is a

&reat $eal of

i&norance in all this" It is ma*in& a moc*er( of reli&ion" Tell

#s a,o#t those -ho

are $e+ote$ to es#s an$ the( often 'rono#nce his name -itho#t

#nco+erin&

their hea$s" e sho#l$ &o $irectl( to es#s) since he is o#r

sole %e$iator" e

m#st 'reach es#s that is so#n$ $e+otion" There is some tr#th

in -hat the( sa()

,#t the inference the( $ra- to 're+ent $e+otion to o#r a$( is+er( insi$io#s" It is

a s#,tle snare of the e+il one #n$er the 'rete2t of 'romotin& a

&reater &oo$" ;or

-e ne+er &i+e more honor to es#s than -hen -e honor his %other)

an$ -e

honor her sim'l( an$ solel( to honor him all the more 'erfectl("

e &o to her onl(

as a -a( lea$in& to the &oal -e see* 3 es#s) her Son"

>1" The Ch#rch) -ith the Hol( S'irit) ,lesses o#r a$( first)then es#s) Blesse$

art tho# amon& -omen an$ ,lesse$ is the fr#it of th( -om,)

es#s" Not that

%ar( is &reater than es#s) or e+en e4#al to him 3 that -o#l$ ,e

an intolera,le

heres(" B#t in or$er to ,less es#s more 'erfectl( -e sho#l$

first ,less %ar(" et

#s sa( -ith all those tr#l( $e+ote$ to her) $es'ite these false

an$ scr#'#lo#s

$e+otees: O %ar() ,lesse$ art tho# amon& -omen an$ ,lesse$ is

the fr#it of th(

-om,) es#s"

S#'erficial $e+otees

>


64/180

a$( consists in

e2terior 'ractices" Onl( the e2ternals of $e+otion a''eal to them

,eca#se the(

ha+e no interior s'irit" The( sa( man( rosaries -ith &reat haste

an$ assist at

man( %asses $istracte$l(" The( ta*e 'art in 'rocessions of o#r

a$( -itho#tinner fer+or" The( Loin her confraternities -itho#t reformin&

their li+es or

restrainin& their 'assions or imitatin& %ar(?s +irt#es" All that

a''eals to them is

the emotional as'ect of this $e+otion) ,#t the s#,stance of it

has no a''eal at all"

If the( $o not feel a -armth in their $e+otions) the( thin* the(

are $oin& nothin&

the( ,ecome #'set) an$ &i+e #' e+er(thin&) or else $o thin&s onl(

-hen the( feel

l

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St. Louis Marie de Montfort - True Devotion to Mary

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