As many of you may know, I am in the preparation period for a Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary. I am taking a "class" at church and our associate pastor, Fr. Adam, is doing a wonderful job of leading us to our heavenly mother and, ultimately, her son, Our Lord. We have delved into significant scripture which teaches us about the life of Mary and her role in our salvation, and we have studied Chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium, which explains the Blessed Mother's role in the church.
We have also begun to go through, paragraph by paragraph St. Louis de Montfort's True Devotion to Mary. This consecration is such a natural step for me, I wish that I had done it years ago.
Anyway, one little thing has been bothering me as I read True Devotion. Maybe not bothering, maybe that's too big a word. Maybe niggling, it's been niggling me -- just kind of pestering me in the back of my mind. I think it's from listening to too many EWTN open line shows, I've started to think from an apologist's perspective. I kept asking myself, if I were not me (which is a really stupid thing, because I am me) why would I do this? Why consecrate oneself to Jesus through Mary? Why not just go right to Jesus?
There are about a million answers to that question and they all add up to a perfect explanation of why Jesus though Mary, but I just wanted one, one very simple perfect explanation.
Last night I found it. It's a beautiful, perfect million dollar answer:
From the True Devotion to Mary:
"Our Blessed Lady is the means Our Lord made use of to come to us. She is also the means which we must make use of to go to Him."
Oh, blessed St. Louis de Montfort. Your wisdom has saved many a soul.
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I explained it to my children this week like this:
ReplyDeleteAll the graces God grants us come through the hands of our Mother, just like here at home. I purchase and prepare the food for you, but the money to buy it comes from your father, who is really providing it. His gift to you comes through me. I keep this house clean and comfortable for you and make sure you have clean clothes and a warm fire in the morning, but the financing and the maintenance of it come from your father. His gift comes to you through me. It's the same with Jesus and Mary. All the gifts he bestows upon us... come through the hands of His Mother.
The words must have come straight from the Holy Spirit because I hadn't really understood it myself until I explained it to them. :-)
I am so glad you found the answer to your question, the answer that puts all questions aside ... It really is that simple and that beautiful, isn't it?!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful class you are attending!
I'm on this journey as well. just received all the materials and praying about the Day to pick, then I begin! isn't it beautiful when we find a passage that answers the knawing question! blessings to you on your journey.
ReplyDeleteGood question. Jennie's answer makes it really comprehensible.
ReplyDeleteLove it, Barb...and Jennie! What a beautiful analogy...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that. I am constantly learning, having grown up without Mary and the Saints.
ReplyDeleteThat's a genius answer! perfect!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Thanks for sharing!
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