From: stabosz@chopin.udel.edu (Rae Stabosz)
Subject: Re: Devotion to Mary
Organization: University of Delaware
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1993 15:52:11 GMT

In article <9212200416.AA08203@epas.utoronto.ca> Giulio Silano <gsilano@EPAS.UTORONTO.CA> writes:
>> Len Horn writes:
>>
>> >I have a copy of the book "True Devotion To Mary" by St. Louis DeMontfort
>> >(TAN publishing).
>> >Does anyone have experience with this book, I wonder if its
>> >really meant for "nonbeginners" in the Christian life ?
>> >Is this mainstream, or way out in left field ?
>>
>>
>When it comes to devotion to Mary, St. Louis de Montfort is as
>mainstream as it gets (or, at least, used to be).  St. Louis is
>responsible for spreading and enriching the rosary devotion.  Read
>it with profit, pleasure., and trust.
>
>Giulio Silano.

****

I'm not sure this has been mentioned yet in connection with True 
Devotion by St. Louis de Montfort, but Pope John Paul II has called it
one of the most important books in his spiritual life.  He says that
with each reading of it, he finds more to understand and to treasure.
What the Holy Father says, I've found true too.  I made the consecration
to Jesus through Mary the Montfortian way many years ago, and I continue
to muddle through the book trying to understand and live that particular
form of consecration.  

	(As an aside, I should mention, for those who
may feel uneasy about the proliferation of "devotions" that the Church
has -- and this includes both those raised Catholic and those who come
to the Church from other religious environments, that all of the various
devotions and consecrations at their core are pretty much the same,
and that is the consecration of one's entire life to God, which is what
we all do as Christians.  St. Louis de Montort calls his way no more
than a way in which to live out one's baptismal vows, as we all must
and are happy to do.

	A very good companion to _True Devotion_ is de Montfort's book
_The Eternal Wisdom,_ which is all about Christ.  This is particularly
helpful to read along with _True Devotion_ if you get uneasy about the
scope of his praise for and thinking about Mary, because it shows Who
it is that is the object of all of her actions, thoughts, intercessions,
etc.

	The Montfort Fathers put out a
periodical called "The Queen" to aid those who are trying to live out
this form of the Christian life.  I used to subscribe to it but don't
any more, so I don't have any information other than that.  

	As Giulio Silano writes, above, this is very mainstream
stuff and while it is hard going in parts, if you are drawn to what
de Montfort says, to his main thesis, I'd encourage you to stick with
it, think about making the consecration, and come back to the book
many times.  St. Louis de Montfort predicted, interestingly enough,
that his book would be lost for many years (by the work of the
Adversary) and that it would be found again before "the last days",
when God would be allowing Mary to be known and understood more than
ever.  The manuscript was lost for about two hundred years, and found
again last century (I believe).  

	I find the book interesting because St.
Louis de Montfort is obviously trying so very hard to write about
"the secret of Mary", as he calls it, and about what he himself has
experienced and believes that God wants him to teach others, and yet,
he is so much less clear than St. Teresa of Avila (who also writes
about "the secrets of the King").  I always wonder if it is just
that what he has to say is so delicate -- to speak of Mary's role
in terms that convey the depth of what he feels he has come to
understand, without making of her a goddess.  He has a lot of
arguments against those who denigrate her role which are as
apropos to our current times as to his.

	Here is a selection from it.  Might I venture to guess that
some might find offense at the section that talks about heresy and
schism -- it's a touchy subject in these days when we all want to
respect religious freedom while at the same time standing up for
truth.  But this will give you a feeling of the flavor of the book,
very mainstream, very orthodox, with that fervor that is particularly
found in devotional writings of the saints:

	"II. Mary is necessary to men
		#3. Especially necessary to the great saints of
the latter times.

	I have said that this would come to pass, particularly at the
end of the world and indeed presently, because the Most High with His
holy Mother has to form for Himself great saints who shall surpass most
of the other saints in sanctity as much as the cedars of Lebanon
outgrow the little shrubs, as has been revealed to a holy soul whose
life has been written by M. de Renty.

	These great souls, full of grace and zeal, shall be chosen to
match themselves against the enemies of God, who shall rage on all
sides; and they shall be singularly devout to our Blessed Lady, 
illuminated by her light, strengthened with her nourishment, led by
her spirit, supported by her arm and sheltered under her protection,
so that they shall fight with one hand and build with the other.
With the one hand they shall fight, overthrow and crush the heretics
with their heresies, the schismatics with their schisms, the
idolaters with their idolatries and the sinners with their impieties.
With the other hand they shall build the temple of the true Solomon
and the mystical city of God, that is to say, the most holy Virgin,
called by the Fathers the "Temple of Solomon" and the "City of God."
By their words and their examples they shall draw the whole world to
true devotion to Mary.  This shall bring upon them many enemies, but
shall also bring many victories and much glory for God alone.

	This is what the Holy Ghost seems to have prophesied in the
Fifty-eighth Psalm: "And theyu shall know that God will rule Jacob
and all the ends of the earth; they shall return at evening and
shall suffer hunger like dogs and shall go round about the city."
This city which men shall find at the end of the world to convert
themselves in, and to satisfy the hunger they have for justice, is the
most holy Virgin, who is called by the Holy Ghost the "City of God."
"

	[End of St. Louis.  Rae here again:]

	Even as I write out those words I cringe for how strange
they sound because of how greatly they esteem Mary and what an
active and integral role they see her playing in salvation.  But
it is all theologically sound and, I come more and more to believe,
spiritually right on the mark.  If He were my Son, _of course_ I
would be at the _absolute forefront_ of helping His disciples bring
about the completion of God's will.

	In Him,

	Rae