The book we are using for this blog "The Echo of God" is a commentary for beginners on St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort's True Devotion to Mary. The entire purpose of the blog is to help each of us to grow in our love for Jesus and His and our mother, Mary. The Echo of God will assist any reader who finds difficulty in appropriating Montfort's sublime teaching on the role of Mary in the formation of saints for the latter times.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Janette: Par 30 - 36 - Mary, Mother of all; Mary, the Holy Spirit and us!
Par 30: "He who has not Mary for his Mother has not God for his Father." Its rich context in Par 30 caused me to read and re-read the passage to better comprehend - and be better able to articulate the essence. St Louis puts great and an 'essential' emphasis on this point. Fr Harlow echoes: "The rejection of Mary as mother breaks up God's plan for the family and ultimately distorts or corrupts the relationship with the individual and God the Father." And later: "The head (Jesus) and its parts (one and all) must be born together coming from the same mother. If Mary is not their mother then they are born of something else - they are deformed." It is much, much more than a sense of sinking in the arms of Mary or delighting in the security of being enfolded in her robes. These images are wonderful, to be sure, but to recognize the deep level of relationship with Mary as Mother, truly Mother, brings tremendous liberty and spiritual well being. St Louis talks of Mary 'striking roots' (Par 34, 35) - that is, planting virtues within a soul. And as Tom reflected (and it bears repeating!) "When the Holy Spirit...has found Mary in a soul, He flies there. He enters in His fullness; He communicates Himself to that soul abundantly, and to the full extent to which it makes room for His spouse. I soared when I read that - and last weekend I was reading this excerpt at a small dinner gathering in our home. Wow - what discussion followed! Fr Harlow adds: "He (HS) commmunicates His gifts to that soul in the measure to which that person is devoted to her (Mary). The more that one is devoted to Mary, the more the Holy Spirit will overshadow that soul with charisms and graces." Yes, our lifestyle of true devotion will sanctify us and draw us to greater love, the bonds of love, everlasting love, love eternal. Yes, Mary, our Mother, is meant to form and educate us in the ways of holiness, the ways of love. Mary, be a Mother to me now. (Bl Mother Teresa taught hundreds to pray this 'on your five fingers').
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Our faith is so much richer than we can ever imagine. Thank you for sharing about your dinner party discussion. I would have loved to hear that discussion. Thanks for reminding us that St Louis talks of Mary 'striking roots' (Par 34, 35) - that is, planting virtues within a soul. I think that is a powerful image but to plant the virtues the soil has to be prepared which for me what this blog is about. It is helping me to be more open all that Mother Mary can teach, show and do as she brings us to her son.
Post a Comment