MARY, OUR MOTHER

LOUIS MARY DE MONTFORT (Optional Memorial)

Saint Louis was born to a poor family in 1673 at Montfort-la-Cane in Brittany. He was ordained to the priesthood at the age of 27 and he had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He wrote many books and pamphlets, but two stand out as his greatest: The Secret of the Rosary (his first work) and True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

During his life he founded the 'Company of Mary', a missionary group for men and the 'Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Wisdom', a religious institute of women devoted to helping the poor.

St. Louis died at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sevre on April 28, 1716. He was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 and canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1947. There is a petition at the Vatican that he be declared a Doctor of the Church.

His 'Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary' is a special way of life for those devoted to Our Lady. I have made this consecration myself and I'm sure that it has brought me closer to loving God in the Most Blessed Trinity and my brothers and sisters in Christ, through Mary, our Mother.

Here are the Proper Mass Prayers for the Feast and an excerpt from 'The Collected Writings of St. Louis de Montfort,' 1995, Montfort Publications, Bay Shore, New York:

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
The Spirit of God is upon me; he has anointed me. He sent me to bring good news to the poor, and to heal the brokenhearted. (Luke 4:18)

OPENING PRAYER
God of eternal wisdom,
you made your priest Louis Mary
an outstanding witness and teacher
of total dedication to Christ your Son
through the hands of the blessed Mother.
Grant that we may follow that same spiritual path
and extend your kingdom on earth.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Father of mercy,
we have these gifts to offer in honor of your saints
who have bore witness to your mighty power.
May the power of the Eucharist
bring us your salvation.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON
I, the Lord, am with you always, until the end of the world.
(Matthew 28:20)

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Lord,
may the mysteries we receive
prepare us for the eternal joys
Saint Louis de Montfort won by his faithful ministry.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

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As in the natural life a child must have a father and a mother, so in the supernatural life of grace a true child of the Church must have God for his Father and Mary for his Mother. If he prides himself on having God for his Father but does not give Mary the tender affection of a true child, he is an imposter and his father is the devil . . .

Mary received from God a unique dominion over souls enabling her to nourish them and make them more and more godlike. Saint Augustine went so far as to say that even in this world all the elect are enclosed in the womb of Mary, and that their real birthday is when this good mother brings them forth to eternal life. Consequently, just as an infant draws all its nourishment from its mother, who gives according to its needs, so the elect draw all their spiritual nourishment and all their strength from Mary.

It was to Mary that God the Father said, "Dwell in Jacob," that is, dwell in my elect who are typified by Jacob. It was to Mary that God the Son said, "My dear Mother, your inheritance is in Israel," that is, in the elect.
It was to Mary that the Holy Spirit said, "Place your roots in my elect." Whoever, then, is of the chosen and predestinate will have the Blessed Virgin living within him, and he will let her plant in his very soul the roots of every virtue, but especially deep humility and ardent charity.

Mary is called by Saint Augustine, and is indeed, the "living mold of God." In her alone the God-man was formed in his human nature without losing any features of the Godhead. In her alone, by the grace of Jesus Christ, man is made godlike as far as human nature is capable of it.

SAINT LOUIS DE MONTFORT