2.7 Prayer
STAGE 2: Awareness of Self
MY HIGHER PURPOSE
LOVING THE GOAL
PRAYER
Rosary
With St. Louis-Marie de Montfort, let us contemplate the “smooth, short, perfect, sure and safe way of attaining union with the Lord” (cf. TD 152-168).
“This devotion is a smooth way. It is the path which Jesus Christ opened up in coming to us and in which there is no obstruction to prevent us reaching him. It is quite true that we can attain to divine union by other roads, but we would have to pass through spiritual darkness, engage in struggles for which we are not prepared, endure bitter agonies, scale precipitous mountains, tread upon painful thorns, and cross frightful deserts. But when we take the path of Mary, we walk smoothly and calmly” (TD 152).
“This devotion is a short way to discover Jesus, either because it is a road we do not wander from, or because we walk along this road with greater ease and joy, and consequently with greater speed. We advance more in a brief period of submission to Mary and dependence on her than in whole years of self-will and self-reliance. Without falling, retreating and even without being delayed, we can advance, with giant strides and in a short time, towards Jesus, along the same road which Jesus himself took to come to us” (TD 155).
“This devotion is a perfect way to reach our Lord and be united to him, for Mary is the most perfect and the most holy of all creatures, and Jesus, who came to us in a perfect manner, chose no other road for his great and wonderful journey. The Most High, the Incomprehensible One, the Inaccessible One, He who is, deigned to come down to us poor earthly creatures who are nothing at all. He came down to us in a perfect way through the humble Virgin Mary, without losing anything of his divinity or holiness. It is likewise through Mary that we poor creatures must ascend to almighty God in a perfect manner without having anything to fear” (TD 157).
“This devotion is a sure way to go to Jesus and to acquire holiness through union with him. In fact the history of this devotion goes back so far that the time of its origin cannot be ascertained with any precision. We know though that different popes gave their approval to it and that the theologians who examined it could not condemn it without overthrowing the foundations of Christianity. The reason why this devotion is not commonly practised is that it is too sublime to be appreciated and undertaken by everyone” (TD 159; 163).
“This devotion is a safe means of going to Jesus Christ, because it is Mary’s role to lead us safely to her Son; just as it is the role of our Lord to lead us to the eternal Father. Those who are spiritually minded should not fall into the error of thinking that Mary hinders our union with God. How could this possibly happen? How could Mary, who found grace with God for everyone in general and each one in particular, prevent a soul from obtaining the supreme grace of union with him? Is it possible that she who was so completely filled with grace to overflowing, so united to Christ and transformed in God that it became necessary for him to be made flesh in her, should prevent a soul from being perfectly united to him?” (TD 164).
Concluding Prayer
Hail Mary, Virgin full of God, spouse full of tenderness, believer full of hope, mother full of love! You are totally living in God, yet you are present in all your children.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, I entrust my heart to you, with all that it contains, be it joy or suffering, projects or fears. Dwell in my heart that more and more it may resemble yours, full of love despite indifference, able to forgive in face of hatred, full of confidence in the midst of trials, possessed by God beyond all riches.
Make Jesus to be born in me, as he was born in you and of you, and at the hour of death, be present at my side to lead me in peace to our Father’s home. Amen!
[2-7] CALL RESPONSE COMMITMENT PRAYER