3.2 Commitment
STAGE 3: In Communion with Mary
MARY AND CHRIST
THE DISCIPLE’S WAY
COMMITMENT
Aim: To commit ourselves to an “authentic” devotion to Mary.
Reading
True and false devotions (TD 90-91): “Now that we have established these five basic truths, it is all the more necessary to make the right choice of the true devotion to our Blessed Lady, for now more than ever there are false devotions to her which can easily be mistaken for true ones. […] It is therefore very important to recognise false devotions to our Blessed Lady so as to avoid them, and to recognise true devotion in order to practise it”.
Comment
According to Montfort, it is when we live up to a “true and authentic devotion” to Mary that we establish in our souls the unity of Mary with Jesus and that we achieve the ultimate goal of our faith, the reign of Christ in our lives. Montfort outlines the marks of both authentic and false devotions to our Lady.
“First, true devotion to our Lady is interior, that is, it comes from within the mind and the heart and follows from the esteem in which we hold her, the high regard we have for her greatness, and the love we bear her” (TD 106). This is the opposite of the “false devotion”, called superficial devotion, practiced by those who enjoy only the exterior aspect of Marian devotion (cf. TD 96).
“Second, true devotion is trustful, that is to say, it fills us with confidence in the Blessed Virgin, the confidence that a child has for its loving Mother. It prompts us to go to her in every need of body and soul with great simplicity, trust and affection” (TD 107). This is far from the attitude of the critical devotees, those “proud scholars, people of independent and self-satisfied minds, who […] criticise nearly all forms of devotion” (TD 93). It is also far from the attitude of the scrupulous devotees, those “who imagine they are slighting the Son by honouring the Mother. They fear that by exalting Mary they are belittling Jesus” (TD 94).
“Third, true devotion to our Lady is holy, that is, it leads us to avoid sin and to imitate the virtues of Mary. Her ten principal virtues are: deep humility, lively faith, blind obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial, surpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic kindness, and heavenly wisdom” (TD 108). This does not happen in the life of presumptuous and hypocritical devotees who, “under the name of Christians, conceal pride, avarice, lust, anger, injustice and other vices” (cf. TD 97; 102).
“Fourth, true devotion to Mary is constant. It strengthens us in our desire to do good and prevents us from giving up our devotional practices too easily. […] We do not say that we never sin or that our sensible feelings of devotion never change” (TD 109). However, true devotion to Mary enables us to persevere in grace and helps us to avoid the trap of the “inconstant devotees, whose devotion is practiced in fits and starts” and cause them to become “lukewarm” (TD 101).
“Fifth, true devotion to Mary is disinterested. It inspires us to seek God alone in his Blessed Mother and not ourselves. The true subjects of Mary do not serve their illustrious Queen for selfish gain” (TD 110). In practicing their devotion, they are disinterested because they are familiar with the practice of perfect love. The opposite is self-interested devotion, practiced by those people who think of Mary and turn to her only when they are in need (TD 103).
Personal Reflection and Sharing
By committing myself to the practice of “true devotion”, I realize in me what Jesus says in the gospel: “You are my mother” (Mk 3:34).
How do I intend to live the “marks” of authentic devotion to our Lady?
What does it mean to me to be “disciple and associate” of Christ like Mary?
[3-2] CALL RESPONSE COMMITMENT PRAYER