3.5 Commitment
STAGE 3: In Communion with Mary
MARY AND THE CHURCH
THE MATERNAL WAY
COMMITMENT
Aim: To commit ourselves to Mary, mother of the Church, in the line of Montfort’s spirituality.
Reading
Mother of Christ and his members (SM 11-12): “As in the natural life children must have a father and a mother, so in the supernatural life of grace true children of the Church must have God for their Father and Mary for their mother. If they pride themselves on having God for their Father but do not give to Mary the tender affection of true children, they are impostors and their father is the devil. Since Mary produced the head of the elect, Jesus Christ, she must also produce the members of that head, that is, all true Christians. A mother does not conceive a head without members, nor members without a head. If anyone, then, wishes to become a member of Jesus Christ, and consequently be filled with grace and truth, he or she must be formed in Mary through the grace of Jesus Christ, which she possesses with a fullness enabling her to communicate it abundantly to true members of Jesus Christ, her true children”.
Comment
As a mother, Mary nourishes the Church of the elect. “Mary received from God a unique dominion over souls enabling her to nourish them and make them more and more godlike. St. 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 their spiritual nourishment and all their strength from Mary” (SM 14).
As a mother, Mary doesn’t turn away anybody. “She is so full of love that no one, who asks for her intercession, is rejected, no matter how sinful he or she may be. The saints say that it has never been known, since the world began, that anyone had recourse to our Blessed Lady, with trust and perseverance, and was rejected. Her power is so great that her prayers are never refused. She has but to appear in prayer before her Son and he at once welcomes her and grants her requests. He is always lovingly conquered by the prayers of the dear Mother who bore him and nourished him” (TD 85).
As a mother, we approach her and implore her help always, everywhere and for everything. “We pray to her to be enlightened in our doubts, to be put back on the right path when we go astray, to be protected when we are tempted, to be strengthened when we are weakening, to be lifted up when we fall into sin, to be encouraged when we are losing heart, to be rid of our scruples, to be consoled in the trials, crosses and disappointments of life. Finally, in all our afflictions of body and soul, we naturally turn to Mary for help, with never a fear of importuning her or displeasing our Lord” (TD 107).
As a mother, she responds generously to our consecration. “The Blessed Virgin, mother of gentleness and mercy, never allows herself to be surpassed in love and generosity. When she sees people giving themselves entirely to her, in order to honour and serve her, and depriving themselves of what they prize most, in order to adorn her, she gives herself completely in a wondrous manner to them. She engulfs them in the ocean of her graces, adorns them with her merits, supports them with her power, enlightens them with her light, and fills them with her love. She shares her virtues with them – her humility, faith, purity, etc. She makes up for their failings and becomes their representative with Jesus. Just as those who are consecrated belong entirely to Mary, so Mary belongs entirely to them. We can truthfully say of these perfect servants and children of Mary what St. John in his gospel says of himself: ‘He took her for his own’” (TD 144).
Personal Reflection and Sharing
With such great love made manifest to us, St. Louis-Marie de Montfort would say, how could anyone not hasten towards our Blessed Mother, let her clothe us in her virtues and in the likeness of her Son Jesus?
How do I describe the intensity of my decision to consecrate myself to Jesus through Mary? Which of Mary’s “maternal graces” do I feel committed to develop in order to “mother” Christ in today’s world?
[3-5] CALL RESPONSE COMMITMENT PRAYER