3.6 Commitment
STAGE 3: In Communion with Mary
MARY AND THE CROSS
THE PONDERING WAY
COMMITMENT
Aim: To commit ourselves to Mary, in order to make it a habit to look at the cross with the eyes of Wisdom.
Reading
The suffering and victorious servants of Mary (TD 54): “The friends of the world have always persecuted and will persecute more than ever in the future those who belong to the Blessed Virgin, just as Cain of old persecuted his brother Abel, and Esau his brother Jacob […]. But the humble Mary will always triumph over Satan, the proud one, and so great will be her victory that she will crush his head, the very seat of his pride. She will unmask his serpent’s cunning and expose his wicked plots. She will scatter to the winds his devilish plans and to the end of time will keep her faithful servants safe from his cruel claws. […] In the eyes of the world, these servants of Mary will be little and poor and, like the heel, lowly in the eyes of all […]. But in compensation they will be rich in God’s graces, which will be abundantly bestowed on them by Mary. They will be great and exalted before God in holiness. They will be superior to all creatures by their great zeal and so strongly will they be supported by divine assistance that, in union with Mary, they will crush the head of Satan with their heel, that is, their humility, and bring victory to Jesus Christ”.
Comment
Montfort prophesied that his book, True Devotion, would be persecuted “by raging beasts”, and that those who read the book would also be “attacked” (TD 114). History has proven him right and, to this day, we have to acknowledge that persecution, mainly in the manner of not understanding or poor understanding, continues on. We are not to be surprised. Let’s remember Jesus’ warning about the “division” that his Word might cause among the members of a family. The same can be applied to the teaching of Montfort. In fact, within the Church itself not everybody understands or welcomes his message. It’s a “secret”, indeed a “special revelation” that only the Spirit can give, if one prays for it. Meanwhile, those who do not understand it may generate an atmosphere of verbal persecution.
In TD 153, Montfort continues on to say that Mary’s loyal servants “are opposed, persecuted, slandered, and treated with intolerance. They may also have to walk in interior darkness and through spiritual deserts, without being given from heaven a single drop of the dew of consolation. If this devotion to the Blessed Virgin makes the path to Jesus smoother, how can we explain why Mary’s loyal servants are so ill-treated?”
Montfort’s reply is simple: the most faithful servants of the Blessed Virgin, being her greatest favourites, receive crosses because, through their consecration, they share intimately in the life of Jesus Christ, that is his passion, death and resurrection. “But”, Montfort continues, “I maintain, too, that these servants of Mary bear their crosses with greater ease and gain more merit and glory. What could possibly bring about the downfall of another person, does not balk them at all, but even helps them on their way. For this good Mother, filled with the grace and unction of the Holy Spirit, dips all the crosses she prepares for them in the honey of her maternal sweetness and the unction of pure love. […] I believe that those who wish to be devout and live piously in Jesus will suffer persecution and will have a daily cross to carry. But they will never manage to carry a heavy cross, or carry it joyfully and perseveringly, without a trusting devotion to our Lady, who is the very sweetness of the cross” (TD 154; cf. SM 22).
Personal Reflection and Sharing
In what ways do I think my consecration to Jesus through Mary will help me to look at my crosses with a more affirmative spirit?
In order to keep alive my new understanding of the cross, what practice do I intend to commit myself to?
[3-6] CALL RESPONSE COMMITMENT PRAYER