One must never fear to give Mary too much
I continue today my translation of Mother Mectilde’s text on true devotion to the Blessed Virgin. She wrote this text sometime during her Benedictine noviciate (1639–1640). She was about twenty–six years old at the time. Anyone familiar with Saint Louis–Marie Grignion de Montfort’s True Devotion will recognise that Mother Mectilde belongs to the same school.
What Mary Does Best
Love Mary, and you will not die without her having made you love Jesus. This is what she does best, and this is what she never fails to do, if are willing to correspond to the graces she presents to us.
The Assurance of Salvation
When I encounter a soul who has what she ought regarding the Mother of God, it seems to me that I hold such a soul’s salvation in my hands; by this I mean that I take it as something assured. If all souls were persuaded of this, they would love her tenderly and have a total trust in her. One must never fear to give her too much, nor to go beyond what is due her, because nothing remains in her, and all returns to Jesus and in Jesus.
The Advantages of Devotion to Mary
I would have much more to say if I could express the advantages of this devotion. It is certain that it opens the intelligence to the understanding of ineffable things concerning the sacred mysteries and the ways of grace. It teaches one to pray, to practice mortification. It sustains and consoles one in sorrows. It keeps one from falling in the hour of temptation. It chases away our enemies visible and invisible, and defends us against their wicked designs.
Confidence and Abandonment
O admirable Mother, thy bounties are not perceived for want of confidence and because we do not abandon ourselves lovingly into thy hands. Grant me the mercy of looking upon me in thy gentle kindness. Even though I have, all my life, abused of thy graces, reject not the broken and humbled heart that knows itself to be infinitely unworthy.
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Lately I have “run” to Our Blessed Mother many times when I feel most tempted by the pangs of deep rooted sins. I imagine her putting her protective mantle around me. Our sweet Mother, without uttering a word, always manages to keep me safe.
Father,
Are these beautiful texts available in the original French?
Thank you. I read your blog everyday and always find something in you post that brings me closer to Our Lord.
Richard
When the Mother is absent, the house is disordered. No Mary, no Jesus. Know Mary, know Jesus. In the great spiritual battle of our time the victory comes when the Levites (our priests) go before us shouldering the Ark of the Covenant (Mary, who holds within the manna, the tablets and the rod of the priesthood – Jesus Christ.) I pray that Mother Mectilde’s words re–ignite hearts, especially the hearts of our beloved priests. And that in the Spirit, they bring Her forward to fulfill the divine decree of Genesis: the crushing of the head of the evil on. He that strikes this generation with such hideous strength. Thank you Father Prior and your infant community for shouldering the Ark. We walk humbly behind you.