The Secret of Mary by St. Louis de Montfort
 -------- Part I -------- THE SECRET OF MARY OUR SANCTIFICATION BY THE PERFECT DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED SLAVERY OF LOVE Exterior Practices of the Holy Slavery of Love 60. Besides the interior practice of this devotion, of which we have just spoken, there are also certain exterior practices, which we must neither omit nor neglect. Consecration and Renewal 61. The first one is to choose a special feast-day on which to consecrate ourselves to Jesus through the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose slaves we make ourselves. On the same day we should receive Holy Communion for that intention, and spend the day in prayer. At least once a year, on the same day, we should renew our act of consecration. A Token of Our Servitude 62. The second one is to pay to Our Lady, every year on that same day, some little tribute, as a token of our servitude and dependence; such has always been the homage paid by slaves to their masters. That tribute may consist of an act of mortification, an alms, a pilgrimage or some prayers. BI. Marino, we are told by his brother, St. Peter Damian, was wont to take the discipline in public every year on the same day before the altar of Our Lady. Such zeal is not required, nor do we counsel it; but if we give but little to Mary, let us at least offer it with a humble and grateful heart. Celebration of the Annunciation 63. The third practice is to celebrate every year, with special devotion, the feast of the Annunciation, which is the patronal feast of this devotion and was established to honor and imitate the dependence in which the Eternal Word placed Himself on that day out of love for us. Recitation of the Little Crown and the Magnificat. 64. The fourth external practice is to say every day [not, however, under pain of sin, in case of omission] the Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin, which is composed of three Our Fathers and twelve Hail Marys; also, often to recite the Magnificat, which is the only hymn of Mary that we possess, to thank God for His graces in the past and to beg of Him fresh blessings for the present. Above all, we ought not to fail to say this hymn in thanksgiving after Holy Communion. The learned Gerson tells us that Our Lady herself was wont to recite it after Communion.  Contact Us HOME----------------MARY'S INDEX------------------CATHOLIC CLASSICS www.catholictradition.org/Classics/secret-mary6b.htm |