St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673 – 1716

***Please Note…Towards the end of this “discussion” it is said “the end of May is Diverted to Mary when it should be Devoted.” I tried to edit and update the written transcription. This is something I wrote for the Feast of Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort back in 2023 now updated with an audio, podcast style, discussion for your consideration. St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673 – 1716) was born in Brittany, France, to a large farming family. As a child he displayed an unusual spiritual maturity and spent much time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. At the age of 19 he went on foot to Paris to study theology at a prestigious school with the support of a benefactor; along the way he gave his possessions to the poor and made a lifelong vow to live in poverty supported entirely on alms. He was ordained a priest at the age of 27, and at 32 discovered his calling to be an itinerant preacher, receiving the title of "Apostolic Missionary" from the Pope after his bishop tried to silence him. For the next 17 years he preached missions in countless towns and villages throughout France with an emphasis on renewal and reform. His fiery devotion, oratory skill, and identification with the poor led many souls to conversion. He was persecuted by the Jansenists, who, in their spiritual pride, poisoned him, banished him from preaching in their dioceses, and made an assassination attempt on his life. He had a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and taught on the power of the Holy Rosary. He also wrote a number of classic works on Marian devotion, the most famous being True Devotion to Mary. His feast day is April 28."The Rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Redeemer, who loves His Mother."~St. Louis de Montfort"To God Alone, by Christ's Wisdom, in the Spirit, in communion with Mary, for the reign of God” is the best way, to sum up Saint Louis de Montfort’s spirituality. “God alone was everything to him. Remain faithful to the precious heritage, which this great saint left you. It is a glorious inheritance, worthy, that you continue to sacrifice your strength and your life, as you have done until today.”~Pope Pius XII on the day of Saint Louis de Montfort's canonization Saint Louis de Montfort had a love for God but knew this love could be magnified by loving the Blessed Virgin Mary. This was and continues to be God’s way of bringing the Love of heaven to earth in a way that is unexplainable other than to say the Blessed Virgin Mary is all about the Love of His Children. “She loves them tenderly, more tenderly than all the mothers in the world together. Take the maternal love of all the mothers of the world for their children. Pour all that love into the heart of one mother for an only child. That mother’s love would certainly be immense. Yet Mary’s love for each of her children has more tenderness than the love of that mother for her child.”~Saint Louis de MontfortDetachment If there is anything one learns from following Saint Louis de Montfort’s consecration to Jesus through Mary, detachment from the world is necessary to gain peace within and draw closest to God. “If we do not die to ourselves, and if our holiest devotions do not incline us to this necessary and useful death, we shall bring forth no fruit worth anything, and our devotions will become useless. All our good works will be stained by self-love and our own will . . . We must choose therefore, among all the devotions to the Blessed Virgin, the one which draws us most toward this death to ourselves, inasmuch as it will be the best and the most sanctifying. For we must not think that all that shines is gold, that all that tastes sweet is honey, or that all that is easy to do and is done by the greatest number is the most sanctifying.”—St. Louis De Montfort, p.40~True Devotion to MaryGuardian Angels Saint Louis de Montfort was a big believer in showing respect and tenderness towards the guardian angels, not just his own but those of others. He often ended his letters with the salutation "I salute your guardian angel".While Saint Louis de Montfort is known for his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary make no mistake it was his love for God and the salvation of all souls that drew his heart so close to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Rosary. I’ll end this with just one of the over 1800 messages from Our Lady of the Rosary of San Nicolas since I know so many are feeling the evils of the world right now and feel all may be lost. All I can say is don’t give up, now is the time to fight(pray) more than ever. Remember God is in control but He must invade your heart and the heart of your neighbor. Our Lady of the Rosary of San NicolásMessage from October 11, 1986:"My daughter, the evil one is triumphant now, it is true, but it is a victory that will last briefly. The Lord is only giving him time, the same time that He gives man for him to return to God. That is why vices and worldly madness increase every day. The weaknesses will have to become strengths and in this way will be able to get rid of evil. As yet, man's heart is not totally invaded. Glory be to God."And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.~Luke 1:46 As the month of April comes to an end and May begins let’s not forget the entire month of May is devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eutopiatoday.substack.com