Presumptuous devotion to Mary, Mary: Day 098

Presumptuous devotion to Mary

In contrast to the characteristics of true devotion to Mary, St. Louis de Mont- fort identifies the signs of a presumptuous devotion.

Presumptuous devotees to Mary are sinners abandoned to their pas- sions, or lovers of the world. Under the fair name of Christians and devotees of our Blessed Lady, they conceal pride, avarice, impurity, drunkenness, anger, swearing, detraction, injustice, or some other sin. They sleep in peace in the midst of their bad habits, without chastising themselves to correct their faults, under the pretext that they are devout to the Blessed Virgin.

They promise themselves that God will pardon them, that they will not be allowed to die without Confession, and that they will not be lost eternally, because they say the Rosary, because they fast on Saturdays, because they belong to the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, or wear the scapular, or are enrolled in other congregations, or wear the little habit or little chain of Our Lady. They will not believe us when we tell them that their devotion is only an illusion of the Devil, and a pernicious presumption likely to destroy their souls.

They say that God is good and merciful; that he has not made us to con- demn us everlastingly; that no man is without sin; that they will not die with- out Confession; that one good acknowledgment of sin at the hour of death is enough; that they are devout to Our Lady; that they wear the scapular; and that they say daily, without reproach or vanity, seven Our Fathers and Haily Marys in her honor; and that they sometimes say the Rosary and the Office of Our Lady, besides fasting, and other things. Nothing in Christianity is more detestable than this diabolical presumption. For how can we say truly that we love and honor our Blessed Lady, when by our sins we are pitilessly piercing, wounding, crucifying, and outraging Jesus Christ her Son? —St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
When I pray the Rosary or take part in other Marian devotions, do I ever fall into any of the habits, or offer the excuses for sin, that St. Louis tells us are pre- sumptuous? If so, which aspects of my devotion do I need to correct?

CLOSING PRAYER
Lord,“who can discern his errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!” (Ps 19:12–13).

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