GOD ALONE
Author: St. Louis Marie de Montfort. 672 pg. HB
The writings of St. Louis Marie de Montfort are of great interest today for many reasons. First, because they are centered on Christ, Eternal and Incarnate Wisdom. Second, because they focus attention on the importance of Mary's role in the Mystery of Christ and of the Church - a subject of renewed interest both within the Catholic Church and other Christian Churches. Third because they embody a form of "Marian Spirituality" thatgoes far beyond mere Marian devotion, as Pope John Paul II pointed out in his Marian Year encyclical: St. Louis Marie de Montfort "proposes consecration to Christ through the hands of Mary, as an effective means for Christians to live faithfully their baptismal commitments." Fourth, because they reflect the thinking and pastoral experiences of a man of vision whose writings have a definite prophetic ring relative to the latter times. They likewise reflect his usually profound understanding of the Scriptures concerning Christ, Eternal and Incarnate Wisdom as well as his own persoanl discovery of Mary, the "easy, short, perfect and sure way" to obtain full possession of Divine Wisdom in our souls. In a sense, we can say that his writings have revolutionized the whole concept of true devotion to Mary by presenting it as a way of life, a very special way of living out our initial baptismal commitment to Christ, namely, with and through Mary. His writing also reflect an intense desire to present a clear, dynamic and convincing picture of authentic Church teaching along with practical helps for Christian living. His motivation was unanswered: to do ALL FOR GOD ALONE
The writings of St. Louis Marie de Montfort are of great interest today for many reasons. First, because they are centered on Christ, Eternal and Incarnate Wisdom. Second, because they focus attention on the importance of Mary's role in the Mystery of Christ and of the Church - a subject of renewed interest both within the Catholic Church and other Christian Churches. Third because they embody a form of "Marian Spirituality" thatgoes far beyond mere Marian devotion, as Pope John Paul II pointed out in his Marian Year encyclical: St. Louis Marie de Montfort "proposes consecration to Christ through the hands of Mary, as an effective means for Christians to live faithfully their baptismal commitments." Fourth, because they reflect the thinking and pastoral experiences of a man of vision whose writings have a definite prophetic ring relative to the latter times. They likewise reflect his usually profound understanding of the Scriptures concerning Christ, Eternal and Incarnate Wisdom as well as his own persoanl discovery of Mary, the "easy, short, perfect and sure way" to obtain full possession of Divine Wisdom in our souls. In a sense, we can say that his writings have revolutionized the whole concept of true devotion to Mary by presenting it as a way of life, a very special way of living out our initial baptismal commitment to Christ, namely, with and through Mary. His writing also reflect an intense desire to present a clear, dynamic and convincing picture of authentic Church teaching along with practical helps for Christian living. His motivation was unanswered: to do ALL FOR GOD ALONE
