True Devotion to Mary
True devotion to the Madonna consists in imitating her Son and learning from her how to imitate him. (OOCC, X, 577; STA, 149)
St. Vincent Pallotti cultivated a tender and loving devotion to Mary, his mother. He always had a child-like confidence in her powerful intercession. He pledged to spread the devotion to Mary using every means. He aimed at spreading devotion to Mary among all classes of people in the Church. He, himself, used a number of devotional practices to manifest his love for Mary, his mother, and advised others to follow the same. He encouraged the praying of the Rosary. He promoted novenas to honor Mary and to receive her assistance. He wrote the booklets The Month of May for laypeople, religious and priests to deepen the members’ love for Mary in each of these groups. He also advocated a number of other practices. These devotional practices were created to honor Mary and to obtain her protection for people in need. But, for St. Vincent, the ultimate aim of these practices is to arouse in people a desire to imitate Jesus, so that they may become Mary’s faithful children. Therefore, true devotion of Mary consists of imitating her Son, Jesus, and learning from her how to imitate Jesus. Mary uses her intercessory power to complete the image of Jesus within every person.
Am I devoted to Mary? What sort of devotional practices do I usually follow to show my love for Mary, my mother? What is my motivation in using these devotional practices? Is the sole purpose of these devotions to get Mary’s assistance in my needs? Do I realize that true devotion to Mary consists of learning from her how to imitate her Son, Jesus? Do I use her powerful intercession to grow in the love of Christ?
She [Elizabeth] exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk: 1: 42 – 43)