"...and a sword shall pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:35)
www.catholicworldart.com
Little Handmaids of Our Sorrowful Mother
is an (internet) prayer apostolate
of women called
to consecrate themselves to Jesus through the Sorrowful Heart of Mary
"And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up
the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called
the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to dwell in."
(Isaiah 58:12)
We intercede for
- the restoration of the Church through sacramental confession in a spirit of humility
- the restoration of the true dignity and vocation of women
- the healing of marriages and families
- the blessing and protection of all children
from the moment of conception - the restoration of the soul(s) of our nation(s)
Food for Contemplation
From True Devotion To the Blessed Virgin Mary,
by St. Louis de Montfort, Nos. 106-110
Marks of authentic devotion to our Lady
106. First, true devotion to our Lady is interior, that is, it comes from within the mind and the heart and follows from the esteem in which we hold her, the high regard we have for her greatness, and the love we bear her.
107. Second, it is trustful, that is to say, it fills us with confidence in the Blessed Virgin, the confidence that a child has for its loving Mother. It prompts us to go to her in every need of body and soul with great simplicity, trust and affection.
108. Third, true devotion to our Lady is holy, that is, it leads us to avoid sin and to imitate the virtues of Mary. Her ten principal virtues are: deep humility, lively faith, blind obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial, surpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic kindness, and heavenly wisdom.
109. Fourth, true devotion to our Lady is constant. It strengthens us in our desire to do good and prevents us from giving up our devotional practices too easily. It gives us the courage to oppose the fashions and maxims of the world, the vexations and unruly inclinations of the flesh and the temptations of the devil. Thus a person truly devoted to our Blessed Lady is not changeable, fretful, scrupulous or timid.
110. Fifth, true devotion to Mary is disinterested. It inspires us to seek God alone in his Blessed Mother and not ourselves. The true subject of Mary does not serve his illustrious Queen for selfish gain. He does not serve her for temporal or eternal well-being but simply and solely because she has the right to be served and God alone in her.
Please pray for the blossoming of the Little Handmaids of Our Sorrowful Mother, in our individual hearts, and as an apostolate.
