Er
ti asiotzia.
_1.1-00.41
.1=111.,"
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF TEE ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH. Registered at the G.P.0,, Perth, for transmission by post as a newspaper. NO. 2,248.
ESTABLISHED 1874. 'PHONE B6950 450 Hay Street,
PERTH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1946.
Perth, Box A35, G.P.O., Perth.
PRICE THREEPENCE
SEVENTY-THIRD YEAR
Legion of Mary to Celebrate Development of its SILVER JUBILEE Characteristic Spirituality B
RE
AN HO
LEARY
De Montfort claims that the con- in requiring the surrender to be secration is nothing more than the made through Mary. Let us now renewal of the vows of our Bap- consider, briefly, this second astism, and we read in his life that pect of his teaching.
De Montfort's Teaching on
he recommended it to persons just What surprises the novice in converted from a life of sin. At the Legion of Mary, as in De Montthe same time, he tells us that he fort, is that the cult of Our La&
Marian Devotion Explained
who is emphasised as a force in life have pledged themselves to this and not as a mere devotion. She in the holy slavery by an exterior act, has an essential place but very few who have acquired everyday activities of the Chrisa This harmonises with its spirit, and still fewer who tian. have persevered in it." The ideal strong trend in the Church to-day which the devotion sets UD can. which gives more and more ens therefore, be proposed to and ac- phasis to the universal mediation cepted by all Christians since all of Our Lady. Without grace no are called by God to perfection, Christian act is possible, and no but because of the loftiness of grace comes to any soul except every conscious moment of life. Christian perfection and the im- through the mediation of Mary. We must do all our actions with mense difficulties involved very This means that the Christian can Jesus, in Jesus, through Jesus, and few will de facto achieve it. The do nothing without Mary just as This, then, is the es- great value of De Montfort's con- he can do nothing without Christ. for Jesus. sence of De Montfort's teaching on secration is that it sets clearly and "Just as it is strictly true," writes the Pope Leo XIII., "that no one can practically before the soul at one and the same time, to all This difficulty, though frequently the spiritual life. Christian life, go to the Father except through the great currents which the spirit due to defective understanding Sim- true aim of the What is to be said of of God has aroused in modern of Our Lady's place in the Divine ply that here we are on caita,p1ete thereby obviating from the start Christ, so it is, in a sense, proplan of salvation is also due, I IN familiar ground. Christianity." To use the the danger of false notions and portionate to Mary's finite nature, misunder- comment of Cardinal Mercier "to keeping to the fore the one thing also true that no one can go to a IA is a commonplace of religious am convinced, to His Christ except by way of history that whilst the spiritual standing of the nature and scope surrender ourselves to God in necessary. Mother" (Encyclical, "Octobri A Unique Synthesis. life is essentially one consisting, as of De Montfort's teaching. It is Christ is the essence of the Chris22, 1891.) Our be evident by this Mense," September It. should it does, in the service of God by not easy to see at first how his in- tian life. Thus to deliver ourthe perfection of charity, each re- sistence on consecration to Our selves up with all that we are and that in De Montfort we are deal- dependence on Mary is, therefore, accepted all that we have to God, our su- ing not merely with devotion to though in a different way, as real ligious order and congregation is Lady fits in with the differentiated from the other by principles of the spiritual life. preme and only end is the essence Our Lady, but have, in the truest and complete as our dependence diverse ascetical and spiritual the- The following analysis is designed of religion, to give ourselves up sense, a treatise on the spiritual on Christ. If, then, St. Paul stressories and practices which deter- to put De Montfort's teaching in to God through His Christ, united life; in fact, two little manuals of ing the utter dependence of the religious focus and also to state briefly its with Christ, living His life and act- practical asceticism and mystic- Christian on the grace of Christ mine the ethos of the also urges us to do all our actions These manuals are Spiritual- position in spiritual literature. family ("Dominican ing under the influence of the char- ism. ity." Bruce, 1934, p. vii.) The Leity which His Divine Spirit gives treatises on Our Lady with the through Him with Him, and in De Montfort's Teaching. emphasis on her role in the spirit- Him, it is but an extension of the gion of Mary is modelled on the The teaching of De Montfort is to our souls, this is the very esWhat is unique about same Pauline teaching to say that religious order idea and has its found in his book, "The True De- sence of Christian vitality." This ual life. of we should do all our actions also De Montfort is the synthesis which in spirituality the own definite votion to the Blessed Virgin" and is obviously the teaching of the these two elements which he ac- through Mary, with Mary, and in its members are to be formed. The in "The Secret of Mary," vill'ch is Gospel of St. Paul and hieves. Most of the current diffiMary. spiritual director is compared by a synopsis of it made by De Mont- Fathers And the common familiar culty and confusion comes from Marian Inspiration. the Legion Handbook to the nov- fort himself. The later book teaching of every recognised spir- regarding his writings as reflecSo we arrive at the position that ice master in a religious order. "He was formally examined in Rome itual book. will regard his praesidum as a in 1853, and the decision given One difficulty, however, presents tions on devotion to Mary. whilst the life of the Catholic in all its directed to novice master would those placed that "it contained nothing con- itself here-viz., the total charac- failing to see that he is, at the aspects must be through His Blessed under his care, and will seek in- trary to faith or morals, or any ter of the consecration demanded same time, teaching a way of per- Christ It is abundantly clear Mother. This is the essential "Briefly," he fection. cessantly to develop their spirit- new doctrine contrary the by De Montfort. to ual outlook and to elicit in them Church's common sentiment and writes, "we must give all we have that his teaching on perfection is Marian teaching of the Legion's, traditional and read and is applicable to every level of completely a to one proper acts and qualities without any reserve, even practice." Pius X. gave his aposPeople who, Legionary of Mary." Handbook. p. tolic benediction to anyone who farthing, one hair or the least ily recognisable as such. What is Christian living. without claiming peculiar to his teaching is the like the rich young man of the 152. would even read the treatise. He good action, ascetical way he combines this refuse the divine invitaGospel, offering Specific Spirituality. made no secret of the fact that his any recompense for our The specific spirituality of the Encyclical, "Ad Diem Ilium," was and service except the honour of method with devotion to Mary. tion to the life of perfection, yet Legion of Mary is best found in a reflection of the treatise. Bene- belonging to Jesus Christ by Mary Other spiritual writers will insist desire to keep the Commandments a study of praetorian membership, dict XV. referred to the book and in Mary." (H.T.D.P., 68-9.) with De Montfort on the necessity and exercise an apostolate may, for here we see the Legion in its as "small in size, but of what And again he writes: "It should of complete surrender to God. of course, be Legionaries and can Not great authority full normal development. may it spread be noted that by this devotion we With him, also, they will insist on and should do all that they do many Legionaries here or else- ever more and still more, and re- sacrifice to Jesus, through the the necessity of devotion to Mary through Mary, with Mary, and in in order to succeed in this life of Mary. But they should not, I live up where are in a position to kindle the Christian spirit in souls hands of Mary, all that we hold surrender. De Montfort is unique (Continued on Back Cover.) to the requirements of full mem- in ever growing number." The most dear, things which no religibership, but they have it placed devotion is recommended by such ous order would call on us to sac the theologians as Lehmkul, Tan - rifice-namely, the right to disconstantly before them as ideal to be aimed at in their lives. query, Merkelbach and Garrigou- pose of our prayers ,alms and morPraetorian membership is a high- Lagrange, and a vast literature is tifications." (H.T.D.P., 46-7.) Nomembership growing up around the subject. er grade of active tice, furthermore, that this conseconsisting of those who to the orall his cration is not to be regarded as a De Montfort reduces dinary weekly meeting and week- teaching to the following two sen- passing prayer or as the expresly active work undertake to add: tences found in his smaller work, sion of a pious desire. De Montfort is at pains to point out that (1 The daily recitation of the "The Secret of Mary." 'PHONE: B57+54 "This devotion consists in giv- it is a programme to be lived. All 'ull Legion prayers; Jesus things are to be done henceforth (2) Daily Mass and Holy Com- ing ourselves entirely to through Mary, with Mary, and in TELL US ABOUT THE TURAUSSION SUPPLIES. through Mary. munion; and Now it is KEY, JO. By Alan Marshall. During the Mission at the Cathe"Then we must do all things Mary and for Mary. (3) The daily recitation of some fully practise sale. quite evident that to on will be 7/6. dral, requisites the by with Mary, for Mary, in order to form of office approved Also do them more perfectly with Jesus, this devotion ,one would have not Call at the stall in grounds and Church. soul from one's BRIDESHEAD REVISITED. inspect our attractive array of This programme is explicitly a in Jesus, through Jesus, and for only to eliminate to sin, but venial mortal and scapulars BRIDESHEAD all REVISITED. holy pictures, plaques, programme of Christian perfection, Jesus, our final end." By Evelyn Waugh. 10/6. (Handbook of True Devotion. act habitually from a motive of (ask to see the tapestry scapular, involving for members a surrender charity. In fact ,this programme washable, at 1/6); statues, books, Second Shipment to hand. Orders P. 45.) to Christ through Mary, and as Kelly, Dwyer, Sydney. who those can be fulfilled only by will be promptly despatched. etc. members of Christ's Mystical In analysing this teaching much Other popular books now in Special attention is drawn to Body trying to live a liturgical confusion will be avoided if we dis- have passed successfully through the two publications: HAPPINESS stock include: the heroic purifications of life in the daily Mass and Office tinguish two separate elements: fact, achieved in and is, IN MARRIAGE (2/-1 and ALL "DARK SYMPHONY." 9/9. and radiating this life through an (1) Surrender of the soul to God saints apostolate of personal charity. as the primary element of Chris- even by the saints only in the THE ANSWERS (7d.). Asy for "GARLAND OF EVERLASTING final stages of their lives. FLOWERS." Mrs. Innes Browne. them at Stall. This programme seems to be the tian perfection; and 12/--. New publications received into Does it not seem fantastic to result of three main currents of (2) Surrender through Mary. PSYCHOLOGY OF CHAR"THE ordinary shop recently: Let us deal with each separate- make such a demand of thought: A SENTIOF ACTER." Rudolph Alleys. 5/6. that THE MAKING is The answer De Montfort lay people? ly. What is it that Teaching; Montfort (1) The De A FOUNDA, MENTAL BLOKE-being the "HOW FIRM Is it a complete sur- the consecration represents the ulrequires? (2) The Liturgical Revival; TION." By Willis Dwight Nut, romantic story of C. J. Dennis. render or consecration of oursel- timate term of the spiritual life. (3) Organised Lay Apostolate. 10/6. De 12/-. H. Chisholm. ting. which By Alec inprogramme so that the It a Jesus. Note conis not ves to These three currents are But Montfort expects us to fulfil at THEY CALLED HIM "BILLY" all three secration is made to Jesus. timately united that must be kept in mind if the spirit the consecration is only the be- once, but which is to be progress- biography of W, M. Hughes. By All New Books Are Included Into the Library Each Week. It must be lived in ively worked towards all our lives. F C. Browne. 11/6. and significance of the Legion are ginning. had "found many people
But As the Legion of Mary approach- to be rightly understood. es its silver jubilee, the attention the first of these so colours and of its numerous members and well- modifies the Legionaries' outlook wishers will turn naturally to its as to be considered the soul and spirituality-the source of what unifying principle of all Legion Let us, then, apply success has been achieved in the spirituality. past twenty-five years and the ourselves to an analysis of this hope and inspiration of future de- teaching and try if we can deterThe average intelli- mine its relation to accepted convelopment. gent Christian, Catholic or non- ceptions of the spiritual life. For Catholic, cannot help being inter- it is a fact that many persons, inested in this modern movement cluding priests and religious, who which, in the words of a recent are otherwise interested in the French writer, "by a supreme Legion of Mary, find it difficult to stroke of human genius responds understand or accept De Montfort.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Central Catholic Book Shop 36 Pier Street, Perth