“Mary is the safest, easiest, shortest and most perfect way of approaching Jesus.“
Born Louis Maie Grignon in Montfort, France in 1673, he was the eldest surviving child of 18 and raised on a farm. At the age of 12, he entered a Jesuit College where his uncle was a parish priest.
He was inspired to preach missions among the very poor and a local priest was propagating among his students a consecration and entrustment to Mary. Under guidance, de Montfort began to develop his strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
With little money, he often lived among the poor while attending the Sorbonne University. He entered Saint Sulpice, was appointed the librarian, and studied works on spirituality along with the Virgin Mary’s place in the Christian life. This led to his focus on the Holy Rosary as well as his devotion to the angels.
Ordained a priest in 1700, he had a great desire for foreign missions, but was frustratingly advised against it. He even traveled to appeal to the Pope but was declined. He prayed to obtain the grace to win souls for God, to confirm those already in God’s grace and to fight Satan and sin.
He made a great impact, preaching in an heated style among France’s missions and attracted many. During his busy tours he also found time to write ‘The True Devotion to Mary’, ‘The Secret of Mary’, and the ‘Secret of the Rosary’ along with many hymns as well as establishing free schools for the poor children. Evil tried to stop him with a poisoning but he survived but it caused his health to deteriorate.
Under the direction of Montfort, a religious profession was established called The Daughters of Wisdom for the teaching of children and the care of the poor. It grew into an international organization.
He only had only been a priest for 16 years but made a tremendous impact. Worn out by hard work, he fell ill and died on April 28th, 1716. His last sermon was on the tenderness of Jesus and the Incarnate Wisdom of the Father. Thousands gathered for his burial in the parish church.
In Montfort’s approach to Marian consecration, Jesus and Mary are inseparable. He views “consecration to Jesus in Mary” as a special path to being conformed to, united and consecrated to Christ.
“God the Father made an assemblage of all the waters, and He named it the sea (mare). He has made an assemblage of all His graces, and He has called it Mary (Maria).”
He is the patron saint of preachers.
His feast day is April 28.
For God’s Glory.
