The Five Marks of True Devotion to Mary

T he Five Marks of True Devotion to Mary

The audio begins with an introduction to the specific devotional conferences leading up to the Consecration of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Island dedicated to Mary, Queen of All Hearts. St. Louis de Montfort would often say to love someone requires one to examine the quality of their love and to love rightly.

So how does someone attend to the quality of their love for Mary? Fr. de Montfort presents five markers of Authentic Devotion to Our Lady.

Before beginning, what is Devotion to Our Lady? Is it saying the Rosary? Belonging to special groups in her name? Is it wearing a specific Marian medal? Fr. de Montfort says No! These are practices and expressions of devotion…not devotion itself.

Devotion to Our Lady Defined

Devotion to Mary is when a person enters into a relationship with her. We are personally Devoted to Our Lady. There are five characteristic of a healthy Devotion to Mary, says Fr. de Montfort. He would say that if you possess these five characteristics, you are indeed Devoted to Mary.

Five Marks of Devotion to Mary
I – Interior Devotion to Mary

First, Devotion to Mary must be Interior. It is not merely exterior. It is out of the depth of love for Mary that you perform your interior and exterior practices. The love one has interiorly that must find its way to express exteriorly. If it does not begin interiorly, then exterior practices are not genuine or real.

Exterior practices are the fruits of our Love for Mary. Consequently, we need to work to obtain this grace. It requires effort. One can not love Mary unless they know Mary. Without spending time to know her, it is impossible to have a deeper relationship with her. One needs to do more than call upon her with their needs. While that is not bad, it can not be the sole way we approach Mary. We must reflect and meditate on her goodness, her virtues, and her glory. Meditate on her virginity and her motherhood; the fact that Jesus depends on His mother. Meditate on her sinlessness. The fact that all her thoughts and all her words spoken was not in anger, but in love.

In meditating on Our lady, we will appreciate her goodness, and will appreciate her.

II – True, or Genuine Marian Devotion is Holy

True Devotion impacts us all. It has an affect on us. Growth in Holiness has two significant points.

A- Turn from Our Sins

True Devotion will root out our sins and turn us to holiness. Sin is unholy. Devotion is the enemy of sin. However, it is not enough to turn away from sin, unless we turn toward goodness.

B- Devotion and Holiness Produces an Impact on Our Character

True Devotion must impact us to be a better person for Mary and for Our Lord.

III – Genuine Devotion is Constant

Constancy is the anchor to a Spiritual Life. One can not love periodically. Hence, it must be regular at first, then constant. Steadily present to prayer, working against sin and toward virtue.

Love must be constant, or it isn’t real. Note that Interior, Holiness and Constancy are all related to each other. This is explained further in the audio.

IV – Motivation: Genuine Devotion is Dis-interested

What is our motivation for devotion? Is it to see what I can get out of something? That is an Interested Motivation, and is not a sign of True Devotion.

Disinterested motivation is doing something for someone, simply because they love them. Therefore, they desire to do something because they love someone, and appreciate their love in return.

Ask yourself: Blessed Mother, what can I do for you today? This is further explained in the audio.

V – Authentic Devotion is Tender

This characteristic is not something one can do or control. Tenderness is the fruit of items I through IV. It is given to you, by grace, from Our Blessed Mother. Furthermore, it is achieved more so when we contemplate her goodness, virtues, glory and greatness. Hear more within the audio.

Five marks or characteristics of a True Devotion to Mary. The remainder of the devotional series’ preparation conferences will concentrate on the first characteristic: Interior Devotion to Mary

Listen to this audio for more details on what it means to have a True, Genuine and Authentic Devotion to Our Lady.

The Five Marks of True Devotion to Mary