Editorial: Montfort’s Spiritual Sons
Fr. Roger Charest, SMM
Montfort’s Spiritual Sons
This year celebrates the 180th Anniversary (1842-2022) of the discovery of St. Louis de Montfort’s manuscript on “True Devotion to Mary”. I have been focusing my last few editorials / chats … on the wide influence the writings of St. Louis de Montfort have had and continue to have on the Church here in the United States of America. I have cited several individuals, both lay and clerical, as well as organizations promoting the de Montfort way of spiritual life through Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary. I would like to close with a brief overview of the part the Company of Mary (better known as the Montfort Missionaries) have played in the field of Montfort Spirituality here in the U.S.A.
Montfort Missionaries
T he Montfort Missionaries, Priests and Brothers, founded their first parish in the United States in 1904, under the name of St. Mary Gate of Heaven, in Ozone Park, N.Y. It was not until the early ’40’s, however, that the first Mission band was created. The Montfort Publications were established here in Bay Shore, N.Y., in 1940. In May of 1950, Queen of All Hearts Magazine was founded as a bi-monthly Marian publication of the Montfort Missionaries. It was formed “for the purpose of fostering the reign of Mary. over all hearts”. And “as a means of establishing the Kingship of Christ in the world of souls”. It was made clear from the beginning, the magazine was founded to promote the writings and spirituality of St. Louis Marie de Montfort.
The Queen publication started in 2019, as a means to digitize and expand upon the library of treasures found within the Queen of All Hearts Magazine.
An off-shoot of the magazine was a nation-wide Crusade for Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This was launched by the Montfort Center for Consecration in Bay Shore, N.Y.. This happened during the first Marian Year (1954). The following year, the Center created the Pius XII Marian Award. This was to be given to a person or group, outstanding promoters of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Among the recipients of this valued award was Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary.
Two Shrines in the US
F ollowing in the footsteps of their founder who was a shrine builder, the American Montfort Community erected their first Marian Shrine on the grounds of the Major Seminary in Litchfield, Connecticut. On May 30, 1958, the Archbishop of Hartford, CT, John J. 0’Brien, blessed the man-made grotto, now known as the LOURDES-IN-LITCHFIELD Shrine.
On Oct. 2, 1976, a second shrine was opened, this one dedicated to Mary QUEEN OF ALL HEARTS. The shrine of OUR LADY OF THE ISLAND, is in Eastport, Long Island, New York. Both shrines now receive thousands of pilgrims yearly and have become centers of Montfortian prayer and spirituality.
Editorial
From time to time, The Queen will republish Editorials or create new Editorials on various topics.
Montfort’s influence on the Church; Untold numbers of apostles – clerical, lay, as well as Religious – have and continue to turn to St. Louis de Montfort for guidance in their personal lives and apostolate.
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Needless to say that what I have previously written is but a brief overview. In reality Montfort’s influence has had and continues to have on the Church in America. Untold numbers of apostles – clerical, lay, as well as Religious – have and continue to turn to St. Louis de Montfort for guidance in their personal lives and apostolate.
Montfort’s Influence on Today’s Apostles
To the careful observer, it is quite obvious that our Saint’s star is rising on the American Catholic Horizon. Judging from the rapidly growing numbers of Marian Consecration groups springing up all over the country, one cannot help but note the corresponding growing influence of Fr. de Montfort’s writings on the Catholic American scene.
And this is as it should be. Our country was dedicated to Mary’s Immaculate Conception by the Fathers of the 6th Provincial Council of Baltimore. That occurred in May of 1846. That was eight years before the official proclamation of the dogma, in Rome, by Pope Pius IX. Is it any wonder that by and large American Catholics should be attracted to a total consecration? Consecration of themselves to Jesus Through Mary, as taught by St. Louis de Montfort in his inspiring book known as “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin”.
