Rhyme and Verse: Montfort’s Preaching Tool
Fr. Patrick Gaffney, SMM
O ne of the last principal works of Saint Louis de Montfort is his marvelous book of hymns. These “cantiques” number approximately 23,000 verses and therefore comprise almost half of the saint’s writings.
As far as poetry goes, the hymns stretch from the magnificent to the common-place. The missionary’s principal purpose, however, was not to write poetry but to use rhyme and verse as a preaching tool. The parish missions he conducted appealed to all the senses: the incense, the flowers, the dramatizations, banners, elaborate processions, musical instruments, hymn-singing were part and parcel of the parish renewal. His Book of Hymns are, therefore. an integral part of his preaching. We could call his cantiques sermons in rhyme. Written to catchy contemporary tunes, these hymns stressed the primary themes touched upon in the mission, giving the mostly rural parishioners of early 18th century northwestern France a long-lasting memento of the “renewal” of the parish.
This goldmine of Montfort Spirituality is available to the English speaking world. Editors Note: [You can not fully appreciate St. Louis de Montfort without reading his Hymns. In the Spiritual Media section of this website, often several verses of various hymns appear within each media post. We encourage each member to consider acquiring a copy of the Hymns of St. Louis de Montfort.
The Hymns appear in an approximately 2 inch thick paper back that contains over 600 pages. The Table of Contents alone is 7 pages. Select the page number below (left side of the page) to display the contents. The Hymn number, Title and Page number are displayed. Additionally, as mentioned, a portion of several of the hymns appear in the Spiritual Media Section of this website. If a portion of the hymn is used, you’ll see the Hymn number highlighted. Click on the highlighted Hymn number link to see the portion of the Hymn.
One final note: There are several Hymns that appear in select Spiritual Media that are only available on this website during Advent or Lenten Seasons. These are not highlighted below. Only the Hymns that are available year-round are viewable via the link number in the Table of Contents].
Editorial
Recently several questions were asked about some of the Hymns of St. Louis de Montfort. This collection of writings is truly unique. Several hymns appear throughout the Spiritual Media section of this website (usually a portion of a hymn’s verses). To see the Table of Contents, select the button below. To find out more about the Hymns, refer to this Montfort Publication link.
The St. Louis de Montfort’s Statue appears in St. Peters’ Church in Vatican City.
Hymn Number, Title, Page and Link
Table of Contents
1. USEFULNESS OF HYMNS 1
2. TO THE POETS OF THE DAY 5
3. TO MEN PREDESTINED 11
4. RESPECT AND DESIRE FOR VIRTUE 11
5. EXCELLENCE OF CHARITY FIRST HYMN 17
6. LIGHTS OF FAITH 23
7. SOLIDITY OF HOPE. 30
8. SPARKLE OF HUMILITY 35
9. CHARMS OF GENTLENESS 44
10. MERIT OF OBEDIENCE. 50
11. POWER OF PATIENCE. 59
12. THE BEAUTY OF VIRGINITY. 67
13. NEED FOR PENANCE 77
14. TENDERNESS OF LOVE OF NEIGHBOR 87
15. SPLENDORS OF PRAYER 96
16. POWER OF FASTING 106
17. BENEFITS OF ALMSGIVING 113
18. CRIES OF THE POOR 123
19. TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS 125
20. TREASURES OF POVERTY 132
21. FLAMES OF ZEAL 144
22. RESOLUTIONS OF A ZEALOUS MISSIONARY 149
23. WISDOM OF SILENCE. 155
24. PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD 165
25. PLEASING FRAGRANCE OF MODESTY 172
Hymn Number, Title, Page and Link
Table of Contents
26. OBLIGATIONS OF GRATITUDE. 178
27. THANKSGIVING FOR GOD’S GIFTS 184
28. ABANDONMENT TO PROVIDENCE. 186
CONTEMPT OF THE WORLD 196
29. CALAMITIES OF THE WORLD 196
30. FIRST SNARE: GAMES OF CHANCE. 211
31. SECOND SNARE: THE DANCE AND THE BALL 215
32. THIRD SNARE: THEATRE AND PLAYS 221
33. FOURTH SNARE: LUXURY 226
34. FIFTH SNARE: HUMAN RESPECT: FIRST HYMN 240
35. HUMAN RESPECT: SECOND HYMN 245
36. HUMAN RESPECT: THIRD HYMN 249
37. HUMAN RESPECT: FOURTH HYMN. 254
38. HUMAN RESPECT: FIFTH HYMN 258
39. AXIOMS OF THE WORLD 261
THE LOVING DEVOTION TO THE HEART OF JESUS 264
40. TREASURES OF THE SACRED HEART. 264
41. LOVING EXCESSES OF THE SACRED HEART 269
42. WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST. 273
43. OUTRAGES AGAINST THE SACRED HEART. 277
44. DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART 282
45. CONVERSION OF A SCRUPULOUS WOMAN. 284
46. CONSOLATION OF THE AFFLICTED 288
47. ACT OF REPARATION TO THE SACRED HEART. 293
48. TO THE RELIGIOUS OF THE VISITATION 297
49. OUR OFFERING TO MARY 299
Hymn Number, Title, Page and Link
Table of Contents
50. ON THE PERFECTIONS OF GOD 300
51. PRAISES OF GOD FOR HIS DEEDS. 302
52. PRAISES OF GOD FOR HIS BLESSINGS. 304
53. EVENSONG 306
54. LOVER OF JESUS 306
55. LOVER OF JESUS 308
56. LOVER OF JESUS 310
ST. NOEL OF ANGELS 312
58. NOEL OF SHEPHERDS. 314
59. NOEL OF CHILDREN 316
60. NOEL OF KINGS 319
61. NOEL OF PIOUS SOULS 321
62. NOEL OF ZEALOUS SOULS. 323
63. NOEL OF CHILDREN OF MARY 325
64. NOEL OF SPIRITUAL SOULS 327
65. NINTH NOEL 328
66. NOEL OF SCHOOL CHILDREN 331
67. SUNDAY: JESUS IN AGONY 333
68. MONDAY: JESUS SCOURGED. 335
69. TUESDAY: JESUS CROWNED WITH THORNS 338
70. WEDNESDAY: JESUS SENTENCED TO DIE 341
71. THURSDAY: JESUS CARRYING HIS CROSS 343
72. FRIDAY: JESUS CRUCIFIED. 344
73. SATURDAY: JESUS DIES AND IS BURIED 347
74. SUFFERINGS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN 349
HYMNS IN HONOR OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 350
75. RECOLLECTED DEVOTEE
Hymn Number, Title, Page and Link
Table of Contents
50. ON THE PERFECTIONS OF GOD 300
51. PRAISES OF GOD FOR HIS DEEDS. 302
52. PRAISES OF GOD FOR HIS BLESSINGS. 304
53. EVENSONG 306
54. LOVER OF JESUS 306
55. LOVER OF JESUS 308
56. LOVER OF JESUS 310
ST. NOEL OF ANGELS 312
58. NOEL OF SHEPHERDS. 314
59. NOEL OF CHILDREN 316
60. NOEL OF KINGS 319
61. NOEL OF PIOUS SOULS 321
62. NOEL OF ZEALOUS SOULS. 323
63. NOEL OF CHILDREN OF MARY 325
64. NOEL OF SPIRITUAL SOULS 327
65. NINTH NOEL 328
66. NOEL OF SCHOOL CHILDREN 331
67. SUNDAY: JESUS IN AGONY 333
68. MONDAY: JESUS SCOURGED. 335
69. TUESDAY: JESUS CROWNED WITH THORNS 338
70. WEDNESDAY: JESUS SENTENCED TO DIE 341
71. THURSDAY: JESUS CARRYING HIS CROSS 343
72. FRIDAY: JESUS CRUCIFIED. 344
73. SATURDAY: JESUS DIES AND IS BURIED 347
74. SUFFERINGS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN 349
MYMNSINHONOROFTHEBLESSEDVIRGIN. 350
75. RECOLLECTED DEVOTEE
Hymn Number, Title, Page and Link
Table of Contents
76. MARY’S TRUE DEVOTEE 355
77. DEVOUT SLAVE OF JESUS IN MARY 358
78. PRAYER REQUESTING WISDOM 360
79. SINNER CONVERTED THROUGH MARY’S PLEA. 361
80. MARY’S ZEALOUS DEVOTEE 363
81. BLESSED VIRGIN HYMN TO BLESSED GODRIC 365
82. FROM A CHILD OF MARY. 366
83. MEMORARE 369
84. REGINA COELI 370
85. MAGNIFICAT 371
86. IN HONOR OF THE NAME OF MARY 372
87. IN HONOR OF JESUS ALIVE IN MARY. 374
88. LITTLE CROWN OF THE VIRGIN MARY 376
89. TRIUMPH OF THE AVE MARIA
90. ROSARY OR CROWN OF MARY
HYMNS FOR SEVERAL PERSONS AND DIFFERENT STATES OF LIFE
91. GOOD MISSIONARY 397
92. GOOD SISTERS DIALOGUE 402
93. GOOD CHILDREN 408
94. LOVING PENITENT WOMAN 411
95. GOOD SOLDIER. 413
96. GOOD PRISONER. 415
97. IMPORTANT LESSON OF CHILDREN. 410
98. CONVERTED SINNER. 419
99. THE GOOD SHEPHERDESS 422
100. CONSOLATION OF THE AFFLICTED 428
Hymn Number, Title, Page and Link
Table of Contents
101. CONSOLATION OF THE AFFLICTED 435
102. TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS 442
103. DESIRES OF INCARNATE WISDOM 447
104. NEW CANTICLE FOR OUR LADY 452
105. JESUS CHRIST’S CALL TO THE SINNER 455
106. CONDEMNATION OF THE WORLD 457
107. FAREWELL TO THE FOOLISH WORLD 465
108. TREASURES OF POVERTY 469
109. PRINCIPAL MYSTERIES OF FAITH. 473
110. PRAYER TO THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGEL 482
111. TO JESUS LIVING IN MARY. 483
112. DESIRES FOR COMMUNION 484
113. CALVARY OF PONTCHATEAU 485
114. MISERIES OF THIS LIFE 486
115. OPENING OF THE PARISH MISSION 488
116. JOYS OF PARADISE 490
117. PSALM LAUDATE PUERI 492
118. SIGHS OF THE DAMNED 494
119. LAMENTATIONS OF THE SOULS 498
120. DESPAIR OF THE SINNER AT DEATH 501
HYMNS IN HONOR OF SOME SAINTS 504
121. IN HONOR OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGEL 504
122. IN HONOR OF JOSEPH 505
123. TREASURES OF THE CROSS 507
124. DESIRES FOR WISDOM 510
125. THE PURSUIT OF WISDOM 511
126. PRAYERS TO WISDOM 514
Hymn Number, Title, Page and Link
Table of Contents
127. ABANDONED SOUL. 517
128. BLESSED SACRAMENT: FOR SUNDAY. 533
129. BLESSED SACRAMENT: FOR MONDAY. 535
130. BLESSED SACRAMENT: FOR TUESDAY. 537
131. BLESSED SACRAMENT: FOR WEDNESDAY 539
132. BLESSED SACRAMENT: FOR THURSDAY 541
133. BLESSED SACRAMENT: FOR FRIDAY 543
134. BLESSED SACRAMENT: FOR SATURDAY. 545
135. HYMN ON THE LOVE OF GOD 548
136. REPARATION TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 549
137. NEW HYMN IN HONOR OF CALVARY (1) 551
138. NEW HYMN IN HONOR OF CALVARY (2) 553
139. PLAN OF LIFE. 555
140. CONVERTED SINNER 568
141. INVOCATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 569
142. RESOLUTIONS OF A CONVERTED SINNER. 572
143. CONVERSION OF A WORLDLY SINNER. 576
144. POOR IN SPIRIT 583
145. OUR LADY OF PATIENCE 586
146. CHRISTIAN WEDDINGS. 587
147. IN HONOR OF SAINT PIUS 590
148. HYMN ON CHARITY 593
149. TO THE DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM 596
150. DISSOLUTENESS OF RENNES 598
151. OUR LADY OF GIFTS 601
152. ROAD TO PARADISE 603
153. SERVICE OF GOD IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH 604
Hymn Number, Title, Page and Link
Table of Contents
154. TRUE CHRISTIAN 607
155. IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF SHADOWS 609
156. VANITY OF THE WORLD 612
157. ON SOLITUDE 614
158. MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT O19
159. OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION. 623
160. LAUDATE DOMINUM OMNES, etc. 627
161. SPECIFIC REMEDY FOR LUKEWARMNESS 628
162. HOLY JOURNEY 630
163. ALARM CLOCK OF THE MISSION. 633
164. CALVARY OF PONTCHATEAU 635
GENERAL ANALYTICAL TABLE 639
Some numbers in the Table of Contents are red. The red numbers represent links to other areas of this website that will have part of the referenced Hymn displayed within the post.
