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Q&A: In reading the article on Mary in the Handbook of the Spirituality of Saint Louis de Montfort, I find it difficult to accept Montfort’s belief that Mary gave her Yes at the Annunciation in the name of all of us. That she personally surrendered to God’s will is without doubt. But that she spoke her consent to the message of Gabriel as our representative seems a little far-fetched.
Fr. Gaffney, SMM
Jesus Living In Mary Handbook
Saint Louis de Montfort’s statement that “Mary found grace before God . . . for the entire human race” (Love of the Eternal Wisdom, 203) does not originate with him. Centuries before Montfort, Thomas Aquinas taught that she uttered her yes “in the name of all human nature.” And the doctrine is clearly the mind of the Church as is evidenced by the Catechism of the Catholic Faith (e.g. #511) and the constant teaching of the magisterium. For example, Pope John Paul speaking of Mary’s annunciation yes, states that “the world’s salvation is linked to her faith.”
The fundamental reason for such a statement is because it is the teaching of the Scripture. (cf. Lk 1:26-38; Mt 1:18-25). God announces that He wills to send His Son to this world through Mary; the Child will be the King – the Messiah – the Savior who will save the people from their sins. Mary’s Yes to this invitation by the Lord is then a “cooperation through free faith and obedience in human salvation” (Vatican Council II, Constitution on the Church, 56), a “response which is personal but which also has a community meaning” (Pope John Paul II), a yes to a “spiritual marriage between the Son of God and human nature.” (Saint Thomas Aquinas).
God freely wills to offer us salvation – Jesus – “provided that Mary would consent.” (Saint Louis de Montfort). We can say with Montfort: “It was through Mary that the salvation of the world was begun.” (TD 49). It is through her Yes at the annunciation that the redemption of the cosmos – Jesus the Lord – came to be. She speaks her Yes for us.
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