Q&A: Does Authentic Devotion to Mary Exclude All Sin On My Part?

Devotion and Sin

Someone must have asked that same question to Fr. de Montfort! He seems to have heard it himself a number of times, for he inserts in his True Devotion, a clear answer.

“I admit that to be truly devoted to Our Lady, it is not absolutely necessary to be so holy as to avoid all sin. Although this is desirable. But at least it is necessary – please note what I am going to say; – 1) to be genuinely determined to avoid at least all mortal sin which outrages the Mother as well as the Son; 2) to practice great self-restraint in order to avoid sin; 3) to join her confraternities, say the Rosary or other prayers, fast on Saturdays and so on”.  (TD #99).

Devotion to Mary: The Necessary Minimum Requirements

“True Devotion to Our Lady”, says Fr. de Montfort, requires a necessary minimum.   There are numerous forms of true devotion to Mary, and ALL require at the very least, the three conditions he mentions; First. Be resolved never to commit a serious sin. If, sadly, this resolution is broken, we should – as Montfort explains elsewhere – sincerely and immediately ask the Lord’s forgiveness, grasp His outstretched loving Hand and rise, joyfully continuing on our way, washed clean through the sacrament of reconciliation.

But the resolution to avoid serious sin is not enough. The second condition qualifies that resolution: it entails taking every means necessary to avoid the occasions of sin. This implies something positive – frequent the Sacraments, regular prayer, etc., – and also something negative: stay away from those things which lead to serious sin. This may entail something relatively easy (at least to some!), like avoiding certain TV programs, or something quite difficult, like not doing drugs (incredibly difficult for someone caught in the habit). The latter involves getting the help of a spiritual director. Also, if necessary and if at all possible, securing solid professional help from trained counselors. In other words, the resolution to avoid all serious sin is not a “wish”.  It is a “determination,” a “true devotion”. This means that the person will take every means necessary to get out of the sinful habit.

The third of the minimum requirements for true devotion to Our Lady is very typical of Father de Montfort. Manifest, express your devotion to Mary in some manner, like fasting on Saturday, praying the Rosary, and if at all possible, join in with a group of people who live solid devotion to Mary, i.e., join her confraternities; like The Association of Mary, Queen of All Hearts.

Externalizing Our Love for Jesus and Mary

Saint Louis-Marie is a great believer in the importance of “externalizing” our love for Jesus and Mary. If our love is truly sincere, will we not want to express it and in a proper manner? Parental love, marital love, filial love – all true love – yearn to show that love in some external and fitting way. Not being “afraid” of manifesting our love for Our Lady strengthens that love. Our faith has to be externalized by the way we live; the way we speak; by the way we dress; the way we interact with each other; by our good actions.

This third minimum requirement of authentic devotion to Mary demands that we manifest our love for the Mother of God and our Mother also. The expression of that love becomes a reminder to us, a witness to others, a powerful testimony against the devil that we are proudly and lovingly the children of Mary and therefore centered on Jesus her Son.