Editorial: Montfort and Today’s Youth

Montfort and . . .

M any a religious vocation today comes from young people who have undergone a crisis conversion.

After years of separation from the Church, a gnawing sense of emptiness grabs them. Often the occasion for a joyful return to the sacraments. Filled with incredible zeal (plus a dose of wonderful youthful idealism), a number of them consider a life as a priest or religious.

Yet some of these authentically renewed young men and women find the Sunday preaching, the so-called “up-to-date” theology and the life led by priests and religious communities to be a source of disappointment. Generalizations, undoubtedly. Nonetheless, true enough to dampen the hopes of young people who earnestly want to live the radical demands of the Gospel and some who wanted – before discouragement set in – to enter the priesthood or religious life. Some blame these returnees for being unrealistic.

. . . Today’s Youth

Yet how sad it would be if they were not the prophet Joel’s young people who “prophesy” and “see visions” of a renewed earth and a reformed Church. Whatever the case, parish life, a vocation to the priesthood or to a religious community – as they see it – do not offer the full Gospel challenge to them. A number of them drift off into other tasks which in the circumstances they see as more “meaningful”; some drift away again.

Without laying blame at anyone’s door. Without the pronouncing for conservatives or liberals. It is apparent that we must become more and more a credible Church to these idealistic young adults who ache for the peace of Christ and also for those who have already (re)discovered the Lord. We must be an unadulterated Gospel.

And young people do respect those who truly live the radical evangelical demands. The do respect even if they may not always agree with the details. It is not surprising that in Manila, not too long ago, millions of young people formed the largest gathering in the history of this planet in order to celebrate the Eucharist with Pope John Paul II.

Followers . . .

His life and the evangelical boldness of his teaching respond to the yearnings of young people to be authentic radical followers of Jesus. It is not surprising that young people along with His Holiness have such a veneration for Saint Louis de Montfort and his spirituality since everything “Montfort” speaks of joyful radical surrender to the awesome yet so close God. Total Consecration is the song that so many of our young Catholics – most especially those who have been away for some years – want to sing. Montfort Spirituality is the challenge which they almost instinctively recognize as dovetailing with their highest hopes.

. . . of Jesus

The attractiveness of Montfort Spirituality for young people flows precisely from its absolute demand to proclaim the Gospel in all its power. Undiluted by a Church which lives the Gospel in all its power.  Undiluted, Saint Louis de Montfort would not call this a “dreamy-eyed” goal. He is certain that this can be accomplished more and more intensely provided that we “lose ourselves in Mary”.  To share in Our Lady’s faith through solid devotion to her. This enables us to be apostles of the end times, ushering in the reign of Christ.

No young person could desire or dream of a greater challenge. Our Lady’s “Let it be done unto me according to your word” gave entry to the incarnation of the Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinity. The more we “lose ourselves” in this total surrender of Mary, the more we live Jesus. The more we are consecrated to her, the more we are consecrated to Jesus. Furthermore, the more we imitate her, the more we follow Jesus. The more we lose ourselves in her faith, the more our life is radically centered on Jesus. The returnees especially, recognize that Saint Louis Marie’s incarnational Marian Spirituality is nothing less than the fullness of Gospel life.

The Challenge is to Have This Spirituality Come Alive

But the difficulty is not in showing that Montfort’s life and teaching – so radically demanding- answer the yearnings of young people. A perusal of the recently published Handbook of the Spirituality of Saint Louis Marie de Montfort early demonstrates that point. The problem is this; young people – and Joel’s “old who dream dreams” – want to see this radical spirituality actually come alive. Come alive in individuals who have made the consecration and most especially within those religious communities founded upon Montfort’s consecration spirituality.

Since the radicality of Montfort’s apostolate springs from the radicality of his life in Christ, it is understandably Montfort’s apostolic, contemplative holiness that people want to see enfleshed. They identify with a baptismal renewal which exhibits essential Montfort characteristics. For example,  adoring reverence for Jesus the Eternal Wisdom Incarnate, obedience to the magisterium, recitation of the rosary. As well as love for the Eucharist, for the Cross, outreach to the poor. These characteristics all lived within Mary, the Mother of the redeemed.

Catherine Doherty spoke some years ago about Saint Louis de Montfort as the patron saint of today’s young people. Her words have come true beyond her expectations. It is our youth who are calling all readers of The Queen to a new depth of Montfort Spirituality.