The fact that it has recently been announced that Bl. Pope John Paul II could
be canonized soon, it’s a great time to talk about his special devotion to the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
When Pope John Paul II was nearly fatally shot during his papacy, he
credited the intercession of the Virgin Mary, specifically Our Lady of Fatima,
with the miraculous saving of his life. And he gleaned his
devotion to Mary largely through the writings of one saint: Louis de Montfort.
Blessed Pope John Paul II was well known during his
papacy for having a deep and abiding love for the Blessed Virgin Mary. His
devotion to Mary was evident in all that he did: his words, his prayer life,
his motto and even his coat of arms, were all dedicated to the Blessed Mother.
He credits his home parish and the nearby Carmelites
for their early influence. However, as he matured in his faith, he singles out
one overwhelming influence which changed his life:
“At one point I began to question my devotion to Mary, believing that, if
it became too great, it might end up compromising the supremacy of the worship
owed to Christ. At that time, I was greatly helped by a book by Saint
Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort…
There I found the answers to my questions, Yes, Mary does bring us closer
to Christ; she does lead us to him, provided that we live her mystery in
Christ…”
There is no better way to advance quickly in holiness, no better way to
please God, and no better way to guarantee one’s present sanctity and eternal
salvation than with true devotion to Mary.
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