"Saints of Empowered Prayer: St. Louis de Montfort"

St. Louis de Montfort: St. Louis de Montfort's life is inseparable from his efforts to promote genuine devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus and Mother of the Church. He was born and grew up in Brittany, France, a Celtic nation. The Celtic culture seems to have seeped into the very heart of St. Louis: The high spiritedness of its warriors shown in his zeal and passion to bring souls to Jesus through Mary.

          Louis de Montfort was ordained a diocesan priest in 1700 and soon began preaching parish missions throughout western France. These missions always culminated in having the people renew their baptismal promises. So focused was Louis de Montfort on the vast importance of the sacrament of Baptism that earlier in his life he chose to replace his town of family origin and his birth for the name of the town in which he was baptized into the Catholic faith: Montfort! His years of ministering to the poor prompted him to live very simply, sometimes getting him in trouble with the Church authorities.

          In his preaching, which attracted thousands of people back to the faith, Father Louis recommended frequent even daily, Holy Communion - not the custom at that time!--and imitation of the Virgin Mary's ongoing acceptance of God's will for her life. St. Louis's passion lit a fire in young Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope St. John Paul II, who's Papal motto was "Totus Tuus" (totally yours) which he took from a St. Louis prayer on Mary. St. Louis de Montfort died in 1716 at the age of 43 having been a priest for only 16 years.

He founded "The Missionaries of the Company of Mary", for priests and brothers, and "The Daughters of Wisdom", who cared especially for the sick. His book TRUE DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN has become a classic explanation of Marian devotion. His feast day is April 27th.

Question:

1.  St Louis was described as filled with passion and zeal. How, would I describe my faith journey?