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God Alone was the motto and the title of the collected writings of
Saint Louis de Montfort
Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (31 January 1673 – 28 April 1716) was a French Roman Catholic priest and confessor. He was known in his time as a preacher and was made a missionary apostolic by Pope Clement XI.
As well as preaching, Montfort ...
, one of the leading figures in the
French school of spirituality
The French School of spirituality was the principal devotional influence within the Catholic Church from the mid-17th century through the mid-20th century, not only in France but throughout the church in most of the world. A development of the Cat ...
and
Roman Catholic Mariology
Catholic Mariology is Mariology (the systematic study of the person of Mary, mother of Jesus, and of her place in the Economy of Salvation) in Catholic theology. According to the Immaculate Conception taught by the Catholic Church, she was con ...
.
Montfort wrote "God Alone" on all his correspondences and at the end of most of his hymns.
[Raja Rao, Joseph The Mystical Experience and Doctrine of St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort Loyola Press, 2005, pages 141-142] The motto "God Alone" appears throughout his writings, almost as a
refrain.
The motto and the message of the book summed up Montfortian spirituality in the formula, "To God Alone, by Christ's Wisdom, in the Spirit, in communion with Mary, for the reign of God."
The motto
The book title is based on the fact that ''God Alone'' was the motto of
Saint Louis de Montfort
Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (31 January 1673 – 28 April 1716) was a French Roman Catholic priest and confessor. He was known in his time as a preacher and was made a missionary apostolic by Pope Clement XI.
As well as preaching, Montfort ...
, and was repeated over 150 time in his writings. Through the influence of the French school of spirituality, and authors such as
Henri Boudon, Montfort advocated a withdrawal from the world to seek God Alone.
When
Pope Pius XII canonized
Louis de Montfort
Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (31 January 1673 – 28 April 1716) was a French Roman Catholic priest and confessor. He was known in his time as a preacher and was made a missionary apostolic by Pope Clement XI.
As well as preaching, Montfort ...
on July 27, 1947, he said:
''God alone'' was everything to him. Remain faithful to the precious heritage, which this great saint left you. It is a glorious inheritance, worthy, that you continue to sacrifice your strength and your life, as you have done until today
Montfort was influenced by Boudon's book ''Dieu seul: le Saint esclavage de l'admirable Mère de Dieu'', (Only God, the Holy Slavery of the admirable Mother of God) and believed that all consecration, including
Consecration to Mary was ultimately to God Alone.
[Joseph Jaja Rao, 2005, ''The Mystical Experience and Doctrine of St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort'' Ignatius Press pages 324-327][Louis-Marie Grignion De Montfort ''God alone: the collected writings of St. Louis Mary de Montfort'' 1995 page xvi]
The book
The book provides five specific
methods for praying the rosary
Five methods of praying the rosary are presented within the works of Saint Louis de Montfort, a French Roman Catholic priest and writer of the early 18th century. Montfort was an early proponent of Mariology, and much of his work is devoted to the ...
with more devotion. These methods do not change the Our Father or Hail Mary prayers within the rosary, but interweave additional petitions, prayers and visualizations as the rosary is being prayed.
Although St Louis is perhaps best known for his
Mariology
Mariology is the theological study of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mariology seeks to relate doctrine or dogma about Mary to other doctrines of the faith, such as those concerning Jesus and notions about redemption, intercession and grace. Chri ...
and devotion to the
Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jews, Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Jose ...
, his spirituality is founded upon the mystery of the
Incarnation of Jesus Christ, and his Christian faith is centered on Christ as the focus of his religious devotion. The Virgin Mary, however, is also a key element in his spirituality.
The book summed up Montfortian spirituality in the formula "To God Alone, by Christ's Wisdom, in the Spirit, in communion with Mary, for the reign of God."
See also
*
Saint Louis de Montfort
Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (31 January 1673 – 28 April 1716) was a French Roman Catholic priest and confessor. He was known in his time as a preacher and was made a missionary apostolic by Pope Clement XI.
As well as preaching, Montfort ...
*
Mariology
Mariology is the theological study of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mariology seeks to relate doctrine or dogma about Mary to other doctrines of the faith, such as those concerning Jesus and notions about redemption, intercession and grace. Chri ...
* ''
Secret of the Rosary
''The Secret of the Rosary'' is a book about the Holy Rosary written by Saint Louis de Montfort, a French priest and Catholic saint who died in 1716. The English translation of the book bears the Imprimatur of Archbishop Thomas E. Molloy of the ...
''
*
Power of Catholic prayer
* ''
The Power of the Rosary''
*
Methods of praying the rosary
*
Saint Louis de Montfort's Prayer to Jesus
References
Bibliography
*
Saint Louis de Montfort
Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (31 January 1673 – 28 April 1716) was a French Roman Catholic priest and confessor. He was known in his time as a preacher and was made a missionary apostolic by Pope Clement XI.
As well as preaching, Montfort ...
, ''God Alone: The Collected Writings of St. Louis Marie De Montfort'', Montfort Publications, 1995
*
Saint Louis de Montfort
Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (31 January 1673 – 28 April 1716) was a French Roman Catholic priest and confessor. He was known in his time as a preacher and was made a missionary apostolic by Pope Clement XI.
As well as preaching, Montfort ...
, ''The Secret of the Rosary'' Tan Books & Publisher, 1976. {{ISBN, 978-0-89555-056-9.
External links
A Guide to Montfortian Spirituality
18th-century books
Books about Christianity