Devotion to Mary

On the Catholic Holy Day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, I figured it was only right to write up a little something about Mary, or at least include a quote about Mary.

I'll include a quote from "True Devotion to Mary" by St. Louis de Montfort. I understand (at least for the most part, there are probably intricacies that are still a little beyond my perfect understanding) the Catholic Church's teaching on Mary, but I especially like this quote because it brings things down to a very practical level. Sometimes my brain is not very complex, it needs simple explanations and analogies, and that works here.

One of the most powerful reasons in my mind to honor Mary and ask for her intercession is that Jesus Himself perfectly honored Mary while He was on earth, and we are called to imitate Him. As St. Louis de Montfort writes (emphasis mine),

"He did not will to come into the world at the age of a perfect man, independent of others, but like a poor little babe, dependent on the care of support of this God His Father and to save men; and yet He found no more perfect means, no shorter way to do it, than to submit Himself in all things to the Blessed Virgin, not only during the first eight, ten, or fifteen years of His life, like other children, but for thirty years! He gave more glory to God His Father during all that time of submission and dependence on our Blessed Lady than He would have given Him if He had employed those thirty years in working miracles, in preaching to the whole word and in converting all men - all of which He would have done, could He have thereby contributed more to God's glory."

Let us have the same attitude and view on life that Mary did. "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me according to your word."