The Incarnation

	The Incarnation Depends Not Only On God The Incarnation is the mystery of the Word made man: the Son of God becomes the Son of man. For Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort, the mystery of the Incarnation is the “very mystery” (TD 243) of his spiritual path, which he carries within like a flowing spring. “Eternal and Incarnate Wisdom, most lovable and adorable Jesus, true God and true man, only Son of the Eternal Father and Mary always Virgin!” (LEW 223). The Incarnation depends not only on God, but also on Jesus’ mother, on Mary and her Yes. This is why Montfort continues his prayer with the “Consecration of oneself to Jesus Christ, Wisdom Incarnate, through the hands of Mary” (LEW 225). Deeds eventually pass away, but states are permanent and keep all their salvific power (their virtue) for us. Through the Incarnation, the Son of the Father is from now and forever established in the state of Son of Mary, and Mary herself in the state of Mother of Jesus. The dependence of Jesus on Mary becomes the foundation of Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort's spiritual way. Confiding in Mary, depending on her and abandoning ourselves to her is to imitate Jesus (LEW 226), and to imitate the Holy Trinity who chose to depend on Mary for the Incarnation (TD 140). (Abbreviations: LEW: The Love of Eternal Wisdom. TD: Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin) Summary of A. Bossard's"Incarnation," by F. Breynaert Dictionnaire de spiritualite montfortaine, Novalis, Outremont (Quebec) 1994