In the Footsteps of St. Louis Marie de Montfort

"Footsteps Online"

Pentecost 1998 (Volume 3, Issue 2)

Easter People

"We are an Easter People And Alleluia is our Song."

That was the glorious gospel anthem of the poor people from the slums and ghettoes of New York when the Pope visited their city.

A people economically deprived but rejoicing in their rich heritage - faith in the Risen Lord.

Poor and broken people instinctively turn to Jesus Christ. They know in their hearts that he loves them and has time for them.

The ANAWIM of Israel, the peasantry and under-classes thronged to the poor carpenter from Nazareth for healing and encouragement. They must have sensed that he would not survive for long: champions of those who have no voice in society are invariably silenced one way or another.

Even the closest disciples of Jesus regarded his execution on Calvary as the final chapter. Their hopes died with the death of Jesus. They just did not expect the Resurrection to happen. They found it hard to believe until the Lord himself appeared to them.

They had forgotten the power of God's passionate love still at work in the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

There is more to faith than seeing and believing; faith must involve a loving, heartfelt response to a God who keeps loving us despite our disbelief and infidelity.

Easter is about being loved to death by Jesus Christ. At the Easter Vigil the priest will sing the Exultet (a formidable vocal challenge):

'Jesus Christ broke the chains of death
And rose triumphant from the grave.'

At the Easter Sunday mass, the opening prayer is so full of hope and joy.

'Today is the day of Easter joy,
The day the lord appeared to men and women
Who had begun to lose hope.'

Coming as it does in spring time, Easter is a celebration of new life and spiritual growth. The old Anglo-Saxon word "EASTRE" refers to the pagan goddess of spring.

Easter is the festival of God's grace renewing and invigorating our Christian lives. Alleluia!

The renewal of the baptismal promises and the sprinkling with water at the Easter Vigil offers us a fresh challenge to commit ourselves totally to the Lord.

St Louis Marie's personal understanding of the faith is to be found in his renewal of the baptismal promises.

His unique 'Consecration to Jesus through Mary' is about living out those baptismal responsibilities.

The saint's advice is to persevere and do not lose heart despite the trials and hardships along the way, 'try and keep the boat afloat.'

'To reach the heavenly harbour,
Let's toil and ride those waves.
So to the sails and to the ropes
To win the grace that saves.
Come wind, rain, snow or frost,
We'll persevere, not count the cost.

(From Montfort's Hymn 'The Call to the Mission')

Fr. James Murray, SMM