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The Life of St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort 

  • Born 31 January 1673, in Montfort-sur-Meu, Brittany 

  • Educated at the Jesuit College of St. Thomas Becket, Rennes 

  • Studied for the priesthood at the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice, Paris

  • Ordained a priest 5 June 1700, officially for the diocese of Saint-Malo 

  • Worked in Diocese of Nantes (parish missions) 1700-1701 

  • Diocese of Poitiers (Chaplain to "General Hospital", and later a Mission preacher), 1701-1706

 - Two visits to Paris (the second for almost a year)

 - Foundation of the "Daughters of Wisdom" 1703, with Blessed Marie-Louise of Jesus (Trichet)

 - First member of the "Company of Mary", Brother Mathurin Rangeard, 1705

 - Suffered rejection because of his unconventional methods

  • Pilgrimage to Rome to visit Pope Clement XI, 1706, who appoints him "Missionary Apostolic"

  • Missions in the dioceses of Saint-Malo and Saint-Brieuc, 1706-1708

  • Missions in the diocese of Nantes, 1708-1711

    - Construction, and later prohibition, of Calvary of Pontchateau

  • Missions in the dioceses of Lucon, Saintes and (especially) La Rochelle, 1711-1716

    - Visits to Paris and Rouen in search of recruits for his "Company of Mary"

    - First priests join the "Company of Mary" 1715: Frs. Adrien Vatel and Rene Mulot

    - Writing of "True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin" and other works

  • Died at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sevre, in Vendee, 28 April 1716, aged 43 

  • Beatified 1888 

  • Canonised by Pope Pius XII, 20 July 1947 

      It is estimated that St. Louis Marie preached more than 200 parish missions during his 16 years of priestly ministry. He travelled from one to the other always on foot.

 

The Writings of St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort 

     Saint Louis Marie de Montfort wrote many things during his life. He wrote always with the one purpose: to bring Christians to a deeper understanding of the Christian faith, and to encourage them to live their Baptismal dedication to God. 

Major works

  • The Love of Eternal Wisdom

  • True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin  

Other writings

  • The Secret of Mary 

  • A Letter to the Friends of the Cross 

  • The Admirable Secret of the Rosary 

  • Methods of Reciting the Rosary  

Occasional works 

  • The Burning Prayer for Missionaries 

  • A letter to the Inhabitants of Montbernage 

 Mission leaflets

  • A Contract of Covenant with God 

  • Dispositions for a Happy Death 

  • Morning and Evening Prayers

Rules

  • The Rule of the Missionaries of the Company of Mary 

  • A letter to the Members of the Company of Mary 

  • The Rule of the Daughters of Wisdom 

  • The Maxims of Divine Wisdom

  • Rules for various Associations 

  • The "Wisdom Cross" of Poitiers

Others

  • Letters to various people 

  • Hymns for use in the Missions 

  • Last Will and Testament 

  • Book of Sermons 

  • Notebook

 Collections

  • "God Alone - The Collected Writings of St. Louis Marie de Montfort" 

  • "Jesus Living in Mary - A Handbook of the Spirituality of St. Louis de Montfort"