The Church honors two men whose lives display true devotion to Mary and still have a mighty impact on people today. St. Peter Chanel, a Marist Father, born in a tiny village in France, is the patron saint of Oceania because he died there while attempting to impart the faith. His ten month voyage to the South Pacific brought him to the island of Futuna where he spent three years learning the language and evangelizing by word and example. His success incurred the ire of the king, and when the king's son sought baptism, the king sent his henchman, Musumusu, to kill Fr, Chanel. Five months after his death, the entire island embraced the faith, including Musumusu! The faith remains strong on the island and wherever its citizens have migrated.
St. Louis Grignion de Montfort, also from France, lived 200 years before St. Peter Chanel, but then as now, his writings on the True Devotion to Mary, influenced him and St. Marcellin as well. He founded the missionary Company of Mary. Today, Catholics have rediscovered the de Montfort Consecration and prayerfully prepare to consecrate themselves to Mary by asking her give them her heart so that like her they may be totally open to the will of God.
The zeal and conviction of these men lead us to examine our own devotion to Mary and how we might consecrate ourselves more fully to leading others to Jesus through Mary.
Bro. Rene
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