# Should we really give Mary everything?
*2017-04-14*

> Bill Young continues the self-led retreat for Marian consecration, exploring why giving all our merits to the Blessed Virgin is not a loss, but a gain.

## The Logic of Generosity

Yesterday, we looked at how and when we fully consecrate ourselves to Mary, giving her the right to distribute the graces of our prayers and merits to others. Today, we turn inward and ask: Isn't it crazy to give everything to Mary—all the value of our good actions and prayers—and then appear before God with empty hands?

No, it is not crazy. We must remember that Mary is not outdone in generosity. If we give all our merits to her, she will give us all of hers. That is a significant exchange.

## Striving for the Highest Glory

I once read a story about a saint who had a vision of the saints in heaven and their different degrees of glory. She was astonished to see some who had risen so high that they were worshipping God alongside the Seraphim, the highest choir of angels. Similarly, in the diary of St. Faustina, she related that if we could see the differences among the degrees of glory in heaven, we would be willing to suffer anything on earth just to move one degree higher.

After reading this testimony, I realized that I don't just want to go to heaven; I want to reach the highest degree of glory possible. There is an easy way for us to do this: we give Mary everything. We rely not only on our own merits, but on hers.

## The Exchange of Merits

St. Louis de Montfort explains that the Most Holy Virgin, who never lets herself be outdone in love and liberality, meets us in the same spirit when we give ourselves entirely to her. She gives herself in an unspeakable manner to those who give all to her. She adorns them with her merits, supports them with her power, illuminates them with her light, and inflames them with her love. She communicates her virtues—her humility, faith, and purity—to the consecrated person. In a word, as the consecrated person is all Mary's, Mary is all theirs.

## Overcoming the Fear of Purgatory

Despite these consoling words, some might still be troubled. You might think, 'I want a high degree of glory, but what about Purgatory? If I give away all my merits, will I have to suffer in Purgatory for a very long time?'

St. Louis responds that such objections stem from self-love and an ignorance of the generosity of God and His Holy Mother. A fervent and generous soul who gives God everything without reserve—living only for the glory and reign of our Lord Jesus Christ through His mother—will not be punished more than others for being liberal and disinterested. Rather, it is toward that soul that our Lord and our Holy Mother are most liberal in orders of nature, grace, and glory.

## Holy Ambition

St. Louis offers a gentle rebuke here, noting that concerns about losing our merits come from self-love. While we should have the 'holy ambition' to reach the highest heights of holiness, our motive must not be self-love, but rather a desire to please God and give glory to Him.

*By generously giving all our merits to Mary, we receive her infinite generosity in return, helping us reach the highest possible degree of glory in heaven.*