# Day 1 of 33 Days to Morning Glory: Reflections on St. Louis de Montfort
*2018-04-09*

> Bill Young launches the 33‑day Morning Glory retreat, introduces the Angelus, and poses four questions inspired by St. Louis de Montfort to help listeners deepen their consecration to Mary.

## Starting the 33‑Day Morning Glory

Good morning, I’m Bill Young. Today we begin the 33‑day Morning Glory retreat, a do‑it‑yourself preparation for consecration to Mary and, through her, to Jesus. Two years ago I completed the retreat and consecrated myself to Mary; last year we shared it with members of the Legion of Mary at St. David’s Catholic Church in Davie, Florida. This year we hope to welcome both returning participants and newcomers. If you’d like to join our weekly meetings, please email me at wryoung12@yahoo.com or leave a comment on peoplepodcast.com.

## The Angelus for the Week

We will pray the Angelus each morning during the retreat. I will recite both parts together for now:

**The Angelus**

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, “and she conceived by the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word.”

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.”

We conclude with a short prayer asking the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts as we walk this retreat.

## Questions for Reflection – St. Louis de Montfort

The first week of the retreat focuses on St. Louis de Montfort. Here are the four questions he offers for contemplation:

1. **Birthplace and Family** – How does your family background or the place where you grew up help or hinder your growth in holiness and your desire to belong more fully to Mary?
2. **Longevity of Commitment** – St. Louis died at 43, only sixteen years after ordination. What long‑term commitments (marriage, parenthood, ministry, work) have shaped your faith, and what challenges have you faced in sustaining them?
3. **Pilgrimage of 1,000 Miles** – St. Louis walked a thousand miles to Rome to seek the Pope’s guidance. What is the longest physical or spiritual journey you have undertaken for the sake of others or for a personal quest, and what did you learn?
4. **Fire in the Heart** – Do you feel a burning desire for Jesus as you begin this retreat? Have you asked Mary to kindle that divine fire, and what obstacles might stand in the way?

## Personal Testimony and Encouragement

I share briefly how this retreat has shaped my own life. Two years ago I started the journey, and it has led me to pilgrimages—one to Washington, D.C., to see Pope Francis, and another to Rome for the canonization Mass of St. Mother Teresa, where I met some of her sisters. Those experiences deepened my love for Mary and for Christ. The 33‑day length may seem arbitrary, but the rhythm of daily prayer and reflection allows us to encounter something new each day. I encourage you to keep a notebook, write down your answers, and return to them as you progress.

*May the Holy Spirit, through Mary, ignite in each of us a lasting fire of love for Jesus as we walk the 33‑day Morning Glory retreat.*