St. Louis de Montfort – Marian Theologian and Catholic Missionary

ST. LOUIS GRIGNION DE MONTFORT

St. Louis de Montfort was a French priest and preacher known for his passionate Marian devotion and missionary work. His spiritual classic True Devotion to Mary inspired generations, including popes. Founder of the Montfort Missionaries and Daughters of Wisdom, he is one of the most influential saints in Marian spirituality.

St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort was born on January 31, 1673, in Montfort-sur-Meu, Brittany, France. From a young age, he showed deep piety, a strong intellect, and a passion for service. He studied at the Jesuit college in Rennes and later trained at the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, where he cultivated his profound love for the Virgin Mary and the Church.

Ordained a priest in 1700, Fr. de Montfort became a traveling missionary, preaching in parishes and rural towns, often facing resistance from clergy and local authorities. Despite these difficulties, he persisted with fiery zeal and was especially known for reinvigorating the faith of the common people.

His most enduring legacy is his Marian theology. In his masterpiece True Devotion to Mary, Montfort taught that the surest and most perfect path to Jesus is through His Blessed Mother. His doctrine of total consecration—surrendering one’s life completely to Jesus through Mary—became a spiritual milestone in Catholic tradition. Pope John Paul II took his motto Totus Tuus ("Totally Yours") from this teaching.

In addition to True Devotion to Mary, Montfort wrote The Secret of the Rosary and other spiritual writings that continue to guide the faithful today. He was a poet and hymn-writer, using creative arts to evangelize the poor and uneducated.

In 1705, he founded the Company of Mary (Montfort Missionaries), a congregation of priests dedicated to preaching missions. In 1703, he co-founded the Daughters of Wisdom with Blessed Marie Louise Trichet to care for the sick and educate the poor.

He died on April 28, 1716, at age 43, after delivering a mission. His final words were, “In vain do you attack me—I am between Jesus and Mary.” He was buried in the church in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, which became the Basilica of St. Louis de Montfort.

Beatified in 1888 and canonized in 1947 by Pope Pius XII, his teachings have had lasting impact on the Church, especially through the Marian movements and spiritual lives of popes, clergy, and laity around the world.

Feast Day

28-4-

Birth Date

31-1-1673

Died Date

28-4-1716

Canonised Date

20-7-1947

France

"Saint Louis de Montfort, faithful servant of Mary, Guide us in our devotion to the Blessed Mother. Help us to live with the same zeal and love for Jesus, through Mary, as you did. Intercede for us that we may grow in holiness, and trust in the power of prayer and surrender to God's will. Amen."
ST. LOUIS GRIGNION DE MONTFORT

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ST. LOUIS GRIGNION DE MONTFORT

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