Marian Apostolate

Further, in accord with the deeply Marian spirituality both espoused and promulgated by the great Sts. Louis Marie de Montfort, Maximilian Mary Kolbe and Pope John Paul II, we understand that this sublime vocation of a deeply "lived-out" devotion of Total Consecration to Christ Jesus, through Mary Immaculate is, in de Montfort's own words, "the surest, easiest, shortest, and the most perfect means" to the end of continual, ongoing sanctification, and an ever greater conformity of our will to the Divine Will. Moreover, we have come to recognize the profound role of St. Joseph in this most sanctifying devotion of total consecration to Jesus through Mary, for Joseph, in his espousal of the Blessed Virgin Mary, becomes the perfect model of consecration to Jesus through Mary. In his espousal of our Lady, there takes place an exchange of hearts whereby Joseph offers the fullness of all that he is and all that he has to Mary, entrusting to her his heart, and Mary, who cannot and will not be outdone in liberality and generosity, meets her spouse in the same spirit, entrusting the fullness of her Immaculate Heart to him. Thus, Joseph becomes the quintessential example of one who is perfectly consecrated to Mary's Immaculate Heart. As a purely spiritual society, the only leadership we have is that provided by the Blessed Virgin Mary herself. Thus, there exists one sole criterion for membership in this spiritual society: Full, active membership and participation in the Mystical Body of Christ, and this as witnessed to by membership in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ Jesus, through reception of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Holy Eucharist & Confirmation). Yet, even this criterion need not be met if one is in the process of preparation to be fully received into the Church, or even if one possesses an earnest desire to become a Catholic, and possesses the intention to initiate this process as soon as one is able. Additionally, in the same spirit of full, filial love for, and obedience to, the Holy Magisterium of the Church (the Magisterium being comprised of the entire college of Bishops throughout world, in union with the validly elected successor of St. Peter, the Pope, who is the visible head of the Body of Christ on earth), both the Apostles of Light of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Marian Apostolate of the Laity wish to declare our unwavering fidelity to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, the one Church established on the Rock of St. Peter. It would seem appropriate, at this juncture, to address an issue which not infrequently comes up when addressing the legitimacy of Marian Apostolate of the Laity, and / or the Apostles of Light of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus, Mary & Joseph operating as "lay apostolates" within the Church. Invariably, persons will inquire whether these so-called "lay apostolates" have received any "official recognition" from, or "approval" by the "Church," whether from the Local Ordinary ( in whose diocese we operate), or from the Vatican. In an effort to provide the most theologically and canonically sound answer to the above articulated questions, I shall here refer the reader to Chapter Four of the document, "Apostolicam Actuositatem," which is "The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity," solemnly promulgated by His Holiness, Pope Paul VI, on 18 November, 1965: "15. The laity can engage in their apostolic activity either as individuals or together as members of various groups or associations. "16. The individual apostolate, flowing generously from its source in a truly Christian life (cf. John 4:14), is the origin and condition of the whole lay apostolate, even of the organized type, and it admits of no substitute. "Regardless of status, all lay persons (including those who have no opportunity or possibility for collaboration in associations) are called to this type of apostolate and obliged to engage in it. This type of apostolate is useful at all times and places, but in certain circumstances it is the only one appropriate and feasible. "There are many forms of the apostolate whereby the laity build up the Church, sanctify the world, and give it life in Christ. A particular form of the individual apostolate as well as a sign specially suited to our times is the testimony of the whole lay life arising from faith, hope, and charity. "It manifests Christ living in those who believe in Him. Then by the apostolate the spoken and written word, which is utterly necessary under certain circumstances, lay people announce Christ, explain and spread His teaching in accordance with one's status and ability, and faithfully profess it. "Furthermore, in collaborating as citizens of this world, in whatever pertains to the upbuilding and conducting of the temporal order, the laity must seek in the light of faith loftier motives of action in their family, professional, cultural, and social life and make them known to others when the occasion arises. Doing this, they should be aware of the fact that they are cooperating with God the creator, redeemer, and sanctifier and are giving praise to Him. "Finally, the laity should vivify their life with charity and express it as best they can in their works. "They should all remember that they can reach all men and contribute to the salvation of the whole world by public worship and prayer as well as by penance and voluntary acceptance of the labors and hardships of life whereby they become like the suffering Christ" (cf. 2 Cor. 4:10; Col. 1:24). Thus, according to this author's interpretation of the above quotation, it would certainly appear that Marian Apostolate of the Laity and the Apostles of Light of the Immaculate Heart of Mary both possess the full, unequivocal approval of the Church, both local and universal. Moreover, as so many adopted brothers and sisters of Christ, our Lord, and docile children of our Spiritual Mother, Mary Immaculate, we consider ourselves to be of one mind, heart and body - a concrete reality that is both expressed and brought about through our daily reception of the Holy Eucharist and in our daily prayer of the Holy Rosary of Our Lady. Our way of life is based on the shared ideal of striving, with the help of God's grace, to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the letter, with a particular emphasis on: (1) The Holy Eucharist (daily reception of our Lord in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the frequent practice of Holy Hours of adoration and reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly and substantially present in the Eucharistic species); (2) Total consecration of ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in the "spirit" of St. Joseph (with an understanding that Mary, as the Mediatrix of all Grace, can only fully carry out this unique and most powerful role of hers with regard to those souls who have entirely entrusted themselves to her, and who, in imitation of St. Joseph, unite their hearts to hers in a profound union of unconditional, committed love); and (3) A deep love and prayer for, and an unwavering fidelity to, the Holy Father and the Magisterium, the teaching and governing body of the Church on earth, who alone has been entrusted with the task of interpreting Sacred Scripture, and through whom the Holy Spirit speaks to His Church and the world as the Sacred Living Tradition of that same Church. Mission Statement