Today is the feast day of St. Louis Marie de Montford. Here is piece that Brian wrote for RoL.

Recently, I finished reading a book on the life of St. Louis Marie de Montfort (1673-1716). This apostle of the Rosary, vagabond preacher, friend of the cross and author of numerous works, including True Devotion to Mary, could easily be considered the “patron saint of rejection.”

Within St. Peter’s Basilica, high up in one of the many columns that support the infrastructure, is a niche which contains a life size statue of St. Louis de Montfort. Whoever sculpted the statute did an awesome job depicting the saint as a humble priest who was a spiritual powerhouse. Whenever I see a picture of the statue, I notice two things immediately. First, under his feet De Montfort is crushing the devil, who has taken the form of a serpent. Second, he is cradling a large crucifix in his left arm.
Throughout de Montfort’s life the cross loomed largely. Like His Savior who carried the Cross to Calvary for the salvation of the world, St. Louis imitated and obeyed Jesus who said, “He who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.” (Mt. 10:38).
As I read about the life of St. Louis de Montfort, it became apparent that many of his peers during his own day saw him as an odd priest. For the most part, this was due to the way he lived his priestly vocation. His calling to be a missionary led him to embrace the life of a tramp. It also led him to embrace a life of poverty where he associated with the poor and destitute. It led him to take the Gospel literally and live out his vocation in extreme austerity. It helped him to pray constantly and fully abandon himself to Divine Providence. Through all of this he developed a reputation of being strange and a bit bizarre, even though he was quite the contrary.
His way of life, his approach to living the Catholic faith and his identity as a missionary left him a marked man. Whether it was Lent, Advent, the Easter season or Ordinary Time, de Montfort carried the cross of rejection wherever he went. Of course he gave parish missions and inspired the faithful to live and love their faith, but more often than not, St. Louis was given a cold shoulder and the silent treatment by numerous bishops and fellow priests.
Time and time again, he would enter a diocese to speak with the Bishop to receive permission to celebrate Mass, hear confessions, and preach missions. Many bishops who heard rumors about this strange missionary would immediately send him on his way denying him permission to do anything except leave the diocese.
What is so amazing and striking about de Montfort was his total acceptance of rejection which had become his constant companion. It seems that he was quite at home with the reality that many people, especially brother priests and religious, continuously rejected him and his way of life. Again this did not alter or faze de Montfort. He made sure he kept close to Mary and followed whatever path that she placed him on.
Rejection is quite common. I am sure all of us have experienced rejection and the feelings that are associated with it. Even Christ Our Lord experienced in a most profound way the rejection of others when He hung upon the Cross, dying a slow and painful death. Because rejection, however unfortunate it may be, seems a universal experience the question that remains is how do we deal with it in a manner that will give glory to God? I believe the example set by St. Louis de Montfort suggests several ways to handle rejection.
One of the ways St. Louis handled rejection was by recognizing that nothing ever happens to us without God permitting it. St. Louis understood at the deepest level of his soul that God loved him and that whatever happened to him, including being rejected, did not change this fact. Another way that St. Louis handled rejection was through reflection and meditation upon the “ultimate rejection” Christ experienced on the Cross. The servant is no greater than the Master, therefore if Christ endured rejection why not us? Lastly, St. Louis turned to Mary by praying the Rosary. Through the recitation of the Rosary, Our Lady tenderly embraced St. Louis, consoled him and helped him overcome the rejection he suffered.
I believe if we keep the threefold example set forth by St. Louis de Montfort when experiencing rejection, we would merit great graces. His threefold example of accepting God’s Will by knowing God’s love for him, his constant reflection upon Jesus Crucified, and the recitation of the Rosary will enable us to handle and endure rejection.
Rejection is never easy to accept and for most of us who have experienced it, it can be downright painful. But now we have a patron saint of rejection whom we can turn to for inspiration and help.
St. Louis de Montfort, pray for us!
God bless!