Episode 2498: Sin, Repentance, and the Power of Mary’s Humility - Nightly Episode

“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and all you saints in heaven, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen”

Sin, Repentance, and the Power of Mary’s Humility

Welcome to today’s episode, where we will explore the transformative power of repentance, the dangers of pride, and the profound example of humility and obedience set by the Blessed Virgin Mary. Drawing from the wisdom of St. John Chrysostom and St. Louis de Montfort, we will examine the contrasting roles of Lucifer, Eve, and Mary in salvation history and how their actions reveal important lessons for our spiritual lives.
"Be ashamed when you sin, not when you repent." — St. John Chrysostom
St. John Chrysostom’s quote challenges a common human response: we often feel more ashamed of our repentance than of our sin. Sin, by its very nature, distorts our conscience, making us rationalize our actions, justify our faults, or hide in shame. Yet, Chrysostom reminds us that the true shame lies in the act of sin itself, not in the act of returning to God through repentance.
From a traditional Catholic perspective, sin separates us from God and wounds our soul. We are all aware of the guilt that comes with sin, but the devil often uses shame to keep us from seeking God’s mercy. The moment we repent, the moment we sincerely confess our sins, we receive God's grace and forgiveness. Chrysostom is telling us that we should never feel ashamed to seek the sacrament of confession, for it is in repentance that we find restoration, healing, and the grace to grow in holiness.
Repentance requires humility, an acknowledgment that we have failed to live up to God’s standards. It requires us to reject the pride that led to sin and embrace the mercy of our Heavenly Father. Confession is a sacrament of healing, not punishment. The shame we feel in returning to God should be seen as a blessed sorrow, leading us back to His loving arms.

The Example of Mary:
“What Lucifer has lost by pride, Mary has gained by humility. What Eve has damned and lost by disobedience, Mary has saved by obedience.”
— St. Louis de Montfort

In this quote, St. Louis de Montfort contrasts two pivotal figures in salvation history Lucifer and Eve, whose pride and disobedience led to the Fall, and Mary, whose humility and obedience brought forth salvation. This comparison gives us a deeper understanding of the spiritual battle between pride and humility, disobedience and obedience.

Lucifer, once the most glorious of angels, fell from grace because of his pride. His refusal to serve God was rooted in the sin of pride, which ultimately led to his eternal separation from God. In the same way, Eve’s disobedience to God’s command brought sin and death into the world. Her decision to listen to the serpent instead of trusting in God’s plan resulted in the fall of humanity.
But what was lost through Lucifer and Eve was restored through the humility and obedience of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Where Eve said “no” to God’s command, Mary said “yes.” As de Montfort explains, “Mary, in being perfectly faithful to God, has saved all her children and servants together with herself, and has consecrated them to His majesty.”

Mary’s humility is the antidote to Lucifer’s pride. She did not seek her own glory but offered herself as the handmaid of the Lord. When the Angel Gabriel announced to her that she would conceive the Savior, her response was one of total submission to God’s will: “Be it done unto me according to Thy word” (Luke 1:38). This fiat, this complete surrender to God’s plan, opened the door to the Incarnation and, ultimately, to our redemption.

The Role of Humility in Our Salvation:
Humility is central to our spiritual growth. Just as pride was the root of Lucifer’s downfall, humility is the foundation of every virtue. Without humility, we cannot repent sincerely, because it takes humility to admit our faults and weaknesses. Without humility, we cannot follow Mary’s example, for her life was one of total submission to God’s will.

St. Louis de Montfort emphasizes that Mary, by her obedience, saved all her children those who consecrate themselves to her and seek her intercession. In traditional Catholic teaching, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is a powerful means of drawing closer to Christ. As St. Louis de Montfort teaches in his work True Devotion to Mary, when we consecrate ourselves to Mary, we entrust ourselves to her motherly care, allowing her to form us in the likeness of Christ. In doing so, we imitate her humility and obedience, and we allow her to guide us on the path to salvation.

"Many are invited, but few are chosen" — Matthew 22:14

This Gospel passage serves as a sobering reminder that while God invites all of us to partake in His grace, few will truly respond to the call. Many may receive the initial invitation to faith, but not all will persevere in living out that faith with humility and obedience. In the context of today’s discussion, this passage calls us to a deeper reflection on our spiritual life.

Are we willing to humble ourselves like Mary, to repent of our sins, and to fully submit to God’s will? Or are we clinging to the pride of Lucifer, unwilling to serve, or the disobedience of Eve, seeking our own desires over God’s commands? The choice is ours, but we must remember that eternity is at stake.

Conclusion:

The words of St. John Chrysostom and St. Louis de Montfort, together with the message of the Gospel, remind us that humility, repentance, and obedience are essential to our salvation. We should never be ashamed to seek God’s mercy in the sacrament of confession, for it is there that we encounter the boundless grace of God. And in the Blessed Virgin Mary, we have the perfect model of humility and obedience, who leads us to her Son and intercedes for us in our struggles against pride and sin.

Let us strive to imitate her virtues, reject the pride of the world, and live in humble submission to the will of God.

Ending Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of Your mercy and the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose humility and obedience brought forth the Savior of the world. Help us to follow her example, to reject the pride that leads us away from You, and to embrace the humility that draws us closer to Your heart.
Grant us the courage to confess our sins, knowing that in repentance we find Your grace and forgiveness. May we never be ashamed to turn to You, for You are always ready to welcome us back with open arms.
Through the intercession of Mary, our Mother, may we grow in virtue and be faithful to Your will, so that we may one day be counted among those chosen to enter Your eternal kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.