Another excerpt about St. Leopold Mandic

Father Leopold's love for Mary supported him in all the troubles of life and endowed him with light for his mind, strength for his heart, kindness and generosity for his soul. The biographer of this saint, who was also his postulator during the beatification and canonization process, Father Pietro Bernardi, O.F.M. Cap., explained: "It is almost impossible to say how much Father Leopold loved the Madonna. The tone of his voice when he spoke of her, the light in his eyes when he looked at a picture of her, cannot be put into words at all. You would have to have seen him in order to comprehend something of the ardent love for Mary in the heart of this Capuchin." Father Leopold's mother before him had been filled with a great love for Mary. (Page 223).

Throughout his life, Father Leopold Mandic had a desire to write a book about Mary as the helpmate of the Redeemer who obtains grace for the faithful. He wanted in this way to help adorn the Blessed Mother with a new diadem: Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces. The constant work in the confessional prevented him from realizing his plan. Out of love for Mary, Father Leopold wanted to render her every conceivable honor. In his confession room he honored an image of Mary and decorated it each day with fresh flowers as an expression of his enduring love for the Most Blessed Virgin. He liked to celebrate Mass in church at the altar dedicated to Mary, and on Saturdays, whenever the rubrics permitted it, he would celebrate the votive Mass of the Immaculate Conception. Every day he prayed, in addition to his breviary, the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin and several Rosaries. (Page 225).

[My comments: Notice that it is ardent love for and trust in the Blessed Virgin Mary that characterized St. Leopold's devotion. He cannot be accused of worshipping her, as some who misunderstand the Catholic faith sometimes have as a knee jerk reaction to such love and devotion. St. Leopold, like all the saints and those who serve the Lord, always made their worship of God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, their foundation. Remember that the confessor is there sacramentally as Jesus Christ. St. Leopold is a pure and beautiful example of how the human soul can worship only God, and still have room for ardent devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the communion of saints. This is also one reason, as I have blogged about previously, that Catholics and Muslims often agree regarding love for Mary the Mother of Jesus as the model for all love and virtue. Catholics and Muslims agree that they can differentiate between the worship of God alone, and great love for the purity, humility and faithfulness of Mary.]