In another thread, the idea of slavery is being discussed, and someone brought up the definition of slavery as involuntary servitude. This is not its primary definition, and it is not the most important definition, in theology. First, definitions:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/slave slave (sleɪv) — n 1. a person legally owned by another and having no freedom of action or right to property 2. a person who is forced to work for another against his will . . . Note that the definition that includes involuntary is second, not first. It is the first, rather than the second definition, that is of interest to us here. The entire essence of religion consists in the desire to bring one's own will into conformity with what is perceived as the will of God. There is no more effective and swift way of accomplishing this goal than Holy Slavery, which is spoken of in the writings of Saint Louis Marie deMontfort. Holy Slavery is effectively giving oneself to God, to belong to Him completely, to have no more any will of one's own, but to be entirely obedient to one's Master, God. This is in perfect conformity with the first definition but not the second, since it is not involuntary, but voluntary. And it is indeed, the best slaves, who serve their masters voluntarily, out of love, rather than forced, out of involuntary servitude. Since God loves us with His whole being, and indeed sacrificed Himself completely for us, becoming a slave even to death, the most appropriate response in love for God, is for us to make ourselves His slaves, sacrificing our own wills completely for His, giving ourselves to Him completely, and seeking only to obey His Holy Will in all things. Saint Louis deMontfort writes about all of this in his book, "True Devotion to Mary." He points out that Christ came to us through Mary, and that it is His Will for us to come to Him through her, as well. He says that the most effective way of becoming the slave of the Father is to become the slave of the Son, and the most effective way of becoming the slave of the Son is by becoming the slave of His Mother, whom He has placed in charge of the heavenly household. The book is about how to do that. The practice of this Holy Slavery is a very great thing, and it consists in making ourselves not great at all, but very small and very humble, giving everything completely to Mary, without holding anything back for ourselves. She in turn, very quickly brings us to her Son, who presents us to His Father. This practice is the most perfect means to sublime holiness, which God calls us to. Thus the practice of Holy Slavery is destined to become the norm of human experience, once humanity in general overcomes its egoic attachment to self-will. And there is no more effective means of overcoming one's attachment to self-will than to give up one's will completely and give oneself entirely to the Mother of God, who is also our Mother. I realize this will seem strange to many reading it for the first time, and many will no doubt object. But the purpose of this post is to clarify the concept somewhat, and to introduce it, probably to many for the first time. There is much, that human beings in general are almost completely unfamiliar with, that will nonetheless become the norm, as God expands His Reign of Peace in His world on Earth.
