Theological Foundations new file

154 Theological Foundations Jesus. 48 As he encouraged others to be always concerned about preserv- ing the virtue of chastity amidst temptations and dangers, he saw the greatest help in the devotion to the Immaculate Virgin as well as in ardent prayer, in frequent reception of Holy Communion, in invoking one’s Guardian Angel, Saint Joseph and, first of all, Our Savior Jesus Christ Himself. 49 Blessed George wanted to love the Most Holy Virgin more and more each day, to put ever greater trust in her, and to value her unmatched pro- tection more and more. It was to her powerful protection that he entrust- ed the congregation. He was convinced that those who bear her name may count on such protection. This is how he prayed to Mary: “O Most Blessed Virgin, obtain for me from your Son the grace to love you more, to have more and more confidence in you, to cherish your glorious patronage more and more. Take our Congregation under your powerful protection, O our Mother, if not for any other reason, since we are poor spiritu- al beggars, then at least because of the name which we bear. Grant that our life be pure and unsullied.” 50 The congregation did experience the protection for which Blessed George prayed in a certain special case when Mary protected it from an agent of the Csar’s secret police. When the agent declared his intention to leave the Russian Orthodox faith, accept Catholicism and become a priest, Father Matulaitis-Matulewicz prayed to the Most Holy Immaculate Virgin for guidance. On the one hand he was afraid that he might push this man away from the Church if he showed him his dis- trust, on the other, he feared that he might be letting a wolf into the sheepfold and cause harm to the Church. The Blessed Mother helped to unmask the lies of the would-be candidate and to remove him from the congregation. As the author writes in his Diary 51 , this was only one of many examples of Mary’s protection and support. Father Matulaitis-Matulewicz believed that devotion to the Blessed Mother was of great importance to the Christian life. In order for us to