Day 1 of 33 Day Journey

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MariaChristi

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Those setting out on a journey need to be sure of their destination. So let us set our sites on God, for He is our beginning and our end. He is the One toward whom we are heading, each day until we meet Him in the Beatific Vision.

St. Louis De Montfort has written that our Total Consecration is a perfect renewal of our Baptismal Vows. At Baptism God poured Himself into our souls and we began our participation in His Life. We were born children of Adam and Eve, but in Baptism we became children of God and heirs of heaven. Sadly, most of us have not kept our Baptismal innocence – yet God’s grace has brought us to this day and the grace of beginning anew to strive for the holiness to which we are called.

St. Louis de Montfort describes how to begin:
  1. Those who desire to take up this special devotion… should spend at least twelve days in emptying themselves of the spirit of the world, which is opposed to the spirit of Jesus, as I have recommended in the first part of this preparation for the reign of Jesus Christ. They should then spend three weeks imbuing themselves with the spirit of Jesus through the most Blessed Virgin.
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How do we empty ourselves of the spirit of the world? I would suggest: 1) Ask that we may receive the Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds and strengthen our wills; 2) Seek that we may find Him in our hearts, 3) Knock on the door of His Heart, that he may open to us all the Truth we need to hear and do in these 12 preliminary days. (cf Mt. 7:7-11)

Each of us is a unique and unrepeatable person, created by God. He knows how we may have compromised with the world and loved things in the world, placing worldly values above the value of knowing, loving and serving Him. He can reveal the depths of our previous wanderings. Let us learn from Him what the spirit of the world is and how we can by His grace begin to rid ourselves of it. What is it that opposes our living the spirit of Christ?

Mary, Mother of all, intercede for us.
St. Louis de Montfort pray for us as we begin this journey which you traveled to God.
 
Regarding the ‘emptying’ rather than the ‘imbuing’…

Are we talking about concupiscence and the seven capital sinful tendencies, which are not restored at baptism?
  • Pride
  • Lust
  • Anger
  • Covetousness
  • Envy
  • Sloth
  • Gluttony
Has this to do with detachment from everything created that tends to draw a man to himself and away from the Creator in which hinders our love of God?

Is it about inordinate self-love and the renunciation of self?

Thank you sister 🙂
 
MariaChristi said:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Those setting out on a journey need to be sure of their destination. So let us set our sites on God, for He is our beginning and our end. He is the One toward whom we are heading, each day until we meet Him in the Beatific Vision.

St. Louis De Montfort has written that our Total Consecration is a perfect renewal of our Baptismal Vows. At Baptism God poured Himself into our souls and we began our participation in His Life. We were born children of Adam and Eve, but in Baptism we became children of God and heirs of heaven. Sadly, most of us have not kept our Baptismal innocence – yet God’s grace has brought us to this day and the grace of beginning anew to strive for the holiness to which we are called.

St. Louis de Montfort describes how to begin:

How do we empty ourselves of the spirit of the world? I would suggest: 1) Ask that we may receive the Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds and strengthen our wills; 2) Seek that we may find Him in our hearts, 3) Knock on the door of His Heart, that he may open to us all the Truth we need to hear and do in these 12 preliminary days. (cf Mt. 7:7-11)

Each of us is a unique and unrepeatable person, created by God. He knows how we may have compromised with the world and loved things in the world, placing worldly values above the value of knowing, loving and serving Him. He can reveal the depths of our previous wanderings. Let us learn from Him what the spirit of the world is and how we can by His grace begin to rid ourselves of it. What is it that opposes our living the spirit of Christ?

Mary, Mother of all, intercede for us.
St. Louis de Montfort pray for us as we begin this journey which you traveled to God.
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Thank you so much for posting this about Total Consecration. I am on this journey now and in my second week. I read each day and I comteon every word so I can be transformed to become Christ-like to serve God only.

I was just wondering how will I know that I have been completely consecrated to Jesus through Mary? I read some of the days readings over at times to get the words to sink in to my heart.
 
Googler said:
Regarding the ‘emptying’ rather than the ‘imbuing’…

Are we talking about concupiscence and the seven capital sinful tendencies, which are not restored at baptism?
  • Pride
  • Lust
  • Anger
  • Covetousness
  • Envy
  • Sloth
  • Gluttony
Has this to do with detachment from everything created that tends to draw a man to himself and away from the Creator in which hinders our love of God?

Is it about inordinate self-love and the renunciation of self?

Thank you sister 🙂
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Dear Brother,

Thanks for your reply and for your questions.

First, the word “empty” is far different from “imbue”. When we read the words “emptying ourselves or ridding ourselves of the spirit of the world” we are to understand that St. Louis is encouraging us to strive to live as Christ lived — in the world but not of it. Christ emptied himself as St. Paul tells us, i.e. He gave His all to the Father’s Will.

The word “imbue” means to be penetrated by, or saturated with. We seek to empty ourselves of worldliness so that we can be filled or imbued with Christlikeness, as Mary is. The more we empty ourselves of that which opposes Christ’s spirit, the more we can be filled with Him. Does that help?

Second, at Baptism, we are cleansed of original sin and any personal sins committed (if we are baptized as adults). The sins are forgiven, however the tendencies remain and need to be overcome by our willingness to avoid what may lead us to sin, and to fight against these tendencies when we are tempted. By God’s Grace we can overcome evil tendencies or temptations by doing good. Temptations are not sins, but if we fall into sin, we can, by God’s Grace, repent and go to confession with a firm resolution to do all we can not to sin again. The Sacrament of Confession sincerely entered into and received gives us forgiveness and strength to overcome future temptations.

Finally, inordinate self-love can be the motivation for many sins especially sins against charity and we need to examine our conscience on whether or not we love ourselves and others rightly or not. We are children of God with great dignity and we need to love our neighbor as ourselves. We want to learn from Jesus to live as He lived and as Mary lived as children of God.

By God’s Grace, we need to discern what thoughts, words or actions, are unworthy of a child of God. Am I willing to entertain thoughts I know Jesus would not approve? Are my words often untruthful or unkind? Are my actions helping myself and others to build up the Body of Christ or not? Whatever is not leading us to a closer relationship with God and love for others needs to be renounced in order to put good thoughts, words and deeds in their place. Hope that helps a bit.
 
Jeannie52 said:
Thank you so much for posting this about Total Consecration. I am on this journey now and in my second week. I read each day and I comteon every word so I can be transformed to become Christ-like to serve God only.

I was just wondering how will I know that I have been completely consecrated to Jesus through Mary? I read some of the days readings over at times to get the words to sink in to my heart.
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Dear Jeannie,

Thanks for your reply and your love for Jesus and Mary. Prayerful reading of the Gospels, can help us see more clearly the difference between the spirit of the world and the Spirit of Christ. The Gospel of Matthew for instance in chapter 5 enables us to hear Jesus’ words about those who are “Blessed”. The Beatitudes give us almost a “portrait in words” of Jesus Himself. If we want to see what the Spirit of Jesus is like, we can listen to the Beatitudes in Matthew. If we want to see how close we are to being “completely consecrated” as you said, we can examine ourselves on those words.

You are wise to read whatever is good, more than once, so words can sink deep into your heart. Jesus in the parable of the Sower ( Matthew’s Gospel chapter 13) compares Himself to the sower scattering seed. In His explanation to His disciples He tells them the seed is the word of the kingdom and gives examples of different ways the seed of His Word is received. Perhaps you have pondered that parable.

God alone knows the depth of our hearts and we need to trust that He is always working good in our lives. If we are truly seeking Him each day, listening to Him and obeying the Truth we hear, then we are being as our humble Mother was, on this earth : a good disciple and good soil in which He will bring forth good fruit.

I think St. Louis de Montfort encourages us to renew our consecration and to go through the 33 Days of preparation more than once because we are hopefully growing in holiness and need to learn more and more of God’s infinite love for us. Each time we go on this particular journey we recognize what work there is still left for us to do and how grateful we need to be for God’s continued Faithfulness and His work in us. Without Him, we can do nothing. (John 15)

Only when we meet Him in heaven with our dear Mother Mary will we know how “Total” our consecration here on earth may have been. For now, let us pray and depend on the Holy Spirit to bring us into the complete Truth one day at a time. May He enlighten our minds and strengthen our wills to know, love, and serve God as Jesus our Brother and Mary our Mother did on this earth. 🙂
 
friardchips said:
Ave Maria!
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Gracia plena! Thanks, friardchips!

During the Rosary today at our Legion Meeting, I was so blessed by the words. of each prayer. Especially, beautiful were those words, “Hail Mary” (Ave Maria) “Full of Grace” (Gracia plena) … I kept thinking of how beautiful our Mother really is, and how lovable!

Today’s Luminous Mysteries included pondering Mary’s presence at the Wedding of Cana. Our Mother continues going to Jesus on our behalf, interceding for us: “They have no…(whatever it is we truly need)…” Then she tells the servants, “Do whatever He tells you”. How sweetly Jesus works to answer our needs through others! The servants do as He says, fill the jars with ordinary water and the miracle occurs. When God’s servants, obey His Word new miracles of grace occur – most of them hidden – yet His Word is Fruitful.

Each of the Luminous Mysteries opens up new wonders of God’s Love and His desire for us to enter more completely into His Loving Plan for all His Children.

Ave Maria! Hail Mary! Immaculate Mother help us to empty ourselves of what hinders us and to receive into our prayerful emptiness, the fullness of His Grace.
 
MariaChristi said:
Gracia plena! Thanks, friardchips!

During the Rosary today at our Legion Meeting, I was so blessed by the words. of each prayer. Especially, beautiful were those words, “Hail Mary” (Ave Maria) “Full of Grace” (Gracia plena) … I kept thinking of how beautiful our Mother really is, and how lovable!

Today’s Luminous Mysteries included pondering Mary’s presence at the Wedding of Cana. Our Mother continues going to Jesus on our behalf, interceding for us: “They have no…(whatever it is we truly need)…” Then she tells the servants, “Do whatever He tells you”. How sweetly Jesus works to answer our needs through others! The servants do as He says, fill the jars with ordinary water and the miracle occurs. When God’s servants, obey His Word new miracles of grace occur – most of them hidden – yet His Word is Fruitful.

Each of the Luminous Mysteries opens up new wonders of God’s Love and His desire for us to enter more completely into His Loving Plan for all His Children.

Ave Maria! Hail Mary! Immaculate Mother help us to empty ourselves of what hinders us and to receive into our prayerful emptiness, the fullness of His Grace.
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Dear MariaChristi, I like your idea very much - the practice/prayer of replacing the word “wine” with our request. I have not heard of this before. Although we know Our Lady at the Wedding does represent our intercessor, via her prayer-request, the literal replacing of the word when we pray sounds as if it is a great prayer technique!

Only last week I was thinking how the Luminous Mysteries are amazing. I can’t believe we didn’t have them at one point as an organised set of mysteries to pray.

It is said, that Our Lady wishes us to say the Rosary with attention and love, each Hail Mary - it might have been you who mentioned this - and to not do so is to offer her dried up flowers; wherever I read this, we could indeed do with truly appreciating this prayer. How much love did Pavarotti put into his singing of ‘Ave Maria’ - his expression in voice and face is what we could all do with feeling in our hearts.

youtube.com/watch?v=1Liw3EioZ38
 
We seek to empty ourselves of worldliness so that we can be filled or imbued with Christlikeness, as Mary is. The more we empty ourselves of that which opposes Christ’s spirit, the more we can be filled with Him. Does that help?
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Yes, sister. That helps. I understand the general ideas of sacraficing our free will for God’s will as well as living the virtues of Jesus and Mary.

I guess it would make much more sense to know precisely what needs emptying and imbuing. I’m not splitting hairs here. It’s much too easy to pass through this step in preparation just accepting the subjective concepts.
I’m sorry I haven’t read the book and don’t have time currently. That’s why I’ve decided to follow your gracious threads about the preparation for Total Consecration method of Saint Louis de Montfort.
I’m constantly trying to develop an interior life. But it seems this first step if focussed more on penance.
So pratically speaking we should examine our conscience, go to frequent confession, and perhaps start a daily examination for the twelve days of ‘emptying’ ourselves of the spirit of the world, no?

I’ll wait until later to ask for help for the next three weeks of ‘imbuing’ ourselves with the spirit of Jesus. You gave a hint that you recommend the habit of reading scripture in this respect. That is something I want to take up. I plan to start keeping up with the daily Mass readings while applying Lecito Divina.

Do you see what I’m getting at, sister? We have to know more specifically what action we are to take to make this effective.

BTW, I’m consecrated. Praised be Jesus and Mary! I followed Father Kolbe’s preparation and I renew it daily. Our prayer village has an on-going review of his inspired wriitings. This feast of the Assumption I will officially renew at a parish ceremony. I started reading Montfort’s Secret of Mary with the intention to follow up with his True Devotion. So far, and from what little time I have, I get deeply absorbed in his words and tend to read them slow, review them, ponder, and take notes of my thoughts. I figure at this pace I’ll maybe finish the 33 days in 33 months. But that’s fine with me. All the better to really know and truly appreciate our loving Mother.
 
It is said, that Our Lady wishes us to say the Rosary with attention and love, each Hail Mary - it might have been you who mentioned this - and to not do so is to offer her dried up flowers; wherever I read this, we could indeed do with truly appreciating this prayer. How much love did Pavarotti put into his singing of ‘Ave Maria’ - his expression in voice and face is what we could all do with feeling in our hearts.
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I sing three verses of the Ave Maria ‘Hymn’ every morning. And also sing ‘Ave, ave, ave, Maria. Ave, ave, Maria’ at the end of each decade of the Rosary. I think it pleases Our Lady most when I perform it well. I have the impression that Mary, herself, loved to sing, bringing the angels to their knees and putting a smile on our Saviors’ face.
 
Googler said:
I sing three verses of the Ave Maria ‘Hymn’ every morning. And also sing ‘Ave, ave, ave, Maria. Ave, ave, Maria’ at the end of each decade of the Rosary. I think it pleases Our Lady most when I perform it well. I have the impression that Mary, herself, loved to sing, bringing the angels to their knees and putting a smile on our Saviors’ face.
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:harp: :heaven: :amen:
 
Googler said:
Yes, sister. That helps. I understand the general ideas of sacraficing our free will for God’s will as well as living the virtues of Jesus and Mary.

I guess it would make much more sense to know precisely what needs emptying and imbuing. I’m not splitting hairs here. It’s much too easy to pass through this step in preparation just accepting the subjective concepts.
I’m sorry I haven’t read the book and don’t have time currently. That’s why I’ve decided to follow your gracious threads about the preparation for Total Consecration method of Saint Louis de Montfort.
I’m constantly trying to develop an interior life. But it seems this first step if focussed more on penance.
So pratically speaking we should examine our conscience, go to frequent confession, and perhaps start a daily examination for the twelve days of ‘emptying’ ourselves of the spirit of the world, no?

I’ll wait until later to ask for help for the next three weeks of ‘imbuing’ ourselves with the spirit of Jesus. You gave a hint that you recommend the habit of reading scripture in this respect. That is something I want to take up. I plan to start keeping up with the daily Mass readings while applying Lecito Divina.

Do you see what I’m getting at, sister? We have to know more specifically what action we are to take to make this effective.

BTW, I’m consecrated. Praised be Jesus and Mary! I followed Father Kolbe’s preparation and I renew it daily. Our prayer village has an on-going review of his inspired wriitings. This feast of the Assumption I will officially renew at a parish ceremony. I started reading Montfort’s Secret of Mary with the intention to follow up with his True Devotion. So far, and from what little time I have, I get deeply absorbed in his words and tend to read them slow, review them, ponder, and take notes of my thoughts. I figure at this pace I’ll maybe finish the 33 days in 33 months. But that’s fine with me. All the better to really know and truly appreciate our loving Mother.
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Dear Brother,

Thanks for your reply. By God’s grace each of us needs to listen for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our lives. It is His Mission to continue bringing us into the complete Truth, even as it is Mary’s continuing mission to intercede for us that like her we continue by the power of the Holy Spirit to bring Jesus to others. I cannot really tell you what is in your heart. Only God can do that but with St. Louis de Montfort, I can encourage you: “…ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will open for you…” (Mt. 7:7-11)

I will be renewing St. Maximilian Kolbe’s Act of Consecration today too. I made it the first time a few years ago as I believe I was led to do so by the Holy Spirit’s prompting. Having prayed the words St. Maximilian wrote, I felt as if in someway it was completing for me my Act of Consecration written by St. Louis de Montfort. These two champions of Mary were gifted by God in slightly different ways for the building up the Body of Christ.

I do not think we really “sacrifice” our free will; we do not put our free will to death, but rather we direct our freedom to doing what God wills. Our free will is a great gift from God by which we feely choose Him above all things and are willing to give all for love of Him.

Yes, God’s Word is important for us in our listening. Both St. Louis, St. Maximilian, all the saints, and especially our Mother Mary, kept His Word and pondered in their hearts. 🙂
 
friardchips said:
Dear MariaChristi, I like your idea very much - the practice/prayer of replacing the word “wine” with our request. I have not heard of this before. Although we know Our Lady at the Wedding does represent our intercessor, via her prayer-request, the literal replacing of the word when we pray sounds as if it is a great prayer technique!

Only last week I was thinking how the Luminous Mysteries are amazing. I can’t believe we didn’t have them at one point as an organised set of mysteries to pray.

It is said, that Our Lady wishes us to say the Rosary with attention and love, each Hail Mary - it might have been you who mentioned this - and to not do so is to offer her dried up flowers; wherever I read this, we could indeed do with truly appreciating this prayer. How much love did Pavarotti put into his singing of ‘Ave Maria’ - his expression in voice and face is what we could all do with feeling in our hearts.

youtube.com/watch?v=1Liw3EioZ38
Click to expand...
Dear friardchips,

Yes, when St. John Paul II suggested the Luminous Mysteries in his beautiful Apostolic Letter on “The Most Holy Rosary”, God gave us a great gift through him. It does make us wonder now how we could have “skipped over” the public life of Jesus and Mary going directly from meditation on the hidden life in praying Joyful Mysteries right to the passion in the Sorrowful Mysteries. Again, how beautifully we see the Holy Spirit bringing the Church into the complete Truth of Jesus. 🙂

Thanks for the link. “Ave Maria” sung by anyone devoutly is such a moving experience!
 
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