Day 13 - Mar. 4 - Wk 1 - Knowledge of self

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We continue our journey toward Total Consecration, as St. Louis de Montfort wrote:

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. Here is a programme they might follow:

1. During the first week they should offer up all their prayers and acts of devotion to acquire knowledge of themselves and sorrow for their sins.

Let them perform all their actions in a spirit of humility. With this end in view they may, if they wish, meditate on what I have said concerning our corrupted nature, and consider themselves during six days of the week as nothing but sails, slugs, toads, swine, snakes and goats. Or else they may meditate on the following three considerations of St. Bernard: “Remember what you were - corrupted seed; what you are - a body destined for decay; what you will be -food for worms.”

They will ask our Lord and the Holy Spirit to enlighten them saying, “Lord, that I may see,” or “Lord, let me know myself,” or the “Come, Holy Spirit”. Every day they should say the Litany of the Holy Spirit, with the prayer that follows, as indicated in the first part of this work. They will turn to our Blessed Lady and beg her to obtain for them that great grace which is the foundation of all others, the grace of self-knowledge. For this intention they will say each day the Ave Maris Stella and the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.

Litany of the Holy Spirit - HERE
Ave Maris Stella - HERE
Litany of the Blessed Virgin - HERE

Many persons are turned off by the language of St. Louis in describing our “corrupted nature” but that part of ourselves which suffers the consequences of original sin remains prone to sin in every ugly form of disobedience and distain towards God. If we will admit to our faults, whatever they are, we begin to be healed of them. If we sincerely seek a true knowledge of ourselves – to see with the eyes of the heart – as God sees us, we will more surely cling to Him in hope. His Love saves us from our corrupted nature and enables us to live as He commands us: “Be Holy as I am Holy”. Today is First Friday - a good day to offer sincere sorrow for our sins and reparation for the sins of all.

Come, Holy Spirit, enable us to see; let us truly know ourselves.
Mary, our humble and loving Mother, help us obtain the grace of true self knowledge.
Jesus, we trust in You!

 

[Tablefor9]

Sometimes it’s a terrible, beautiful thing to know oneself.

Mother, Most Amiable, intercede for us…

Lord, hear and answer…

Come Holy Spirit

 

[MariaChristi]

Sometimes it’s a terrible, beautiful thing to know oneself.

Mother, Most Amiable, intercede for us…

Lord, hear and answer…

Come Holy Spirit

Dear Tablefor9,

It is “terrible” to see our sins, but it is “beautiful” to see by Faith, the Face of Christ Crucified and know His Loving Sacrifice outpoured on Calvary has set us free to become like Him! If we do not seek we will not find; without true self knowledge we cannot begin to be more than we are, by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Mary, refuge of sinners, Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Come Holy Spirit, overshadow us, form Jesus in us, spiritually as you formed Jesus in Mary physically. Send us with haste to bring Him into the world.
Jesus we trust in You! We give ourselves to the Father with you, in you, through Mary, by the power of Your Holy Spirit.