Day 13 (Week 1: True knowledge of self) on 33 Day Journey

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

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.

Many persons find the saints’ words harsh, but when we think of Jesus on the Cross who was made sin for us, who was like a worm not a man (as Psalm 22 describes), we are more willing to see what sin is and what it has done to us. We don’t see or hear much repentance in our world, or sorrow for sin. Rather, we encounter again the spirit of the world which lies to make evil look good, and make good look evil. Much of our world does not recognize sin at all.

This week, St. Louis de Montfort does mention specific prayers for us, in order to help us acquire true knowledge of self and sorrow for our sins. He encourages us to ask the Holy Spirit: “Lord, that I may see” or “Lord let me know myself” or “Come Holy Spirit” - Daily we pray The Litany of the Holy Spirit, that we may see ourselves as God sees us. For this prayer, see HERE
He further tells us to implore Our Lady to obtain for us that great grace which is the foundation of all others, the grace of self-knowledge, and for this intention we pray daily Ave Maris Stella, see HERE and the Litany of Our Lady HERE

By God’s Grace, let us set aside some time today or this evening to pray these prayers with attention and devotion. You may want to space them out and pray part in the morning and part at night --whatever the Holy Spirit inspires is best. Quiet time is important to pray with a full heart, and to mean the words we pray.

This morning’s Mass Readings and commentary were especially beautiful and helpful to me in beginning this Day and this Week. See HERE Please let us continue to pray for one another and for all those in most need of God’s Mercy. Thanks so much, dear companions on this journey.