Day 7 - Aug. 19

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We begin a new day, by God’s Grace, and continue journeying to Him, through Mary. It is such a gift God gives us everyday - the gift of natural life, yes, but even more wonderful the supernatural life He gives in Baptism. Jesus said to the woman at the well (cf John 4) “If you but knew the Gift of God!” The living water Jesus gives is His Life, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that water we first received in Baptism. St. Louis de Montfort was given grace to see in a profound way that Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary is a perfect renewal of our Baptismal promises.

If we were baptized as infants, others made those vows for us, but at our Easter Liturgy we renew those promises for ourselves. When asked: “Do you renounce satan?” We say, “I do”. “And all his works?” “I do” “And all his empty promises?” “I do”. If we were baptized as adults we said the words for ourselves, and by grace, we renew them.

Next, we are asked to affirm our faith: “Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth” “I do” “Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died and was buried, rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of the Father? “I do” Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?” “I do”.

Pondering these promises this morning, it seems to me the first three questions have much to do with our 12 preliminary days of preparation: the spirit of the world, we try to rid ourselves of, is the spirit of satan. By God’s Grace, we must renounce him, and all his works, and all his empty promises. We are faced with evil in the world satan has continued to deceive from the time of our first parents. Lies continue for all who will listen and are willing to believe satan, his works, and his empty promises.

But, let us rejoice in God’s Truthful Word:

… God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God…(John 3: 16 - 20)

Mary, Mother of the Church, intercede for us, that we may not be deceived, that we not prefer darkness to the Light of Christ.
Come Holy Spirit, kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Purify our hearts to see in God’s Light and choose God’s Truth as Mary did.