Dec. 11 - Wk 1 - Day 2 - seeking true knowledge of self

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

When I began to make this 33 Day Preparation, for renewing my Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, many years ago, this first week was the hardest for me – just as “emptying myself of the spirit of the world, which opposes the Spirit of Christ” was hard, neither can be accomplished in a “short time” but are to be, by God’s Grace, continually growing within us.

God has told us “Be Holy as I am Holy” (cf Lev 11: 44 and in 1 Peter 1:16) we hear Him in both Old and New Testaments of Scripture yet today and everyday we find ourselves often too busy to listen. Let us resolve that this Advent will be different! Let us truly listen to God as He spoke through His Son Jesus Who came to us through Mary. Let us listen to the Saints who listened and like St. Louis de Montfort shared God’s Wisdom with His Church.

Let us hear Jesus telling us: “Learn of Me for I am Meek and Humble of Heart…” Let us ask Mary our Humble Mother to intercede for us as we seek a true knowledge of ourselves that we may repent and by God’s grace renounce all that is not “Holy” in ourselves – and humbly seek His Truth in our hearts, as God intends us to do.

It is only his suggestion to us but it is good for us to consider what St. Louis de Montfort wrote in “True Devotion”:

1. Our best actions are usually tainted and spoiled by the evil that is rooted in us. When pure, clear water is poured into a foul-smelling jug, or wine into an unwashed cask that previously contained another wine, the clear water and the good wine are tainted and readily acquire an unpleasant odour. In the same way when God pours into our soul, infected by original and actual sin, the heavenly waters of his grace or the delicious wines of his love, his gifts are usually spoiled and tainted by the evil sediment left in us by sin. Our actions, even those of the highest virtue, show the effects of it. It is therefore of the utmost importance that, in seeking the perfection that can be attained only by union with Jesus, we rid ourselves of all that is evil in us. Otherwise our infinitely pure Lord, who has an infinite hatred for the slightest stain in our soul, will refuse to unite us to himself and will drive us from his presence.

Come Holy Spirit, fill us with the Fire of Your Love. Jesus we trust in You. Mary our Mother, intercede for us.

Links to Prayers to be offered each day this week:
Litany of the Holy Spirit
Ave Maris Stella
Litany of the Blessed Virgin

 

[hazcompat]

Imitation of Christ : Book 3, Chapter 13​

Of the Obedience of One in Humble Subjection,
After the Example of Jesus Christ

My son, he that endeavoreth to withdraw himself from obedience, withdraweth himself from grace; and he who seeketh for himself private benefit (Matt. 16:24), loseth those which are common. He that doth not cheerfully and freely submit himself to his superior, it is a sign that his flesh is not as yet perfectly obedient unto him, but oftentimes kicketh and murmureth against him. Learn thou therefore quickly to submit thyself to thy superior, if thou desire to keep thine own flesh under the yoke. For more speedily is the outward enemy overcome, if the inward man be not laid waste. There is no worse nor more troublesome enemy to the soul than thou art unto thyself, if thou be not well in harmony with the Spirit. It is altogether necessary that thou take up a true contempt for thyself, if thou desire to prevail against flesh and blood. Because as yet thou lovest thyself too inordinately, therefore thou art afraid to resign thyself wholly to the will of others. And yet, what great matter is it, if thou, who art but dust and nothing, subject thyself to a man for God’s sake, when I, the Almighty and the Most Highest who created all things of nothing, humbly subjected Myself to man for thy sake?

I became of all men the most humble and the most abject (Luke 2:7; John 13:14), that thou mightest overcome thy pride with My humility. O dust! learn to be obedient. Learn to humble thyself, thou earth and clay, and to bow thyself down under the feet of all men. Learn to break thine own wishes, and to yield thyself to all subjection.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear hazcompat,

Thanks again for another excerpt from “The Imitation of Christ”. How well the words of the author fit our first week of seeking to know ourselves truly by God’s Grace!

…There is no worse nor more troublesome enemy to the soul than thou art unto thyself, if thou be not well in harmony with the Spirit. It is altogether necessary that thou take up a true contempt for thyself, if thou desire to prevail against flesh and blood. Because as yet thou lovest thyself too inordinately, therefore thou art afraid to resign thyself wholly to the will of others. And yet, what great matter is it, if thou, who art but dust and nothing, subject thyself to a man for God’s sake, when I, the Almighty and the Most Highest who created all things of nothing, humbly subjected Myself to man for thy sake?

I became of all men the most humble and the most abject (Luke 2:7; John 13:14), that thou mightest overcome thy pride with My humility. O dust! learn to be obedient. Learn to humble thyself, thou earth and clay, and to bow thyself down under the feet of all men. Learn to break thine own wishes, and to yield thyself to all subjection.

Holy Mary, Mother of God on this memorial of your apparition to St. Juan Diego at Guadalupe, help us to be humble as was he whom you tenderly called your “Juanito”