Dec. 15 - Wk 1 - Day 6 - of Advent Journey

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Let us continue to listen to the Wisdom God gave to St. Louis de Montfort in “True Devotion”, as we seek to know ourselves and become more humble:

1. Our Lord is our Advocate and our Mediator of redemption with God the Father. It is through Him that we must pray with the whole Church, triumphant and militant. It is through Him that we have access to God the Father. We should never appear before God, our Father, unless we are supported by the merits of His Son, and, so to speak, clothed in them, as young Jacob was clothed in the skin of the young goats when he appeared before his father Isaac to receive his blessing.
2. But have we no need at all of a mediator with the Mediator Himself? Are we pure enough to be united directly to Christ without any help? Is Jesus not God, equal in every way to the Father? Therefore is He not the Holy of Holies, having a right to the same respect as His Father? If in His infinite love He became our security and our Mediator with His Father, whom He wished to appease in order to redeem us from our debts, should we on that account show Him less respect and have less regard for the majesty and holiness of His person?

Let us not be afraid to say with St. Bernard that we need a mediator with the Mediator Himself and the divinely-honored Mary is the one most able to fulfill this office of love. Through her, Jesus came to us; through her we should go to Him. If we are afraid of going directly to Jesus, who is God, because of His infinite greatness, or our lowliness, or our sins, let us implore without fear the help and intercession of Mary, our Mother. She is kind, she is tender, and there is nothing harsh or forbidding about her, nothing too sublime or too brilliant. When we see her, we see our own human nature at its purest. She is not the sun, dazzling our weak sight by the brightness of its rays. Rather, she is fair and gentle as the moon, which receives its light from the sun and softens it and adapts it to our limited perception.**

She is so full of love that no one who asks for her intercession is rejected, no matter how sinful he may be. The saints say that it has never been known since the world began that anyone had recourse to our Blessed Lady, with trust and perseverance, and was rejected. Her power is so great that her prayers are never refused. She has but to appear in prayer before her Son and He at once welcomes her and grants her requests. He is always lovingly conquered by the prayers of the dear Mother who bore Him and nourished Him.

Jesus said from His Cross to John and to all of us: “Behold your Mother” so that we could “see” by Supernatural Faith, what we are called to be as human persons. Let us ponder the Words of St. Louis in order to do the Truth we hear from Jesus.

Prayers to be offered daily in Wk 1: Litany to the Holy Spirit, Ave Maris Stella and Litany of the Blessed Virgin.

 

[hazcompat]

Luke 17:1—10​

On Leading Others Astray​

And he said to his disciples: It is impossible that scandals should not come: but woe to him through whom they come. It were better for him, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones.

On Brotherly Correction​

Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother sin against thee, reprove him: and if he do penance, forgive him. And if he sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day be converted unto thee, saying, I repent; forgive him.

The Power of Faith​

And the apostles said to the Lord: Increase our faith. And the Lord said: If you had faith like to a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this mulberry tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou transplanted into the sea: and it would obey you.

Humble Service​

But which of you having a servant ploughing, or feeding cattle, will say to him, when he is come from the field: Immediately go, sit down to meat: And will not rather say to him: Make ready my supper, and gird thyself, and serve me, whilst I eat and drink, and afterwards thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant, for doing the things which he commanded him? I think not. So you also, when you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do.

Imitation of Christ : Book 3, Chapter 47​

That All Grievous Things Are to Be Endured For the Sake of Eternal Life

My son, be not wearied out by the labors which thou hast undertaken for My sake, nor let tribulation cast thee down ever at all; but let My promise strengthen and comfort thee under every circumstance. I am well able to reward thee, above all measure and degree. Thou shalt not long toil here, nor always be oppressed with griefs. Wait a little while, and thou shalt see a speedy end of thine evils.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear hazcompat,

Thanks for the quotes, which can help us on our Advent Journey, seeking especially those virtues mentioned as we are seeking tur knowledge of self.

God knows every heart and He wants to draw us to Himself through Mary. As He came to us through her so it is fitting we go to Him through her! Let us rejoice in her as His Gift, knowing His Love fills her heart which she willingly shares with all her children who come to her for help.