Dec. 2 - Day 5 of "Emptying ourselves..."

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We continue our Journey towards Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, this Advent, whether for the first time or renewing this beautiful gift of “True Devotion” given to St. Louis de Montfort for the Church.

In explaining our first 12 days, on this Preparation journey, St. Louis urges us in paragraph 227:

…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.

Yesterday I quoted from paragraph 13 of his Introduction in True Devotion and today I want to quote from the last paragraph in Chapter 1 in which he describes the great saints God will raise up:

1. Lastly, we know they will be true disciples of Jesus Christ, imitating his poverty, his humility, his contempt of the world and his love. They will point out the narrow way to God in pure truth according to the holy Gospel, and not according to the maxims of the world. Their hearts will not be troubled, nor will they show favour to anyone; they will not spare or heed or fear any man, however powerful he may be. They will have the two-edged sword of the word of God in their mouths and the blood-stained standard of the Cross on their shoulders. They will carry the crucifix in their right hand and the rosary in their left, and the holy names of Jesus and Mary on their heart. The simplicity and self-sacrifice of Jesus will be reflected in their whole behaviour.

Such are the great men who are to come. By the will of God Mary is to prepare them to extend his rule over the impious and unbelievers. But when and how will this come about? Only God knows. For our part we must yearn and wait for it in silence and in prayer: “I have waited and waited.”

By God’s Grace and the intercession of our Mother, let us begin to “see” by the Supernatural Faith of our Baptism, the difference between the “spirit of the world which is opposed to Christ” and the beauty of God’s Spirit which Jesus spoke from His Cross to John and all of us:

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Behold Your Mother.

 

[hazcompat]

imitation of Christ : Book 3, Chapter 40​

Wherefore, but I did know well, how to cast from me all human comfort, either for the sake of devotion, or through the necessity by which I am compelled to seek Thee, because there is no man that can comfort me. Then might I deservedly hope in Thy favor, and rejoice in the gift of a new consolation. Thanks be to Thee from Whom all things proceed, as often as it happens to me. I, indeed, am but vanity, and nothing in Thy sight , an inconstant and weak man. Where, therefore, can I glory, or for what do I desire to be thought of highly?

Forsooth of my very nothingness; and this is most vain. Truly vainglory is an evil plague, because it draws away from true glory, and robs us of heavenly grace. For, while a man takes complacency in himself, he displeases Thee; while he wants for human applause, he is deprived of true virtues. But true, glory and holy exultation is to glory in Thee, and not in one’s self; to rejoice in Thy Name, but not in one’s own strength. To find pleasure in no creature, save only for Thy sake. Let Thy Name be praised, not mine; let Thy work be magnified, not mine; let Thy Holy Name be blessed, but let nothing be attributed to me of the praise of men. Thou art my glory; Thou art the exultation of my heart; in Thee, will I glory and rejoice all the day; but for myself, I will glory in nothing but in my infirmities.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear hazcompat,

It seemed to me, Thomas a Kempis was the probable author of “The Imitation of Christ”, but I wanted to check and make sure. In the The Encyclopedia Brittanica I found:

Thomas À Kempis , original name Thomas Hemerken , (born 1379/80, Kempen, near Düsseldorf, Rhineland [Germany]—died Aug. 8, 1471), Christian theologian, the probable author of Imitatio Christi
(Imitation of Christ), a devotional book that, with the exception of the Bible has been considered the most influential work in Christian literature.

Thomas lived centuries before St. Louis but he wrote, by God’s Grace, in a similar way – to help other Christians hear the Truth of God’s Plan for us. We were created to know, love and serve Him and not to extol ourselves, or seek honor for ourselves, rather Thomas learned from God the Truth, and wrote the truth he heard:

… But true, glory and holy exultation is to glory in Thee, and not in one’s self; to rejoice in Thy Name, but not in one’s own strength. To find pleasure in no creature, save only for Thy sake. Let Thy Name be praised, not mine; let Thy work be magnified, not mine; let Thy Holy Name be blessed, but let nothing be attributed to me of the praise of men. Thou art my glory; Thou art the exultation of my heart; in Thee, will I glory and rejoice all the day; but for myself, I will glory in nothing but in my infirmities.

Thanks for posting this excerpt from the “Imitation of Christ”. I hope it will help many to “see” as well as “Hear” God’s Wisdom given to those who truly seek Him.