Dec. 7 - Day 10 on the journey -- recalls the attack on Pearl Harbor

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

How sad a day when our Country was attacked and experienced the horror of a second world war. Yet how fervently we prayed and what courage our country and other countries showed in the effort to make things right! Thanks be to God, efforts were not in vain, but so many paid the ultimate price with their lives.

It reminds me of an even sadder and more horrific act of aggression when the evil one, deceived and tempted our first parents into the sin of disobedience and they fell, taking with them all the children of the world into terrible darkness.

Ah but, just as the world rejoiced at the end of that war, so when we read the Gospel we rejoice in hearing:

For 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.

Most people today however are beginning to “forget God” or have never heard Him in the Gospel. Some have heard but refuse to believe. Still God remains Faithful. St. Louis de Montfort in writing his treatise on True Devotion was given much Wisdom from God to share with the Church in every age after writing and preaching on it in the 1700’s. He was given much insight by God into Scripture and the writings of Saints - especially those who also had a great Devotion to Mary.

We need to think of the courage of men and women fighting in wartime – realizing that we continually are called into the battle against evil in this world. That is why St. Louis urges his readers in preparing to consecrate themselves totally to Jesus through Mary to take 12 days to "empty themselves of the spirit of the world that is opposed to the Spirit of Jesus. Jesus went into battle for us and He continues to plead before the Father in Heaven with Mary that we may follow Him.

St. Louis speaks of the courage we need in our battles:

Mary’s power over the evil spirits will especially shine forth in the latter times, when Satan will lie in wait for her heel, that is, for her humble servants and her poor children whom she will rouse to fight against him. In the eyes of the world they will be little and poor and, like the heel, lowly in the eyes of all, down-trodden and crushed as is the heel by the other parts of the body. But in compensation for this they will be rich in God’s graces, which will be abundantly bestowed on them by Mary. They will be great and exalted before God in holiness. They will be superior to all creatures by their great zeal and so strongly will they be supported by divine assistance that, in union with Mary, they will crush the head of Satan with their heel, that is, their humility, and
bring victory to Jesus Christ.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful, kindle in us the fire of Your Love!