Feb. 21 - Day 2

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday, I began reading prayerfully, Chapter 1 of St. Louis De Montfort's "True Devotion" in order to learn by God's Grace more about "emptying myself of the spirit of the world which is opposed to the spirit of Jesus". I stopped at paragraph 18, because I wanted to ponder the spirit of Jesus:

1. God the Son came into her virginal womb as a new Adam into his earthly paradise, to take his delight there and produce hidden wonders of grace.

God-made-man found freedom in imprisoning himself in her womb. He displayed power in allowing himself to be borne by this young maiden. He found his glory and that of his Father in hiding his splendours from all creatures here below and revealing them only to Mary. He glorified his independence and his majesty in depending upon this lovable virgin in his conception, his birth, his presentation in the temple, and in the thirty years of his hidden life. Even at his death she had to be present so that he might be united with her in one sacrifice and be immolated with her consent to the eternal Father, just as formerly Isaac was offered in sacrifice by Abraham when he accepted the will of God. It was Mary who nursed him, fed him, cared for him, reared him, and sacrificed him for us.

The Holy Spirit could not leave such wonderful and inconceivable dependence of God unmentioned in the Gospel, though he concealed almost all the wonderful things that Wisdom Incarnate did during his hidden life in order to bring home to us its infinite value and glory. Jesus gave more glory to God his Father by submitting to his Mother for thirty years than he would have given him had he converted the whole world by working the greatest miracles.How highly then do we glorify God when to please him we submit ourselves to Mary, taking Jesus as our sole model.

St. Louis de Montfort's words touched my heart as I realized more deeply how much God loved the world that He sent His Son to save us. Remembering the Gospel accounts of Jesus' Incarnation and His perfect humility in becoming so tiny and vulnerable and so dependent on Mary, His Mother -- who is at the same time His little creature -- I remembered Jesus' words to His disciples: "Learn of Me, for I am Meek and Humble of Heart".

The "spirit of the world" is opposed to the spirit of Jesus for it is more concerned with self-love than with God's Love and God's Will. The "spirit of the world" loves to be proud, boastful and vain about itself, rather than to seek God or love of others for God's sake. Jesus' spirit loves His Father and willingly "empties" Himself. Jesus is our model.

Pondering still further the meaning of the "world", I remembered God created the world as good and the first man and woman as very good, but when they sinned, the world became a different place. There continued to be beauty but sin distorts so much of the world that we read in the First Letter of John, what our attitude towards a sinful world needs to be. Even while, by God's Grace, we strive to love God and others as Jesus loved us, we need to hear the Truth of His Word:

1John 2:15 - 17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful. Kindle in us the fire of your love. Teach us to discern in ourselves whatever may be "opposed to the spirit of Jesus" and by your power may we empty ourselves.

 

[fencersmother]

I’m doing the Consecration too… though I admit I didn’t ponder the words much yesterday.

Want to keep a vigil together?

 

[tawny]

Praying.

 

[MariaChristi]

I’m doing the Consecration too… though I admit I didn’t ponder the words much yesterday.

Want to keep a vigil together?

Dear fencersmother,

It’s important to “make time” to pray and ponder God’s Truth. In reading True Devotion, we share the fruits of St. Louis de Montfort’s prayer as we listen to what God has revealed to Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you listen as you read. HERE is the link again to the online version of True Devotion.

In preparing to pray our Act of Consecration on March 25, we noted that St. Louis wrote that the first 12 days “emptying ourselves” of the spirit of the world which is opposed to the spirit of Jesus, as he wrote about in the first part of his book. Chapters 1 and 2.

Please, could you explain your question: “Want to keep a vigil together?” Thanks.

 

[MariaChristi]

Praying.

Dear tawny,

Thanks for praying.

 

[svid2]

Pax Christi!

Offering prayers!

I, too, am consecrated to our Lord through our Lady, though not á la de Montfort.

God bless!!

 

[MariaChristi]

Pax Christi!

Offering prayers!

I, too, am consecrated to our Lord through our Lady, though not á la de Montfort.

God bless!!

Dear svid,

Thanks so much for offering your prayers. May I ask: how and when did you consecrate yourself to our Lord through our Lady? Did you perhaps pray St. Maximillian Kolbe’s Act of Consecration? I have consecrated myself using his prayer also, and believe that for me it was like a “completion” of the Act of Consecration by St. Louis de Montfort.

 

[svid2]

Pax Christi!

Actually, I’ve found several prayers of consecration; apparently one can use any one, or more, of these. Originally I used the prayer found at www.fatima.org (yes, I know that Father Gruener is controversial, but this website is orthodox). There is also, for example, a prayer of consecration on EWTN’s website (click on ‘Devotions’). St. Maximillian’s prayer is not familiar to me. Where can I find it?

Rosary time…

God bless.

 

[MariaChristi]

Pax Christi!

Actually, I’ve found several prayers of consecration; apparently one can use any one, or more, of these. Originally I used the prayer found at www.fatima.org (yes, I know that Father Gruener is controversial, but this website is orthodox). There is also, for example, a prayer of consecration on EWTN’s website (click on ‘Devotions’). St. Maximillian’s prayer is not familiar to me. Where can I find it?

Rosary time…

God bless.

Dear svid,

The Act of Consecration by St. Maximillian Kolbe can be found, along with an explanation of it HERE

The uniqueness of the Consecration which St. Louis de Montfort wrote is, I think, his book True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary in which he shows how it differs from false devotions. If you have never read this little book, I would encourage you to read it slowly and prayerfully. It can be a real “life changer”. Bl. John Paul II wrote that reading St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion” as a young man was a "turning point in his life.

May we all continue to grow in our devotion to Mary who always brings us closer to Jesus her Son.