Feb. 22 - Day 3 - "emptying oneself of the 'spirit of the world'..."

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we continue our journey as St. Louis de Montfort described in “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary”.

These first 13 days show us a daily, crucial choice : “Whom shall I serve?” The Lord said we cannot serve two masters. Do I serve God with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength? Or do I compromise with the world, imbibing “the spirit of the world” which opposes Christ? St. Louis urges us to empty ourselves of the “spirit of the world” and choose One Master, Jesus Christ. He wrote “True Devotion” to show us how! Chapter 1- “Necessity of Devotion to Our Lady” :

Mary’s part in the sanctification of souls

1. The plan adopted by the three persons of the Blessed Trinity in the Incarnation, the first coming of Jesus Christ, is adhered to each day in an invisible manner throughout the Church and they will pursue it to the end of time until the last coming of Jesus Christ.
2. God the Father gathered all the waters together and called them the seas (maria). He gathered all his graces together and called them Mary (Maria). The great God has a treasury or storehouse full of riches in which he has enclosed all that is beautiful, resplendent, rare, and precious, even his own Son. This immense treasury is none other than Mary whom the saints call the “treasury of the Lord”. From her fullness all men are made rich.
3. God the Son imparted to his mother all that he gained by his life and death, namely, his infinite merits and his eminent virtues. He made her the treasurer of all his Father had given him as heritage. Through her he applies his merits to his members and through her he transmits his virtues and distributes his graces. She is his mystical channel, his aqueduct, through which he causes his mercies to flow gently and abundantly.
4. God the Holy Spirit entrusted his wondrous gifts to Mary, his faithful spouse, and chose her as the dispenser of all he possesses, so that she distributes all his gifts and graces to whom she wills, as much as she wills, how she wills and when she wills. No heavenly gift is given to men which does not pass through her virginal hands. Such indeed is the will of God, who has decreed that we should have all things through Mary, so that, making herself poor and lowly, and hiding herself in the depths of nothingness during her whole life, she might be enriched, exalted and honored by almighty God. Such are the views of the Church and the early Fathers.

Words in bold are words I emphasized because they encourage me in this battle we all face – to persevere in the Supernatural Faith, Hope and Charity, God infused into us at Baptism., enabling us to grow in holiness. Dying on the Cross, Jesus told us:

Behold your Mother

Mary, Mother and Model of the Church pray for us. Come Holy Spirit, fill the Hearts of Your Faithful; kindle in us the Fire of Your Love! Jesus, we trust in You! Father, your kingdom come, Your will be done in us!