Feb. 22 - Day 3 of journey to Consecration

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

St. Louis de Montfort’s method of 33 days preparation for consecrating oneself totally to Jesus through Mary is a “gift” to the Church. Near the close of his treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin in which he explains so well, why this devotion is so important and in what it consists, he offers us a method to undertake the practice of this True Devotion. Let me repeat, again, his words from “True Devotion” on how to begin:

1. Preparation and Consecration

1. Those who desire to take up this special devotion … should 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. They should then spend three weeks imbuing themselves with the spirit of Jesus through the most Blessed Virgin…

In paragraphs 228 through 233 St. Louis gives more details on the three weeks which follow this preliminary period of 12 days spent 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.”

During these 12 days, I believe St. Louis wants us to draw closer to the God who dwells within us and seek the Truth which only He can teach us about ourselves and our relationship with the world. Each of us was uniquely created by Him, in His Image and Likeness. He has made us a new creation in Baptism. Our total Consecration made (or renewed) on March 25 is intended to be a perfect renewal of our Baptismal promises.

These 12 preliminary days are meant to help us recognize the “spirit of the world” which is “of the world” and “not of Christ”. We were baptized into Christ and so we need His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth about Christ and also about the world. What is the “spirit of the world” that is in us, that we need to empty if we are to grow in Christ, and not be “worldly”. I quoted yesterday form the First Letter of John because God’s Word describes the Spirit of the world so well.

St. Augustine also spoke in terms of “two cities” being built in this world. There is the “City of God” built by those who love God to the contempt of self, and there is the “city of man” being built by those who love self to the contempt of God. Looking at the world around us we see much self-seeking and it is growing. Which city are we building? May the Holy Spirit help us to see ourselves as God sees us, and help us to empty ourselves of whatever may oppose the Spirit of Christ. His is the Spirit of Love and of Gift. Come, Holy Spirit!

Mary, our Mother, in you we see our Model. Intercede for us, that by God’s Grace we may “see” and begin to “empty” ourselves of what is “of the world” which opposes Christ. We thank you for your Immaculate Heart and for all your love of God and us. May Your Immaculate Heart triumph over sin in us and in all souls in need of God’s Mercy.

 

[patricius79]

Thanks, MariaChristi. That is helpful.

By the way, as I understand it, the Montfort Fathers recommend–for those who are able–praying the Veni Creator, the Magnificat, and the Ave Maris Stella during this period.

Here is the Veni Creator:

Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God’s hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father, Thou
Who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above,
and make our hearts o’erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven.
Amen.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks, MariaChristi. That is helpful.

By the way, as I understand it, the Montfort Fathers recommend–for those who are able–praying the Veni Creator, the Magnificat, and the Ave Maris Stella during this period. Here is the Veni Creator:

Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God’s hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father, Thou
Who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above,
and make our hearts o’erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven.
Amen.

Thanks for your reply, Brother Pat.

St. Louis de Montfort mentions prayers during the first, second and third weeks but does not mention specific prayers for the preliminary period of 12 days as he described in paragraph 227. However in paragraph 228 he wrote:

1. During the first week they should offer up all their prayers and acts of devotion to acquire knowledge of themselves and sorrow for their sins.

Let them perform all their actions in a spirit of humility. With this end in view they may, if they wish, meditate on what I have said concerning our corrupted nature, and consider themselves during six days of the week as nothing but sails, slugs, toads, swine, snakes and goats. Or else they may meditate on the following three considerations of St. Bernard: “Remember what you were - corrupted seed; what you are - a body destined for decay; what you will be -food for worms.”

They will ask our Lord and the Holy Spirit to enlighten them saying, “Lord, that I may see,” or “Lord, let me know myself,” or the “Come, Holy Spirit”. Every day they should say the Litany of the Holy Spirit, with the prayer that follows, as indicated in the first part of this work. They will turn to our Blessed Lady and beg her to obtain for them that great grace which is the foundation of all others, the grace of self-knowledge. For this intention they will say each day the Ave Maris Stella and the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.

It seems to me that St. Louis intended that persons desiring to practice this devotion should spend those first 12 days drawing closer to the indwelling Lord. Only He knows each of us so intimately that He can show us “what needs to be emptied from our hearts” so "that we do not keep holding on to “the spirit of the world”.

If we become too engrossed in too many prayers (as beautiful as they are) we can become distracted from listening to God’s “still small voice”. Asking humbly, “God, help me empty myself of the spirit of the world” may be enough. Jesus told us to ask that we may receive. A sincere longing for Him, can kindle in us the Fire of His Love and give us enough light to look at ourselves and see who we truly are in God’s eyes, and what we need to let go of or empty out of our heart’s desires. You are free of course to pray as the Lord leads you. I’m simply trying to follow the directions of St. Louis as he wrote them.

The 12 preliminary days help us take a definite step away from “worldliness”. We need to determine whom we serve and whose city we are building Our ultimate goal is a perfect renewal of our Baptism and we begin by emptying ourselves of all that opposes the Spirit of Jesus. Of course we can’t complete this in 12 days, it’s an “ongoing conversion” of heart. Nevertheless the 12 days gives us a good start. Some may have more to empty than others, but God gives the graces needed by each one.

 

[patricius79]

Thanks dear Sister, Maria. I guess I conflated what St. Louis actually required with what the Montfort Fathers recommend. I guess that does make things a lot more clear and free to let Mary and her Spouse, the Holy Spirit, guide us according to Christ’s will for us.

Probably the most important verbal part of the prayer during these 33 days is simply invoking the most-holy names of Mary and Jesus, along with the Rosary, which I also find very helpful, though it appears–correct me if I’m wrong–that St. Louis does not ask that we pray the Rosary until later on, during only one of the weeks.

It’s good praying this with you and others so I don’t get mixed up or overburden myself

Peace of Mary and Jesus,

Pat

 

[patricius79]

In my last post, I meant to say

“Probably the most important verbal part of the prayer for me personally during these 33 days is simply invoking the most-holy names of Mary and Jesus,…”

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks dear Sister, Maria. I guess I conflated what St. Louis actually required with what the Montfort Fathers recommend. I guess that does make things a lot more clear and free to let Mary and her Spouse, the Holy Spirit, guide us according to Christ’s will for us.

Probably the most important verbal part of the prayer during these 33 days is simply invoking the most-holy names of Mary and Jesus, along with the Rosary, which I also find very helpful, though it appears–correct me if I’m wrong–that St. Louis does not ask that we pray the Rosary until later on, during only one of the weeks.

It’s good praying this with you and others so I don’t get mixed up or overburden myself

Peace of Mary and Jesus,

Pat

Dear Brother Pat,

Yes, the De Montfort Fathers do “recommend” more than De Montfort himself, so as you said, you probably conflated them. It is a help to pray together on the journey. Thanks.

 

[MariaChristi]

In my last post, I meant to say

“Probably the most important verbal part of the prayer for me personally during these 33 days is simply invoking the most-holy names of Mary and Jesus,…”

Yes, dear brother, I understood. Thanks again.