Feb. 26 - Day 7

[MariaChristi]

Dear All,

Following St. Louis De Montfort's "True Devotion" for these first 12 days to "empty ourselves of the spirit of the world which is opposed to the spirit of Jesus", I continue reading from Chap. 2:

63. Here I turn to you for a moment, dear Jesus, to complain lovingly to your divine Majesty that the majority of Christians, and even some of the most learned among them, do not recognize the necessary bond that unites you and your Blessed Mother. Lord, you are always with Mary and Mary is always with you. She can never be without you because then she would cease to be what she is. She is so completely transformed into you by grace that she no longer lives, she no longer exists, because you alone, dear Jesus, live and reign in her more perfectly than in all the angels and saints. If we only knew the glory and the love given to you by this wonderful creature, our feelings for you and for her would be far different from those we have now. So intimately is she united to you that it would be easier to separate light from the sun, and heat from the fire. I go further, it would even be easier to separate all the angels and saints from you than Mary; for she loves you ardently, and glorifies you more perfectly than all your other creatures put together.

It seems to me that the "spirit of the world" is a proud and self-centered spirit. It is opposed to the meek and humble spirit of Jesus who came to us, fulfilling the Will of His Father, born of Mary and dependent upon her as her Child. How I need to ponder this beautiful and unique union of Jesus and Mary more, to empty myself of all that may oppose Jesus' spirit of humility, love and obedience to the will of His Father and His loving dependence on His Mother! How I need to "Behold my Mother Mary" with deeper faith, hope and love in order to be more united to Jesus as she is!

O Jesus, living in Mary, come and live in your servants, in the spirit of holiness, in the fullness of your power, in the perfection of your ways, in the truth of your virtues, in the communion of your mysteries. Rule over every adverse power, in your Spirit, for the glory of the Father. Amen. --Prayer of Jean Jacques Olier, S.S. (1608-1657)

 

[Stylteralmaldo]

…dear Jesus…even some of the most learned among them, do not recognize the necessary bond that unites you and your Blessed Mother…

Consider reading this article and perhaps this statement makes an even deeper connection to the meaning of it:

livescience.com/23490-fetal-dna-mom-brain.html

A mother may always have her children on her mind, literally. New findings reveal that cells from fetuses can migrate into the brains of their mothers, researchers say.

It remains uncertain whether these cells might be helpful or harmful to mothers, or possibly both, scientists added.

Recent findings showed that during pregnancy, mothers and fetuses often exchange cells that can apparently survive in bodies for years, a phenomenon known as microchimerism. Scientists had found that in mice, fetal cells could even migrate into the brains of mothers. Now researchers have the first evidence fetal cells do so in humans as well.

The investigators analyzed the brains of 59 women who had died between the ages of 32 and 101. They looked for signs of male DNA ―which, they reasoned, would have come from the cells of sons. (They searched for male DNA because female DNA would have been harder to distinguish from a mother’s genes.)

Nearly two-thirds of the women — 37 of the 59 — were found to have traces of the male Y chromosome in multiple regions of their brains. This effect was apparently long-lasting: The oldest female in whom male fetal DNA was detected was 94…

 

[Margaret22]

What a blessing to find this thread! I am also on Day 7 of Marian Consecration. The book I am using is one I picked up at the Give and Take bookshelf at our church: “33 Days to Morning Glory”. I actually have St. Louis de Montfort’s book also, but I have not read it. You have inspired me to do some more reading in that book. Even when I think I have made great progress in ridding myself of the spirit of the world, inevitably something comes along to remind me that I have a very long way to go! I suppose that is the nature of our journey.

On a related side note, I think going to Walmart may qualify as a near occasion of sin for me, as I do not seem to be able to enter and exit with my children without losing my temper and/or patience. Though it is the only discount store around here and the prices of so many things are so much higher at the grocery store, I have decided I am going to have to stop going there and just adjust the budget in some other way. Perhaps one day I will be spiritually advanced enough to be able to enter Walmart!

What is written here about the cells of mother and child is fascinating as well!

 

[marywarfield]

Day 7 and today’s Mass reading from St. James
on the importance of living one day at a time fits
in well with letting go of worldly desires. What else
does the world do BUT make us anxious about tomorrow
and the future with it’s constant insistence on next
month next year and by the time I’m 65 I will have
accomplished this and that?

 

[MariaChristi]

Consider reading this article and perhaps this statement makes an even deeper connection to the meaning of it:

livescience.com/23490-fetal-dna-mom-brain.html

Dear Stylteralmaldo,

Thanks, I had read that article not too long ago, and was impressed with the findings. Thanks for posting it to this thread. How often it happens that scientific evidence surfaces to agree what we believed by God’s Grace.

 

[MariaChristi]

What a blessing to find this thread! I am also on Day 7 of Marian Consecration. The book I am using is one I picked up at the Give and Take bookshelf at our church: “33 Days to Morning Glory”. I actually have St. Louis de Montfort’s book also, but I have not read it. You have inspired me to do some more reading in that book. Even when I think I have made great progress in ridding myself of the spirit of the world, inevitably something comes along to remind me that I have a very long way to go! I suppose that is the nature of our journey.

On a related side note, I think going to Walmart may qualify as a near occasion of sin for me, as I do not seem to be able to enter and exit with my children without losing my temper and/or patience. Though it is the only discount store around here and the prices of so many things are so much higher at the grocery store, I have decided I am going to have to stop going there and just adjust the budget in some other way. Perhaps one day I will be spiritually advanced enough to be able to enter Walmart!

What is written here about the cells of mother and child is fascinating as well!

Dear Margaret,

Thanks for your reply. St. Louis de Montfort’s book is a “life-changer”. I’m so happy to know you are spending time reading his words.

It is very difficult to raise children (or in my case to try and help grandchildren) when the culture is “screaming” at them. Nevertheless, by God’s Grace, we can prayerfully speak to children and teens or even older members of our families about the differences in the spirit of Jesus and the spirit of the world. Of course we do this in age appropriate ways, and as the Holy Spirit prompts us. Not every time is the best time to speak, but God does provide us with opportunities.

Our own prayerfulness and example are very important, so as you continue reading and praying over these days of preparation, trust the Lord to be working in you and through you for your children.

 

[MariaChristi]

Day 7 and today’s Mass reading from St. James
on the importance of living one day at a time fits
in well with letting go of worldly desires. What else
does the world do BUT make us anxious about tomorrow
and the future with it’s constant insistence on next
month next year and by the time I’m 65 I will have
accomplished this and that?

Dear marywarfield,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, the “spirit of the world” is always anxious about self, to the neglect of God’s Will. By God’s Grace, may we learn to seek first His kingdom.