Feb. 28 - Day 9 on our journey

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

St. Louis de Montfort has written, in his treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin that Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary is a perfect renewal of our Baptismal promises. In these 12 days of “striving to empty ourselves of the spirit of the world”, we see how far we have come from our Baptismal innocence and how far many others have also wandered away from God in their love for the world. How we need to pray on our journey toward God!

In Chapter 2, of True Devotion, St. Louis continues to help us understand:

… It is difficult to persevere in holiness because of the excessively corrupting influence of the world. The world is so corrupt that it seems almost inevitable that religious hearts be soiled, if not by its mud, at least by its dust. It is something of a miracle for anyone to stand firm in the midst of this raging torrent and not be swept away; to weather this stormy sea and not be drowned, or robbed by pirates; to breathe this pestilential air and not be contaminated by it. It is Mary, the singularly faithful Virgin over whom Satan had never any power, who works this miracle for those who truly love her.

It is one of the “favorite tools of satan” and his angels to tempt us to be discouraged. When we look around us at the world in such confusion and even some in the Church confused as well, we can begin to feel helpless and give up the fight against evil — which is exactly the goal of satan and his followers. That is not the Way, the Truth and the Life of Jesus. God so loved the world He gave His Son to redeem us and to enable us to become holy as God is holy. We are all called to holiness and by His grace, we have begun to seek in earnest to empty ourselves of the spirit of the world, which is opposed to the spirit of Jesus. Let us pray to Mary our Mother, given to us by Jesus that we may see, in her example, the Model for the Church. Let us say our “yes” with her today, that God’s Holy Spirit may bring us into all truth, and we may do the truth we hear from Him, lovingly, as Mary did on this earth.

 

[mommaoffaith]

Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Her purity helps to cleanse some of the world and her protection is infinite.

 

[hazcompat]

I took the journey with you last year. Today I feel Her intercession and meditate on the wedding feast at Cana.

Peace

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear mommaoffaith,

Thanks so much for your reply. In the week dedicated to seeking knowledge of Mary, St. Louis de Montfort encourages us to spend time pondering all the beauty of Mary’s gifts from God. Certainly her purity is something the world needs to “see” through the Church. So many of us have fallen short of hearing and doing the truth of Jesus’ words to John: “Behold your Mother”.

By God’s Grace may we continually plead with the Holy Spirit to inspire us to do as Mary did on this earth, pondering, in her pure heart, all Jesus said and did.

We are almost at the end of this preliminary period of 12 days, seeking to empty ourselves of the spirit of the world, then we begin the first week of seeking to know ourselves, the second week seeking greater knowledge of Mary and finally the third week seeking greater knowledge of Jesus. Hope you will continue to follow our journey to Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. Kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Hazmat,

Thanks for your reply; it is always good to hear from you. I have lost count of the number of times I have made this journey and/or the number of times I have shared the 33 day preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary. I do know that each time has been unique for me as God’s Mercies are new every morning.

In the more recent years, I have found the great similarity in this 33 day journey and the truth of Spiritual Growth in the classic stages of which the saints have written in different works. Certainly St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bernard, and others wrote about the stages of spiritual growth: Purgative (or beginner’s) stage, the Illuminative (or intermediate) stage and the Perfect stage.

The preliminary 12 days seeking to empty oneself of the spirit of the world and first week seeking self-knowledge seem to resemble the Purgative stage; the second week, seeking a greater knowledge of Mary resembles the Intermediate stage and the third, seeking greater knowledge of Jesus the final Perfect stage. Of course these are all the work of a lifetime and yet the Lord is Faithful to enable our growth in holiness. He does not command the impossible in commanding us to be holy as He is Holy!

May He find in us humble servants who are continuing to say"Yes" as Mary did to all He wills directly or permits in our lives. He works all things unto good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (cf Rom 8:28). The Gospel of John shows us the beauty of Mary’s words to the servants at Cana: “Do whatever He tells you”.