Growing in knowledge...to grow in holiness!

[MariaChristi]

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Today we conclude Chapter 5 and begin Chapter 6 in St. Louis de Montfort’s treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin”":

1. Furthermore, once Mary has heaped her favours upon her children and her faithful servants and has secured for them the blessing of the heavenly Father and union with Jesus Christ, she keeps them in Jesus and keeps Jesus in them. She guards them, watching over them unceasingly, lest they lose the grace of God and fall into the snares of their enemies. “She keeps the saints in their fullness” (St. Bonaventure), and inspires them to persevere to the end, as we have already said.

Such is the explanation given to this ancient allegory which typifies the mystery of predestination and reprobation.

CHAPTER SIX - WONDERFUL EFFECTS OF THIS DEVOTION

1. My dear friend, be sure that if you remain faithful to the interior and exterior practices of this devotion which I will point out, the following effects will be produced in your soul:

1. Knowledge of our unworthiness

By the light which the Holy Spirit will give you through Mary, His faithful spouse, you will perceive the evil inclinations of your fallen nature and how incapable you are of any good apart from that which God produces in you as Author of nature and of grace. As a consequence of this knowledge you will despise yourself and think of yourself only as an object of repugnance. You will consider yourself as a snail that soils everything with its slime, as a toad that poisons everything with its venom, as a malevolent serpent seeking only to deceive. Finally, the humble Virgin Mary will share her humility with you so that, although you regard yourself with distaste and desire to be disregarded by others, you will not look down slightingly upon anyone.

The saints all agree that the knowledge of, and the battle against, our fallen nature, inherited through Original sin is so very important. However some people are “turned off” hearing the language St. Louis uses to describe our fallen nature. Still, we need to face the ugliness of sin which caused the awful sufferings of Christ. We do not hear much about the “ugliness of sin” or much about “sin” at all today – so much seems to be “ok” with most people. God help us to hear the Wisdom of the Saints and learn to hear what they heard from God.

Come Holy Spirit, help us to recognize and despise our sins, and choose God’s Way of Holiness.

 

[StephieNorthCo]

I have found, in my own journey, that knowledge is most helpful. As is humility, as you mention above.

I also suspect it is that lack of knowledge, and false humility (self righteousness) are severely detrimental to spiritual life. (Thinking street corner thumpers.)

Blessings,

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Stephie,

Thanks again for your “faithful heart” and for your reply. Yes, how very necessary knowledge – of God and self-knowledge is for every soul, on the journey home.

The Baltimore Catechism taught me as a child the answer to the first question: “Why did God make you?” and the answer: “God made me to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him forever in the next.”

The more we listen to Him as He reveals Himself in the Scriptures and through Mary, and all the Saints, the more humble we can become by His Grace.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear patricius,

Thank you for your “faithful heart” as well and for your devotion to Jesus through Mary.