I have a hard time believing

[AveSantaMaria]

I read an excerpt of St. Louis Mary de Montfort’s The Love of Eternal Wisdom considered by some (perhaps himself?) to be his most important book - more important than True Devotion to Mary montfort.org.uk/Writings/TrueDev.htmlsince devotion to the Mother of the Word ought to lead us to the Word himself. While reading this excerpt I thought of this thread. I hope that you will not mind if I share. May the Holy Spirit through the Immaculate Heart of Mary bless us with the graces that we most desperately need!!

1. We read in the life of Blessed Henry Suso, a Dominican friar, that in his eagerness to possess Wisdom, he often offered himself to undergo any torment in return for his friendship. One day he said to himself, “Do you not know that lovers endure suffering upon suffering for the sake of the one they love? For them wakeful nights are pleasant, fatigue is delightful, labour is restful, once they are assured that the one they love is pleased and grateful. If men go to such lengths to please a mere mortal, are you not ashamed to show weakness in your resolve to obtain Wisdom? No, eternal Wisdom, I will never falter in my love for you, even though I have to plunge through thicket and bush to reach you, even though I have to undergo a thousand torments in body and soul. I will always prize your friendship more than anything else on earth and you will always have the first place in my affections.”

1. While travelling a few days later, he fell into the hands of robbers who beat him so unmercifully that they themselves could not help pitying him. Seeing himself in such a state, Henry Suso forgot his resolution to be brave no matter what might happen and gave way to deep depression, weeping and wondering why God had afflicted him in this way. As he pondered over his plight, he fell asleep. Early next morning he heard a voice reproaching him, “Look at this warrior of mine. He can scale mountains, climb over rocks, break into strongholds, cut to pieces his enemies when everything is going right for him. But when he meets with adversity his courage fades and he is helpless and useless. In time of consolation he is a fierce lion, but in time of tribulation he is a timid deer. Wisdom does not share his friendship with such faint-hearted cowards.” At this reprimand, Blessed Henry confessed he was wrong in giving way to excessive discouragement, and went on to ask divine Wisdom to allow him to weep and so unburden his heart weighed down by grief. “No,” replied the voice, “all the saints in heaven would lose their respect for you, were you to cry like a baby or a woman. Wipe away your tears and show the world a cheerful face.”

1. The cross, then, is the portion and reward of those who desire or already possess eternal Wisdom. But our loving Saviour numbers, weighs and measures everything and sends crosses to his friends in proportion to their strength, and tempers them with divine unction to such an extent that their hearts are filled with joy.

ewtn.com/library/Montfort/lew.htm#Six

*Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. *

Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse. Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse. Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.

For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world! For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world! For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

*Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. *

 

[wcknight]

I’m reminded of an interesting story I heard. I think it was in a sermon. Some soul was complaining to God about all his troubles, so God takes him to this tree where everyone hangs their list of troubles, and then they get to choose which list they would prefer. But every soul takes back their own list rather than exchange it for someone else.

For me, childhood was fairly miserable. Always being small and short made me the target for bullies. I was invariably the smallest kid in every class, always chosen last for games or to be left out entirely. (I was the human Rudolph of parochial schools -absent the glowing red nose) I was a sickly child with a poor appetite and a bit of a spoiled brat at home (although at the time I didn’t think I was spoiled.)

I could have turned out to be a real loser or sociopath. Thank God I didn’t (at least I think, I didn’t). It seems that whatever went wrong in the past motivated me to succeed later on. My embarassments on the play ground made me more determined to succeed in the classroom.

Someone looking at my life now would say I’ve had it easy and I would tend to agree with them. There have been some bumps in the road. I’ve had plenty of faults to overcome, but I’ve also been really blessed with plenty of resources and support.

Some folks appear to be on the short end of the stick while other seem to have it all. Some are saddled with handicaps or severe health poblems, while others are perfectly healthy. Some range from extremely poor to insanely wealthy.

It reminds me of those games where you have to choose some combinations of attributes, which set is better. Do you really want everything to be very positive ? Afterall Jesus tells us “it is harder for a rich man to get to Heaven…” Doesn’t that imply mean that it is much easier for a poor man to get to Heaven ??

It seems to me that if everything is too easy for you, then your chances of getting to Heaven are greatly reduced. In the long run that puts you at much greater risk than you would want to be.

I’ve got enough problems in life, do I really want great wealth to go along with it ? I think, I’m pretty happy with where I’m at, so I think I’ll take my own troubles off the tree too.