Mar.10 - Day 7 - Last day of Wk 1 - "seeking true self-knowledge"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Although this is the last day of Wk 1 in our 33 Day journey, it is not the last day of battle against the wrong “self-love” which we face throughout life on earth. Today’s Gospel helps us “see” by faith how Jesus continues to teach us how to be meek and humble of heart as He is and as Mary shows us by her faithful and humble following of Jesus to the end of her life on this earth:

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

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… 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.

Litany of the Holy Spirit see HERE

Ave Maris Stella see HERE

Litany of the Blessed Virgin see HERE

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear KBS

Thanks so much for your “faith-full” heart. It is important it seems to me tor all of us to be growing in those supernatural gifts of Faith, Hope and Charity, infused into our souls at Baptism in potency. We need to listen to Jesus as we heard in Sunday’s Gospel, words spoken to us from the Father:

This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased. LISTEN to Him!

How we all need to pray to the Holy Spirit to activate within us those supernatural gifts of faith, hope and above all Charity that our hearts may be truly open to “see” with eyes of faith, and “hear” with the ears of our hearts, the Truth God has revealed in His Word made Flesh – Jesus – the Word Incarnate – conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary Immaculate.

That word “LISTEN” impressed me so much last Sunday as I heard the Gospel, It was sad to me that in the homily our pastor did not mention the word “Listen” more than once. I was really saddened more as I continued to wait for him to stress our need to “Listen”. Instead I heard what I know I’ve done myself in the past and that is to consier my own opinions, talking to myself about myself, and thinking I was praying.

When Jesus speaks in the Gospel we can believe Him, and hope inHim and Love Him, because He IS the Truth and our Way and our Life. Why would we choose to to prefer ourselves? Mary our Mother gives us her perfect and purely human example in Scripture. Her words in reply to her cousin Elizabeth in Luke’s Gospel can help us:

“My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior, He looks on His servant in her lowliness, henceforth all ages will call me blessed…” (Lk 1: 46-48)

Mary Mother and Model for the Church, pray for us that we may like you, by God’s Grace, Listen to all Jesus says and does in order that like you we may ponder all in our hearts and learn to do the Truth we hear from Him.

 

[hazcompat]

Lumen Gentium
Chapter VIII

1. This most Holy Synod deliberately teaches this Catholic doctrine and at the same time admonishes all the sons of the Church that the cult, especially the liturgical cult, of the Blessed Virgin, be generously fostered, and the practices and exercises of piety, recommended by the magisterium of the Church toward her in the course of centuries be made of great moment, and those decrees, which have been given in the early days regarding the cult of images of Christ, the Blessed Virgin and the saints, be religiously observed.(22*) But it exhorts theologians and preachers of the divine word to abstain zealously both from all gross exaggerations as well as from petty narrow-mindedness in considering the singular dignity of the Mother of God.(23*) Following the study of Sacred Scripture, the Holy Fathers, the doctors and liturgy of the Church, and under the guidance of the Church’s magisterium, let them rightly illustrate the duties and privileges of the Blessed Virgin which always look to Christ, the source of all truth, sanctity and piety. Let them assiduously keep away from whatever, either by word or deed, could lead separated brethren or any other into error regarding the true doctrine of the Church. Let the faithful remember moreover that true devotion consists neither in sterile or transitory affection, nor in a certain vain credulity, but proceeds from true faith, by which we are led to know the excellence of the Mother of God, and we are moved to a filial love toward our mother and to the imitation of her virtues.