Mar. 3 - Day 12 - "emptying oneself of the 'spirit of the world'

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today is the last of 12 preliminary days which St. Louis de Montfort wrote are to be spent in “emptying ourselves of the spirit of the world which is opposed to the spirit of Jesus”, as he recommends in True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin. He continued:

…They should then spend three weeks imbuing themselves with the spirit of Jesus through the most Blessed Virgin. Here is a programme they might follow:

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…

God willing, tomorrow we continue the journey, having learned in these 12 days more about the spirit of the world. By God’s Grace, we’ll seek to acquire a true knowledge of ourselves to keep journeying toward the Spirit of Jesus living in us. The Mass Readings for today help us to learn more by Listening to God’s Words which are Spirit and Life for us.

Reading 1

When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear;
so do one’s faults when one speaks.
As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace,
so in tribulation is the test of the just.
The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had;
so too does one’s speech disclose the bent of one’s mind.
Praise no one before he speaks,
for it is then that people are tested. - Sirach 27 : 4-7

Responsorial Psalm, Reading 2 and the Alleluia Verse can be found HERE

Gospel

Jesus told his disciples a parable,
"Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.

“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.” - Luke 6: 39 - 45

We thank you Lord for Your Word and for the Mother of Your Word, given to us that You may reign in us, and speak through us. Be our One Master!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear CameHome, Tower_of_David and lilypadrees,

Thanks again for your hearts to let me know that you liked the post for this 12th Day of our Journey. As it has been for some years now, each time I make the journey I learn more and this year continues in God’s Grace, given through Mary.

May we be ever grateful to God Who is Love for sending Jesus through Mary to save us. By His grace may we remain in Him, daily growing in Supernatural Faith, Hope and above all Divine Charity.