Mar. 5 - Wk 1 - Day 2 - "to acquire knowledge of ourselves and sorrow for our sins"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This has usually been the hardest part of the Journey for me; I wonder if that is the experience of others. It is not too hard to see evil in the world, but when it comes to looking within myself – I find a reluctance to even want to gain that kind of knowledge! Yet by God’s Grace, I believe St. Louis de Montfort is right to set us on the journey with no “illusions”. If we are to have the spirit of Christ, we need to make room in our hearts and minds for Mary and for Him.

Jesus told us, “Without Me, you can do nothing” (Jn 15: 5) and so St. Louis exhorts us to pray:

228. 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.…

…They will ask our Lord and the Holy Spirit to enlighten them saying, “Lord, that I may see,” or “Lord, let me know myself,”…

… 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.

After John the Baptist had been arrested, Jesus began His preaching saying:

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt 4:17)

St. Louis reminds us of that Truth. If we are to enter into the kingdom of heaven it is be by the power of God, Who loved us so much He sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Who is The Way, The Truth and the Life for us. As John the Baptist told the crowds: “He must increase; and I must decrease”. Let us pray fervently that we may "acquire that knowledge of ourselves that we need in order to repent of our sins.

Litany of the Holy Spirit is found HERE

Litany of the Blessed Virgin - HERE

Ave Maris Stella - HERE

Since all graces come through her, let us turn to our Blessed Lady and beg her to obtain that great grace which is the foundation of all others, the grace of self-knowledge.

 

[Asonglaw]

My first time of praying the “Preparation for a Total Consecration according to St Louis Marie de Montfort”, I was mainly reading through than praying. The sentences within the booklet frightened me and I chose not to look too deep.
I began to see how She keeps my intentions in her prayers even after I have forgotten (hastily).

Against some of my diverse weaknesses and evils, which I had been fighting for so so long, I can now Identity and reject the subtle voice of the serpent before he can convince me of all the “merits” of every forbidden fruit .

I believe that this great success (and relief) is one of the benefits of Mary’s intercession.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Asonglaw,

Thanks so very much for your reply. Yes, how well Mary has learned from Jesus to tell us:

Let not your hearts be troubled. (Jn 14:1)

In her love for us, she patiently waits for us to hear the Holy Spirit telling us at the right moment in time, what she told the servants at Cana:

Do whatever He tells you. (Jn 2:5)

Prayer to the Holy Spirit is so important for us, for the Father and Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be another Advocate after Jesus’ Ascension, to be with us and bring us into ALL Truth.

Yes, when we pray the “Hail Mary” we need to pray with the supernatural Faith given to us at Baptism – believing Mary indeed prays for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. We do well to fly to her protection, knowing she will not despise our petitions but hear and answer them. Amen.

 

[hazcompat]

It is right to seek the aid of the Holy Spirit in this endeavor. (ROMANS
Chapter 8:26) Prayer is the point of departure, Faith the dark light in the desert, Union the goal. When you journey you must lay aside all preconception(Mt 10:10). Fearsome and foul our offenses which the Perfect God bears on Himself! How sweet the humble contrition (Ps 51:19). What love for our neighbor on the way of perfection.

Praise God. Thanks be to God!

Theotokos Pray for us!

Peace

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear hazcompat,

Thanks again for another reply.

Chapter 8 in Romans is one of my many favorites! Allow me to back up a bit from 8:26 and begin with 8:24:

24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees?

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.

26 In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.

27 And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.

28 We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.

Yes, Prayer is essential! In the darkness, we can only “see” by the light of faith and endure the desert. Union is our goal and He perfects us in stages. As St. John Vianney points out, "Prayer is nothing other than union with God. And St. Teresa of Avila recounts different stages of union in her final book, “The Interior Castle”. We are all called to holiness and union with God in the perfection of Charity! St. Catherine of Siena once said: "All the Way to heaven is heaven, for Jesus said, ‘I am the Way’. "

Jesus told us: This is My Commandment that you love one another as I have loved you! That is the journey of our lifetime. All Praise and Thanks to God for Loving us so much He gave us Jesus through Mary!

Jesus, we trust in You. Mary, Mother and Model of the Church, pray for us. St. Joseph, Guardian of the Child Jesus, and His Church, St. Louis de Montfort and all you holy Saints and Angels, pray for us.