Mar 6 - Wk 1 - Day 3 - (Ash Wednesday) - to acquire knowledge of ourselves and sorrow for our sins

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Mass Readings for Ash Wednesday are so very appropriate for this Wk 1 of our journey. See HERE.

St. Louis de Montfort, encourages us to prayerfully seek true self-knowledge in order to repent of our sins – preparing to renew our Baptism by our Total Consecration. In his treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin” (Chapter 2) he wrote:

1. Our best actions are usually tainted and spoiled by the evil that is rooted in us. When pure, clear water is poured into a foul-smelling jug, or wine into an unwashed cask that previously contained another wine, the clear water and the good wine are tainted and readily acquire an unpleasant odour. In the same way when God pours into our soul, infected by original and actual sin, the heavenly waters of his grace or the delicious wines of his love, his gifts are usually spoiled and tainted by the evil sediment left in us by sin. Our actions, even those of the highest virtue, show the effects of it. It is therefore of the utmost importance that, in seeking the perfection that can be attained only by union with Jesus, we rid ourselves of all that is evil in us. Otherwise our infinitely pure Lord, who has an infinite hatred for the slightest stain in our soul, will refuse to unite us to himself and will drive us from his presence.
2. To rid ourselves of selfishness, we must first become thoroughly aware, by the light of the Holy Spirit, of our tainted nature. Of ourselves we are unable to do anything conducive to our salvation. Our human weakness is evident in everything we do and we are habitually unreliable. We do not deserve any grace from God. Our tendency to sin is always present. The sin of Adam has almost entirely spoiled and soured us, filling us with pride and corrupting every one of us, just as leaven sours, swells and corrupts the dough in which it is placed. The actual sins we have committed, whether mortal or venial, even though forgiven, have intensified our base desires, our weakness, our inconstancy and our evil tendencies, and have left a sediment of evil in our soul.

May the Holy Spirit bring us to His Truth about ourselves, by His Grace may we see ourselves in His Light.

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 true self-knowledge.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear McJenn and Francis,

Thanks for your “hearts” indicating you liked what the post contained on this Ash Wednesday. As mentioned in the opening sentence, The Mass readings are so appropriate – as Divine Providence is always Perfect – for our Wk 1 and day 3 of our Journey! Are either of you preparing also to consecrate or re-consecrate yourselves totally to Jesus through Mary on the Feast of the Annunciation? I hope so.

If you have time, I hope you’ll share something of your journey with us.

 

[hazcompat]

First reading (LOTH)
From the book of the prophet Isaiah
58:1-12
Concerning fasting that pleases God
…
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!

Peace

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks, dear hazcompat,

Indeed, the Word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

This Lent, may we open the ears of our hearts to His Truth, and by His Grace may we do the Truth we hear, lovingly.