Mar. 8 - Wk 1 - Day 5 - "To acquire knowledge of ourselves and sorrow for our sins"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It is no “surprise” to me that the Scriptures for Mass today are so helpful on our journey, prescribed by St. Louis de Montfort in his treatise on True Devotion. He was steeped in Scripture and sought to live the Truth he heard and to practice what he preached. He shared the “Good News” of Jesus in his Missions especially to lay persons like us, at a time God desired him to tend Jesus’ flock. God continues to teach us through saints like this champion of Mary!

The first line of the First Reading at Mass struck me as special “food for the journey”:

Thus says the Lord GOD:
Cry out full-throated and unsparingly,
lift up your voice like a trumpet blast;
Tell my people their wickedness,
and the house of Jacob their sins…

We cannot acquire knowledge of ourselves without “hearing” God’s Word of Truth and His Holy Spirit to “convict us of our sins” (cf Jn 16)

We need to repent of our selfishness:

…Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits…

Continuing where we left off yesterday, in Chap. 2, of his treatise we hear St. Louis de Montfort, preach:

Fourth principle: It is more humble to have an intermediary with Christ

1. It is more perfect because it supposes greater humility to approach God through a mediator rather than directly by ourselves. Our human nature, as I have just shown, is so spoilt that if we rely on our own work, effort and preparedness to reach God and please Him, it is certain that our good works will be tainted and carry little weight with Him. They will not induce Him to unite Himself to us or answer our prayers. God had his reasons for giving us mediators with him. He saw our unworthiness and helplessness and had pity on us.…

From the Responsorial Psalm:

For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

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.

 

[hazcompat]

My wife and I celebrated our 37th anniversary on ash Wednesday. We had the privilege of mass with the grade school children. Father told them soon he would put a cross of ashes on their foreheads. He said tonight when you wash it let it flow into your hearts. Keep it there through lent, that you might share in the Joy of His resurrection on Easter Sunday!

Christ reigns from the cross.
Christ reign in my Heart!

Peace

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear hazcompat,

Our anniversaries are likewise blessed, but we have not yet caught up to yours. My husband and I celebrated our 35th Anniversary, last year. In some ways it seems like yesterday – time moves so quickly.

Thanks for your sharing the thoughts of Father in addressing the children at Mass. How very important it is to impress them early with the knowledge that God dwells in them by their Baptism! What a miracle! How important for all of us to spend Lent remembering how much God loved us in sending Jesus through Mary!

Preparing for our renewal of Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, during this season of Lent is so helpful. I am “hearing with the ears of my heart” so much more
in this first week, than I have ever heard before in making this 33 Day Preparation/Journey. There will be two renewals of Baptism, since I will renew my Baptismal Promises in my Act of Consecration on Mar. 25 and then renew again my Baptismal Promises with the entire Church on Easter.

Perhaps Father will remind the Children of what he told them on Ash Wednesday, when he sprinkles Holy Water on the Congregation for Easter. May all of us keep the Cross in our minds and hearts, not only during Lent, but each day as we draw closer to our own “resurrection”.

“O Jesus, living in Mary, come and live in your servants, in the spirit of holiness, in the fullness of your power, in the perfection of your ways, in the truth of your virtues, in the communion of your mysteries. Rule over every adverse power, in your Spirit, for the glory of the Father. Amen.” – Prayer of Fr. Olier

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear CajunJoy,

Thanks for your “heart” to indicate that you liked the words in the post. Could you share what it was that you particularly liked? It might be helpful to us all.