Nov. 12 - Day 4: "emptying themselves of the spirit of the world which is opposed to the Spirit of Jesus"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

By God’s Grace, we continue our 33 Day Preparation Journey to Total Concescration, seeking to “empty” ourselves as St. Louis De Montfort directs us in paragraph 227 of his treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin.

It seems to me that many people in the world today , especially Catholics do not realize how “worldly” the Church has become. Pope Francis and Popes before him, throughout the history of our Catholic Church have warned us, but the consequences of Original Sin remain for us a battleground.

In every age, the evil one continues to prowl around “seeking whom he may devour”, as St Peter warned in his first letter:

… Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour…(1 Peter 5: 8)

St. Louis de Montfort wrote his treatise in the 1700’s yet his words speak to us today. Will we be “sober and vigilant” to hear what God tells us through this holy priest-saint? If you have never read his treatise then I hope you will take some time to read at least his “Introduction”. He begins with these words:

1. It was through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus came into the world, and it is also through her that he must reign in the world.

and he concludes his introduction thus:

1. And yet in truth we must still say with the saints: De Maria numquam satis : We have still not praised, exalted, honoured, loved and served Mary adequately. She is worthy of even more praise, respect, love and service.
2. Moreover, we should repeat after the Holy Spirit, “All the glory of the king’s daughter is within”, meaning that all the external glory which heaven and earth vie with each other to give her is nothing compared to what she has received interiorly from her Creator, namely, a glory unknown to insignificant creatures like us, who cannot penetrate into the secrets of the king.
3. Finally, we must say in the words of the apostle Paul, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has the heart of man understood” the beauty, the grandeur, the excellence of Mary, who is indeed a miracle of miracles of grace, nature and glory. “If you wish to understand the Mother,” says a saint, “then understand the Son. She is a worthy Mother of God.” Hic taceat omnis lingua : Here let every tongue be silent.
4. My heart has dictated with special joy all that I have written to show that Mary has been unknown up till now, and that that is one of the reasons why Jesus Christ is not known as he should be.

If then, as is certain, the knowledge and the kingdom of Jesus Christ must come into the world, it can only be as a necessary consequence of the knowledge and reign of Mary. She who first gave him to the world will establish his kingdom in the world.

Please let us ask the Holy Spirit for the graces we all need to hear and do God’s Truth. Let us pray fervently that we not listen to the lies of satan at work in the world opposing Jesus Who is the Truth. Let us listen to the wisdom God gives us through Mary and saints like St. Louuis de Montfort.

 

[Greenfields]

I don’t have any 'Likes" left MariaChristi,so thank you for your post ray:t2:

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Greenfields,

Well, I will share “Mary’s heart” with you, so how’s that? Thanks for taking time to read this post for Day 4 and for your prayer – that is the best gift we give one another, it seems to me.

In his “Supplement - This Devotion at Holy Communion” at the end of his treatise on “True Devotion” St. Louis de Montfort wrote these beautiful words:

… Implore Mary to lend you her heart so that you may receive her Son with her dispositions. Remind her that her Son’s glory requires that he should not come into a heart so sullied and fickle as your own, which could not fail to diminish his glory and might cause him to leave. Tell her that if she will take up her abode in you to receive her Son - which she can do because of the sovereignty she has over all hearts - he will be received by her in a perfect manner without danger of being affronted or being forced to depart. “God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved.”

Tell her with confidence that all you have given her of your possessions is little enough to honour her, but that in Holy Communion you wish to give her the same gifts as the eternal Father gave her. Thus she will feel more honoured than if you gave her all the wealth in the world. Tell her, finally, that Jesus, whose love for her is unique, still wishes to take his delight and his repose in her even in your soul, even though it is poorer and less clean than the stable which he readily entered because she was there. Beg her to lend you her heart, saying, “O Mary, I take you for my all; give me your heart.” ( from #4 in paragraph 226)

It is important for me to always remember Mary our Mother at Communion time, but at other times as well. Please let us continue to pray for one another for the Church and for all those in most need of God’s Mercy.