Nov.24 -- Wk 1 - Day 4: "Seeking true knowledge of self"

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

St. Louis de Montfort, writing his treatise on True Devotion, wrote not only having received it through Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium (teaching authority of the Church) but also from his own experience in living God’s Truth. He shares what he has learned and what he has experienced:
  1. My dear friend, be sure that if you remain faithful to the interior and exterior practices of this devotion which I will point out, the following effects will be produced in your soul:
1. Knowledge of our unworthiness

By the light which the Holy Spirit will give you through Mary, his faithful spouse, you will perceive the evil inclinations of your fallen nature and how incapable you are of any good apart from that which God produces in you as Author of nature and of grace. As a consequence of this knowledge you will despise yourself and think of yourself only as an object of repugnance. You will consider yourself as a snail that soils everything with its slime, as a toad that poisons everything with its venom, as a malevolent serpent seeking only to deceive. Finally, the humble Virgin Mary will share her humility with you so that, although you regard yourself with distaste and desire to be disregarded by others, you will not look down slightingly upon anyone.
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How important it is for us to be faithful to the graces God offers us! Let us pray to receive from Him today an increase in the virtue of true humility, which seeks to love God above all and especially as St. Augustine expressed it: the City of God is built by those who love God to the contempt of self. The City of man is built by those who love self to the contempt of God. We can only serve one master, as Jesus told us. By God’s grace and the intercession of Mary, may we serve God and not “self”.

Litany of the Holy Spirit
Ave Maris Stella
Litany of the Blessed Mother
 
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Thanks for “your heart”, dear Greenfields, – I see you’ve found today’s thread! The Lord always provides what we truly need! 🙂
 
Am sorry I haven’t been keeping up so well.

I am just finishing the first week tonight, but it’s been a little difficult visiting the site over the holiday.

It would be difficult to sum up the progress of the first twelve days, the first week or the entire prayer so far.

I’m an accountant by trade, so I am always interested in keeping track of things. Probably the greatest blessing so far was - and I know it sounds a bit ridiculous - but, when I lost track of the days, I actually had to go to Google Calendar and write in every day’s number starting with my target day (i.e. the Feast of the Immaculate Conception), and then working backwards to the present. In the future, I will make this one of my first steps, and I’ll probably also include a link to a daily journal. This is sort of how I “keep office” when I am at work, so it wouldn’t be too hard to journal my daily prayers, reflections and revelations in the same way - without losing focus of a future goal.

Somehow - when I let go - I always seem to lose what I accomplish in looking forward and basically doing the work of the prayer over the 33 Days. It’s helpful, I think, it one sets an easy going schedule ahead of time (simply by noting the number of the days in a calendar); and, then, when one prays, if one wants, one can make a few notes on one’s progress as a minor examen. While by no means obligatory - this is one way I think can help deepen the experience; and, the memories may prove wonderful in later prayers, or so I hope! 🙂

In any case, I enjoy saying the prayers, especially in terms of music, so I have been keeping focused on the hymns and music I enjoy. The humility of the first week - when seeking true knowledge of self - can sometimes be a bit hard, but it also brings forth so many good blessings. The sentiments that have been revealed to me so far are absolutely wonderful, and they make this 33 devotion worth saying over and over, again and again.

Our own ideas are rather vain. It is only when the Lord builds the house that our efforts matter - for he is mighty, while we are weak… often, it seems, the hard part is just seeing through our own vanity and conceit (so we can set it aside) that is the hard part… And, then, when our minds are clear, we can look upon the gifts God gives us in truth…

Totus Tuus.

Wm
 
Dear William,

Thanks so much for your reply. It is understandable that your work and/or family obligations can be heavier at this time of year. Marking the calendar has helped me too. I haven’t needed to do it this time for the simple reason that I’ve been steadily decreasing the “many things” I’ve tried to do in the past.

Jesus’ words to Martha about being too busy about many things is meant for every soul – not just for women! 🙂 However, I admit we women may be more easily moved to serve as many as possible, as often as possible, with as much as possible – but in the doing forget the One Who is Necessary!!!

Yes, agreed: the First week is hard, yet by God’s Grace, we can grow in our love for the Way of the Cross, the Way of Suffering, the Way Who is Jesus. Today is the Feast of Christ the King, and His crown on this earth is one of thorns. Please let us continue to pray for one another, and for the Church, and for all those in most need of God’s Mercy.

Thanks again for loving Jesus through Mary…
Totus Tuus
 
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I’m sure you mean well by contributing this passage by St. Louis de Montfort but I think it bears pointing out that the view conveyed in it is rather one-sided, and tends toward the Lutheran.

There is indeed much that one must (and will) come to despise in oneself. But one must at the same time also discover one’s innate dignity as the Image of God, one’s capacity to know and cultivate one’s bond with God, and one’s potential to be transformed into a saint gradually but surely. Without the recognition of these gems inside oneself, distaste for one’s evil tendencies can become an unhealthy obsession that will actually hinder, not further, one’s spiritual journey.

Furthermore, regarding oneself with distaste while “not look[ing] down slightingly upon anyone” is also rather unbalanced. There is much evil in the world, and to live out of the view that one is a vile creature oneself while others deserve nothing but esteem is warped. It is quite out of touch with how the world and the people in it really are. Do not accord great esteem where little or none is due.

In short, to “think of yourself only as an object of repugnance”, as St. Louis De Montfort’s rather extreme advice seems to be, is not to be recommended.
 
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The Lord Is King!

Remember what I told you before, that Mary is the great, unique mold of God, designed to make living images of God at little expense and in a short time. Anyone who finds this mold and casts himself into it, is soon transformed into our Lord because it is the true likeness of him.

Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort

Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary § 260.2
 
Dear hazcompat,

Thanks so much for quoting that passage from St. Louis De Montfort. It is one of my “favorite quotes” from True Devotion, but then again, there are many words God gave this holy priest as he pondered prayerfully, and learned from Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium. 🙂
 
Dear Roguish,

St. John Paul II wrote that reading St. Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion was a “turning point in his young life” He chose for his Papal Motto: “Totus Tuus” (All Yours) taken directly from St. Louis. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta encouraged her Missionaries of Charity to read St. Louis de Montfort and she quoted words from St. Louis de Montfort’s treatise, so I’m happy to be in their company quoting this Saint too. 🙂

Perhaps you’ve never read the whole treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin” written by St. Louis de Montfort, nor have a familiarity with his 33 day Preparation toward Consecrating oneself Totally to Jesus through Mary. If you could take some time to read more of his treatise, you may see it not as “one-sided” but rather fully focused on doing God’s Will and encouraging others to “see” more deeply into the spiritual life and the holiness to which we are called.

If you only read this one excerpt, then you may not be understanding the whole of his treatise, nor why there is a real need for us to be aware of the importance of true self-knowledge. St Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross and many of the saints have written in a similar way, to help us understand that the greatest obsatcle to our holiness is our “disordered self-love”. In both the Old and New Testament God tells us: “Be Holy as I am Holy”. (cf Lev. 11:44 and 1 Pet 1:16) Jesus Himself told His disciples: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Mt 16:24).

If you have read “True Devotion” in its entirety just once, and didn’t seem to be impressed by its depth, perhaps like the servant of God Frank Duff, you my need to read it more than once before realizing, as he did, that it is true! He wrote of his experience after reading the treatise at least half a dozen times. His article can be read HERE The wisdom of the saints is important and many of us have found St. Louis de Montfort to be a blessing in our lives. I hope you will read more of his work and grow to appreciate him more.
 
Don’t worry. A lot of people don’t understand St Louis’ works today.

I can understand why you may want to resist the devotion, but someone who likens themselves to a rogue probably betrays a want for the very same thing you reject.

You make three arguments: 1.) a historical reference to Luther, 2.) something that sounds like a one-sided want for politically correct language, and 3.) a sort of modern psychological justification dressed up like religion.

Here’s the apologetics for each.

1.) The reference to Luther is interesting, but perhaps only slightly relevant. St Louis’ doctrine was part of the French School of Theology, which was an initiative started by St Francis De Sales in his treatise “The Introduction to the Devout Life”, as a part of the counter-reformation. A Fr Henri-Marie Boudon furthered St DeSales writings in a very little known work called “The Holy Slavery of the Admirable Mother of God”. St Louis considered Fr Boudon a mentor, and it was from these earlier, counter-reformation treatises that St Louis writings emerged. In gently ministering to counter-reformation issues, such as Jansenism and contemporary Theologians like Pascal, it would be inevitable there would be overlapping terms and similarities in language - but their actual intent of the arguments is different. Suffice it to say, the church has already scrutinized them far more than we ever will in this thread, and St Louis is a Saint with a statue standing in the Vatican. You can trust their conclusions over your own.

2.) Fr Boudon’s and St Louis’ language is hard on the politically correct perversions of the modern ear. God forbid - with respect to racism - someone should use the term slavery today, right? Or, if we more accurately speak of St Louis “love slavery”, people immediately jump to ideas of fetishism, pornography, sex slavery, human trafficking, etc… But such an understanding would be like equating the Blessed Mother with a pimp or a prostitute. St Louis doctrine makes it perfectly clear St Mary would not exploit perversion when he instead explains how she fosters virtues; and - if (on the other hand) you thought of her as the one exploited and objectified - you’d have to deal with St Michael. The Blessed Mother is the Immaculate Conception. She prays for those who have recourse to her.

3.) A psychologically poor self-image? Rubbish. If, therefore, I - whom am my own worst enemy - compare myself with the dignity and grace of the Queen of Heaven, Angels and Saints, The Mother of God and the Queen of Hearts… I’d say, yeah, I could use a spiritual makeover, and - if I were to do it right - she’d be a pretty good soul to show me the way… Never… never-never-ever… never-forget… the best blessings come from the Blessed Mother… As the Mother of God - she knows every corner of Heaven and Earth - so, if you want the best blueberries, the prettiest flowers, the kindest and most charitable mercies and blessings straight from the heart of God… She’ll show you where they come from…

Blessings to you!

Wm
 
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Roguish said:
In short, to “think of yourself only as an object of repugnance”, as St. Louis De Montfort’s rather extreme advice seems to be, is not to be recommended.
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And - just out of curiosity - not recommended by who?
 
I’m a few days ahead of MC in this devotion (Day 23), and last night’s reading (Day 22) seems to answer your concern.

Listen to the first 2m15s (that’s not a lot), and you’ll see the beautiful image consecrated devotees have. It is truly a gift from God. And - aside from God Himself - the Blessed Mother is of incomparable beauty. All else pales in comparison. And, yet, while this beauty is beyond all esteem, it is something we nevertheless wish (and, in fact, are obliged) to sharing with others.


I hope my post wasn’t too harsh. We are, however, right in the middle of a lengthy prayer, and we need to keep persevering.

This devotion both is and isnt for the weak. It is because the weak are the one’s, like me, who most need the benefits it brings. It isn’t for the weak because - really, I admit, even I have trouble with the rigor and the language sometimes, and I have been consecrated for around 5 years now…

I guess, I probably got defensive because I dont want anything to detract from our efforts, so I wanted to let you know I apologize.

God’s Blessings Be Upon You!

Wm
 
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