Oct. 20 - "...Nothing is more worthy of love than God and ..."

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Listening to St. Louis de Montfort’s “hard words” in True Devotion today, remember please he is speaking of our “tainted” nature, that is the consequence of Original sin. Though cleansed by Baptism and born again in Christ, we still suffer temprations and can fall. Let us ponder these “hard words” knowing, that Jesus gives us sufficient Grace to be Holy, but we must ask, to receive, seek to find, and keep knocking on the door for Him to openthe door, on our journey to be holy as He is Holy:

1. 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.

Our bodies are so corrupt that they are referred to by the Holy Spirit as bodies of sin, as conceived and nourished in sin, and capable of any kind of sin. They are subject to a thousand ills, deteriorating from day to day and harbouring only disease, vermin and corruption.

Our soul, being united to our body, has become so carnal that it has been called flesh. “All flesh had corrupted its way”. Pride and blindness of spirit, hardness of heart, weakness and inconstancy of soul, evil inclinations, rebellious passions, ailments of the body, - these are all we can call our own. By nature we are prouder than peacocks, we cling to the earth more than toads, we are more base than goats, more envious than serpents, greedier than pigs, fiercer than tigers, lazier than tortoises, weaker than reeds, and more changeable than weather-cocks. We have in us nothing but sin, and deserve only the wrath of God and the eternity of hell.

1. Is it any wonder then that our Lord laid down that anyone who aspires to be his follower must deny himself and hate his very life? He makes it clear that anyone who loves his life shall lose it and anyone who hates his life shall save it. Now, our Lord, who is infinite Wisdom, and does not give commandments without a reason, bids us hate ourselves only because we richly deserve to be hated. Nothing is more worthy of love than God and nothing is more deserving of hatred than self.

Come Holy Spirit enable us to Listen and ponder in our hearts as Mary did all Jesus said and did. Let us follow Him!

 

[hazcompat]

WORDS OF SAINT JOHN PAUL II

Mary, image of the Church, the Bride without spot or wrinkle, which by imitating you “preserves with virginal purity an integral faith, a firm hope and a sincere charity,” sustain consecrated persons on their journey towards the sole and eternal Blessedness.
To you, Virgin of the Visitation, do we entrust them, that they may go forth to meet human needs, to bring help, but above all to bring Jesus. Teach them to proclaim the mighty things which the Lord accomplishes in the world, that all peoples may extol the greatness of His name. Support them in their work for the poor, the hungry, those without hope, the little ones and all who seek your Son with a sincere heart. To you, our Mother, who desire the spiritual and apostolic renewal of your sons and daughters in a response of love and complete dedication to Christ, we address our confident prayer. You who did the will of the Father, ever ready in obedience, courageous in poverty and receptive in fruitful virginity, obtain from your divine Son that all who have received the gift of following Him in the consecrated life may be enabled to bear witness to that gift by their transfigured lives, as they joyfully make their way with all their brothers and sisters towards our heavenly homeland and the light which will never grow dim. (Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata , March 25, 1996, n. 112)

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear hazcompat,

Thanks again for sharing the words of Pope St. John Paul II (from his Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata, March 25, 1996, n 112). Pope St. John Paul II knew from his own relationship with Jesus through Mary, how important it was to enccourage those in the Consecrated Life – for he experienced what it is to seek the Lord with his Whole Heart!

He wrote in in his book , “Crossing the Threshold of Hope” that his reading of St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin” was for him, a “turning point” in his young life. His own Devotion to Mary led him to choose for his Papal Motto, “Totus Tuus” – words taken from St. Louis de Montfort: “Totally Yours”.

Although Pope JPII was specifically speaking in this exhortation to those consecrated in Religious LIfe, I think we can also apply his words to those Lay persons who have Consecrated themselves to Jesus through Mary by praying and living St. Louis de Montfort’s Prayer of Total Consecration. to Jesus through Mary,

Pope St. John Paul II’s Feast day is this week, Oct. 22 – how appropriate that it be celebrated during Mary’s Month of the Rosary!