"slave?"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It helps me to begin my computer work by listening first to each day’s Mass Readings. Although I “read” the words from the computer with my eyes, I know that faith comes through hearing and hearing through the Word of God, so I want to “hear” in my heart, whatever God is saying to me in Holy Scripture. Today I was blessed in hearing:

Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus,
called to be an Apostle and set apart for the Gospel of God,
which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
the Gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh,
but established as Son of God in power
according to the Spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we have received the grace of apostleship,
to bring about the obedience of faith,
for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles,
among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;
to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

It blessed me to hear our brother, St. Paul, call himself a slave of Jesus Christ! I was reminded immediately of people who object to the word “slave” in St. Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary when St. Louis speaks of holy slavery in one’s total consecration to Jesus and Mary. I believe that St. Paul and St. Louis and all the saints learned by the power of the Holy Spirit to “see” with eyes of faith, and “hear” with the ears of their hearts, the great love of God who in loving the world so much sent His Son to be a “slave” for us. St. Paul again (Phil. 2: 5-8), wrote:

Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.

It is no wonder to me that in preparing to consecrate oneself to Jesus though Mary, St. Louis de Montfort urges us to “empty ourselves” of the spirit of the world which is contrary to the spirit of Christ. To live as a slave of Jesus and Mary is to live as Christ lived in this world, obedient to the Father’s Will and as Mary lived, following Jesus as He perfect disciple. Mary also lived obedient to the Father, calling herself His handmaid (which can be translated “slave-girl”). Many people today have becomes slaves to their own desires for money, power or pleasure but how is it some still fear to give themselves completely to Jesus and Mary, and in so doing, find the true freedom and liberty of the children of God?

“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)