"The Holy Spirit tells us...Wisdom is not found in the hearts of those who..."

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we begin Chapter 16 in St. Louis de Montfort’s book, “The Love of Eternal Wisdom”. His words will seem harsh to many – but the saint is speaking God’s Truth and like the prophets of old he may be misunderstood or his words dismissed by this generation.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

THE THIRD MEANS: UNIVERSAL MORTIFICATION

1. The Holy Spirit tells us that Wisdom is not found in the hearts of those who live in comfort, (Job 28.13) gratifying their passions and bodily desires, because “they who are of the flesh cannot please God,” and “the wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God.” (Rom 8.8,7) “My spirit will not remain in man, because he is flesh.” (Gen 6.3) All those who belong to Christ, incarnate Wisdom, have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. They always bear about in their bodies the dying of Jesus. They continually do violence to themselves, carry their cross daily. They are dead and indeed buried with Christ. (Gal 5.24; 2 Cor 4.10; Lk 9.23; Rom 6.4,8) These words of the Holy Spirit show us more clearly than the light of day that, if we are to possess incarnate Wisdom, Jesus Christ, we must practice self-denial and renounce the world and self.
2. Do not imagine that incarnate Wisdom, who is purer than the rays of the sun, will enter a soul and a body soiled by the pleasures of the senses. Do not believe that He will grant His rest and ineffable peace to those who love worldly company and vanities. “To him that overcomes the world and himself, I will give the hidden manna.” (Apoc 2.17) Although this lovable prince knows and perceives all things in an instant by His own infinite light, He still looks for persons worthy of him. (Wis 6.17) He has to search because there are so few and He can scarcely find any sufficiently unworldly or sufficiently interior and mortified to be worthy of Him, of His treasures, and of union with Him.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful; kindle in us, the Fire of Your Love. Jesus, without You we can do nothing. We trust You and hoping in Your Mercy, we ask for Your Wisdom to discern Truth in our lives. Show us how we can remain in You and in Your Words as Mary our Mother remained in You.
Mary Mother of the Church, pray for us.

“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.” – Fr. Olier’s prayer

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear TK421,

Thanks for your “heart”, which lets us know you read and appreciated the words of St. Louis de Montfort, as h pondered the Word of God in his book, “The Love of Eternal Wisdom”. Please let us pray for one another, for the Church and for all those in most need of God’s Mercy, through Mary our Mother.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

This is an interesting topic, and I know Lent is in our rear-view mirror, but my Lenten practices were I gave up wine and chocolate.

I actually felt better physically and mentally/spiritually (hey sometimes the Church actually knows what she’s doing LOL ).

At the same time, I’m a notorious stress-eater and I know psychiatry wasn’t a thing yet when DMontfort wrote his writings but I wonder what his take would have been on it this phenomenon.
I’m assuming he was writing more for the rich who had steady access to lots of food.
We live like that nowadays in the developed world, but back then, even the rich didn’t have cheap processed food like Twix bars and cheese balls you could just munch on all day

 

[adgloriam]

I find it brilliant to know you enjoy wine and chocolate.

We live like that nowadays in the developed world, but back then, even the rich didn’t have cheap processed food like Twix bars and cheese balls you could just munch on all day

St Luis Monfort lived at the turn of the 17 century, well after south American sugar cane had flooded the European markets. Traditional sugar pastry still beats any modern processed chocolate bar.

His words will seem harsh to many

This time I really appreciated the text @MariaChristi since it gives some value to certain forms of hardship. Thank you.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear OScarlett,

Thanks for your reply. It is a topic we seem only to hear much about during Lent, as you reminded me; but I think the word itself “Mortification” says it all to me. It has to do with dying to that “selfishness” that can keep us from the fullness of love for God and love for one another. “Prayer, fasting and alms-giving” are the traditional ways the Church encourages us to practice mortification during Lent, yet we can practice those three ways in considering St. Louis’ words from Scripture, everyday.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then He will repay everyone according to his conduct. --Mt. 16: 24 - 27

In paragraph #195 St. Louis de Montfort quotes from the last Book of the Bible:

“To him that overcomes the world and himself, I will give the hidden manna.” (Apoc. 2:17 )

Jesus also tells us in the Sermonon on the Mount:

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." (Mt 7: 13-14)

St. Louis ends paragraph 195 with these words:

Although this lovable prince knows and perceives all things in an instant by His own infinite light, He still looks for persons worthy of him. (Wis 6.17)He has to search because there are so few and He can scarcely find any sufficiently unworldly or sufficiently interior and mortified to be worthy of Him, of His treasures, and of union with Him.

Much to ponder in this little book on The Love of Eternal Wisdom.

 

[MariaChristi]

This time I really appreciated the text @MariaChristi since it gives some value to certain forms of hardship. Thank you.

Dear adgloriam,

So happy to read your words, quoted above, and know that you appreciated the words of St. Louis de Montfort. I am so grateful to God for His gifts to His saints like St. Louis who listened and pondered in his heart, as Mary did, all Jesus said and did. Thanks for your reply.