(5) Finally, as “nothing is more active than Wisdom” (Wisd. 7:24),He does not leave those who enjoy His friendship to languish in mediocrity and negligence. He sets them on fire, inspiring them to undertake great things for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. In order to discipline them and make them more worthy of Himself, He permits them to engage in strenuous conflicts and in almost everything they undertake they encounter contradictions and disappointments. At times, He allows the devil to tempt them, the world to calumniate and scorn them, their enemies to defeat and crush them, their friends and relatives to forsake and betray them. Sometimes they may have to suffer illness or loss of possessions, and at other times endure insults, sadness and heartbreak. In short, Wisdom tests them thoroughly in the crucible of tribulation like gold is tested in a furnace. “But their affliction”, says the Holy Spirit, “was light and their reward will be great, for God has put them to the test and found them worthy of Himself. He has tried them like gold in a furnace and accepted them as sacrificial victims. When the time comes, He will look upon them with favour” (Wisd. 3:4,6). It is Wisdom who enriched the virtuous man in his labours and enabled him to reap the fruit of his toil. He came to his aid against those who were trying to deceive him and made him prosperous. He protected him against his enemies, shielded him against seducers and engaged him in combat so that he might come through victorious and so convince him that Wisdom is more powerful than anything in the world (Wisd. 10:10)
We read in the life of Blessed Henry Suso, a Dominican friar, that in his eagerness to possess Wisdom, he often offered himself to undergo any torment in return for his friendship. One day he said to himself, "Do you not know that lovers endure suffering upon suffering for the sake of the one they love? For them wakeful nights are pleasant, fatigue is delightful, labour is restful, once they are assured that the one they love is pleased and grateful. If men go to such lengths to please a mere mortal, are you not ashamed to show weakness in your resolve to obtain Wisdom? No, eternal Wisdom, I will never falter in my love for you, even though I have to plunge through thicket and bush to reach you, even though I have to undergo a thousand torments in body and soul. I will always prize your friendship more than anything else on earth and you will always have the first place in my affections." ( from “The Love of Eternal Wisdom” by St. Louis de Montfort)
Thanks for your “heart” to let us know you read and agreed with the Wisdom given to St. Louis de Montfort! Hope you may read this little book someday, prayerfully and carefully. It has been a blessing to many who listened and heard God speaking through this holy priest who like the Apostle John at the Cross, took Mary into his life.
St, Louis de Montfort’s last chapter in this book on “The Love of Eternal Wisdom” - is on a “Loving and Genuine Devotion to the Blessed Virgin”.
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