Wednesday, 10 February 2016
TOTAL CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
TOTAL CONSECRATION
TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
TOTAL CONSECRATION TO JESUS
THROUGH MARY
(33 Days Preparation for Total Consecration)
ACCORDING TO ST. LOUIS MARIE GRIGNON
DE MONFORT
ADAPTED ACCORDING TO THE MESSAGE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA
AND DEVOTION OF REPARATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
PART
TWO
SECOND PERIOD
THE THREE WEEKS
THEME:
TO FILL OURSELVES WITH JESUS CHRIST THROUGH MARY
THE FIRST WEEK (13TH TO 19TH
DAY)
THEME:
KNOWLEDGE OF SELF
During this first week of the second
period of preparation, we should employ all our prayers and pious actions in
asking for the knowledge of ourselves and for contrition for our sins; and we
should do this in the spirit of humility.
Therefore during these 7 days we shall
consider the miserable and humiliating state to which our Sins have reduced us.
Moreover the true devotion being an easy, short, sure and perfect way to arrive
at that union with Our Lord – which is Christian Perfection, we shall enter
Seriously upon this way, strongly convinced upon our misery and helplessness.
This knowledge of self will make us
realize how much Our Blessed Mother is needed for us; and without this realization
we cannot Consecrate ourselves totally to her.
We may meditate on our nature and its
corruption, and our inability to do anything. We must despise ourselves and
regard this “self” in us with horror!
We should ponder the three maxims of
St. Bernard:
1.
What were you? – A rotten seed!
2.
What are you? – A vessel of dung!
3.
What will you be – Food for worms!
We must beg Our Lord and the Holy Ghost
to enlighten us by having these words on our lips: “Lord, that I may see”,
“That I may know myself”. Then we fly to the Mother of God and ask Her to give
us a share in Her humility which is the prerequisite for all the graces and
holiness!
Spiritual Exercises to be Practiced
during the First Week:
-
Prayer,
Meditation, Reflection, Resolution.
-
Examination
of Conscience.
-
Acts
of Contrition for our Sins.
-
Acts
of Renouncement of our own Will.
All these practices should be performed
at the feet of Mary, for it is from Her we hope for light to know ourselves. It
is near Her that we shall be able to measure the abyss of our miseries without
being discouraged.
These practices are meant to produce in
us the conviction that we cannot enter into this wonderful grace of union with
Mary without realizing our misery and nothingness. Let us practice them
sincerely and Seriously.
Prayers to be Recited during the First
Week
Litany of the Holy
Ghost (Page: 10)
Ave Maris Stella (Page: 8)
Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus (Page:
13)
St. Louis De
Montfort's Prayer to Jesus (Page: 16)
O Jesus Living in
Mary (Page: 17)
Prayer before Meditation
V. Come Holy Ghost
R. Fill the hearts of thy faithful, and
enkindle in them the fire of Thy will.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and they
shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the
earth.
Let
us Pray: O God, Who didst
instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Ghost: give to us,
in the same Spirit, to know what is right, and ever rejoice in His consolation.
Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who with Thee livest and reignest in
the unity of the same Holy Spirit, God. World without end. Amen.
Prayer before meditation during the
first week
O Mary Immaculate, Spouse of the Holy
Ghost, Mother of Jesus, and my Mother, My Mistress and Queen, to Thee I wish to
give myself entirely, that I may through Thee belong to Jesus entirely. Obtain
for me light and strength from the Holy Ghost, that I may know myself and that
I may repent for all my Sins from the bottom of my heart, for pure love of God.
Come, O Holy Ghost................
Prayer after Meditation: Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
In the hour of my death call me.
And bid me come to Thee.
That with Thy Saints, I may praise Thee
Forever and ever. Amen.
13th
Day (1st Day of the First Week)
Theme: Self Examination
We
cannot enter the way which leads to God without Knowledge of Self. He who would
give himself totally to God must first know what he himself really is, and how
far away he is from the road to perfection.
Consideration: (Picture for Meditation)
Conversion
of St. Paul (Acts 9: 1-18)
The Commitment of a Christian
(“Friends
of the Cross” 5,6)
(1) Examine: Whether you really and sincerely
desire to be “Holy” (No. 5)
Do you live in accordance with the noble title you bear?
“Christian = Saint” as St. Paul Calls.
“Paul,
called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ... to them that are sanctified (baptized)
in Christ Jesus, called to be saints”. (1Cor. 1:1-2)
Now
Saints are those who live in the Divine life of Jesus; who most tenaciously
pursue the most arduous practices of all “Christian
Virtues” – and keep in them the “Sanctifying
Grace” always.
Sanctifying
grace means participation in the nature of God, whereby we become children of
God, heirs of paradise, and members of the Church.
The
Sanctifying grace conferred upon the baptized Christians transforms and
transfigures the Soul, to participate the divine life of God.
This
participation must be intensified by the continuous development, which requires
of a Christian education and practice of Virtues.
Unfortunately,
this practice of Christian Virtues is lacking and totally missing in our
families. See how much care the parents
take to develop the “human nature” in their children! And how little they do for the development of
supernatural life in them! They live exactly like pagans.
No
more do we live in accordance with the noble title we bear.
Or at least, have you a real desire and
sincere determination to become a Saint, with the help of God’s grace, under
the shelter of Christ’s Cross, through the Consecration to the Immaculate Heart
of Mary?
Great will be the grace of God and the
assistance of His Mother for those who really wish to sanctify themselves, and
sincerely determine to become holy.
Jesus and Mary are eagerly waiting to
help them, to assist them, and console them that they may not fail in their
Holy resolutions!
Jesus says: “I have come to bring the
fire on earth” (desire of sanctity). It is necessary that this fire must burn
in souls – chiefly in the consecrated souls!
Do not waste this impulse of grace –
during the 33 days preparation? Do not let this chance pass away, without making
you ablaze with the holy desire of sanctity.
Are you taking the means necessary for
Sanctity?
One thing alone is necessary – “to save
one’s soul”. That you may convert, make reparation, and prepare your heart for
more prayer and more penance. (Luke. 10:42)
“Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and
art troubled about many things (social service!)
“But one thing is necessary. Mary hath
chosen the best part, (The devotion of reparation) which shall not be taken
away from her” (her entire life) – This is the most urgent and necessary means
for sanctification!
Are you walking along the true way of
life which is the narrow and stony way of Calvary?
With the example of Jesus Christ, with
the example of His Holy Mother, those of the Martyrs and of the Saints – you
must sincerely embrace your cross and follow Jesus! If the cross seems heavy to
you, you know that Jesus and Mary are with you to help lighten the burden.
There are two necessary Roads that lead
to Salvation, “innocence” and “penance”
The Road of Innocence needs to be
maintained continuously by “sincere Confessions”. In the Sacrament of
Confession, the mercy of God is Infinite, but it does not authorize anyone to
abuse it! Many Confessions are false.
The Road of Penance urges that one must
be cleansed from bad examples, immorality and materialism. Avoid being
hypocrites, practice piety and be sincere!
Are you, without perhaps realizing it,
walking on the wide road of the world which leads to perdition? Are you aware
that there is a highway which to all appearances is a straight and safe road,
but which really leads to eternal death? A way perhaps not very sinful! But
very dangerous! (watching TV, cell phone. internet etc.)
The Story of a small girl who was
gathering flowers under a tree.... attracted by a butterfly, she lost all the
flowers and lost the way! Are you still going after the butterfly?
(2) Have you decided to follow Christ –
your model, who alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life (No. 6)
Do you
clearly distinguish the Voice of God and His grace from the world and human
nature? Do you listen to the voice of God Who, stretches out His Arms to you in
loving appeal, “Be separated, come out My chosen people (Num. 16:21), come away
from the worldlings. Beware of following their counsels, of sitting in their
company, or even lingering on the road they take. Hasten away from the infamous
Babylon. Listen only to the voice of My Beloved Son, and follow only in His
footprints, for He is the One Whom I have given you to be your Way, your Truth,
your Life and your Model.”
Do you
listen to the voice of Jesus, Who, burdened with the Cross, calls out to you:
“Come follow Me; he that followeth Me, walketh not in darkness.” (Jn. 8: 12);
“have confidence, I have conquered the world.” (Jn. 16:33)
Have you decided to practice a life of prayer,
renunciation, discipline and sacrifice?
Do you still hesitate to give up the attachments of the
world and its pleasures?
Do you find it impossible to renounce Satan and his pomp?
What is the Obstacle? Consult your Spiritual director – and
find out the real obstacle – seek the ways and means to remove the obstacle, so
that you may enter freely and joyfully into the total Consecration to the
Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Jesus warns us:
“Cast
out first the beam out of your own eye; and then shall thou see to cast out the
mote of thy brothers eye.” (Matt. 7:5) Beware of blaming little things in
others, and passing over great things in yourselves!
Prayer: (Collect: Votive Mass – asking for the
grace of the Holy Ghost)
O God,
before Whom every heart lieth open, to Whom every will doth speak, and from
Whom no secret is hidden; purify the thoughts of our hearts by the inpouring of
the Holy Ghost, that we may attain to love Thee perfectly, and to praise Thee
worthily. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who is God and liveth and
reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Same Holy Ghost, world without end.
Amen.
Spiritual Reading:
Imitation of Christ, Book 2, Chapters
5-6,
CHAPTER
V Of self−esteem
1. We cannot place
too little confidence in ourselves, because grace and understanding are often
lacking to us. Little light is there within us, and what we have we quickly
lose by negligence. Oftentimes we perceive not how great is our inward
blindness. We often do ill and excuse it worse. Sometimes we are moved by
passion and count it zeal; we blame little faults in others and pass over great
faults in ourselves. Quickly enough we feel and reckon up what we bear at the
hands of others, but we reflect not how much others are bearing from us. He who
would weigh well and rightly his own doings would not be the man to judge
severely of another.
2. The
spiritually−minded man putteth care of himself before all cares; and he who
diligently attendeth to himself easily keepeth silence concerning others. Thou
wilt never be spiritually minded and godly unless thou art silent concerning
other men's matters and take full heed to thyself. If thou think wholly upon
thyself and upon God, what thou seest out of doors shall move thee little.
Where art thou when thou art not present to thyself? and when thou hast overrun
all things, what hath it profited thee, thyself being neglected? If thou
wouldst have peace and true unity, thou must put aside all other things, and
gaze only upon thyself.
3. Then thou shalt
make great progress if thou keep thyself free from all temporal care. Thou
shalt lamentably fall away if thou set a value upon any worldly thing. Let
nothing be great, nothing high, nothing pleasing, nothing acceptable unto thee,
save God Himself or the things of God. Reckon as altogether vain whatsoever
consolation comes to thee from a creature. The soul that loveth God looketh not
to anything that is beneath God. God alone is eternal and incomprehensible,
filling all things, the solace of the soul, and the true joy of the heart.
CHAPTER VI Of the
joy of a good conscience
1. The testimony
of a good conscience is the glory of a good man. Have a good conscience and
thou shalt ever have joy. A good conscience is able to bear exceeding much, and
is exceeding joyful in the midst of adversities; an evil conscience is ever
fearful and unquiet. Thou shalt rest sweetly if thy heart condemns thee not.
Never rejoice unless when thou hast done well. The wicked have never true joy,
nor feel internal peace, for there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.(1)
And if they say "we are in peace, there shall no harm happen unto us, and
who shall dare to do us hurt?" believe them not, for suddenly shall the
wrath of God rise up against them, and their deeds shall be brought to nought,
and their thoughts shall perish.
2. To glory in
tribulation is not grievous to him who loveth; for such glorying is glorying in
the Cross of Christ. Brief is the glory which is given and received of men.
Sadness always goeth hand in hand with the glory of the world. The glory of the
good is in their conscience, and not in the report of men. The joy of the
upright is from God and in God, and their joy is in the truth. He who desireth
true and eternal glory careth not for that which is temporal; and he who seeketh
temporal glory, or who despiseth it from his heart, is proved to bear little love for that which
is heavenly. He who careth for neither praises nor reproaches hath great tranquillity of heart.
3. He will easily be contented and filled with peace,
whose conscience is pure. Thou art none the holier if thou art praised, nor the
viler if thou art reproached. Thou art what thou art; and thou canst not be
better than God pronounceth thee to be. If thou considerest well what thou art
inwardly, thou wilt not care what men will say to thee. Man looketh on the
outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart:(2) man looketh on the
deed, but God considereth the intent. It is the token of a humble spirit always
to do well, and to set little by oneself. Not to look for consolation from any
created thing is a sign of great purity and inward faithfulness.
4. He that
seeketh no outward witness on his own behalf, showeth plainly that he hath
committed himself wholly to God. For not he that commendeth himself is
approved, as St. Paul saith, but whom the Lord commendeth.(3) To walk inwardly
with God, and not to be held by any outer affections, is the state of a
spiritual man.
(1)
Isaiah lvii. 21. (2) 1 Samuel xvi. 7. (3) 2 Corinthians x. 18.
14th
Day (2nd Day of the First Week)
Theme: Our Corrupt Nature
In the
Light of the Holy Ghost we recognize our sinfulness. But let us not forget that
this knowledge is a grace for which we must pray constantly.
Imagine Hell with its 7 doors! All
doors are open! And people rushing in!
We must rid ourselves of what is evil
in us (“True Devotion”
Nos. 78-80)
1)
We are infected by original and actual
sin: (78)
Our best actions are usually tainted
and spoiled by the evil that is rooted in us. As when pure water is poured into
a dirty tumbler, the water becomes dirty, so when God pours his heavenly waters
of grace into our souls infected by original and actual sin, His gifts are
spoiled by the evil sediments left in us by sin.
Even the holiest man can fall into
grave sin and lose his faith!
The story of a “holy” woman who devoted
herself to the pious work of burying the martyrs, found one of them not dead.
She brought him to her house, and he recovered. What happened? These two saints
as they might be called, first lost their grace, and afterwards lost their
faith.
St. Francis of Assisi says that the
devil tempts spiritual souls, who have given themselves to God, in a different
way. In the beginning he does not seek to bind them with a chain, he is content
with holding them by a single hair; he then binds them with a slender thread;
afterwards with a chord; and then with a chain.
But one may say: I have changed my
life, and now I have no bad motive, nor even a bad temptation and so on. Let us
answer – by relating the story of the “Bears” that go in search of the monkeys.
As soon as the monkeys see a bear, they save themselves by climbing up in the
trees: But do you know what the bear does? He stretches himself, as if dead,
under the tree; and when the monkeys descend, the bear springs up, seizes and
devours them! It is thus that the devil acts! The devil makes the temptation
appear dead; and when the soul exposes itself to the occasion of sin, he
excites the temptation and devours it.
How many souls that practiced
devotions, mental prayers, frequent communion, and might be called saints, but
they put themselves into dangerous occasions, become the prey of hell!
Therefore never “Solus cum sola.”
It is therefore of the utmost
importance that in seeking the perfection that can be obtained only by union
with Jesus, we rid ourselves of all that is “evil” in us.
2)
We must become thoroughly aware of our
evil nature. (79)
Our
inability to do anything promoting our salvation!
Our
weakness in all things!
Our
inconstancy at all times!
Our
unworthiness to receive any grace! And
Our
sinfulness in all matters!
Our
bodies are so corrupt that the Holy Ghost calls them “bodies of sin”
Conceived
in sin!
Nourished
in sin! And
Capable
of every sin!
Our
soul has become so carnal that it is called “flesh”. What we can call as our
own is a
Hardness
of heart!
Weakness
and inconstancy of soul!
Concupiscence!
Unruly
passions and bodily decease!
(1)
By nature we are Prouder than
“peacocks”!
Peacock is the symbol of
pride. Pride is an inordinate self-esteem. It comes under the first
commandment, because by thinking too much of ourselves, we neglect God, and
give ourselves the honor due to God. Pride is first of the 7 Capital Sins;
being the “source” of conceit, hypocrisy, foolish display in dress and conduct,
harshness to others, waste of time on ourselves and so on. People deem it folly
to renounce honors and riches, to love solitude and hidden life, and to
practice the virtue of humility. The opposite virtue to be practiced in order
to get rid of pride is humility.
(2) By nature we are more wedded to the earth than
are the “toads”.
Toads are the symbols of
“Covetousness” (avarice and greed”) – which is an inordinate desire for earthly
goods. Covetousness comes under the 10th Commandment and is
forbidden by it. We must be content with what we have or with what we can get
honestly. Want of charity, dishonest dealing, theft etc. are the followers of
covetousness. The opposite virtue is generosity.
(3)
By nature we are fouler than “goats”
Goats are the symbols of
“lust”, which is the desire for sins of the flesh, for impure thoughts, words
and actions. It comes under the 6th and 9th commandments.
Lust is the habit of always violation or of desiring to violate the 6th
commandment. The followers of lust are neglect of prayer, neglect of sacraments
and final loss of faith! The opposite virtue is chastity.
(4) By
nature we are more odious than “serpents”
Serpents are the symbols of
“anger” which comes under the 5th commandment. It is followed by
hatred and revenge etc. The opposite virtue is meekness.
(5) By
nature we are more gluttonous than “pigs”
Pigs are the symbols of
“gluttony” which is the sin of eating and drinking too much. There are 3 great
sins to guard against – namely drunkenness, dishonesty and impurity. If we
avoided these, we will almost surely avoid all other sins. The opposite virtue
is temperance.
(6) By
nature we are fierce than “tigers”
Tigers are the symbols of
“envy” which is the desire to see another meet with misfortune, that we may be
benefited by it. We are glad when others do not succeed in their business; we
are sorry when anyone speaks well of others. The opposite virtue is kindness.
(7) By
nature we are more slothful than “tortoises”
Tortoises are the symbols of sloth. “Sloth” is
committed when we idle away our time, and when we are lazy; when we are
indifferent about serving God; when we do anything slowly and poorly, and in a
way that shows we would rather not do it. They are slothful who lie in their
bed late in the morning and neglect their spiritual and other duties. They are
often untidy in their personal appearance. The opposite virtue is diligence.
Nothingness
and sin are the sum of our possessions, and our merits are only God’s anger and
our eternal hell!
How,
then, shall we best destroy sin in our souls? By finding out our chief capital
sin and rooting it out!
How
will you destroy the life of a tree which is deeply rooted in the ground? By
cutting off the branches? NO! – in the place of each branch, several other
branches will grow! How then?
By cutting the root, the great tree with
all its branches will die! In the same way our “Capital Sin” is the ROOT. As
long as we leave it in the soul, other sins will grow out of it. Indeed a great
many people are only cutting off the branches all the time. That is why they
are not benefited as much as they could by their prayers, Holy Mass and
Sacraments. Beware of “Laziness” which is the “workshop” of the devil.
3)
We must “Hate” Ourselves (80)
In view of all this, those who would
enter into the Total Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary must hate
their own life. “And he that hateth his life in this world keepeth it unto life
eternal.” (Jn. 12:25)
Jesus who never gives any command
without reason orders us to hate ourselves, only because we are supremely
worthy of hatred. There is nothing so deserving as hatred of ourselves.
St. Paul on the corrupt nature of the
flesh: (Rom. 7: 14-25)
“We know that the law is spiritual. But I
am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I work, I understand not. For I do
not that good which I will: but this evil which I hate, that I do.
Now then, it is no more I that do it: but
sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that there dwelleth not in me.... my flesh,
that which is good......
But I see another law in my members,
fighting against the law of my mind and captivating me in the law of sin that
is in my members.
Unhappy man that I am; who shall deliver
me from the body of this death?
The grace of God, by Jesus Christ Our
Lord.”
Prayer: (Collect: Thursday after Passion
Sunday)
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God,
that the dignity of human nature, which has been impaired by intemperance, may
be restored by the practice of salutary self-denial. Through Our Lord Jesus
Christ, Thy Son, Who is God, and liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of
the Same Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
Spiritual Reading:
Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Chapter20,
CHAPTER XX Of
confession of our infirmity and of the miseries of this life
1. I will
acknowledge my sin unto Thee;(1) I will confess to Thee, Lord, my infirmity. It
is often a small thing which casteth me down and maketh me sad. I resolve that
I will act bravely, but when a little temptation cometh, immediately I am in a
great strait. Wonderfully small sometimes is the matter whence a grievous
temptation cometh, and whilst I imagine myself safe for a little space; when I
am not considering, I find myself often almost overcome by a little puff of
wind.
2. Behold,
therefore, O Lord, my humility and my frailty, which is altogether known to
Thee. Be merciful unto me, and draw me out of the mire that I sink not,(2) lest
I ever remain cast down. This is what frequently throweth me backward and
confoundeth me before Thee, that I am so liable to fall, so weak to resist my
passions. And though their assault is not altogether according to my will, it
is violent and grievous, and it altogether wearieth me to live thus daily in
conflict. Herein is my infirmity made known to me, that hateful fancies always
rush in far more easily than they depart.
3. Oh that Thou,
most mighty God of Israel, Lover of all faithful souls, wouldst look upon the
labour and sorrow of Thy servant, and give him help in all things whereunto he
striveth. Strengthen me with heavenly fortitude, lest the old man, this
miserable flesh, not being yet fully subdued to the spirit, prevail to rule
over me; against which I ought to strive so long as I remain in this most
miserable life. Oh what a life is this, where tribulations and miseries cease
not, where all things are full of snares and of enemies, for when one
tribulation or temptation goeth, another cometh, yea, while the former conflict
is yet raging others come more in number and unexpected.
4. And how can the
life of man be loved, seeing that it hath so many bitter things, that it is
subjected to so many calamities and miseries. How can it be even called life,
when it produces so many deaths and plagues? The world is often reproached
because it is deceitful and vain, yet notwithstanding it is not easily given
up, because the lusts of the flesh have too much rule over it. Some draw us to
love, some to hate. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride
of life, these draw to love of the world; but the punishments and miseries
which righteously follow these things, bring forth hatred of the world and
weariness.
5. But, alas! an
evil desire conquereth a mind given to the world, and thinketh it happiness to
be under the nettles(3) because it savoureth not nor perceiveth the sweetness
of God nor the inward gracefulness of virtue. But they who perfectly despise
the world and strive to live unto God in holy discipline, these are not ignorant
of the divine sweetness promised to all who truly deny themselves and see
clearly how grievously the world erreth, and in how many ways it is deceived.
(1) Psalm xxxii.
5. (2) Psalm lix. 16. (3) Job xxx. 7.
15th
Day (3rd Day of the First Week)
Theme: Dying to Oneself
The
internal and external dying to oneself is necessary; but it is not an end in
itself. What is bad and sinful in us must be destroyed in order to make room
for what is good and holy – namely for the new man formed in the image of Jesus
Christ.
Consideration: (Picture for Meditation) James and John – Sons of Zebedee. (Mk. 10:
35-40)
Renouncing Oneself “True Devotion” No. 81
(1)
In order to empty ourselves of self we
must die daily to self:
“I die daily,” says ST. Paul (1Cor.
15:31)
It involves two things:
1. Internal
mortification: We must renounce the inordinate operations of the faculties
of the Soul – intellect and will.
2. External mortification: We must renounce the inordinate
operations of the Senses of our Body.
Spirit
of mortification in common:
Let us first speak about the Spirit of
mortification which is common to both internal and external mortification. We
must see as if we did not see, hear as if we did not hear and use the things of
this world as if we did not use them.
“This therefore I say, brethren, (1Cor.
7: 29-31) the time is short; it remaineth, that they also who have wives, be as
if they had none; And they that weep, as though they weep not; and they that
rejoice, as if they rejoice not; and they that buy, as though they possessed
not (houses); and they that use this world, as if they used it not; for the
fashions of the world passeth away.”
Let us therefore die to ourselves, and
if our holiest devotions do not incline us to this necessary and useful death,
we shall bring forth no fruit worth anything, and our devotion and dedication
will become useless
Hear the words of Jesus: “unless the
grain of wheat falling into the ground die itself remaineth alone and bringeth
forth no good fruit.” (Jn. 12:24-25)
(2) Interior
Mortification consists in renouncing the inordinate operations of the faculties
of the soul.
The faculties of our soul are
knowledge, love and will. And when we surrender the operations of these
faculties to the will of God and to the plan of Our Lady, we practice interior
mortification. As a sign of their interior surrender, those who practice
interior mortification – always submit their knowledge, their plan and decision
to their competent Superior.
They never undertake any project of
salutary nature without the full consent of their superior.
They never exercise public worship and
devotions without proper approval.
They never decide to use penitential
instruments without the permission, or more than allowed by the Spiritual
Director.
Therefore
St. Louis de Montfort says (Friend of the Cross, No. 17) “Far from thee those
who pride themselves in suffering; far from thee those elated geniuses and
self-conceited individuals who are stubborn and puffed up with their lights and
talents.
Far be
they from us those endless talkers who make plenty of noise but bring forth no
other fruit than vain glory – Far from us those high browed devotees everywhere
displaying the self sufficient pride of Lucifer: “ I am not like the rest of men”
(Lk. 18: 11)
Far be
from us those who must always justify themselves when blamed, resist when
attacked, and exalt themselves when humbled.”
And
therefore if we do not practice this interior mortification in all our
devotions and apostolate, all our good works will be tainted by “self-love”
“self-will”, so that our greatest sacrifices and our best actions will be
“unacceptable” to God. Consequently our death will find us with hands empty of
virtues and merits, and without a trace of that pure love which is given only
to those who have died to themselves, and those whose lives have been hidden
with Christ in God.”
“Mind
the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth. For you are
dead; and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3)
(3)
Mortification of the Senses (external
Mortifications)
External
Mortifications consists in conquering the sensual appetites. Worldly people
call the Saints cruel or foolish when they deny their bodies all satisfaction
of the senses, and when they chastise their bodies with hair-shirts,
disciplines, and other penances. But St. Bernard says that the worldly people
are in reality much more cruel and foolish to themselves, who condemn
themselves to “burn forever” in hell-fire for the sake of short and miserable
pleasures of the senses.
And
there are some others who say that all “forbidden pleasures” should be denied
to the body; but they despise external mortifications, saying that interior
mortification is what is required. Yes it is principally required to mortify
the will, but the mortification of the flesh is also necessary; because when
the flesh is not mortified, it will be hard to be obedient to God; it will be
an obstacle for sanctification.
Gratification
of the flesh stands against Sanctification, and therefore every gratification
demands mortification.
Now
let us come to the practice of external Mortification (Mortification of the
senses) which are classified in to five kinds (5 senses)
I.
Touch
(sexual contact of the flesh – sexual appetite of the flesh)
II.
Sight
(eyes)
III.
Talk
(tongue)
IV.
Taste
(smell) (tongue and nose)
V.
Hearing
(ears)
1. Touch:
After the fall, due to the curse of
Original Sin, all flesh has become corrupt and deviated. Hence every kind of
contact with flesh produces gratification of the flesh, which directly or
indirectly satisfies the sensual and sexual appetite of the flesh.
Those who wish to sanctify themselves,
must deny all kinds of contact of the flesh, with oneself, or with others, same
or opposite sex, with even animals and birds, and even the flowers and plants.
When we are forbidden by law to satisfy our sensual appetites, let us not
substitute these appetites with things allowed by law.
We should not pretend to be as innocent
as some saints who were given the gift of handling snakes and wild animals,
birds and fishes etc. Let us humbly accept our corrupt nature of “gratifying
ourselves”, and deny this satisfaction of the flesh for the sake of
Sanctification.
Avoid all occasions of your
"contact”, always keep a considerable “distance” between opposite sex. Do
away with all drinks, smoking, dances and modes of dress, which will excite the
sensual appetite.
Do not be in anyway a “scandal” to
little children on this matter.
“….woe to that man by whom scandal
cometh. And if thy hand, or thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it
from thee. It is better for thee, to go into life maimed or lame, than having
two hand or two feet, to cast into everlasting fire.” (Mt. 18: 7-8)
2. Sight.
In the second place the eyes must be
mortified. The arrows which wound the soul, and often kill the soul, enter
through the eyes. The eyes are as it were, grappling – irons of hell, which
drag souls, as if by main force into sin.
“And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck
it out, and cast it from thee....” (Matt. 18:9)
It is not lawful for us to pluck out
the eyes, but we ought to make them “blind” by means of continual
mortification; otherwise we shall find it very difficult to keep ourselves
chaste. We must then abstain from looking at any object that might give
occasion to temptation.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga did not dare to
raise his eyes to look, even at his own mother.
If by any chance our eyes light on some
dangerous object, let us take care not to fix them on it, and be very careful
in mortifying our eyes; because many are now in hell on account of sins
committed with the eyes.
Do away with Television by all means.
3. Talk
In the third place we must mortify our
tongue by abstaining from words of detraction, or of abuse, or of obscenity. An
impure word in conversation, even in jest may prove a scandal to others, and be
a cause of a thousand sins arising from it.
4. Taste
and Smell
In the fourth place we must mortify our
taste, mortification of palate. “We must eat to live, not live to eat”. Many
seem to live only to eat. Intemperance in eating and drinking is the cause of
incontinence. If you desire to be free from impure temptations, abstain from
excessive eating of meat and drinking of wine. Avoid all uses of perfumes.
5. Hearing
In the fifth place, we must mortify our
hearing – by avoiding listening to immodest and scandalous conversations, songs
and readings. Do away with T.V., C.D. Players, (Rock Music), U Tube, Movies, and
Internet dirty filths.
St.
Paul: on dying to ourselves in Christ. (Rom. 6: 6-14)
“Now if we be dead with Christ, we
believe that we shall live also together with Christ: For in that He died to
sin, He died once; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. So you do reckon
that you are dead to sin, but alive unto God, in Jesus Christ Our Lord. Let not
therefore sin reign in your mortal body, so as to obey the lusts thereof.
Neither do ye yield your members as
instruments of iniquity unto sin.”
Prayer:
(Collect: Second Sunday in Quadragessima - Lent)
O God, who seest that we are wholly
destitute of strength, keep us within and without: that we may be defended in
body from all adversity: and cleansed in mind from evil thoughts. Through Our
Lord, who liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world
without end.
Spiritual
Reading:
Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Chapter 50,
CHAPTER L How a
desolate man ought to commit himself into the hands of God
1. O Lord, Holy Father, be Thou blessed now and
evermore; because as Thou wilt so it is done, and what Thou doest is good. Let
Thy servant rejoice in Thee, not in himself, nor in any other; because Thou
alone art the true joy, Thou art my hope and my crown, Thou art my joy and my
honour, O Lord. What hath Thy servant, which he received not from Thee, even
without merit of his own? Thine are all things which Thou hast given, and which
Thou hast made. I am poor and in misery even from my youth up,(1) and my soul
is sorrowful unto tears, sometimes also it is disquieted within itself, because
of the sufferings which are coming upon it.
2.
I long after the joy of peace; for the peace of Thy children do I beseech, for
in the light of Thy comfort they are fed by Thee. If Thou give peace, if Thou
pour into me holy joy, the soul of Thy servant shall be full of melody, and
devout in Thy praise. But if Thou withdraw Thyself as too often Thou art wont,
he will not be able to run in the way of Thy commandments, but rather he will
smite his breast and will bow his knees; because it is not with him as
yesterday and the day before, when Thy candle shined upon his head,(2) and he
walked under the shadow of Thy wings,(3) from the temptations which beset him.
3.
O Father, righteous and ever to be praised, the hour cometh when Thy servant is
to be proved. O beloved Father, it is well that in this hour Thy servant suffer
somewhat for Thy sake. O Father, evermore to be adored, as the hour cometh
which Thou fore knewest from everlasting, when for a little while Thy servant
should outwardly bow down, but always live inwardly with Thee; when for a
little while he should be little regarded, humbled, and fail in the eyes of
men; should be wasted with sufferings and weaknesses, to rise again with Thee
in the dawn of the new light, and be glorified in the heavenly places. O Holy
Father, thou hast ordained it so, and so hast willed it; and that is done which
Thou Thyself hast commanded.
4.
For this is Thy favour to Thy friend, that he should suffer and be troubled in
the world for Thy love's sake, how often so ever, and by whomsoever and
whosoever Thou hast suffered it to be done. Without Thy counsel and providence,
and without cause, nothing cometh to pass on the earth. It is good for me,
Lord, that I had been in trouble, that I may learn Thy statutes,(4) and may
cast away all pride of heart and presumption. It is profitable for me that
confusion hath covered my face, that I may seek to Thee for consolation rather
than unto men. By this also I have learned to dread Thine unsearchable
judgment, who afflictest the just with the wicked, but not without equity and
justice.
5.
Thanks be unto Thee, because Thou hast not spared my sins, but hast beaten me
with stripes of love, inflicting pains, and sending troubles upon me without
and within. There is none who can console me, of all things which are under
heaven, but Thou only, O Lord my God, Thou heavenly Physician of souls, who
dost scourge and hast mercy, who leadest down to hell and bringest up again.(5)
Thy discipline over me, and Thy rod itself shall teach me.
6.
Behold, O beloved Father, I am in Thy hands, I bow myself under the rod of Thy
correction. Smite my back and my neck that I may bend my crookedness to Thy
will. Make me a pious and lowly disciple, as Thou wert wont to be kind, that I
may walk according to every nod of Thine. To Thee I commend myself and all that
I have for correction; better is it to be punished here than hereafter. Thou
knowest all things and each of them; and nothing remaineth hid from Thee in
man's conscience. Before they are, thou knowest that they will be, and Thou
needest not that any man teach Thee or admonish Thee concerning the things
which are done upon the earth. Thou knowest what is expedient for my profit,
and how greatly trouble serveth unto the scrubbing off the rust of sin. Do with
me according to Thy desired good pleasure, and despise not my life which is
full of sin, known to none so entirely and fully as to Thee alone.
7.
Grant me, O Lord, to know that which ought to be known; to love that which
ought to be loved; to praise that which pleaseth Thee most, to esteem that
which is precious in Thy sight, to blame that which is vile in Thine eyes.
Suffer me not to judge according to the sight of bodily eyes, nor to give
sentence according to the hearing of the ears of ignorant men; but to discern
in true judgment between visible and spiritual things, and above all things to
be ever seeking after the will of Thy good pleasure.
8.
Oftentimes the senses of men are deceived in judging; the lovers of the world
also are deceived in that they love only visible things. What is a man better
because by man he is reckoned very great? The deceiver deceiveth the deceiver,
the vain man the vain, the blind man the blind, the weak man the weak, when
they exalt one another; and in truth they rather put to shame, while they
foolishly praise. For as humble St. Francis saith, "What each one is in
Thine eyes, so much he is, and no more."
(1)
Psalm lxxxviii. 15. (2) Job xxix. 3. (3) Psalm xvii. 8. (4) Psalm cxix. 71. (5)
Job xiii. 2.
16th
Day (4th Day of the First Week)
Theme: Self Love
In
order to attain ‘dying to self’, in the first place we have to fight against
“love of self”. If we want to turn to God, we must needs turn away from our
“SELF”. How strong we cling to our own selves! And how difficult it is to
detach ourselves from this ego! But God helps, with His grace, those who have
the serious will, to practice conformity to the will of God, with purity of
intention.
The
agony in the Garden (Mt. 26: 36-45)
Choose
the Will of God always
1) The
Hidden Work of God in us.
God allows us to be humiliated!
“The Friends of the Cross” No. 47
Everything in us – not only our bodily
senses, but also the powers of our soul – has become debased through the sins
of Adam and through the sins we ourselves have committed.
And so the moment our corrupt mind
reflects with “self-complacency” on any of God’s gifts in us, that gift, that
action, that grace becomes tarnished and spoilt. If the very thoughts and
reflections (self complacency) of the mind can so spoil man’s best actions and
God’s greatest gifts, what will be the effects of man’s “self-will”, which are
more corrupt than those of the mind?
We need not be surprised therefore that
God hides his real friends (saints) in the secret of his countenance. This is
the “hidden work of God” in us who are called to the practice of Total
Consecration to the Immaculate Heart. God hides us that we may not be defiled
by the regards and esteem of our fellow men or of our own self awareness.
And in order to keep us hidden, how
often God allows us to be humiliated!
Into how many faults He permits us to fall! How often He allows us to be
tempted. (2Cor. 12: 7-10)
“And lest the greatness of the
revelation should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of
Satan to buffet me.”
“For which thing thrice I besought the
Lord, that it might depart from me”. (Temptation of the Flesh)
“And he said to me: ‘my grace is
sufficient for thee’: for power is made perfect in infirmities, that the power
of Christ dwell in me”
“For which cause I please myself in my
infirmities, (weakness), in reproaches, in necessities, for Christ. For when I
am weak, then I am powerful.”
How wonderful God is in His saints, and
how wonderful the means He takes to lead them to humility and holiness! It is
His “plan” to leave them in the state of uncertainty, perplexity and darkness.
The Story of Louis Trichet, the first
candidate for the “Daughters of Wisdom”.
2)
Conformity to the will of God
Our
whole perfection consists in loving God which is opposed to “self-love”. But
then all perfection in the love of God consists in the union of our will with
His most holy will!
It is
quite true that mortifications, meditations, Rosaries, Communions and works of
apostolate are pleasing to God, but if our good works are not done in
conformity with the will of God, then not only does He not approve them, but He
abominates and punishes them!
For
example: let us take two servants, one of whom labors hard and incessantly
throughout the day, but will do everything after his own fashion; while the
other does not work as much, but acts always in obedience to orders. It is
certain the latter, not the former is the one who pleases his master.
It is
not sacrifices that the Lord desires, but obedience to His will. (1Kings 15:22)
Jesus: “I came down from heaven not to
do my own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. (Jn. 6:38)
All
the saints have ever kept steadfastly in view, the fulfillment of the Divine
Will, thoroughly understanding that here in consists, the entire perfection of
a soul.
The
chief point lies in our practicing the will of God in all things which befall
us; not only when they are favorable, but when they are contrary to our
desires. When things are going well, even sinners find no difficulty, but the
Saints are in conformity also in circumstances which are running counter and
are mortifying to “self-love”. It is here that the perfection of love for God
is shown.
“Are
you willing to bear all the sufferings which God wills to send you?” (The very
first message of Our Lady of Fatima)
Those
which come directly from God – such as sickness, weakness, desolation of
spirit, poverty, death of parents etc.
Those
which come through the instrumentality of other men: such as contumelies,
reproaches, acts of injustice, thefts and persecutions of every kind.
Through
all these sufferings, God surely wills our humiliation, our poverty and our
mortification as necessary for our sanctification.
Prosperity
should not elate us, nor should adversity cast us down. Let us receive everything
from the hands of God, and direct all our prayers that His will may be
perfectly accomplished in us. “If we have received good things at the hand of
God, why should we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10)
How to discern the will of God?
In
order to perceive clearly the will of God and to go on with greater security in
this:
§ We must follow the guidance of our
competent superiors as regards what is external (public celebrations of the
liturgy etc.).
§ And the genuine spiritual directors
with regard to what is internal (personal), so that we may, through them,
understand (not blindly following them) what it is that God desires (not they
desire) for us!
3)
Practicing “Purity of Intention”
Purity
of intention consists in doing everything, even the “will of God” with the sole
view of pleasing God. Let us examine the practice of it.
In our spiritual works:
In all
our devotional exercises let us seek God and not ourselves; if we seek our own
satisfaction, we cannot expect to receive any reward from God.
How
many people labor and exhaust themselves in preaching, hearing confessions,
serving at the altar, and in doing other pious works; and because in these they
seek themselves and not God, they lose all! When we seek neither approbation
nor thanks for what we do, it is a sign that we work for God’s sake. Therefore
when you do good have the first intention of pleasing God; and secondly, that
also of giving a good example to your neighbor.
In our bodily actions:
Whether
we work, eat, drink, or recreate ourselves with propriety, let us do all in
order to please God. The most trivial and ordinary actions when done to please
God become acts of divine love!
The
story of a hermit who used to raise his eyes to heaven, and keep them fixed
there for a short time – before putting his hands to any work, answered when he
was asked what he was doing: “I am taking my aim so that I may not miss my
mark”. Let us also do in like manner: before beginning any action, let us make
sure of our aim, and say: “Lord, I do this to please thee.” Stop doing it if it
is going to displease God!
Prayer: (Collect: 5th Sunday after
Pentecost)
O God, who hast prepared for those that
love Thee, such good things as eye hath not seen; Pour into our hearts such
tender love for Thee, that loving Thee in all things and above all things, we
may obtain Thy promises, which surpass all desire. Through Our Lord Jesus
Christ, Thy Son, Who is God, and liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of
the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen
Spiritual
Reading:
Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Chapter 27,
(Self love chiefly
keeps us back from the Sovereign Good)
CHAPTER XXVII That
personal love greatly hindereth from the highest good
1. "My Son,
thou must give all for all, and be nothing of thine own. Know thou that the
love of thyself is moreb hurtful to thee than anything in the world. According
to the love and inclination which thou hast, everything anything. Do not covet
what thou mayest not have; do not have what is able to hinder thee, and to rob
thee of inward liberty. It is wonderful that thou committest not thyself to Me
from the very bottom of thy heart, with all things which thou canst desire or
have.
2. "Why art
thou consumed with vain sorrow? Why art thou wearied with superfluous cares?
Stand thou by My good pleasure, and thou shalt suffer no loss. If thou seekest
after this or that, and wilt be here or there, according to thine own advantage
or the fulfilling of thine own pleasure, thou shalt never be in quiet, nor free
from care, because in everything somewhat will be found lacking, and everywhere
there will be somebody who opposeth thee.
3. "Therefore
it is not gaining or multiplying of this thing or that which advantageth thee,
but rather the despising it and cutting it by the root out of thy heart; which
thou must not only understand of money and riches, but of the desire after
honour and vain praise, things which all pass away with the world. The place
availeth little if the spirit of devotion is wanting; nor shall that peace
stand long which is sought from abroad,
if the state of thy heart is without the true foundation, that is, if it
abide not in Me. Thou mayest change, but thou canst not better thyself; for
when occasion ariseth and is accepted thou shalt find what thou didst fly
A PRAYER FOR
CLEANSING OF THE HEART AND FOR HEAVENLY WISDOM
4. Strengthen me,
O God, by the grace of Thy Holy Spirit. Give me virtue to be strengthened with
might in the inner man, and to free my heart from all fruitless care and
trouble, and that I be not drawn away by various desires after any things
whatsoever, whether of little value or great, but that I may look upon all as
passing away, and myself as passing away with them; because there is no profit
under the sun, and all insanity and vexation of spirit.(1) Oh how wise is he
that considereth thus!
5. Give me, O Lord, heavenly wisdom,
that I may learn to seek Thee above all things and to find Thee; to relish Thee
above all things and to love Thee; and to understand all other things, even as
they are, according to the order of Thy wisdom. Grant me prudently to avoid the
flatterer, and patiently to bear with him that opposeth me; for this is great
wisdom, not to be carried by every wind of words, nor to give ear to the wicked
flattering Siren; for thus do we go safely on in the way we have begun.
(1) Ecclesiastes ii. 11.
17th
Day (5th Day of the First Week)
Theme: The Spirit of Pride
Pride was the first sin of the Angels
and of our first Parents.
Pride even today keeps men away from God. “God resisteth the proud and giveth
grace to the humble.” (Prov. 3:34)
Consideration:
(Picture for Meditation)
Pride
always rules us without our knowledge.
“Friends
of the Cross”. No. 17
“Pride
is the accursed sin which drove the Angels out of Paradise”
(Cure
de Ars)
When
it was revealed to the angels that they would have to obey the Incarnate Word,
and that they were to admit as a superior, a “Woman” in whose womb the Son of
God was to assume flesh, and that this woman was to be the Queen and Mistress
of all creatures, Lucifer rose to the highest pitch of pride and boastful
insolence. He opposed the decree constituting him inferior to the Mother of the
Word, and said: “Unjust are these commands and injury is done to my greatness!
This human nature which Thou Lord, lookest upon with so much love and which
Thou favourest so highly, I will persecute and destroy. To this end I will
direct all my power and all my aspirations. And this woman, Mother of the Word,
I will hurl from the position in which Thou hast proposed to place her, and at
my hands, the plan (of Mary) which Thou settest up, shall come to naught.”
This
proud boast so aroused the indignation of the Lord, that He spoke to Lucifer:
“This woman, whom thou refusest to honor shall crush thy head, and by Her shalt
thou be vanquished and annihilated. And if, through thy pride, death enters
into the world, life and salvation of mortals shall enter through the humility
of this woman! Those that are of the likeness of this Man (Jesus) and Woman
(Mary), shall enjoy the gifts and the Crowns which thou and thy followers have
lost.” (Mystical City of God, Book 1, Chapter 3)
You
have seen the Spirit of Pride, the boastful insolence of Lucifer. Now let St. Louis de Montfort show us how
this spirit of pride is found in us. (Friends of the Cross -17)
a) In those who pride themselves in
suffering, the worldly wise, elated genius and self conceited individuals who
are stubborn and puffed up in their lights and talents.
b) In those endless talkers who make plenty
of noise but bring forth no other fruit than vain glory.
c) In those high browed devotees
everywhere displaying the self-sufficient pride of Lucifer, saying: “I am not
like that publican”.
d) In those who always justify themselves
when blamed, resist when attacked, and exalt themselves when humiliated.
e) In those frail, sensitive persons who
are afraid of the slightest pin prick, who sob and sigh when faced with the
lightest suffering, who have never
experienced a hair shirt, a discipline, or any other penitential instruments,
and who with their fashionable devotions, mingle the most artful delicacy and
the most refined “lack of mortification.”
Practice of Humility
No one
can please God without being humble. To the humble God dispenses His graces.
Humility is of two kinds:
1) Humility of affection – which consists
in the conviction we have of our own wretchedness, so that we can neither know
nor do anything but what is evil; all that we have all that we do that is good
comes from God.
2) Humility of will – which consists of
being pleased when we are despised by others; desiring to be considered good
for nothing by ourselves, as well as by others. “Learn from Me, because I am
meek and humble of heart.” (Matt. 11:29)
Let us
now come to the practice of humility.
With regard to humility of affection:
i.
We must put no confidence in our own
strength, nor in our own resolutions;
but we must be always fearful and diffident of ourselves. “With fear and
trembling work out your salvation.”(Phil. 2:12) if you boast about your holiness
– you are sure to fall! Hide your piety! Don’t go about telling your
resolutions, your decisions, your spiritual experiences – and inner
revelations! Say “No” to any extraordinary vision or gift! This is the
“Illusion” which the devil brings to make you proud. Don’t wish to have, or
pray for these gifts. This is not the criterion for holiness. Not all the
saints necessarily possess these; neither all those who possess these gifts are
necessarily saints. Develop a kind of aversion to these experiences.
ii.
We must not glory in things that belong
to us: Our natural
abilities – our birth, our relatives etc. Our acquired talents –
qualifications, manners etc. It is therefore well never to speak of our
actions; even when we blame ourselves for some action, is often an occasion of
vain glory, by making us think that we shall be praised, or at least be
considered humble, and thus “humility” becomes “pride”. This is called
“humility with a hook.”
iii.
Let us not be angry with ourselves, after we have fallen, we should say:
“Lord this is the fruit of my own garden.” Yes, you can claim only sin as your
own (The fruit of your Free Will) Then let us humble ourselves, and rise up
immediately from the fault by an act of love and contrition resolving not to
fall into the same fault again, and trusting in the help of God. Repeat the
same if you unhappily fall again. Never react with fury – which is the device
of the devil to make us leave off following a good life.
V.G.
Enough! I don’t pray anymore for perseverance!
iv. When we
see others fall, we are not to wonder; rather let us compassionate with
them. Let us pray for their rising, and place our hands on our heart – praying
God to keep His hand over us. Otherwise the Lord will punish us by permitting
us to fall into the same sin, and perhaps worse.
iv.
We must not think we have made any
progress in the way of perfection,
if we do not esteem ourselves worse than everyone else, and desire to be
considered last of all. And this even when we know that others have sinned more
than we, because our sins having been committed after we have received so many
favors and graces, will be more displeasing to God than those of others.
With regard to humility of the will
1. If you wish to be truly humble, when
you receive an admonition, receive it in good part and thank the person who
admonishes you.
Even if you are accused wrongfully, do
not justify yourself, or at
least be silent and offer all to God – unless your silence involves scandal.
“When
a just man is corrected, he is sorry for the error he has committed; but the
proud man is sorry that the error should be known. (both feel sorry – But how
different they are!)
2. When
you are ill-treated or disregarded, suffer it patiently, and increase in love towards that
person who ill-treats you, because the time of humiliation is the time to gain
treasures of merits. You will gain more by peacefully suffering contempt than
you could by fasting 10 days on bread and water.
Humiliations
which we inflict on us are good; but those which we accept from the hands of
others are worth much more, because in these, there is less of self and more of
God; therefore when we bear them the merit is greater!
Can
you not bear to be despised for the sake of God? Should we not rejoice at seeing ourselves despised as Jesus Christ
Himself was despised?
The Words of Our Lord: (Lk. 18:9-14)
And to
those who trusted in themselves as just and despised others, he said: “Everyone
that exalteth himself, shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be
exalted.”
Prayer: (Collect: The Humility of Our
Lady – July 17 – Supplement for Religious Orders)
O God, who lookest down on the lowly,
but knowest the proud from afar off, grant unto Thy servants to imitate, with a
pure heart, the humility of the Blessed Mary every Virgin: She who by Her
Virginity pleased, and in Her lowliness conceived Thy Son Our Lord Jesus
Christ, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God,
world without end. Amen.
Spiritual
Reading:
Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Chapter 8,
CHAPTER VIII Of a
low estimation of self in the sight of God
1. I will speak
unto my Lord who am but dust and ashes. If I count myself more, behold Thou
standest against me, and my iniquities bear true testimony, and I cannot
gainsay it. But if I abase myself, and bring myself to nought, and shrink from
all self−esteem, and grind myself to dust, which I am, Thy grace will be
favourable unto me, and Thy light will be near unto my heart; and all
self−esteem, how little soever it be, shall be swallowed up in the depths of my
nothingness, and shall perish for ever. There Thou showest to me myself, what I
am, what I was, and whither I have come: so foolish was I and ignorant.(1) If I
am left to myself, behold I am nothing, I am all weakness; but if suddenly Thou
look upon me, immediately I am made strong, and filled with new joy. And it is
great marvel that I am so suddenly lifted up, and so graciously embraced by
Thee, since I am always being carried to the deep by my own weight.
2. This is the
doing of Thy love which freely goeth before me and succoureth me in so many
necessities, which guardeth me also in great dangers and snatcheth me, as I may
truly say, from innumerable evils. For verily, by loving myself amiss, I lost
myself, and by seeking and sincerely loving Thee alone, I found both myself and
Thee, and through love I have brought myself to yet deeper nothingness: because
Thou, O most sweet Lord, dealest with me beyond all merit, and above all which
I dare ask or think.
3. Blessed be
Thou, O my God, because though I be unworthy of all Thy benefits, Thy bountiful
and infinite goodness never ceaseth to do good even to ingrates and to those
who are turned far from Thee. Turn Thou us unto Thyself, that we may be
grateful, humble, and godly, for Thou art our salvation, our courage, and our
strength.
(1) Psalm lxxiii.
22.
18th
Day (6th Day of the First Week)
Theme: Spirit of Laziness (Sloth)
Sloth
is very often overlooked or not taken seriously even though it is one of the
“Capital” Sins. We are too lazy to
earnestly strive for our own salvation – let alone the salvation of other
Souls which God will ask of us. We must do violence to ourselves to adopt the
means of arriving at perfection: “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and
the violent bear it away.” (Matt. 11:12)
Consideration: (Picture for Meditation)
The Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:
24-30)
(1) The
urgency of the “Apostles” of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart
(Friends of the Cross, Nos. 2-4)
“You are a group of crusaders united to fight against the
world... like brave, intrepid warriors on the battle front, refusing to retreat
or even yield an inch. Be brave! Fight with all your might.”
These are the groups of the lay apostles formed by St. Louis
de Montfort, in the villages and towns where he used to preach retreats and
missions. He called them “Friends of the Cross” in view of making them the “Apostles of Our Lady’s Immaculate
Heart.”
All though written (in 1714) more than two centuries ago, to
fight against the evils and vices of those days, this “Letter to the Friends of the Cross” retains all its usefulness,
and wages a holy war on the evils, vices, pagan materialism, atheistic
communism, modernistic secularism and the post counciliar liberalism of the
present day (1988).
St. Louis de Montfort gives us a universal remedy for all
these ills: Christian Perfection (Sacrifice), Prayer (Rosary) and Reparation
and Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary! Is this not the same message
that Our Lady of Fatima gave to the world (1917) in this century? Is it not Our
Blessed Mother who guided and inspired Her faithful Apostle (St. Louis de
Montfort) to write it 200 years ago!
Let us therefore, guided by these same rules laid down by
St. Louis de Montfort, more readily come out of our Spiritual Sloth to renounce
Satan, the world and the flesh, to bear the trials, crosses and tribulations
and bravely to fight against the errors and sins – that the Immaculate Heart of
Mary may triumph over Satan!
What shall we do?
“You must be united in a close union of mind and heart,
which is far stronger, far more terrifying to the world and to hell, than the
armed forces of a great nation are to its enemies.
“Demons are united to destroy you; what are you doing? No
time to waste or wait! You must be united, without delay to crush them! United
around Our Lady!
“The Avaricious are united to make money and amass gold and
silver; What are you doing? You must be united to combine your fortunes and
efforts to acquire the eternal treasures hidden in the cross!
“The pleasure seekers unite to enjoy themselves, you must be
united to suffer, united to pray, and united to practice virtues!
“You call yourselves “Friends of the Cross”, which is the
same as “Apostles of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart”. What a glorious title! I
must confess that I am charmed and captivated by it. It is brighter than the
Sun, and higher than the heavens, more magnificent and resplendent than all the
titles given to kings and emperors. It is a genuine title of a true Christian!
“But if I am captivated by this title, I am no less
frightened of its responsibility for it is a title that embraces difficult and
inescapable obligations!
“You are chosen by God to be wholly divine from among
thousands who live only according to their reason and senses.
“You crush the pride of Satan by your love of humiliations.”
“You overcome the greed of the world by your love of
poverty.”
“You restrain the sensuality of the flesh by your love of
suffering!
“The Apostle of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart” is one who is
holy and set apart from the things that are visible (“invisible island of holiness”). He travels through this world
like a visitor and pilgrim, and far from setting his heart on it he looks on it
with indifference and tramples it underfoot.
“True to his origin, his life embraces the cross and blood –
reflecting the pierced and bleeding heart of the Mother of God! Realizing the
death to the world, the flesh and sin and hiding himself therein with Jesus
Christ! In other words formed into another Christ according to the perfect mold
of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so much so that he can say with St. Paul: “I
live, now not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal. 2:20)
(2) How
to adopt the means of attaining perfection with diligence and courage
The principal means of overcoming sloth, aridity and
tepidity in the life of perfection:
1.
A
strong and ardent desire to become a Saint.
2. Great confidence in Jesus Christ and in
His Holy Mother.
3. To avoid every deliberate sin or
defect, and after a fault not to lose courage, but to make an act of contrition
for it, and then resume your ordinary occupations.
4. To cut off all attachments to
creatures, to self will and self esteem.
5. To resist continuously your
inclinations.
6. To observe with exactness the daily
program (rules) however unimportant – they may appear.
7. To perform you daily duties (office
work) with all possible perfection.
8. To receive Holy Communion daily if
possible; and to perform all mortifications possible.
9. To prefer, on all occasions, those
actions which are most agreeable to God, and most opposed to self-love.
10. To love and serve those who persecute
you.
11. To receive all crosses and
contradictions with joy and gladness – as coming from the hands of God.
12. To spend every moment of your time for
God.
13. To offer to God all your actions in
union with the merits of Jesus Christ.
14. To make a special oblation of yourself
to God, that he may dispose of you and all you possess in whatever way He
pleases.
15. To protest continually before God that
His pleasure and His love are the only objects of your wishes.
16. To pray continuously to Jesus and Mary,
and to entertain a “special affection” and tenderness towards Our Lady.
Principal means of overcoming Laziness:
If the
Soul does not subdue the body, the flesh will conquer the spirit. The false
love of the flesh destroys the true charity which we owe to ourselves.
Inordinate Compassion towards the body is full of cruelty, because by indulging
the flesh it kills the soul!
Observe
therefore the following strictly:
I.
Modesty
of dress: Clean and tidy.
II.
Be
Modest in walk: neither too quick nor too slow.
III.
Modest
in sitting: avoid every slothful posture.
IV.
Be
modest at meals: without avidity – avoid irregularity. Avoid alcoholic drinks
V.
Be
modest in conversation: murmuring, avoid indecent jokes.
VI.
Abstain
from the use of perfumes and delicacies.
VII.
Avoid
the company of unorganized persons, of lazy gossipers, of indecent and untidy
friends.
VIII.
Be
punctual in rising and retiring.
IX.
Have a
fixed time for everything you do.
X.
Do
away with T.V., Cinema, dance and other amusements.
XI.
Use
ejaculations and Rosary to avoid day dreaming.
XII.
Cultivate
regular spiritual reading.
XIII.
Use
discipline to drive away drowsiness and bad thoughts.
XIV.
Use
hair shirt or other instruments to alert your body from pleasure seeking
tendency.
XV.
Cultivate
holy arts (painting, composing, printing religious matter) to distract your
attention on the gratification of your senses – and to avoid waste of time.
The
horseman must hold a tight reign over the body, and practice “violence” over
the senses in order to overcome Laziness! Be very careful not to allow in your
company those slothful people who are untidy in their personal appearance and
who are always in misery and want, unless somebody else takes care of them.
Jesus: about the Lazy Servant (Mt. 25:
24-30)
“He
that had received the one talent came and said, “Lord, I know that Thou art a
hard Man; Thou reapest where Thou hast not sown and gatherest where Thou hast
not
strewed.
“and
being afraid, I went and hid Thy talent in the earth. Behold here Thou hast
that which is thine.”
“And
his Lord answering said to him: wicked and slothful servant, thou knowest that
I reap where I sow not and gather where I have not strewed.”
“Thou
oughtest therefore to have committed my money to the bankers; and at my coming
I should have received my own with usury.”
“Take
ye away therefore the talent from him and give it him that hath ten talents.”
“For
everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall abound; but for him that hath
not, that also which he seemeth to have shall be taken away.”
“And
the unprofitable servant, cast ye out into the exterior darkness, there shall
be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Prayer 1 (Various prayers: To implore
the intercession of the Saints)
We
beseech Thee, O Lord, defend us from all dangers of soul and body; and through
the intercession of the blessed and glorious Mary ever Virgin, Mother of God,
with blessed Joseph, Thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and blessed St. Louis
Marie Grignon De Montfort, all the Saints, grant us in Thy mercy safety and
peace, that all adversities and errors being destroyed, Thy Church may serve
Thee with secure freedom. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and
reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen.
Prayer 2 (Collect: Feast of St. Pius V
– 5th May)
O God,
who for the overthrow of the enemies of Thy Church and for the restoration of
divine worship didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Pius as supreme Pontiff: grant
that we may be defended by his patronage and so cleave unto Thy service, that
overcoming all the wiles of our enemies, we may rejoice in perpetual peace.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity
of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Spiritual Reading:
Imitation of Christ: Book 3, Chapter 49
CHAPTER LIX That
all hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone
1. O Lord, what is
my trust which I have in this life, or what is my greatest comfort of all the
things which are seen under Heaven? Is it not Thou, O Lord my God, whose mercies
are without number? Where hath it been well with me without Thee? Or when could
it be evil whilst Thou wert near? I had rather be poor for Thy sake, than rich
without Thee. I choose rather to be a pilgrim upon the earth with Thee than
without Thee to possess heaven. Where Thou art, there is heaven; and where Thou
are not, behold there death and hell. Thou art all my desire, and therefore
must I groan and cry and earnestly pray after Thee. In short I can confide
fully in none to give me ready help in necessities, save in Thee alone, O my
God. Thou art my hope, Thou art my trust, Thou art my Comforter, and most
faithful in all things.
2. All men seek
their own: (1) Thou settest forward only my salvation and my profit, and
turnest all things unto my good. Even though Thou dost expose me to diverse
temptations and adversities, Thou ordainest all this unto my advantage, for
Thou are wont to prove Thy beloved ones in a thousand ways. In which proving
Thou oughtest no less to be loved and praised, than if Thou wert filling me
full of heavenly consolations.
3. In Thee,
therefore, O Lord God, I put all my hope and my refuge, on Thee I lay all my
tribulation and anguish; because I find all to be weak and unstable whatsoever
I behold out of Thee. For many friends shall not profit, nor strong helpers be
able to succour, nor prudent counsellors to give a useful answer, nor the books
of the learned to console, nor any precious substance to deliver, nor any
secret and beautiful place to give shelter, if Thou Thyself do not assist,
help, strengthen, comfort, instruct, keep in safety.
4. For all things
which seem to belong to the attainment of peace and felicity are nothing when
Thou art absent, and bring no felicity at all in reality. Therefore art Thou
the end of all good, and the fulness of Life, and the soul of eloquence; and to
hope in Thee above all things is the strongest solace of Thy servants. Mine
eyes look unto Thee,(2) in Thee is my trust, O my God, Father of mercies.
5. Bless and
sanctify my soul with heavenly blessing that it may become Thy holy habitation,
and the seat of Thy eternal glory; and let nothing be found in the Temple of
Thy divinity which may offend the eyes of Thy majesty. According to the
greatness of Thy goodness and the multitude of Thy mercies look upon me, and
hear the prayer of Thy poor servant, far exiled from Thee in the land of the
shadow of death. Protect and preserve the soul of Thy least servant amid so
many dangers of corruptible life, and by Thy grace accompanying me, direct it
by the way of peace unto its home of perpetual light. Amen.
(1) Luke vi. (2)
Psalm cxli. 8.
19th
Day (7th Day of the First Week)
Theme: Lack of Charity
How
little we take notice of our uncharitable acts of daily life: Unwanted
distractions in prayer, we often mention in our confessions, but gross faults
against Fraternal Charity we do not mention. And yet it is by Fraternal Charity
that we will be recognized whether we are Christ’s disciples or not. (Jn. 13:
35)
Consideration: (Picture for Meditation) Vision of Purgatory and Holy Mass
(True Devotion, Nos. 171-172)
Charity: is a divine virtue by which we love
God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the
love of God.
The
virtue of “charity” makes us “love God” for His own sake and without any other
consideration; and that in such a way that we would rather lose anything than
offend Him.
Therefore
no “Love of the neighbor” that makes you offend God – can be called “Charity”.
The world is filled with charitable activities (Social Service), which make
people offend God. (Abortion – Annulment of marriages etc.)
Who is your neighbor?
Every
child of God; for God is his Father and mine also, and if he is good enough for
God to love, he should be good enough for me. Love him as you would like to be
loved by God; and love him for the sake of God, and not because you like him or
not.
(1)
Perfect Charity:
The
most perfect charity consists in zeal for your neighbor’s spiritual good. To
relieve the spiritual necessities of a fellow man far excels the exercise of
charity towards his body, because the “dignity of the Soul” transcends the
lowly condition of the flesh. THEREFORE:
a)
“Total Consecration” makes us love our
neighbor in an outstanding way (171)
By this devotion we show love for our neighbor
in an outstanding way, since we give him through Mary’s hands all that we prize
most highly, that is, the satisfactory and prayer value of all our good works.
We give our consent that all we have
already acquired or will acquire until death should be used in accordance with
Our Lady’s will for the conversion of sinners and for the deliverance of souls
in Purgatory.
Is this not perfect love of our
neighbor? Is this not being the true disciple of Our Lord? Is this not the way
to convert sinners without danger of vain glory and without expecting any
material benefit of human gratitude?
Is this not the way to deliver souls
from Purgatory by doing hardly anything more than what we are obliged to do by
our state in life?
If by the “Total Consecration” (True
Devotion) we secured the release of only one soul from purgatory or converted
only one sinner in our whole life time, would that not be enough to induce any
person, to practice this devotion in order to love his neighbor?
b)
The value of our good works becomes
infinitely powerful while passing through Mary’s hands.
It must be noted that our good works,
passing through Mary’s hands, are progressively purified and therefore, their
merit and their satisfactory and prayer value is also increased. That is why they
become much more effective than if they did not pass through the Virginal and
liberal hands of Mary.
Stripped of self-will and clothed with
disinterested love the little that we give to the Blessed Virgin is truly
powerful enough to appease the anger of God and draw down God’s Mercy.
In fact a person who has been faithful
to this devotion will find – at the hour of death – that he has freed many
souls from purgatory, and converted many sinners, even though he performed only
ordinary actions of his state in life!
On the contrary the Charitable or
Apostolic activities which we undertake without practicing this devotion, may
not have any effect except our own self satisfaction and vain glory.
(2) Practice
of Charity
1. In thoughts and sentiments
Endeavor to banish all rash judgments,
suspicions and doubts.
“Judge not that you may not be judged”
(Matt. 7:1) “Charity thinketh no evil” (1Cor.13:40) For a person who appears to
be imperfect may be more dear to God than others whose conduct is much more
exemplary.
Listen not to them who tell you that
others have spoken of your defects; and ask not from them the names of those
who spoke ill of you. In such tales there is a great deal of exaggeration.
But if
by your office (Superior or Novice Master) you are in charge of correcting your
subjects, to prevent evil in the community, it is your duty to suspect whenever
there are grounds for suspicion.
Do not rejoice at your neighbor’s
infirmities, loss, or calamity; rather charity obliges us to regret his
misfortune.
Banish all feelings of envy at your
neighbors good; but grieving at his advancement which is dangerous for his
salvation may be blameless.
2. In words
Abstain from every kind of detraction.
“The tale bearer shall defile his own soul and shall be hated by all.” (Ecclus.
21:31)
Persons whose tongues are so sharp that
they cannot speak without wounding the character of others, should be banished
from the community.
The Story of a slanderer who attempted
to defame the character of St. Malachy; it is said (by St. Bernard) that his
tongue instantly swelled and became filled with worms; with that horrible smell
and pain he lived for 7 days without food and drink and died!
The sin of detraction
Is
committed not only by imputing to others what is not true, by exaggerating
their defects and by making known their hidden faults, but also by representing
their good action as defective, or by ascribing them to a bad motive.
Speak of others as you would wish to be
spoken of by others (when you are defective!)
Never utter in their absence what you
would not say in their presence.
When someone begins to speak ill of
others, you should either reprove him or change the subject of conversation or
at least pay no attention to it – show that you are not pleased with that conversation.
“Hast thou heard a word against thy
neighbor? Let it die within thee.” (Ecclus 19: 10)
“Secrets” committed to you, must not be
revealed; unless; demanded by the competent superiors for the good of the
community.
Never mention the hidden defects of
others to anyone except the competent superiors.
Abstain from casting ridicule on
others, by making them an object of derision and of mockery before your
companions.
Avoid all disputes and arguments that
end in injurious language.
It is better to give up your opinion
than to enter into a useless and dangerous controversy. “Charity is patient;
beareth all things.” (1Cor. 13:40)
3. In works
Give alms as often as it is in your
power; assist your companions in their labors.
Charity towards the soul is practiced
by:
Correcting our neighbors faults – make
the corrections at seasonable time, with charity, and sweetness. If you
prudently judge that your advice would be unprofitable, be careful to make
known the fault to the superior, or to those who will be able to apply a
remedy. Do not say: “This is not my business”.
Prayer and sacrifice are the best works
of charity to save souls and covert sinners: “Many souls are going to hell
because there is no one to pray and make sacrifices for them.”
Pray for and “adopt” priests that they
may labor with true zeal for the salvation of souls.
Pray and offer sacrifices and Holy
Masses for the Souls in Purgatory.
Be particularly careful to practice
charity towards the sick, and the orphans; console them, serve them and even
bring them an occasional little e present.
“But I say to you”, says Jesus Christ,
“LOVE YOUR ENEMIES; do good to them that hate you; and pray for them that
persecute and calumniate you.” (Matt. 5:44)
Some would say: “But Father, this
person is impossible to bear with!” it is in bearing with those who are
“unbearable” that the virtue of charity consists! This is called the “Heroic
act of Charity.”
Practice charity – not when you are
pleased and if you are pleased; but in
order to PLEASE GOD!
O Mary, my hope and my Mother, obtain
for me the grace to love God, and to love him as he desires to be loved!
St. John, the Apostle – On Charity: (1Jn. 3: 16-18)
“In
this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down his life for
us; and we ought to lay down our lives for our brethren.”
“He
that hath the substance of this world – and shall see his brother in need and
shall shut up his bowels from him: how doth the charity of God abideth in him?”
“My
little children, let us not love in word nor in tongue, but in deed and in
truth.”
Prayer 1 (Collect: Our Lady – Mother of
all saints – Mother of Fair Love. May 31)
O God,
who hast given us the Blessed Virgin Mary as Mother of Fair Love; mercifully
grant that under Her protection, we may on earth love Thee, in all things
and above all things, and rejoice in the
blessed company of Thy Saints in heaven. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy
Son, Who is God, and liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of The Holy
Ghost, world without end. Amen.
Prayer 2 (Votive Collect: For the
virtue of charity)
O God,
who makest all things work together for good to them that love Thee, give unto
our hearts an abiding feeling of love for Thee: that the desires which we
conceived by Thine inspiration may remain unchanged despite all temptation.
Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who is God, and liveth and reigneth
with Thee in the unity of The Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
Spiritual Reading:
Imitation of Christ, Book 1, Chapter 15 -16,
CHAPTER XV Of works
of charity
1. For no worldly
good whatsoever, and for the love of no man, must anything be done which is
evil, but for the help of the suffering a good work must sometimes be
postponed, or be changed for a better; for herein a good work is not destroyed, but improved. Without
charity no work profiteth, but whatsoever is done in charity, however small and
of no reputation it be, bringeth forth good fruit; for God verily considereth
what a man is able to do, more than the greatness of what he doth.
2. He doth much
who loveth much. He doth much who doth well. He doth well who ministereth to
the public good rather than to his own. Oftentimes that seemeth to be charity
which is rather carnality, because it springeth from natural inclination,
self−will, hope of repayment, desire of gain.
3. He who hath
true and perfect charity, in no wise seeketh his own good, but desireth that
God alone be altogether glorified. He envieth none, because he longeth for no
selfish joy; nor doth he desire to rejoice in himself, but longeth to be
blessed in God as the highest good. He ascribeth good to none save to God only,
the Fountain whence all good proceedeth, and the End, the Peace, the joy of all
Saints. Oh, he who hath but a spark of true charity, hath verily learned that all
worldly things are full of vanity.
CHAPTER XVI Of
bearing with the faults of others
1. Those things
which a man cannot amend in himself or in others, he ought patiently to bear,
until God shall otherwise ordain. Bethink thee that perhaps it is better for
thy trial and patience, without which our merits are but little worth.
Nevertheless thou oughtest, when thou findeth such impediments, to beseech God
that He would vouchsafe to sustain thee, that thou be able to bear them with a
good will.
2. If one who is
once or twice admonished refuse to hearken, strive not with him, but commit all
to God, that His will may be done and His honour be shown in His servants, for
He knoweth well how to convert the evil unto good. Endeavour to be patient in
bearing with other men's faults and infirmities whatsoever they be, for thou
thyself also hast many things which have need to be borne with by others. If
thou canst not make thine own self what thou desireth, how shalt thou be able
to fashion another to thine own liking. We are ready to see others made
perfect, and yet we do not amend our own shortcomings.
3. We will that
others be straitly corrected, but we will not be corrected ourselves. The
freedom of others displeaseth us, but we are dissatisfied that our own wishes shall
be denied us. We desire rules to be made restraining others, but by no means
will we suffer ourselves to be restrained. Thus therefore doth it plainly
appear how seldom we weigh our neighbour in the same balance with ourselves. If
all men were perfect, what then should we have to suffer from others for God?
4. But now hath
God thus ordained, that we may learn to bear one another's burdens, because
none is without defect, none without a burden, none sufficient of himself, none
wise enough of himself; but it behoveth us to bear with one another, to comfort
one another, to help, instruct, admonish one another. How much strength each
man hath is best proved by occasions of adversity: for such occasions do not
make a man frail, but show of what temper he is. but little worth. Nevertheless thou
oughtest, when thou findeth such impediments, to beseech God that He would
vouchsafe to sustain thee, that thou be able to bear them with a good will.
2. If one who is
once or twice admonished refuse to hearken, strive not with him, but commit all
to God, that His will may be done and His honour be shown in His servants, for
He knoweth well how to convert the evil unto good. Endeavour to be patient in
bearing with other men's faults and infirmities whatsoever they be, for thou
thyself also hast many things which have need to be borne with by others. If
thou canst not make thine own self what thou desireth, how shalt thou be able
to fashion another to thine own liking. We are ready to see others made perfect, and yet we do not
amend our own shortcomings.
3. We will that
others be straitly corrected, but we will not be corrected ourselves. The
freedom of others displeaseth us, but we are dissatisfied that our own wishes
shall be denied us. We desire rules to be made restraining others, but by no
means will we suffer ourselves to be restrained. Thus therefore doth it plainly
appear how seldom we weigh our neighbour in the same balance with ourselves. If
all men were perfect, what then should we have to suffer from others for God?
4. But now hath
God thus ordained, that we may learn to bear one another's burdens, because
none is without defect, none without a burden, none sufficient of himself, none
wise enough of himself; but it behoveth us to bear with one another, to comfort
one another, to help, instruct, admonish one another. How much strength each
man hath is best proved by occasions of adversity: for such occasions do not
make a man frail, but show of what temper he is.
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