Day 12 Total Consecration Preparation 2013

[Dawn Marie]

DAY 12

On our own Weakness and the Trials of This Life

 

THE DISCIPLE. Lord, I confess my sinfulness,(Ps. 32:5) and acknowledge my weakness. Often it is but a small matter that defeats and troubles me. I resolve to act boldly, but when I am assailed even by a small temptation, I am in sore straits. From a trifling thing sometimes arises a strong temptation; and when I think I am secure, I am almost overwhelmed by a mere breath.

 

Consider my lowness and weakness, 0 Lord, for You know all things. Have mercy on me, and raise me from the mire, that I may not stick fast in it,(Ps.25:16; 49:14) nor remain prostrate. It is this that often defeats and confounds me in Your eyes - that I am so prone to fall and so weak in resisting my passions. And although I do not yield to them entirely, yet their assaults trouble and distress me, so that I am weary of living constantly at conflict. My weakness is apparent to me, for evil fancies rush in on me more readily than they depart.

 

Most mighty God of Israel, zealous lover of souls, I pray You remember the toil and grief of Your servant, and support him in all his undertakings. Strengthen me with heavenly courage, lest my old and wicked enemy the flesh, not yet wholly subject to the spirit, prevail and gain the upper hand. For against this I must fight while breath remains in this troubled life. Alas, what a life is this, where trials and sorrows never cease, and where all things are full of snares and foes! For when one trial or temptation departs, another takes its place; and even while the conflict rages, other troubles arise, innumerable and unexpected.

 

How can we love life, when it holds so much bitterness, and is subject to so many sorrows and calamities? How, indeed, can that be called life, which breeds death and pain in such full measure? Yet it is loved, and many find great delight in it. The world is often blamed for its falseness and vanity, but it is not readily abandoned: the desires of the body exercise too strong a hold. Some things cause us to love the world, others to hate it. The desires of the body, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life(1 John 2:16) all draw us to love the world; but the pains and sorrows that justly ensue cause us to hate and weary of it.

 

Alas, a perverted pleasure overcomes the mind that surrenders to the world, and counts it a delight to lie among the brambles,(Job 30:7) for it has neither seen nor tasted the sweetness of God and the inner joy of holiness. But they who perfectly despise the world and study to live under God's holy rule know something of that heavenly sweetness promised to all who sincerely forsake the world. They see most clearly how sadly the world goes astray, and how grievously it is deceived.

Today's Reading

Imitation of Christ: Book 1, Chapter 25 (continued)

But if thou observest any thing worthy of reproof, beware thou do not the same. And if at any time thou hast done it, labor quickly to amend thyself. As thine eye observeth others, so art thou by others noted again.

How sweet and pleasant a thing it is, to see brethren fervent and devout, obedient and well-disciplined! How sad and grievous a thing it is, to see them walk disorderly, not applying themselves to that for which they are called! How hurtful a thing it is, when they neglect the purpose of their calling and busy themselves in things not committed to their care!

Be mindful of the purpose thou hast embraced, and set always before thee the image of the Crucified. Good cause thou hast to be ashamed in looking upon the life of Jesus Christ, seeing thou hast not as yet endeavored to conform thyself more unto Him, though thou hast been a long time in the way of God. A religious person that exercizeth himself seriously and devoutly in the most holy life and passion of our Lord, shall there abundantly find whatsoever is profitable and necessary for him, neither shall he need to seek any better thing, besides Jesus. O if Jesus crucified would come into our hearts, how quickly and fully should we be. A man fervent and diligent is prepared for all things.

It is harder toil to resist vices and passions, than to sweat in bodily labors. He that avoideth not small faults, by little and little falleth into greater. Thou wilt always rejoice in the evening, if thou spend the day profitably. Be watchful over thyself, stir up thyself, warn thyself, and whatsoever becometh of others, neglect not thyself. The more violent thou uses against thyself, the more shalt thou progress. Amen.

Meditation:

Taken from Introduction to the Devout Life

by Saint Francis de Sales

 

 

CHAPTER II.  THE PROPRIETY AND EXCELLENCY OF DEVOTION.

THEY who discouraged the Israelites from going into the land of promise told them it was a country which devoured its inhabitants; or in other words, that it was impossible to withstand the pestilential infection of its air; and, further, that the natives were such monsters that they devoured men like locusts. It is in this manner, my dear Philothea, that the world defames holy devotion, representing devout persons as a peevish, gloomy, and sullen race of men, pretending that devotion begets melancholy and insupportable humors. But as Josue and Caleb protested that the promised land was not only good and fair, but also that the possession of it would be sweet and agreeable, so the Holy Ghost, by the mouths of all the saints, and our Saviour by his own, assure us that a devout life is a life of all others the most sweet, happy, and amiable.

The world beholds devout people to fast, pray, suffer injuries, serve the sick, and give alms to the poor; it sees them watch over themselves, restrain their anger, stifle their passions, deprive themselves of sensual pleasures, and perform other actions in themselves painful and rigorous; but the world discerns not the inward cordial devotion which renders all these actions agreeable, sweet, and easy. Look at the bees: they find upon the thyme a very bitter juice, yet, in sucking it, they convert it into honey, because such is their property. O worldlings! devout souls, it is true, find much bitterness in their exercises of mortification; but in performing them they convert them into the most delicious sweetness. The fires, flames, wheels, and swords seemed flowers and perfumes to the martyrs, because they were devout. If, then, devotion can confer a sweetness on the most cruel torments, and even on death itself, what can it not do for virtuous actions? Sugar sweetens green fruits, and corrects whatever crudity or unwholesomeness may be in those that are ripe.

Now, devotion is that true spiritual sugar which corrects the bitterness of mortification by the sweetness of its consolations; it removes discontent from the poor; solicitude from the rich; sadness from the oppressed; insolence from the exalted; melancholy from the solitary, and dissipation from him that is in company. It serves as well for fire in winter as for dew in summer. It knows as well how to use abundance as how to suffer want, and how to render honor and contempt equally profitable. In a word, it entertains pleasure and pain with equanimity, and replenishes the soul with an admirable sweetness.

Contemplate Jacob's ladder for in it you have a true picture of a devout life. The two parallel sides between which we ascend, and in which the rounds are fixed, represent prayer, which obtains the love of God, and the sacraments which confer it. The rounds are the several degrees of charity by which we advance from virtue to virtue, either descending by action to the help and support of our neighbor, or ascending by contemplation to an amorous union with God.

Now, look attentively, I beseech you, upon those who are on this ladder: they are either men who have angelical hearts, or angels clothed in human bodies. They are not young, although they seem so, because they are full of vigor and spiritual activity. They have wings to soar up to God by holy prayer; but they have also feet to walk with men by a holy and edifying conversation. Their countenances are fair and cheerful, because they receive all things with sweetness and content. Their legs, their arms, and heads are bare, because in all their thoughts, affections, and actions they have no other design or motive than that of pleasing God. The rest of their body has no other covering than a fair and light robe, to show that, although they make use of the world and worldly things, yet they use them in a most pure and moderate manner, not taking more of them than is necessary for their condition. Such are devout persons. Believe me, dear Philothea, devotion is the quintessence of pleasures, the queen of virtues, and the perfection of charity. If charity be milk, devotion is the cream; if charity be a plant, devotion is its flower; if charity be a precious stone, devotion is its lustre; if charity be a rich balm, devotion is its odor; yea, the odor of sweetness, which comforts men and rejoices angels.

Prayers

Veni Creator Spiritus

Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God's hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father,
Thou Who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above,
and make our hearts o'erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven. Amen.

Ave Maris Stella

Hail, O Star of the ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
ever sinless Virgin,
gate of heav'nly rest.

Taking that sweet Ave,
which from Gabriel came,
peace confirm within us,
changing Eve's name.

Break the sinners' fetters,
make our blindness day,
Chase all evils from us,
for all blessings pray.

Show thyself a Mother,
may the Word divine
born for us thine Infant
hear our prayers through thine.

Virgin all excelling,
mildest of the mild,
free from guilt preserve us
meek and undefiled.

Keep our life all spotless,
make our way secure
till we find in Jesus,
joy for evermore.

Praise to God the Father,
honor to the Son,
in the Holy Spirit,
be the glory one. Amen.

Magnificat

My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name.
And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

[bernadette szczepkowski]

A man fervent and diligent is prepared for all things.

[Dawn Marie]

devotion is the quintessence of pleasures, the queen of virtues, and the perfection of charity. If charity be milk, devotion is the cream; if charity be a plant, devotion is its flower; if charity be a precious stone, devotion is its lustre; if charity be a rich balm, devotion is its odor; yea, the odor of sweetness, which comforts men and rejoices angels.