Day 16 Preparation for Consecration

[Dawn Marie]

PREPARATION FOR CONSECRATION DAY 16

Prayers for the Preparatory Period (Days 1-33) to be said daily.

To see the prayers in their entirety click the links below...

From True Devotion To the Blessed Virgin Mary, No. 228

Preparatory Exercises

 

 

During the first week they should offer up all their prayers and acts of devotion to acquire knowledge of themselves and sorrow for their sins. Let them perform all their actions in a spirit of humility. With this end in view they may, if they wish, meditate on what I have said concerning our corrupted nature, and consider themselves during six days of the week as nothing but sails, slugs, toads, swine, snakes and goats. Or else they may meditate on the following three considerations of St. Bernard: "Remember what you were -corrupted seed; what you are - a body destined for decay; what you will be -food for worms." They will ask our Lord and the Holy Spirit to enlighten them saying, "Lord, that I may see," or "Lord, let me know myself," or the "Come, Holy Spirit". Every day they should say the Litany of the Holy Spirit, with the prayer that follows, as indicated in the first part of this work. They will turn to our Blessed Lady and beg her to obtain for them that great grace which is the foundation of all others, the grace of self-knowledge. For this intention they will say each day the Ave Maris Stella and the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.

 

 

 

 

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Meditation: 1

 

Taken from the Gospel of St John Chapter 16 vs. 16-28

[16] A little while, and now you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see me: because I go to the Father. [17] Then some of the disciples said one to another: What is this that he saith to us: A little while, and you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see me, and, because I go to the Father? [18] They said therefore: What is this that he saith, A little while? we know not what he speaketh. [19] And Jesus knew that they had a mind to ask him; and he said to them: Of this do you inquire among yourselves, because I said: A little while, and you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see me? [20] Amen, amen I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

 

[21] A woman, when she is in labour, hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. [22] So also you now indeed have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man shall take from you. [23] And in that day you shall not ask me anything. Amen, amen I say to you: if you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it you. [24] Hitherto you have not asked anything in my name. Ask, and you shall receive; that your joy may be full. [25] These things I have spoken to you in proverbs. The hour cometh, when I will no more speak to you in proverbs, but will shew you plainly of the Father.

 

[26] In that day you shall ask in my name; and I say not to you, that I will ask the Father for you: [27] For the Father himself loveth you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. [28] I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again I leave the world, and I go to the Father.

 

 

 

 

Meditation: 2

 

How God's Grace is not Granted to the Worldly-Minded

 

CHRIST. My son, My grace is precious, and may not be mingled with worldly concerns and pleasures. Therefore, if you wish to receive it, you must remove every obstacle to grace. Seek out a place apart, and love the solitary life. Do not engage in conversation with men, but instead pour forth devout prayer to God, that you may preserve a humble mind and a dean conscience. Count the whole world as nothing, and place attendance on God before all outward things. For you cannot attend on Me, and at the same time take pleasure in worldly things. Remain detached from acquaintances and friends and independent of this world's consolations. It is for this reason that the blessed Apostle Peter begs all the faithful in Christ to keep themselves as strangers and pilgrims in this world .(I Pet. 2:11)

 

With what confidence will a man meet death, to whom no worldly affection clings! But a weak soul cannot bear to be thus detached from all things, nor can a worldly-minded man understand the freedom of the spiritual man. (ICor.2:14) Nevertheless, when a man sincerely desires to be spiritual, he must renounce all, both friend and stranger, and must beware of none more than himself. If you can win complete mastery over self, you will easily master all else. To triumph over self is the perfect victory. For whoever so controls himself that his passions are subject to his reason, and his reason wholly subject to Me, is master both of himself and of the world.

 

If you aspire to reach this height of perfection, you must make a brave beginning. Lay the axe to the roots, (Matt.3:10; Luke 3:9) to cut out and destroy all inordinate and secret love of self, and of any personal and material advantage. From this vice of inordinate self-love spring nearly all those other failings that have to be completely overcome. But as soon as this evil is mastered and subdued, great peace and lasting tranquility will follow. But few endeavor to die completely to self, and to rise wholly above it; consequently, they remain absorbed in themselves, and quite unable to rise in spirit above self. He who desires to walk with Me in true freedom must mortify all irregular and undisciplined desires, and have no selfish longing for any creature.

 

 

 

Reflection:

Uniformity with God's Will

Liguori, St. Alphonsus de (1696-1787)

 

   God wills our Good.

 

   O the supreme folly of those who resist the divine will! In God's

   providence, no one can escape hardship: "Who resisteth his will [46] ?"

   A person who rails at God in adversity, suffers without merit; moreover

   by his lack of resignation he adds to his punishment in the next life

   and experiences greater disquietude of mind in this life: "Who

   resisteth him and hath had peace [47] ?" The screaming rage of the sick

   man in his pain, the whining complaints of the poor man in his

   destitution--what will they avail these people, except increase their

   unhappiness and bring them no relief? "Little man," says St. Augustine,

   "grow up. What are you seeking in your search for happiness? Seek the

   one good that embraces all others [48] ." Whom do you seek, friend, if

   you seek not God? Seek him, find him, cleave to him; bind your will to

   his with bands of steel and you will live always at peace in this life

   and in the next.

[bernadette szczepkowski]

My Mother, obtain for me the grace of self knowledge.

[Alan]

Amen

[Kate Jackson]

Day16 -  My grace is precious, and may not be mingled with worldly concerns and pleasures. Therefore, if you wish to receive it, you must remove every obstacle to grace. Seek out a place apart, and love the solitary life. Do not engage in conversation with men, but instead pour forth devout prayer to God, that you may preserve a humble mind and a clean conscience.....

[Michael]

Amen.

[Gloria]

Do Gods will and accept the present moment. Trust in the Lord always.

[Lisa Patrick]

Dear Mother, lead us to your Son. Amen.