DAY 3 OF 33 TOTAL CONSECRATION

[Dawn Marie]

Begin With The Following Prayers:

Come Holy Ghost fill the hearts of Thy faithful...

The Holy Rosary

The Litany of the Blessed Virgin

 

 

Reading 1- Matthew 7:1-14

Judge not, that you may not be judged, For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again. Any why seest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye; and seest not the beam that is in thy own eye? Or how sayest thou to thy brother: Let me cast the mote out of thy eye; and behold a beam is in thy own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam in thy own eye, and then shalt thou see to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Give not that which is holy to dogs; neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turning upon you, they tear you. Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Or what man is there among you, of whom if his son shall ask bread, will he reach him a stone? Or if he shall ask him a fish, will he reach him a serpent? If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your Father who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him? All things therefore whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them. For this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat. How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it!

Reading 2:

Taken from the book: "On Cleaving to God" De Adhaerendo Deoby

St. Albert the Great, Doctor of the Church

How one can cling to and seek Christ alone, disdaining everything else
Qualiter quis, omnibus aliis spretis, soli Christo inhaereat et intendat?

Certainly, anyone who desires and aims to arrive at and remain in such a state must needs above all have eyes and senses closed and not be inwardly involved or worried about anything, nor concerned or occupied with anything, but should completely reject all such things as irrelevant, harmful and dangerous. Then he should withdraw himself totally within himself and not pay any attention to any object entering the mind except Jesus Christ, the wounded one, alone, and so he should turn his attention with care and determination through him into him - that is, though the man into God, through the wounds of his humanity into the inmost reality of his divinity. Here he can commit himself and all that he has, individually and as a whole, promptly, securely and without discussion, to God’s unwearying providence, in accordance with the words of Peter, cast all your care upon him (1 Peter 5.7), who can do everything. And again, In nothing be anxious (Philippians 4.6), or what is more, Cast your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you.

(Psalm 55.22) Or again, It is good for me to hold fast to God, (Ps. 73.28) and I have always set up God before me. (Psalm 16.8) The bride too in the Song of Songs says, I have found him whom my soul loves, (Canticle 3.4) and again, All good things came to me along with her. (Wisdom 7.11) This, after all, is the hidden heavenly treasure, none other than the pearl of great price, which must be sought with resolution, esteeming it in humble faithfulness, eager diligence, and calm silence before all things, and preferring it even above physical comfort, or honour and renown. For what good does it do a religious if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his soul? Or what is the benefit of his state of life, the holiness of his profession, the virtue of his habit and tonsure, or the outer circumstances of his way of life if he is without a life of spiritual humility and truth in which Christ abides through a faith created by love. This is what Luke means by, the Kingdom of God (that is, Jesus Christ) is within you. (Luke 17.21)

 

Meditation: 1

St. Louis Marie de Montfort’s ~The Love of Eternal Wisdom 

Acquired by FOLLOWING HIS TEACHINGS

It is by listening to others that we uncover the spirit that moves them. Let us listen, once more, to Our Lord speaking to us: Every one that doth evil hateth the light and cometh not to the light, that his works may not be reproved…God is a spirit and they that adore Him, must adore Him in spirit and in truth…It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing…The words that I have spoken to you, are spirit and life.

Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin; now the servant abideth not in the house for ever…He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in that which is greater; and he that is unjust in that which is little is unjust also in that which is greater…It is easier for Heaven and earth to pass away then tittle of the law to fall. So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.

Unless your justice abound more then that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven…If thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee, for it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather then that thy whole body be cast into Hell…The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent bear it away.

Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth, where the rust and moth consume and where thieves break through and steal.  But lay up to yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither the rust nor moth consume and where thieves do not break through nor steal….Judge not that you may not be judged; for with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged.

 

Meditation: 2

Gratification of the Senses Drives Away the Spirit of Christ

“Wisdom,” the Holy Spirit declares, “is not found in the land of them that live in delights,” who gratify all the desires of their passions and bodily senses, for “they who are in the flesh cannot please God” and because “the wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God” “My Spirit shall not remain in man because he is flesh”. (Job 28:13; Rom. 8:8,7; Gen. 6:3)

All those who belong to Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, have crucified their flesh, with its vices and concupiscence’s.  They ever bear about in their bodies the mortification of Jesus.  They continually do violence to themselves, carry their crosses every day, die daily and bury themselves in Christ.  These words of the Holy Spirit show more clearly then the light of day that to possess Incarnate Wisdom, Jesus Christ, we must practice mortification, renounce the world and self.

Do not think that Wisdom, purer then the rays of the sun, will enter a soul and a body sullied by the pleasures of the senses.  Do not believe the He will grant His rest and ineffable peace to those who love the company of the vanities of the world. He tells us, “to him that overcometh the world and himself….I will give the hidden Manna” (Apoc.2:17).

[Copacabana]

Day 3 prayed.

"...we must practice mortification, renounce the world and self."

[Cathleen]

+Day 3 - Amen

I feel like I am stumbling along sometimes.... :-p  I agree with what DM posted yesterday....it is TOO easy in this world, in everyday life to lose focus on God alone, with the million and one distractions and cares of life.

Thank God for the wisdom of His Saints

[Alan]

Day 3

Amen