Day 4 -Preparation for Consecration

[Dawn Marie]

PREPARATION FOR CONSECRATION DAY 4

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

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

Imitation of Christ, by Thomas á Kempis: Book 3, Chapters 7, 40

 

That man has no good of himself, and that he cannot glory in anything.

 

Lord, what is man, that Thou art mindful of him; or the son of man, that Thou visit him? What has man deserved that Thou should give him grace? Lord, what cause have I to complain, if Thou forsakest me, or what can I justly allege, if what I petition Thou shalt not grant? This most assuredly, I may truly think and say: Lord I am nothing, I can do nothing of myself, that is good, but I am in all things defective and ever tend to nothing. And unless I am assisted and interiorly instructed by Thee, I become wholly tepid and relaxed, but Thou, O Lord, art always the same, and endurest unto eternity, ever good, just and holy, doing all things well, justly and holily and disposing them in wisdom.

 

But I who am more inclined to go back, than to go forward, continue not always in one state, for I am changed, seven different times. But it quickly becomes better when it pleases Thee, and Thou stretchest out Thy helping hand: for Thou alone, without man's aid can assist me and so strengthen me that my countenance shall be more diversely changed: but my heart be converted and find its rest in Thee alone.

 

He who would be too secure in time of peace will often be found too much dejected in time of war. If you could always continue to be humble and little in your own eyes, and keep your spirit in due order and subjection, you would not fall so easily into danger and offense. It is good counsel that, when you have conceived the spirit of fervor, you should meditate how it will be when that light shall be withdrawn.

 

 

 

Meditation:

Mortify the Body

 

To obtain possession of this Wisdom we must mortify the body, not only by enduring patiently our bodily ailments and the sufferings which the natural elements bring upon us, but also, by freely imposing upon ourselves some penances and mortifications.  We may fast, watch before the Blessed Sacrament, talk with God during the silent hours of the night and practice other austerities, as exemplified in the lives of holy penitents.

 

It requires courage to do this because the body naturally idolizes itself, and the world considers as useless all corporal penances and rejects them.  The world does everything possible to deter people from practicing austerities of the saints.  Of each one of the saints it is said in due proportion: “The wise or the saintly man has brought his body into subjection by continual watching’s, fasting’s, disciplines, cold, insufficient clothing and every kind of austerity.  He made a compact with it, not to give it any rest in this world” (Rom. Brev., Oct. 19th St. Peter of Alcantara).  The Holy Spirit declares of all the saints: “They hated the spotted garment which is carnal” (Jude 1:23).

 

 

 

Meditation:

Mortify the Soul

 

In order that exterior and voluntary mortification be good, it is necessary that it be accompanied by mortification of the judgment and will, and by holy obedience.  Without this obedience, all exterior mortification is spoiled by self-love and it often becomes more pleasing to the devil then to God.  Hence, no considerable mortification should be undertaken without taking counsel.  “I Wisdom dwell in counsel (Prov. 8:12)

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool…The prudent man doth all things with counsel”” (Prov. 28:26).  And the great counsel of the Holy Spirit is this: “My son do thou, nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done….seek counsel always of a wise man” (Tob. 4:19)

By this holy obedience, we do away with self-love, which spoils everything. 

By holy obedience, the least of our actions become meritorious.  It shields us from the illusions of the devil.  It makes us conquer our enemies and brings us safely, as peacefully as if we were sleeping, into the harbor of salvation.  All that I have just said is comprised in this one great counsel: “leave all things and you will find all things, in finding Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom” (Imitation of Christ, Bk. III chap. 32, no 1)

 

 

 

Meditation:

The Seven Capitol Sins Manifest The Spirit Of The World

 

The satanic sin of pride! The terrible sin of our first parents! Those cries of pride that rang out from Satan and our first parents: “I will not serve! I want to be like God!”.  It is a vice that can be neither superior, nor equal nor rival.  Those same cries can be heard around the world today, not only in the distant world, but in our own personal world---at work, at school, at home and even in our own hearts and minds!

Pride is the root of all sin.  Whenever we sin, our pride has paved the way.  We too have cried out:  “I will not serve! I will not do this! I will not do that!  You cannot tell me what to do!”  Pride is indeed an evil thing, but only when t goes to extremes.  For there is a virtuous pride and an evil pride.

There is nothing wrong in being proud of the good that we do, and of the good that is in us----but this must always be in acknowledging the source or first principle of that good----which is God, not ourselves!  It is when we deviate from this basic truth, that sinful pride rears its ugly head.  It is when we think, that we, ourselves, are the cause of all our goodness, our talents, our success and our achievements---it is then that we sin.

Neither is there anything wrong in letting others see the good that is in us, if the motives for this is God’s glory: “So let your light shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven” (Mt. 5:16).  But if we are tempted to show off the good that is in us, for motives of self-glorification, then again pride rears its sinful ugly head.  For we fall into a species of idolatry by worshipping ourselves.  Sometimes we recognize, in theory, that God exists and that we depend upon Him---but, very often, this truth is not apparent in the way we live our lives.

 

  

Meditation:

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.

 

[Flavia Talladen Schott]

Amen 

[bernadette szczepkowski]

Amen +

[Susan Grace]

Amen

[Margie]

Amen.

[Traci]

amen

[Michael]

Amen.

[Joseph]

Amen.

[Sarah Louise Rita Armstrong]

By this holy obedience, we do away with self-love, which spoils everything.

[Alley]

With love!

[bernadette szczepkowski]

By holy obedience, the least of our actions become meritorious. Mary Most Holy, help me to persevere!