DAY 6 0F 33 TOTAL CONSECRATION PREPARATION 2013

[Dawn Marie]

DAY 6

 

Purpose: Emptying Yourself of the Spirit of the World

Envy

This vice proceeds from pride---which can bear neither rival nor superior.  As a result, we are saddened by another person’s qualities, possessions or achievements, as though they constituted an affront to our own “superiority” or standing.  Often it leads us to the desire of seeing that person lose that quality or possession, and a wish that they experience failure.  Because of our pride, we are convinced of our own imagined superiority and, consequently, , we feel offended, or threatened, when we encounter someone better gifted, or more successful then ourselves. We know that we are prey to and perhaps, even guilty of this vice, when it pains us to hear others acknowledged, praised, congratulated, honored etc.  We can be sure that we are guilty of this vice, if we then indulge in a needless and unjust criticism of the person thus honored.

The effects of envy can be very serious.  It can stir up a hatred toward the person whom we envy and can, as a result, lead us to speaking ill of them, sowing discord, blackening their character, sowing suspicion and eventually, wishing some evil to befall them---if not actually carrying out that very evil ourselves!  It can destroy family life, community life, civic life and even religious life!  We need only recall the story of joseph and his many brothers, who became so envious of him, that they sought to kill him----eventually settling for the option of selling him into slavery.  Similarly, we see the envy that the religious leaders had for Jesus---their own countryman.  The little seed of envy can grow into an evil big tree bringing forth much bad fruit.  It is better weeded out before it can exert a stranglehold grip on our souls.[…]

Today's Reading

Imitation of Christ: Book 1, Chapter 18

On the Example of the Holy Fathers

Look upon the lively examples of the holy Fathers in whom shone real perfection and the religious life, and you will see how little it is, and almost nothing that we do. Alas, what is our life when we compare it with theirs? Saints and friends of Christ, they served our Lord in hunger and in thirst, in cold, in nakedness, in labor and in weariness, in watching, in fasting, prayers and holy meditations, and in frequent persecutions and reproaches. Oh, how many grievous tribulations did the Apostles suffer and the Martyrs and Confessors and Virgins, and all the rest who resolved to follow the steps of Christ! For they hated their lives in this world, that they might keep them in life everlasting. Oh what a strict and self-renouncing life the holy Fathers of the desert led! What long and grievous temptations did they bear! How often were they harassed by the enemy, what frequent and fervent prayers did they offer up to God, what rigorous abstinence did they practice!

What a valiant contest waged they to subdue their imperfections! What purity and straightforwardness of purpose kept they towards God! By day they labored, and much of the night they spent in prayer; though while they labored, they were far from leaving off mental prayer. They spent all their time profitably. Every hour seemed short to spend with God; and even their necessary bodily refreshment was forgotten in the great sweetness of contemplation. They renounced all riches, dignities, honors and kindred; they hardly took what was necessary for life. It grieved them to serve the body even in its necessity. Accordingly, they were poor in earthly things, but very rich in grace and virtues.

Meditation:

TAKEN FROM:

ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE

 

CHAPTER 1

SECTION II

 

The Duties of Each Moment.

 

The duties of each moment are the shadows beneath which hides the divine operation.

 

“The power of the most High shall over-shadow thee” (Luke i, 35), said the angel to Mary. This

shadow, beneath which is hidden the power of God for the purpose of bringing forth Jesus Christ

in the soul, is the duty, the attraction, or the cross that is presented to us at each moment. These

are, in fact, but shadows like those in the order of nature which, like a veil, cover sensible objects

and hide them from us. Therefore in the moral and supernatural order the duties of each moment

conceal, under the semblance of dark shadows, the truth of their divine character which alone should rivet the attention. It was in this light that Mary beheld them. Also these shadows diffused over her faculties, far from creating illusion, did but increase her faith in Him who is unchanging and unchangeable. The archangel may depart. He has delivered his message, and his moment has passed.

 

 

Mary advances without ceasing, and is already far beyond him. The Holy Spirit, who comes to take possession of her under the shadow of the angel’s words, will never abandon her.

 

There are remarkably few extraordinary characteristics in the outward events of the life of the

most holy Virgin, at least there are none recorded in holy Scripture. Her exterior life is represented as very ordinary and simple. She did and suffered the same things that anyone in a similar state of life might do or suffer. She goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth as her other relatives did. She took shelter in a stable in consequence of her poverty. She returned to Nazareth from whence she had been driven by the persecution of Herod, and lived there with Jesus and Joseph, supporting themselves by the work of their hands. It was in this way that the holy family gained their daily bread. But what a divine nourishment Mary and Joseph received from this daily bread for the strengthening of their faith! It is like a sacrament to sanctify all their moments. What treasures of grace lie concealed in these moments filled, apparently, by the most ordinary events. That which is visible might happen to anyone, but the invisible, discerned by faith, is no less than God operating very great things. O Bread of Angels! heavenly manna! pearl of the Gospel! Sacrament of the present moment! Thou givest God under as lowly a form as the manger, the hay, or the straw. And to whom dost thou give Him? “Esurientes implevit bonis” ( Luke i, 53 ). God reveals Himself to the humble under the most lowly forms, but the proud, attaching themselves entirely to that which is extrinsic, do not discover Him hidden beneath, and are sent empty away.

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.

 

[Alan]

Amen

[Alley]

I am Thine, and all that I have is Thine, to Jesus through Mary, my

Most Holy and Immaculate Mother.

With love!

[Dawn Marie]

God reveals Himself to the humble under the most lowly forms, but the proud, attaching themselves entirely to that which is extrinsic, do not discover Him hidden beneath, and are sent empty away.

[Cathleen]

+Amen