Nov. 16 - Journey - Wk 1, Day 1, "I chose you from the world..."

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today’s (Nov.17 yesterday - sorry for giving wrong date) Alleluia verse and the Gospel for the Memorial of St. Elizabeth are helpful in beginning this week of our journey toward our Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary:

Alleluia (See Jn 15:16) - “I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.”​

Gospel (Lk 19:11-28)​

While people were listening to Jesus speak, He proceeded to tell a parable because He was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of Godwould appear there immediately. So he said, “A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, ‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’ He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’ Then the second came and reported, ‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’And to this servant too he said, ‘You, take charge of five cities.’ Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’ He said to him, ‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’ And to those standing by he said ‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ He replied, ‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.’” After He had said this, He proceeded on His journey up to Jerusalem.​

This parable Jesus gives us today, helps us to hear also St. Louis de Montfort’s words for this first week of our Journey. Jesus gives this parable on His journey! He is headed toward His final emptying of Himself on the Cross. We are called by our Lord Jesus to be “faithful servants”. We cannot hide what He gives us but in following Him we need to bear fruit! St. Louis advises us above all in this first week :

1. 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 … 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,… 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.

Litany of the Holy Spirit: LITANIES

Ave Maris Stella: Ave Maris Stella: A Renowned Marian Hymn
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Litany of Loreto | EWTN

Come Holy Spirit enable us by Your Grace to come into the fullness of Truth. Enable us to know ourselves. Grant us that grace which is the foundation of all others; true knowledge of “self”. Jesus, we trust in You. Mary, our humble Mother pray for us.