17 May 2011: Humility

“For all your learning, all your fame, all your eloquence and power, if you’re not humble, you’re worth nothing. Cut out that ego that dominates you so completely -- root it out. God will help you. And then you’ll be able to begin to work for Christ in the lowest place in his army of apostles.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 602)

“You’re not humble when you humble yourself, but when you are humbled by others and you bear it for Christ.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 594)

The Gift of Wisdom

Through this gift, the Holy Spirit places this knowledge within the reach of simple souls who love God; a knowledge not learned from books but given by God who illumines and fills our mind and heart, will and understanding, with love. We develop a more intimate and joyful knowledge of God and his mysteries.

Just as a mother knows her child by the love she has for him or her, so too, through charity, a soul attains a deep knowledge of God who lovingly bestows light and the ability to know divine mysteries. This gift is the fruit of charity which the Holy Spirit gives to each one. It is a sharing in God’s infinite wisdom.

St Thomas Aquinas teaches (cf “Summa Theologiae”, I, 45, 2) that the object of this gift is principally God himself and divine things; but it also includes the things of this world insofar as they come from God and are ordered to him.

No higher knowledge of God is possible than this wisdom. It enriches and facilitates our prayer and life of service to God and men; prepares the soul for “a certain experience of the sweetness of God”, (St Thomas, “Summa Theologiae”, I-II, 112, 5) both in himself and in created things insofar as these refer to him.

By this gift, so closely united with the virtue of charity, we are better able to live amicably with others. Daily we find very many opportunities to serve and help those around us. In our prayer let us see whether we serve others as we ought to, whether we try to make their lives pleasant and joyful.

“Among the gifts of the Holy Spirit, ... there is one which we all need in a special way: the gift of wisdom. It makes us know God and rejoice in his presence, thereby placing us in a perspective from which we can judge accurately the situations and events of life.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 133)

The saints, illumined by this gift, understood that illness is not a misfortune. They endure sufferings because they accept God’s mysterious ways, who frequently blesses with the Cross. They know that all things, even those not understood from the purely human viewpoint, work for the good of those who love God. (cf Rom 8:28)

“The gift of wisdom, the principle of a living contemplation that directs action, enables the soul to taste the goodness of God, to see it manifested in all events, even in the most painful, since God permits evil only for a higher good, which we shall see later and which is sometimes given us to glimpse on earth.” (R Garrigou-Lagrange, “The Three Ages of the Interior Life”, II)

Through this gift the motions of grace will bring great peace to us, our neighbors and friends. We then bring joy wherever we go; find the right word to reconcile whoever are at odds. Thus, it jibes with: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’

Those who enjoy internal peace can bring peace to others. This peace which the world cannot give comes from seeing all things in God’s providence, who never forgets his children.

The gift of wisdom gives us a loving faith and an understanding of the great mystery of God which we never thought possible. It might involve the presence and nearness of God, or the Real Presence of Christ in the tabernacle, which produces an incredible happiness.

“The soul remains there, without saying anything or saying only a few simple words of love, in deep contemplation, with its eyes fixed on the Sacred Host, never tiring of looking at him. It seems as if Jesus were seeing into its very depths.” (A Riaud, “The Action of the Holy Spirit in Souls”, Madrid)

This loving action of the Holy Spirit will be possible only if we take good care of the times set aside for God: Mass, at personal prayer, visits to the Blessed Sacrament which must be given priority in our normal day, even at times when we are very busy or tired.

“May the Mother of God and our Mother protect us, so that each one of us may serve the Church in the fullness of faith, with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and with our contemplative life. May each one of us joyfully honour the Lord by carrying out his own duties, those which are properly his; each one of us, in his job or profession and fulfilling the obligations of his state in life.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 316)

Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:549-54

` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `

Mary the Sorrowing Mother

“Our Lady is there listening to the words of her Son, united to him in his suffering, ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ What could she do? She united herself fully with the redemptive love of her Son and offered to the Father her immense sorrow which pierced her pure heart like a sharp-edged sword.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 288)

Let us offer our Mother today: ‘The mortification of keeping quiet about any pain or discomfort, any inconvenience or disappointment, uniting them with her pain as she stood by Jesus on the cross.’

Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p309

When and where to pray the Rosary

The Rosary could be said any time during the day or at night; alone or with another person; as a communal prayer in a group or as a devotional prayer in church.

The Rosary could be recited anywhere: kneeling, standing up or sitting down; while walking or traveling, resting or walking; even in a hospital bed.

Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p57

Beatification of Venerable Josemaria Escrivá, Founder of ‘Opus Dei’ -- In Rome on this day in 1992 attended by over 300,000 persons from all over the world. (“L’Osservatore Romano”, 20 May 1992, 1)

• Our Lady of Tears, in the duchy of Spoletto, Italy. It is said that this picture, painted on a wall, shed many tears in the year 1494. — Gabriel Pennotus, lib. iii., Historia Tripartita, c. 34. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Tears (Duchy of Spoletto, Italy). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of Tears, Spoletto, Italy (1494). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Tears. Spoletto / Spoleto, Italy. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)