God was not obliged to deviate from the ways of Providence in calling and guiding them by a miraculous star. Among the millions of Gentiles many were more deserving to know the Messiah. Why this great favor?
To what do I owe my state in life? The innocence and holiness of my youth? No, says my conscience. My moral and physical qualities? Many excel me in these respects.
Only to the free choice of the Lord: “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you.” (cf Jn 15:16)
Born and living amidst heathen darkness and vice, the Magi were walking with the majority in the broad path towards destruction. The grace of conversion drew them forever from it, set them in the narrow path of justice, and made them new men in Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Where was I before the star of my vocation rose to enlighten me? How far did I float, carried by the seducing torrent of vice? This life would have ended only in eternal ruin.
The grace of vocation drew me away, and brought me into the narrow path of virtue and salvation. It was also a ‘grace of conversion’.
The vocation of the Magi was a grace of sanctification. It made them clearly see the nothingness of what is not God; and filled their hearts with the ardor of charity. They rapidly progressed in a life of virtue.
The light and grace of our vocation have shown us the vanity of the world. It has broken our bonds to it; made us resolve on a state of life that obliges conquering our human frailty. We resort to norms of piety which help us to efficaciously attain sanctity.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp28-30
Our daily work -- source of little mortifications
The mortifications God asks of us are often associated with our work. From the very start of the day -- getting up promptly, overcoming initial laziness; punctuality despite the traffic; finishing our work to the last detail; smiling even if we don’t want to; tempering our taste for food or drink.
If you really want your soul to be both penitent and cheerful, “you must stick to your daily periods of prayer ... fervent, generous; not cut short. ... make sure these minutes of prayer are not engaged in only when you feel the need, but at fixed times, whenever possible. ... I can assure you that you will be always happy.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 994)
‘Passive’ mortifications occur without our looking for them. What we initiate (and seek) are called ‘active’ mortifications which include control of our internal senses -- the imagination, memory and intelligence. These are especially important for our interior progress and for enabling us to achieve purity of heart.
‘Mortification of the imagination’ provides opportunity to turn fantasy into a dialogue with God who is present in our soul. We try to restrain a tendency to go over and over some trivial matter where we feel injury to our self-esteem. Otherwise, our conceit and pride will subdue our peace and presence of God.
‘Mortification of the memory’ avoids useless recollections which make us waste time (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 13) and which could lead us into more serious temptations.
‘Mortification of the intelligence’ leads us to immediately concentrate on the duty or business of the moment. (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 815) Also on many occasions surrendering our own judgment so as to live humility and charity better.
In short, we rid ourselves of internal habits which we know should not be found in a man or woman of God. (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 938) Let us resolve to keep close to Our Lord by contemplating his most Sacred Humanity steeped in humility.
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:17-8
Praying for humility
“... a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Ps 52:17) In the parable of the Pharisee and the publican, Our Lord teaches that humility must be the basis for relating with God and others.
When we feel ignored in some insignificant, trivial matter we must realize it as an opportunity to accept our littleness and to become less proud. “You are humble not when you humble yourself, but when you are humbled by others and you bear it for Christ.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 594)
Our Lady’s help ensures progress in humility. “Mary is both Mother of mercy and of affection, to whom no one turns in vain; entrust yourself confidently to her, asking her to bring this virtue within your reach, a virtue which She highly appreciated. Don’t be afraid of not having your request heard by her. Mary will ask this of God, who exalts the humble and brings down the proud. And as Mary is all-powerful beside her Son, your prayer will certainly be answered.” (J Pecci [Pope Leo XIII], “The Practice of Humility”, 56)
We can close with this petition: “Lord, take away my pride; crush my self-love, my desire to affirm myself and impose myself on others. Make the foundation of my personality be my identification with you.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 31)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:155-6
God’s Epiphany in Modern Man
On the night of our Lord’s Nativity, shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem saw the light... came to adore Him.
The Magi from the East are led by a star. ‘They come and adore.’ Whom do they adore? The Child. The Newborn man who is a particular epiphany of God.
They made a long journey to reach that place the star had guided them. In the Child born at Bethlehem they recognized the latest Gift which the Eternal Father had made to man. In this Gift, ‘man’ appears in the world as ‘a particular epiphany of God’.
He was so from the beginning, created in the image and likeness of God. He knew that none of the creatures around Him in the world were of his stature.
None is really like him. He alone, man, had that particular resemblance to God from the beginning. He was His image.
He darkened this likeness in himself with sin. He disfigured the image. But he did not destroy it. Man walked toward the Messiah in the tracks of that likeness. He followed the star of his divine destinies ... And so history developed further. Christ came so that man might recognize a particular epiphany of God in himself.
Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p52
• Our Lady of the “Rue Large” (Broad Street). Rome. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of the Broad Street, at Rome, situated on the very spot where St. Paul remained for two years, wearing an iron chain, where he preached the Gospel and wrote several of his epistles. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)
• Our Lady of the Broad Street. Rome. ["situated at very spot where St Paul remained for two years, wearing an iron chain, where he preached the Gospel and wrote several of his epistles. (Triple Couronne, as above, n. 6.)"]. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of the Broad Street, Rome. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• Our Lady of the “Rue Large” (Rome). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
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