Wednesday, Second Week of Lent |
"Anyone among you who aspires to greatness must serve the rest." (Matthew 20:27)
Deny oneself Carry one's cross To follow Jesus Christ If you are ashamed of the Cross of Jesus Christ he will be ashamed of you before his Father Love the Cross Desire: crosses contempt pain abuse insults disgrace persecution humiliations calumnies illness injuries May Jesus prevail May his Cross prevail Divine love Humility Submission Patience Obedience: complete prompt joyful blind persevering .....St. Louis de Montfort
The same is true with regard to other goods than food. St. Paul speaks of this in regard to the good of married life: "I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I do. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion" (1 Corinthians 7:7-9). Thus some are given the gift of being able to live without the good of married life in order that they may pursue greater devotion to God (1 Cor. 7:32-34) or to pursue greater ministry for others (2 Timothy 2:3-4), as with priests, monks, and nuns. God gives these people special graces to live the life which they have embraced, just as he gives special graces to the married to live the life they have embraced. |
Supporting the priesthood, call to consecrated life:
**Thus some are given the gift of being able to live without the good of married life in order that they may pursue greater devotion to God (1 Cor. 7:32-34) or to pursue greater ministry for others (2 Timothy 2:3-4), as with priests, monks, and nuns. God gives these people special graces to live the life which they have embraced, just as he gives special graces to the married to live the life they have embraced.**