WEEK TEN: TWO STANDARDS, THREE CLASSES OF MEN, THREE KINDS OF HUMILITY - Day 2



 WEEK TEN: TWO STANDARDS, THREE CLASSES OF MEN, THREE KINDS OF HUMILITY - Day 2

 MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:

Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Repetition of THE TWO STANDARDS, #136-147.  Ask for knowledge of the deceits of the rebel chief and help to guard myself against them; and also ask for an intimate knowledge of the true life exemplified in the sovereign and true Commander, and the grace to imitate Him. (#139).

Today, you are doing a repetition of The Two Standards. St. Ignatius says that "we should pay attention to and dwell upon those points in which we have experienced greater consolation or desolation or greater spiritual appreciation" (# 62). If you wish, you can do a triple colloquy: refer to #63 of the Third Exercise of the First Week.

We each must make this journey sitting at His feet.  Looking at the world and recognizing your own joys and victories as well as your own pains and sufferings that I have brought upon myself.  For some this journey will not be easy as their I'll fated desires wants to draw them back in, the evil one sitting and offering the world.  You must recognize the trap being laid and like Jesus, be meek and humble and go the other way.  The true strength is walking away and not falling victim to the trap.  You are in my prayers.  

What is God saying to you?  I am with in this journey, My Son did not travel alone.  

"(136)The Fourth Day

A Meditation on Two Standards

The one of Christ, our supreme leader and lord, the other of Lucifer, the deadly enemy of our human nature

Prayer

The usual preparatory prayer.

(137)

First Prelude

This is the history. Here it will be that Christ calls and wants all beneath His standard, and Lucifer, on the other hand, wants all under his.

(138)

Second Prelude

This is a mental representation of the place. It will be here to see a great plain, comprising the whole region about Jerusalem, where the sovereign Commander-in-Chief of all the good is Christ our Lord; and another plain about the region of Babylon, where the chief of the enemy is Lucifer.

(139)

Third Prelude

This is to ask for what I desire. Here it will be to ask for a knowledge of the deceits of the rebel chief and help to guard myself against them; and also to ask for a knowledge of the true life exemplified in the sovereign and true Commander, and the grace to imitate Him.

First Part: The Standard of Satan

(140)

First Point

Imagine you see the chief of all the enemy in the vast plain about Babylon, seated on a great throne of fire and smoke, his appearance inspiring horror and terror.

(141)

Second Point

Consider how he summons innumerable demons, and scatters them, some to one city and some to another, throughout the whole world, so that no province, no place, no state of life, no individual is overlooked.

(142)

Third Point

Consider the address he makes to them, how he goads them on to lay snares for men and bind them with chains. First they are to tempt them to covet riches (as Satan himself is accustomed to do in most cases) that they may the more easily attain the empty honors of this world, and then come to overweening pride.

The first step, then, will be riches, the second honor, the third pride. From these three steps the evil one leads to all other vices.

Second Part: The Standard of Christ

(143)

In a similar way, we are to picture to ourselves the sovereign and true Commander, Christ our Lord.

(144)

First Point

Consider Christ our Lord, standing in a lowly place in a great plain about the region of Jerusalem, His appearance beautiful and attractive.

(145)

Second Point

Consider how the Lord of all the world chooses so many persons, apostles, disciples, etc., and sends them throughout the whole world to spread His sacred doctrine among all men, no matter what their state or condition.

(146)

Third Point

Consider the address which Christ our Lord makes to all His servants and friends whom He sends on this enterprise, recommending to them to seek to help all, first by attracting them to the highest spiritual poverty, and should it please the Divine Majesty, and should He deign to choose them for it, even to actual poverty. Secondly, they should lead them to a desire for insults and contempt, for from these springs humility.

Hence, there will be three steps: the first, poverty as opposed to riches; the second, insults or contempt as opposed to the honor of this world; the third, humility as opposed to pride. From these three steps, let them lead men to all other virtues.

(147)

Colloquy

A colloquy should be addressed to our Lady, asking her to obtain for me from her Son and Lord the grace to be received under His standard, first in the highest spiritual poverty, and should the Divine Majesty be pleased thereby, and deign to choose and accept me, even in actual poverty; secondly, in bearing insults and wrongs, thereby to imitate Him better, provided only I can suffer these without sin on the part of another, and without offense of the Divine Majesty. Then I will say the Hail Mary.

Second Colloquy

This will be to ask her Son to obtain the same favors for me from the Father. Then I will say, Soul of Christ.

Third Colloquy

This will be to beg the Father to grant me the same graces. Then I will say the Our Father."  Taken from 

Dear Triune God, I thank You for Your companionship and Your comfort in these trying moments.  I thank You for the grace that You avail to us as we sit and ponder.  In my daily travels may I become more like Jesus, May I recognize my weaknesses and overtime replace them with Your strength that saves.  Thank You for this morning and this day, may Your will be done in my life Amen.  

Mary, Queen of Peace, Pray for us. 

St Joesph, Hope of the Sick, Pray for us. 

Viva Cristo Rey. 

https://youtu.be/rfpCiZDYt8U

Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.  1 John 4:4b