http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/heart/Im_consecr.htm (Consecration to Immaculate Heart of Mary)
http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/heart/consecration.htm (Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus)
“I thank the LORD and I praise him;
I bless the name of the LORD.
When I was young and innocent,
I sought wisdom openly in my prayer
I prayed for her before the temple,
and I will seek her until the end,
and she flourished as a grape soon ripe.
My heart delighted in her,
My feet kept to the level path
because from earliest youth I was familiar with her.
In the short time I paid heed,
I met with great instruction.
Since in this way I have profited,
I will give my teacher grateful praise.
I became resolutely devoted to her–
the good I persistently strove for.
My soul was tormented in seeking her,
My hand opened her gate
and I came to know her secrets.
I directed my soul to her,
and in cleanness I attained to her.” Sirach 51:12-20
The writer of Sirach writes about the beauty of wisdom. What is wisdom? It is something we all have inside of us since our Baptism and Confirmed in us as a gift of the Holy Spirit. We know that we are bearing the fruit of wisdom when we see joy, peace, charity, kindness, goodness, generosity, self-control, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, modesty, chastity. Why should we seek wisdom? Wisdom is the perfection of faith. As Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., notes in his Modern Catholic Dictionary, “Where faith is a simple knowledge of the articles of Christian belief, wisdom goes on to a certain divine penetration of the truths themselves.” The better we understand those truths, the more we value them properly. Thus wisdom, the Catholic Encyclopedia notes, “by detaching us from the world, makes us relish and love only the things of heaven.” Through wisdom, we judge the things of the world in light of the highest end of man—the contemplation of God.
Yesterday, the Catechism defined faith for us, today we learn about wisdom. They go hand in hand. Most importantly, we can apply this to our lives right now by desiring God because He desires us, it is His only desire. Padre Pio says, “We search for God in books, but we find Him in meditation.” Read the Scriptures, spiritual books, make an effort to go to the Catholic book store and find a book that interests you. I promise it will bring wisdom and strengthen your faith. Your hearts deepest longing and God’s is to be one, allow it to happen!
Become a saint!
Christian YOLO
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