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Matthew
5:1-19
And seeing the
multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples
came unto him. And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying: Blessed are
the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the
meek: for they shall possess the land. Blessed are they that mourn: for they
shall be comforted. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice:
for they shall have their fill. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall
obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. Blessed
are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are
they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you,
and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and
rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted
the prophets that were before you. You are the salt of the earth. But if
the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing
any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men. You are the light
of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light
a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine
to all that are in the house. So let your light shine before men, that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Do not
think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to
destroy, but to fulfill. For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass,
one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.
He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall
so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he
that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Examine your conscience, pray, practice renouncement of your own will;
mortification, purity of heart. This purity is the indispensable condition
for contemplating God in heaven, to see Him on earth and to know Him by the
light of faith. The first part of the preparation should be employed in casting
off the spirit of the world which is contrary to that of Jesus Christ. The
spirit of the world consists essentially in the denial of the supreme dominion
of God; a denial which is manifested in practice by sin and disobedience;
thus it is principally opposed to the spirit of Christ, which is also that
of Mary.
It manifests itself by the concupiscence of the flesh, by the concupiscence
of the eyes and by the pride of life. By disobedience to God's laws and the
abuse of created things. Its works are: sin in all forms, then all else by
which the devil leads to sin; works which bring error and darkness to the
mind, and seduction and corruption to the will. Its pomps are the splendor
and the charms employed by the devil to render sin alluring in persons, places
and things.
Prayers
for the 12-Day Preparatory Period |
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