Virgo Potens

“I will pay my vows from day to day.” [Ps. lx, 9] Practical Examen on the Virtue of Humility (continued) Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 20th This is also the manner in which we ought to meditate. Certain general resolutions, such as to subdue pride and to practice humility, are never of any use; but, on the contrary, they frequently generate confusion and create conflict in the mind: therefore it is necessary to go into particulars of those things in which during the day we have been most sensible of our imperfections, and even then we must not form a general intention not to fall into them again all our life through, but it is enough that we should make a firm resolution not to fall into them again during that one day. (continued)

2 of 2 ~ 7.— Wednesday after the Ascension 2. Sometimes the gift of counsel does more than this. It shows us that it is God's will that we should run counter to what the world considers prudent. So Abraham did when he left his home at God's command. So David did when he went out with sling and stone to fight Goliath. So Judith did when she went to the camp of Holofernes. Some such occasions occur to all. When I know God's will, do I generously set all else aside? 3. The disciples of Our Lord do not seem to have had much of the gift of counsel during His life. St. Peter tried to dissuade Him from His sacred Passion. St. James and St. John wanted Him to call down fire upon the city which would not receive Him. The disciples in general stopped one who was working miracles in Christ's name. They rebuked those who brought their children to be blessed by Him. They wanted Our Lord to absent Himself from Judaea to avoid the dangers to which He was there exposed. All these were the result of trusting to human prudence instead of the supernatural gift of counsel. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS May 20th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 7.— Wednesday after the Ascension IV.—The Gift of Counsel 1. The gift of counsel contains all that is good in human prudence, but goes beyond it. It depends simply and solely on the will of God, so far as we can ascertain it. It leads us always to pause and turn our thoughts to God before we act. Thus it enables us to avoid precipitation, rashness, inconsiderate impulse. It makes us calm and deliberate, and teaches us never to act in any important matter without seeking guidance from God. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 19th And because all the masters of spiritual life agree in this, that it is most efficacious to make a particular examen every day on the virtue which we wish to acquire, I will expound for your enlightenment a practical examen on Christian humility; and, in order that you make a good use of it, I offer you three words of advice. The first is that in making your examen once a day, at least, in order to mark those faults which you may have committed against humility, you choosing not more than one or two of the most flagrant ones which you are in the habit of committing, and thus, after having accustomed yourself to amend these, you will pass on little by little to the others, until pride will gradually be eradicated and humility will spring up in your heart. (continued) ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 19th Practical Examen on the Virtue of Humility NOW that you are conversant with the idea of humility, in its necessity, its excellence and its motives, I am persuaded that a fervent desire to practice it has been excited in your heart. But because, on the one hand, you cannot do this without the special help of God, and, on the other, God will work nothing in you without you–—that is, without the co-operation of your own will–—it therefore follows that when you have invoked the Divine help, not doubting but that you will receive it, you must apply yourself to adopt those means which are most likely to help you to attain that virtue. (continued)

2 of 2 ~ 6.— Tuesday after the Ascension 2. The possession of this gift of knowledge is necessary for the salvation of my soul. Those who rest in creatures and fail to pass from them to the Creator, can never hope to enjoy the vision in which the Creator is all in all. I must try and recognize God in all around me more than I do. I must pray for a knowledge of His perfections through the means which He has provided, the beauties of the physical world, the many virtues of the saints and holy people, from whom I can learn so much. 3. Those who were the companions of Our Lord could scarcely fail to be continually reminded of God while they were the associates of God Incarnate. Yet they did not fully recognize Jesus Christ as God, else they would never have doubted of His Resurrection. Their love for Him was rather a personal and natural one than the devotion due to Him as their Lord and their God. They did not judge rightly of the meaning of what He said and did. How often we are narrow in our views, impatient of what God ordains or permits, for want of this divine gift of knowledge! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS May 19th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 6.— Tuesday after the Ascension III.—The Gift of Knowledge 1. The gift of knowledge differs from the preceding gifts in that its province is to raise the soul from creatures to the Creator. It enables us to think of God in our daily life, and to make the things around occasions of recalling His presence. It teaches that all the beauty we see in earthly things is but a reflection of the divine beauty. It was in virtue of this that St. Ignatius declared that all the world around recalled God to him. Am I careful to refer all things to Him? (continued)

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 18th 100. (continued) Prayer O GOD, Who resistest the proud and givest Thy grace to the humble, grant us the grace of true humility, of which Thine Only begotten Son showed forth in Himself an example to the faithful, that we may never, puffed up by pride, incur Thine anger, but that, submissive to Thy will, we may receive the gifts of Thy grace. ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

2 of 2 ~ 5.— Monday after the Ascension 2. This gift of wisdom is exactly proportioned to our charity. In the saints it produces an utter indifference to all worldly things, to all the pleasures of sense and to all earthly honors; nay, it makes them love mortification and the cross, because their burning charity makes them appreciate the true value of suffering. My God, how little have I of this heavenly wisdom! How little taste for prayer and spiritual things! The reason is my selfishness, my want of charity. 3. In the gospels we notice how the apostles, in spite of Our Lord's example and teaching, took to the very end of His sacred ministry a low and earthly view of the kingdom He was come to establish, and of their own privileges in it. They thought that it was to be merely a temporal kingdom, that they were to be held in high honor in it, and actually quarreled among themselves who should be first in it. All their tastes and aspirations were after this world's honor. This was because they had not yet that gift of wisdom which would teach them to relish most the things of God, but which they were to receive at Pentecost. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS May 18th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 5.— Monday after the Ascension II.—The Gift of Wisdom 1. What is the gift of wisdom? It follows on the gift of understanding, and gives men a real taste and relish for all that is connected with God and divine things. It directs their thoughts straight to God, and teaches them to look at everything in the light of God. It makes them love prayer and spiritual reading, and holy Mass. It is the most perfect of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and rules and directs the rest as charity does the other virtues. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 17th He is my inner self who is all vice, corruption and pride, and it is the same as if I were to say: “Deliver me, O Lord, from myself, that is, give me grace to amend and reform myself in order that I may no longer be that earthly, worldly and proud creature which I have been hitherto, dominated by passion, but that I may be renewed, and may conform to the spirit of my humble Lord and Master Jesus Christ.” “Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man; rescue me from the unjust man.” ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 17th 100. (continued) “Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man, rescue me from the unjust man.” [Ps. cxxxix, 2] Who is this wicked and unjust man from whom I pray to be delivered? (continued)

2 of 2 ~ 4.— Sunday after the Ascension The Gifts sought 2. This gift of understanding extends also to practical matters. It gives the power of perceiving the wisdom of what is done by those in authority, and in general of appreciating what is good in the actions of others. This is the reason why good men always judge so leniently and kindly of the actions of those around, and approve the decisions of authority where others condemn them. It is because they have so large a share of the gift of understanding. 3. Even after Our Lord's Resurrection, His disciples had shown a strange want of understanding of the meaning of His teaching. He Himself had reason to upbraid the eleven apostles with their incredulity and hardness of heart. He reproached the disciples on the road to Emmaus with their folly and slowness to believe the Scriptures. They needed the gift of understanding before they could see their true meaning. Without the teaching of the Holy Ghost, Scripture is a sealed book. Heretics may scratch at the surface, but they cannot make its treasures their own. For this the gift of understanding is necessary. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS May 17th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 4.— Sunday after the Ascension The Gifts sought I.—The Gift of Understanding 1. What is the gift of understanding? It is the gift that enables him who receives it to appreciate the truth and beauty of all revealed truths, and to comprehend their drift and meaning. It is not like faith, a simple intellectual assent. It furnishes reasons for making the assent. It enables the intellect to perceive the consistency and the beauty of supernatural truth. I must pray for this gift if I am to be firm in my faith. (continued)

NOTRE DAME DE GRACE Je suis la mère du Bel-Amour, et de la Sainte Espèrance. Eccle. 24. OUR LADY OF GRACE I am the mother of Fair-Love, and of Holy Hope. Eccle. 24.

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 16th 100. (continued) Let us begin to practice on earth those virtues which we hope to practice for ever and ever through all ages in Heaven: “Our Lord Jesus Christ humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted Him, and hath given Him a name which is above all names.” [Phil. ii, 8, 9] ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

2 of 2 ~ 3.— Saturday after the Ascension The Means employed 2. They were always in the Temple. Not only constant at its services, but standing there for long hours in silent supplication. They knew that God was specially present there, and that His ears were specially open to their petitions. So we must be often before the Blessed Sacrament, visiting from time to time the temple where Jesus Himself is truly present. This is the way to obtain graces from Him. This is the way to win His Sacred Heart. 3. They were constantly praising and blessing God. Thus even before the Holy Spirit descended, they had begun to practise as far as they could the occupation of the saints and angels in heaven. They knew that the best form of prayer is an expression of gratitude and love. Yet how much cause they had for natural anxiety! What a battle, and apparently what a hopeless battle, before them! Their overflowing love made them full of hope and joy. God will always help those who are continually praising and blessing Him. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS May 16th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 3.— Saturday after the Ascension The Means employed How did the disciples spend the time of their retreat? We are not left in ignorance here. 1. They were persevering in prayer. If there was one lesson which their Master had taught them again and again, it was the necessity of earnest, persevering, patient prayer. How He had enforced it by command, by parable, by His own example! They had learned the lesson, and now their instinct was to make prayer the chief preparation for the coming of the power from on high. It is prayer that obtains power for us— power over ourselves— power to convert others— wisdom and prudence and all we need. (continued)

ACT of HUMILITY and CONFIDENCE Before Holy Communion JESUS, my Lord, I confess that I am a sinner. But in Thy goodness Thou dost invite me to approach Thy Holy Table and to partake of Thy heavenly Banquet. Trusting in Thy mercy I come to Thee with confidence, albeit with it a contrite and humble heart. Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter. under my roof; but say only the word, and my soul shall be healed. Come to me, Jesus, come to me, and keep me in Thy love.and Thy grace forevermore. ~ Rev. F. X. Lasance, My Prayer Book ~ Happiness in Goodness, 1908.

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 15th 100. (continued) O my soul, it is through humility that we shall reach Paradise. And what shall we do in paradise? There the practice of all other virtues ceases and only charity and humility remain. We shall see God, and in seeing Him we shall know that He is the infinite Good; and this perfect knowledge will bring with it more perfect love, and the more we love God, the better we shall know Him, and the better we know Him, the more humble we shall be, practicing humility through all eternity like the ancients seen in the Apocalypse by the Apostle St. John: “Who fell on their faces and adored God, saying, We give Thee thanks, O Lord God almighty, who art, and who wast, and who art to come.” [Apoc. xi, 17] ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).