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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's 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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