Week one: Getting to know yourself - Introduction

“During the first week they should employ all their prayers and pious actions in asking for a knowledge of themselves, and for contrition of their sins; and they should do thin in a spirit of humility.” 

St. Louis de Montfort, A Treatise on the True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, 228

Introduction 

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Rom 8:28‒30).

All God does and allows, He does to recreate in each of us the image of Christ. Everything that happens in our life is the grace leading to it. That is how Mary lived her life—accepting what God gave, recognizing grace, and working with it. We also want to take this path during this retreat. However, we come across obstacles on this path. St. Paul clearly talks about Christian life’s reality: we are at war.

“Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm” (Eph 6:11‒13).

However, at this war, we have not only external enemies, such as Satan and the world. We also have an internal enemy, which, like a Trojan horse, attacks us from inside—this is our nature defiled by original sin. How did that happen? Although everything God created was good, and man was very good, the moment of the first sin poisoned man on three levels. The result of this tragedy is the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes and the pride in riches.

1) Satan beguiled Eve so that she noticed “the fruit” on the forbidden tree and acknowledged they were good for food. Since then, instead of listening to God, people started making their own decisions regarding their needs. The desire of the flesh became our internal enemy. 

2) The demonic illusion made Eve think the fruit was a delight to the eyes. Thus, people seized the power over their desires and handed it to the eyes. Since then, the desire of the eyes has become our internal enemy. 

3) Finally, people deemed the deceitful word of the serpent to be true: “you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). Thus, people hand over the right to decide between good and evil to egoism, to human self. Since that time, pride in riches has become our internal enemy.

Therefore, we have three enemies. Sometimes, we may observe people who everywhere discern the presence of Satan, his traps and snares. Yet, we need to remember that Satan is not the only enemy we fight against. There are three enemies: Satan, the world, and our nature defiled by sin controlled by our self-love, i.e., egoism. Here, the spirit of the world affects us, and it resonates on three levels: the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the pride in riches (cf. 1 Jn 2:16).

Before starting His public ministry, Christ overcame these three desires during forty days of fasting in the wilderness.

These were devil’s temptations: 
– The desire of the flesh: “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread” (Matt 4:3). Jesus answered: “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4). 
– The desire of the eyes: “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor;  and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me’” (Matt 4:8‒9). Jesus answered: “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him’” (Matt 4:10). 
– The pride in riches: “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone’” (Matt 4:6). Jesus answered: “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’” (Matt 4:7).

Christ overcame the devil’s temptations, initiating the whole work of redemption. So we participate in the victorious battle. God shows us the path to victory. The next seven days we want to spend on entering the warfare on these three levels.

The key issue here is asceticism. This subject is often overlooked because it may have negative connotations for many people or be associated with the Middle Ages, which are supposed to be outdated today. So what is asceticism, and why is it so important? It is a systematic and long-lasting effort to achieve spiritual competence that leads us to communion with God. We may often hear about some individual religious experiences, something one felt in prayer. But this is not asceticism because asceticism assumes having some plan to fight with your passions, taking some sacrifices and giving up some actions. So the question is: why should I renounce something that is convenient, comfortable and enjoyable? After all, not only the world tells me that this is what I should strive for, but my own feelings also tell me that this is what I am looking for! The answer is that I can understand it and undertake it only for supernatural reasons. And this is not about suppressing some aspirations but about integrating them with your calling and spiritual life. Nor is it about any self-improvement, but about making this effort out of love for God, people and self. The aim of asceticism is to fully recover in you the image and likeness of God in imitation of Christ. So we see that this is essential.

It is also important to understand that there are different types of asceticism: 
– Negative asceticism: it is focused on acting against the inclinations that lead us to committing evil. 
– Positive asceticism: it responds to difficulties and is expressed by serving to show love while denying oneself at the same time. In reality, it is worth including also the following distinction: – Active asceticism: it is about undertaking particular practices to acquire a virtue. 
– Passive asceticism: it consists in childlike trust in Divine Providence and accepting hardships and constraints and offering them as spiritual sacrifices.

Looking at Mary’s life, we can conclude that she practised positive and passive asceticism. And we wish to go through the subsequent days in this spirit.