“If we do not risk anything for God we will never do anything great for Him.”— St. Louis de Montfort
194 The Holy Spirit tells us that wisdom is not found in the hearts of those who live in comfort, gratifying their passions and bodily desires, because “they who are of the flesh cannot please God,” and “the Wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God.” “My spirit will not remain in man, because he is flesh.” All those who belong to Christ, incarnate Wisdom, have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. They always bear about in their bodies the dying of Jesus. They continually do violence to themselves, carry their cross daily. They are dead and indeed buried with Christ. These words of the Holy Spirit show us more clearly than the light of day that, if we are to possess incarnate Wisdom, Jesus Christ, we must practice self-denial and renounce the world and self.
195 Do not imagine that incarnate Wisdom, who is purer than the rays of the sun, will enter a soul and a body soiled by the pleasures of the senses. Do not believe that he will grant his rest and ineffable peace to those who love worldly company and vanities. “To him that overcomes the world and himself, I will give the hidden manna.” Although this lovable prince knows and perceives all things in an instant by his own infinite light, he still looks for persons worthy of him. He has to search because there are so few and he can scarcely find any sufficiently unworldly or sufficiently interior and mortified to be worthy of him, of his treasures, and of union with him.
Qualities required for mortification
(A) 196 Wisdom is not satisfied with half-hearted mortification or mortification of a few days, but requires one that is total, continuous, courageous and prudent if he is to give himself to us. If we would possess wisdom:
(B) 197 We must either give up actually our worldly possessions as did the apostles, the disciples, and the first Christians, and as religious do . . . Or at least we must detach our heart from materal things, and possess them as though not possessing them, not eager to acquire more or being anxious to retain any of them, and not complaining or worrying when they are lost.. . .
(C) 198 We must not follow the showy fashions of the world in our dress, our furniture, or our dwelling. Neither must we indulge in sumptuous meals or other worldly habits and ways of living . . .
(D) 199 We must not believe or follow the false maxims of the world or think, speak or act like people of the world. . .
(E) 200 We must flee as much as possible from the company of others, not only from that of worldly people, which is harmful and dangerous, but even from that of religious people when our association with them would be useless and a waste of time. . .
(F) 201 If we would possess Wisdom we must mortify the body not only by enduring patiently our bodily ailments, the inconveniences of the weather and the difficulties arising from other people’s actions, but also by deliberately undertaking some penances and mortifications, such as fasts, vigils and other austerities practiced by holy penitents.. . .
(G) 202 For exterior and voluntary mortification to be profitable, it must be accompanied by the mortifying of the judgment and the will through holy obedience, because without this obedience all mortification is spoiled by self-will and often becomes more pleasing to the devil than to God. That is why no exceptional mortification should be undertaken without seeking counsel.. . .
Leave all things and you will find all things by finding Jesus Christ, incarnate Wisdom.
