12 July 2024: Legion Handbook Chapter 33.13(a) - The Interior Life and Prayer
- nuslegionofmary
- Jul 13, 2024
- 5 min read
Today’s spiritual reading talks about one of the most important duties of Legionaries; cultivating our interior life. What do we mean by interior life?
Well, a quick Google search will bring us to a Wikipedia definition of interior life: a life which seeks God in everything, a life of prayer and the practice of living in the presence of God. It denotes intimate, friendly conversation with Him, and a determined focus on internal prayer versus external actions, while these latter are transformed into means of prayer.
The central point of the spiritual life is the contemplative life. Why? Because God made us for Himself, that we might know Him, love Him, and serve Him. The true spiritual life consists in our relationship with God. In essence, one who has cultivated a rich interior life means that his thoughts, desires, and affections converge on Jesus Christ. Our Lord becomes the center of his life, the ultimate motive behind his whole way of living down to the smallest details. The interior life means the lifelong effort to live our lives so that we can say with St. Paul: "I live now not I but Christ lives in me.". How are we to do so?
The reading emphasizes that every Christian, regardless of their state or walk of life, is called to live a full Christian life and strive for the perfection of love. This means that all faithful are invited and obliged to pursue holiness and perfection in their own state of life. The duties of a legionary mirror the responsibilities of every Catholic, aligning with the vision of the Second Vatican Council as expressed in Lumen Gentium. Through the Legion of Mary, we are able to actively participate in Christ’s mission as Priest, Prophet, and King. St. Alphonsus Liguori teaches that “all of holiness consists in the love of God, and all of the love of God consists in doing his will.” This means our journey to holiness involves actively seeking and fulfilling God's will in our lives.
The reading gives us tips to fulfill God’s will in our lives:
Receptive Listening: We need to open our hearts to the Word of God and the teachings of the Church.
Fervent Prayer: Maintain a constant and heartfelt dialogue with God.
Spiritual Guidance: Seek advice from a wise and loving spiritual guide.
Discernment of Talents: Recognize and utilize the gifts and talents given by God in our unique social and historical contexts.
Understanding the Supernatural Life
As St Josemaria so poignantly mentioned: If you lose the supernatural meaning of your life, your charity will be philanthropy; your purity, decency; your mortification, stupidity; your discipline, a whip; and all your works, fruitless.
The foundation of our interior and supernatural life lies in the First Truth (taken from Soul of the Apostolate): the supernatural life is the life of Jesus Christ Himself in our souls, through Faith, Hope, and Charity. Jesus is the meritorious, exemplary, and final cause of sanctifying grace. As the Word, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, He is its efficient cause in our souls. This supernatural life is not merely the real presence proper to Holy Communion but a presence of vital action, akin to the action of the head or heart upon the members of the body.This divine action lies deep within us, often hidden from our natural faculties to increase the merit of our faith. Although we may not feel this action, we are formally obliged to believe in it by faith. It is a divine action that respects our free will, using all secondary causes, events, persons, and things to teach us God's will and offer us opportunities to increase our share in the divine life. This supernatural life begins in Baptism with the state of grace, is perfected at Confirmation, recovered through Penance, and enriched by the Holy Eucharist. This is our Christian life, a life intimately united with Jesus Christ.
Living the Interior Life
Living the interior life means actively cooperating with this divine presence within us. Our interior life is nurtured by three essential practices: prayer, mortification, and sacraments. Regular participation in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, sustains and deepens our union with Christ. The Catechism states: “Christian prayer is a covenant relationship between God and man in Christ.” (#2564). Personal prayer, including mental prayer, the Rosary, and visits to the Blessed Sacrament, nurtures our interior life. When we pray, we engage in the four ends of prayer:
Adoration: We adore God, recognizing His infinite greatness and our dependence on Him.
Thanksgiving: We give thanks for all the blessings and graces He bestows upon us.
Petition: We humbly ask for His help, guidance, and the graces we need for ourselves and others.
Atonement: We seek forgiveness for our sins and offer reparations.
These forms of prayer reflect the sacrifice of the Mass, where we unite our prayers with the perfect offering of Christ. In the Mass, we adore God, thank Him, present our petitions, and atone for our sins through the Eucharistic sacrifice.
Devotion to Mary: Our devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, through practices like the Rosary and Marian consecration, draws us closer to her Son. Mary's example guides us in living a life fully centered on Jesus. Mary is our inspiration and model of the interior life. She is totally centered on Jesus and there is nothing in her that is not related to Him. To be truly united to her inevitably leads us to be united to Jesus.
Practical Applications
Daily Spiritual Practices: Commit to morning mental prayer, daily Mass, frequent reception of the Sacraments, and spiritual reading.
Regular Examination of Conscience: Reflect on your thoughts, words, and deeds at the end of the day to ensure they align with Christ’s will, and to strive to do better the next day
Acts of Charity and Virtue: Engage in daily acts of kindness and virtue, seeing them as extensions of Christ's life within us.
Recollection and Presence of God: Maintain an awareness of God's presence throughout the day with brief prayers and aspirations.
Spiritual Reading and Retreats: Spiritual reading, especially the New Testament and the lives of saints, greatly enhances our prayer life and strengthens our Christian convictions. Reading about the saints provides tangible examples of holiness and inspires us to imitate their virtues. Annual retreats and recollections offer an opportunity for deep reflection and renewal. They help us gain clarity about our vocation and strengthen our resolve to follow it faithfully.
The interior life is a lifelong journey of growing in union with Christ, guided by the example and intercession of Our Blessed Lady. As legionaries, let us commit to deepening our interior life, allowing Christ to live in us and through us, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. May Our Lady continue to guide us in this path.
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