Christmas Weekday
On this Marian Saturday during the Christmas season, St. Maximilian Kolbe once said, “I thank you very much for your prayers and ask for many, many more, that I may serve the Immaculata with zeal, ‘suaviter et fortiter‘ [gently and bravely].” Let us always pray for one another through the Immaculata so that we may have a zeal for greatness, power, and pride! Not the wicked bad zeal of the devil but of humility and of understanding! As St. Benedict says, “Just as there is a wicked zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so there is a good zeal which separates from evil and leads to God and everlasting life. This, then, is the good zeal which monks must foster with fervent love: They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other (Rom 12:10), supporting with the greatest patience one another’s weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else. To their fellow monks they show the pure love of brothers; to God, loving fear; to their abbot, unfeigned and humble love. Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together to everlasting life.”
We are called to do this as sons and daughters, not only of St. Benedict but also of the Immaculata! Let us strive and help one another reach this goal!
Reflection by Br. Maximilian Burkhart, OSB
Posted in Articles for Christmas, Daily Reflections