Almighty God, who command us to prepare the way for Christ the Lord, grant in your kindness, we pray, that no infirmity may weary us as we long for the comforting presence of our heavenly physician.

The collect today almost sounds like Saint John the Baptist, who tells us to “prepare the way of the Lord.” This way is the way to our heart, of course, but can also include all the aspects and details of our lives—the books on the shelves, the food in the fridge, the movies and shows on the TV. These too should be open to the presence of God, and should not in any way hinder His coming, much less chase Him away.

I find the second half of this collect the more interesting, however. Christ is heralded as the “divine physician,” the Heavenly Doctor who comes to free us from every adversity and “infirmity.” Note just what this infirmity does in our lives: it makes us weary. Now, this can of course be seen in the various infirmities of life, such as illnesses and sufferings, but we can also understand this word more broadly to mean the limited finitude of human nature. We, since we are not God, are not all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present, etc., and this can actually make us weary! For self-reliance is a proud form of weariness with the way things are.

How often in the Scriptures did the Israelites weary of their plight and take matters into their own hands (think Adam in the garden, taking the forbidden fruit, or of the Israelites wanting God in their own manner as at Golden Calf)? How often in our own experience do we do the same (think of some rebellious sin, or some proud moment that arose out of frustration with our smallness and weakness)? In these instances, the infirmity—the sinfulness and limitedness—of human nature made them and us weary, and it led to bad things.

Today, therefore, we invoke heavenly grace and divine healing in Christ, so that we do not be weary and overcome by any sort of infirmity. Again we invoke His comforting and consoling Presence, that we learn not to rely on ourselves, or even on His good gifts, but on God Himself, the very giver of these gifts.

How gracious God is that He allows us to rely upon Him, even for health and wellness in our fallen state! Thank God we don’t have to do it on our own! He truly is a loving and provident Father, Who wants and wills to provide for our every need, weakness, and infirmity.

Reflection Questions

• Is my heart and home a place prepared for the Lord? If not, what preparations need to be made (now, not later!)?
• Do I rely more on God or myself when I sense my own weaknesses and infirmities?
• When I am actually ill, do I act out in frustration in anyway, or rely ever more on God for His help?
• Do I think of Christ as a Divine Physician? What could He do for me as such?
• Do I see God as a loving, caring Father? If not, why?

The Cristeros Rule of Life

As Cristeros, we dedicate ourselves to a a life of true devotion to Jesus through Mary, particularly in the form of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray for Us.

We begin our days with a Morning Offering dedicating our day:

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day, in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the remission of my sins, for the intentions of my family and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.

At a high or low point during the day, we pray to the Holy Spirit, handing over our accomplishments or sufferings:

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, and enkindle in us the fire of thy love, send forth thy spirit and we shall be created, and though shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.

At some point each day, on our own or with our family or friends, we pray to our Mother Mary in the form of Guadalupe, giving all that we have and are to Jesus through Mary by reciting one of the following:

• A daily Rosary, focusing on the Fruits of the Mystery.
• The Hail Holy Queen

Every night before we go to sleep, by ourselves or with our wife, we pray a nightly examine using the ACTS formula:

• Adoration: We adore you and Christ and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.
• Contrition: Ask God for forgiveness for all the times you have sinned or fallen short that day,
• Thanksgiving: Thank God for all the gifts he has given you that day, including the grace for those moments you have acted virtuously and towards the Good.
• Supplication: We ask God for his blessings that night and the next day, either with particular requests or in general, and end with a prayer dedicating ourselves to Him through Our Lady of Guadalupe: All that we have and all that we are, we give to your hands Jesus, through the heart of Mary, your blessed mother. Amen. Our Lady of Gudalupe, Pray For us.  

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