The Love of Eternal Wisdom by St. Louis De Montfort

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THE LOVE OF ETERNAL WISDOM

by St. Louis De Montfort

CONTENTS:

Prayer to Eternal Wisdom


Preliminary observations


CHAPTER 1. TO LOVE AND SEEK DIVINE WISDOM WE NEED TO KNOW HIM

1. Our need to acquire knowledge of divine Wisdom

2. Definition and division of the subject


CHAPTER 2. ORIGIN AND EXCELLENCE OF ETERNAL WISDOM

1. Wisdom in reference to the Father

2. The activity of eternal Wisdom in souls


CHAPTER 3. THE MARVELOUS POWER OF DIVINE WISDOM SHOWN IN THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND MAN

1. In the creation of the world

2. In the creation of man


CHAPTER 4. MARVELS OF WISDOM'S GOODNESS AND MERCY BEFORE HIS INCARNATION

1. The Incarnation is decreed

2. The time before the Incarnation


CHAPTER 5. MARVELOUS EXCELLENCE OF ETERNAL WISDOM


CHAPTER 6. EARNEST DESIRE OF DIVINE WISDOM TO GIVE HIMSELF TO MEN

1. Eternal Wisdom's letter of love

2. Incarnation, Death and the Eucharist

3. The ingratitude of those who refuse


CHAPTER 7. CHOICE OF TRUE WISDOM

1. Wisdom of the world

2. Natural wisdom


CHAPTER 8. MARVELOUS EFFECTS OF WISDOM IN THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO POSSESS HIM


CHAPTER 9. THE INCARNATION AND LIFE OF ETERNAL WISDOM

1. The Incarnation

2. Life of Wisdom Incarnate [Jesus Christ]


CHAPTER 10. THE CAPTIVATING BEAUTY AND THE INEXPRESSIBLE GENTLENESS OF INCARNATE WISDOM

1. Wisdom is gentle in his origin

2. He is declared gentle by the Prophets

3. He is gentle in his name

4. He is gentle in his looks

5. He is gentle in his words


CHAPTER 11. THE GENTLENESS OF THE INCARNATE WISDOM IN HIS ACTIONS

6. He is gentle in his actions

7. He continues to be gentle in heaven


CHAPTER 12. THE PRINCIPAL SAYINGS OF WISDOM INCARNATE WHICH WE MUST BELIEVE AND PRACTICE IF WE ARE TO BE SAVED


CHAPTER 13. SUMMARY OF THE UNBELIEVABLE SORROWS THE INCARNATE WISDOM CHOSE TO ENDURE OUT OF LOVE FOR US

1. The most convincing reason for loving Wisdom

2. The circumstances of his Passion

3. The great love with which he suffered


CHAPTER 14. THE TRIUMPH OF ETERNAL WISDOM IN AND BY THE CROSS

1. Wisdom and the Cross

2. The Cross and ourselves


CHAPTER 15. MEANS TO ACQUIRE DIVINE WISDOM

1. THE FIRST MEANS: AN ARDENT DESIRE

2. THE SECOND MEANS: CONTINUOUS PRAYER


CHAPTER 16. THE THIRD MEANS: UNIVERSAL MORTIFICATION

1. Necessity of Mortification

2. Qualities required for mortification


CHAPTER 17. FOURTH MEANS: A LOVING AND GENUINE DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

1. Necessity of genuine devotion to Mary

2 What genuine devotion to Mary consists in


CONSECRATION OF ONESELF TO JESUS CHRIST, WISDOM INCARNATE, THROUGH THE HANDS OF MARY

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Prayer to Eternal Wisdom

O divine Wisdom, Lord of heaven and earth, I humbly beg pardon for my audacity in attempting to speak of your perfections, ignorant and sinful as I am. I beg you not to consider the darkness of my mind or the uncleanness of my lips unless it be to take them away with a glance of your eyes and a breath of your mouth. There is in you so much beauty and delight; you have shielded me from so many evils and showered on me so many favors, and you are moreover so little known and so much slighted. How can I remain silent? Not only justice and gratitude, but my own interests urge me to speak about you, even though it be so imperfectly. It is true, I can only lisp like a child, but then I am only a child, anxious to learn how to speak properly through my lisping, once I have attained the fullness of your age (cf. Eph. 4:13).

1 know there seems to be neither order nor sense in what I write, but because I long so dearly to possess you, I am looking for you everywhere, like Solomon, wandering in all directions (Wisd. 8:18). If I am striving to make you known in this world, it is because you yourself have promised that all who explain you and make you known will have eternal life (cf. Sir. 8:18).

Accept, then, my loving Lord, these humble words of mine as though they were a masterly discourse. Look upon the strokes of my pen as so many steps to find you and from your throne above bestow your blessings and your enlightenment on what I mean to say about you, so that those who read it may be filled with a fresh desire to love you and possess you, on earth as well as in heaven.

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Admonitions of divine Wisdom to the rulers of this world given in the sixth chapter of the "Book of Wisdom"

1. Wisdom is better than strength and prudence is better than courage.

2. Listen, therefore, kings, and understand. Learn, you judges of the nations.

3. Hear this, you who rule the people and boast of the large number of nations subject to you.

4. Remember you have received your power from the Lord and your authority from the Most High, who will examine your works and scrutinize your thoughts.

5. For, though ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged fairly, nor observed the law of justice, nor walked according to his will.

6. He will appear to you terribly and swiftly, because those who rule others will be judged severely.

7. For God has more compassion for the lowly and they are forgiven more easily, but the mighty will be punished mightily.

8. God shows no partiality; he does not stand in awe of anyone's greatness, because he himself made both the lowly and the great and he is concerned for all alike.

9. But the great are threatened with greater punishment.

10. To you then, rulers, my words are directed so that you may learn wisdom and may not go astray.

11. For they who perform just deeds will be considered just and those who have understood what I teach will have a valid defence.

12. Therefore, desire ardently to know my words, love them and you will find instruction in them.

13. Wisdom is resplendent and her beauty never fades. Those who love her will have no trouble in recognizing her; and those who seek her will find her.

14. She anticipates those who desire her and makes herself known first to them.

15. He who rises early to look for her will not be disappointed, for she will be found sitting at his gate.

16. To reflect on Wisdom is the highest prudence and he who foregoes sleep to possess her will soon be given repose.

17. For she goes around seeking those worthy of her, graciously shows her ways to them, guides them and provides for them with loving care.

18. The first step, then, towards acquiring Wisdom is a sincere desire for instruction; the desire for instruction is love; and love is the keeping of her laws.

19. Assiduous obedience to her laws assures a perfect purity of soul.

20. And perfect purity brings one close to God.

21. Thus the desire for Wisdom leads to the everlasting kingdom.

22. If then, rulers of nations, you delight in thrones and scepters, love Wisdom and you will reign eternally.

23. All you who rule over the peoples of the world,love the insight given by Wisdom.

24. 1 will tell you now what Wisdom is and how she came to be. I will not hide the secrets of God from you but I will trace her right from the beginning. I will throw light upon her and make her known and not hide the truth.

25. 1 will not imitate the man consumed with envy, for the envious have nothing in common with Wisdom.

26. Multitudes of wise men will bring salvation to the world, and a prudent king is a strong support for his people.

27. Accept, then, instruction from my words and you will draw profit from them.

Preliminary observations

I did not want, my dear reader, to mingle my poor words with the inspired words of the Holy Spirit. Yet I make bold to offer a few comments:

How gentle, attractive and approachable is eternal Wisdom who possesses such splendour, excellence and grandeur. He invites men to come to him because he wants to teach them the way to happiness. He is for ever searching for them and always greets them with a smile. He bestows blessings on them many times over and forestalls their needs in a thousand different ways, and even goes as far as to wait at their very doorstep to give them proofs of his friendship.

Who could be so heartless as to refuse to love this gentle conqueror?

How unfortunate are the rich and powerful if they do not love eternal Wisdom. How terrifying are the warnings he gives them, so terrifying that they cannot be expressed in human terms: "He will appear to you terribly and swiftly ... those who rule will be judged severely ... the mighty will be punished mightily ... the great are threatened with greater punishment" (Wisd. 6:6,7,9).

To these words can be added those he uttered after he became man: "Woe to you who are rich (Lk. 6:24) ... it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mat. 19; Mk. 10; Lk. 18).

So often were these last words repeated by divine Wisdom while on earth that the three evangelists handed them down without the least variation. They ought to make the rich weep and lament: "And now, you rich people, weep and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you" (Jas. 5:1).

But alas! they find their consolation (Lk. 6:24) here on earth; they are as though captivated by the riches and pleasures they enjoy and are blind to the evils that hang over their heads.

Solomon promises that he will give a faithful and exact description of divine Wisdom and that neither envy or pride - both contrary to love - can prevent him from making known this heaven-sent knowledge, and he has not the least fear that anyone will surpass him or equal him in knowledge (cf. Wisd. 6:24-26).

Following the example of this great man, I am going, in my simple way, to portray eternal Wisdom before, during and after his incarnation and show by what means we can possess and keep him. But as I do not have Solomon's profound learning or his insights I have less to fear from pride and envy than from my incompetence and ignorance, which I trust, in your kindness, you will overlook.