Episode 2477: The Paradox of Perfection - Nightly Episode

“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and all you saints in heaven, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen”
The Paradox of Perfection
Tonight, we will reflect on the call to humility, the secret of spiritual perfection, and the role of Our Blessed Mother in guiding us along this path.
In this episode, we’ll draw from the teachings of St. Francis de Sales, who encourages us to “run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.” We will also reflect on the words of Luis Martinez, who beautifully captures the paradox of spiritual perfection: “one ascends by descending.” Finally, we will meditate on the role of self-effacement and humility in the life of the Christian, following the example of Jesus and Mary.
Running to Mary in Childlike Confidence
St. Francis de Sales, one of the great spiritual directors of the Church, invites us to turn to Mary with childlike trust. He says, “Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.” This image of running to Mary reflects the natural instinct of a child who seeks the comfort and protection of his mother’s arms.
In our spiritual lives, Mary plays this maternal role. She is our advocate, our guide, and our intercessor before God. Just as she tenderly cared for Jesus in His infancy, she now cares for each of us as her children. When we feel overwhelmed by the trials of life, when we are burdened by sin, or when we are simply lost in the complexities of the world, we can always turn to Mary.
Her immaculate heart is a refuge for sinners, a place of rest for the weary, and a source of strength for the weak. In her arms, we find peace. She brings us closer to her Son, Jesus, and helps us conform our lives to His. By entrusting ourselves to Mary, we place ourselves under the care of the one who knows the way to God better than anyone else.
In the Gospel of John, we see Mary’s maternal care at the wedding feast at Cana. When the wine runs out, it is Mary who intercedes on behalf of the couple, saying to Jesus, “They have no wine” (John 2:3). Even though it was not yet Jesus’ hour, He performed His first public miracle at her request. This story illustrates the power of Mary’s intercession and her deep concern for our needs. When we run to her, we can be confident that she will bring our needs to Jesus, who will always respond with His grace.
The Path of Humility and Self-Effacement
Luis Martinez, a spiritual writer and theologian, speaks to us about the paradox of spiritual perfection: “one ascends by descending.” This divine paradox challenges the natural human inclination to seek greatness through ambition, pride, and self-assertion. Instead, Martinez reminds us that true greatness in the spiritual life is found in humility and self-effacement.
“Hence, if Jesus is ever descending, why should we wish to ascend? The soul that is transformed into Him wishes to share His lot, to go where He goes and to abase itself whither He has abased Himself.” These words call us to imitate the humility of Christ, who, though He was God, emptied Himself and took the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7). Jesus descended into the depths of human misery, not only in the Incarnation but also on the Cross, where He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins.
Martinez goes on to say that the soul, inflamed with the love of Jesus, desires “to be a living host and to disappear from view.” This is the essence of Christian humility—seeking not to exalt ourselves, but to glorify God in all that we do. Just as Jesus offered Himself as a living sacrifice, we too are called to offer our lives as a sacrifice to God, allowing ourselves to be hidden in Christ.
St. John of the Cross, a Doctor of the Church and a master of the spiritual life, echoes this call to humility: “In order to come to be all, desire in all things to be nothing.” This radical self-emptying leads us to union with God, who is the source of all goodness. By letting go of our attachments to worldly honors and ambitions, we make room for God’s grace to fill our hearts. It is in this humility, this descent into nothingness, that we truly ascend to the heights of holiness.
The Role of Mary in Our Journey to Perfection
Mary is the perfect model of humility. Her entire life was a descent into the will of God, a continual “yes” to His plan. From the moment of the Annunciation, when she said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38), to the foot of the Cross, where she stood in silent suffering, Mary lived a life of perfect humility and self-effacement.
As we journey toward spiritual perfection, Mary is our guide. She teaches us how to embrace humility, how to say “yes” to God in all things, and how to trust in His plan for our lives. When we consecrate ourselves to Mary, we are entrusting our spiritual growth to her maternal care. She knows the way to holiness because she walked it herself.
St. Louis de Montfort, one of the great Marian saints, reminds us of the importance of uniting our prayers with Mary’s intercession: “Our Lord is our advocate and Mediator of redemption with God the Father. It is through Him that we ought to pray, in union with the whole Church, Triumphant and Militant. It is through Him that we have access to the Majesty of the Father, before whom we ought never to appear except sustained and clothed with the merits of His Son.” Mary, as the Mother of the Church, intercedes for us and helps us to offer our prayers and sacrifices in union with Christ’s perfect sacrifice.
By placing ourselves in Mary’s hands, we allow her to lead us closer to Jesus. She helps us to live out the divine paradox of ascending by descending of growing in holiness through humility and self-effacement. And just as Mary’s humility led to her exaltation as Queen of Heaven, so too will our humility lead to our glorification in Christ.
Conclusion
The spiritual life is a journey of descent—of humbling ourselves before God, surrendering our will to His, and allowing Him to transform us into His likeness. St. Francis de Sales encourages us to run to Mary with childlike confidence, knowing that she will guide us on this journey. Luis Martinez reminds us that true perfection is found in humility, in descending with Christ so that we may ascend to union with God.
As we strive to live out this divine paradox, let us always turn to Mary for guidance and strength. She is the perfect model of humility, and she will lead us to her Son, who is the source of all grace and holiness.
Closing Prayer
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of our Blessed Mother, who leads us to Your Son with tender love and care. Help us to run to her with childlike confidence, knowing that she will always intercede for us and guide us on the path to holiness.
Lord Jesus,
You humbled Yourself by becoming man and suffering for our salvation. Teach us to follow Your example of humility and self-effacement, that we may offer our lives as a living sacrifice to You.
Holy Spirit,
Fill our hearts with the grace of humility. Help us to descend with Christ in order to ascend to union with God. Grant us the strength to embrace our crosses and the wisdom to seek perfection through self-emptying love.
We ask this through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother and in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.