Opening Prayer
Holy Father, I petition for the divine character by which the light of Your countenance is imprinted upon the soul to be made manifest in me this morning. I recognize faith as a heavenly light, a beam radiating from Your face to dispel the shadows of my inherent ignorance. Let this Radiance of the Face enlighten my heart and provide the knowledge necessary for the perfect love and service I owe to Your majesty.
May this infusion of light dispel all shadows in my thinking, allowing me to view the professional world and its events as they truly exist in Your eyes. I submit my intellect to Your truths, seeking to continue the loving and perfect submission of the mind of Christ. Let Your light be the foundation of my life, guiding my reason to act as a faithful handmaid to my faith throughout the coming hours.
Amen.
Matthew 17:1-9
1And after six days Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: 2And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow. 3And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him. 6And the disciples hearing, fell upon their face, and were very much afraid. 7And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them, Arise, and fear not. 8And they lifting up their eyes saw no one but only Jesus. 9And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man be risen from the dead.
St. Clare
St. Clare of Assisi evaluates Christ as the “mirror without tarnish” and the “radiance of everlasting light”. On Mount Tabor, Christ differentiates His human nature from the splendor of everlasting glory. The Transfiguration is a “sign of God’s suffering” meant to strengthen the people for the Cross. St. Clare says whose fragrance will revive the dead, asked, “Are you “beautifying yourself” to match this image?”
St. Clare invites us to look upon the saints as “shining examples of virtue” and “living statues” of grace. Just as an artist transfers the features of a model to a canvas, we must constantly gaze into the “Mirror of Virtue” to transfer the saints’ qualities into our own characters. By this imitation, the radiance of divine excellence begins to reflect in our own lives and actions.
“Gaze upon the mirror each day, O Queen and Spouse of Jesus Christ, and continually study your face within it, that you may adorn yourself completely, within and without.”
— St. Clare
Mary and the Magisterium
As a participation in the eternal light, Mary reflects the light of the countenance of God into our darkness. Like a window open to the sun, she allows the full brilliance of the Spirit to enter the house of the Church.
- Is my soul "clothed in the robes of virtue" to reflect Christ’s splendor?
- Do I "admire the beauty" of the Lord, or am I distracted by "earthly matter that passes away"?
Closing Prayer
Lord, it is good for us to be here. Let Your light shine in my heart.
Amen.
