Happiness Level Two – Personal Love of God
Sometimes our desire for the praise and approval of men stems from an insecurity in our relationship with God. The key to healthy Level Two happiness is knowing the unfathomable, infinite, unconditional and personal love God has for us. This loves frees us to love Him in return and love others with His love. The saints exemplify this reality; by preferring the love of God to all the honors of the world, they readily gave up Level Two rewards, choosing the better portion.
May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
– Ephesians 3:16-19
PRAYER:
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
– Excerpt from the Litany of Humility by Cardinal Merry del Val