Danger of Slavery
Tuesday of the
Fifth Week of Easter (May 8, 2012)
Father Patrick Langan, LC
John 14: 27-31a
Jesus said to his
disciples: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the
world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you, ´I am going away and I will come back to you.´ If you
loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is
greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it
happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of
the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I
love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank You
for granting me the opportunity to be with You. There are things in life, Lord,
that attract me, but You attract me more. I hope in You, and I love You. Maybe
I don’t really understand what it means to love, and maybe I don’t love the way
I should, but I do love You.
Petition: Lord, help me always to remember who I am, where I come from, and where
I am going.
1. Activism: In today´s culture, many people believe, almost religiously, that what
they do will eventually make them someone. They believe that from doing flows
being, since their activity defines them. This makes it easy for them to be
exploited. In nineteenth century America, a slave was often not told his
birthday, so he could never really know who he was. He was just made to work.
This same temptation exists today. Many people work such long hours — some as a
means of escape from difficulties or responsibilities at home; others for the
satisfaction they feel seeing a job completed; still others, just to earn more
money and to be able to afford a more comfortable life. However, these are all
manifestations of the same slavery.
2. My True Identity: With his example, however, Christ shows us a different way of life, a
way that goes against the current. First I have to be. Then my doing
will flow from my being. Christ says again and again: I am the Son of my
Father. Now I will act accordingly. When Moses asked God of the burning bush
who he was, he said, “I AM who AM.”
Who am I? What defines me is my relationship to God. Just imagine this: I have the privilege of being a child of God! God has loved me so much that he has adopted me as his child! This is something worthwhile. This is who I really am, and I should act accordingly, as Christ taught me.
Who am I? What defines me is my relationship to God. Just imagine this: I have the privilege of being a child of God! God has loved me so much that he has adopted me as his child! This is something worthwhile. This is who I really am, and I should act accordingly, as Christ taught me.
3. True Peace: Christ´s great peace comes as a consequence of meditating on and living
out who I really am. When I meditate, I discover that I am God’s creature.
Suddenly, I find the strength to face reality. Others will be unable to exploit
me, and I will stop exploiting others because I am – and they are – children of
God. My dignity derives from this fundamental truth: I was created in God’s
image and likeness. I came from God, and he is inviting me to return to him and
be happy with him for all eternity.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I have the bad habit of focusing on my doing. That is why I am
always anxious. I want to be like You, Lord, seeing first who I am and letting
my activity flow from that. This will bring me peace. However, Lord, I need
your grace. Help me to live as a true son or daughter.
Resolution: Today, I will do two kind acts to someone who is troubled in order to
help them experience God’s love for them.
Excerpts from the DIARY of Saint Faustina Kowalska
585 January
8, 1936. When I went to see the Archbishop [Jalbrzykowski], I told him that
Jesus was asking that I pray for God's mercy upon the world and that there be a
religious congregation which would entreat the mercy of God for the world. I
asked his permission for all the Lord Jesus was demanding of me. The Arch
bishop answered me in these words: "As for prayer, I give my permission
and even encourage you, Sister, to pray as much as possible for the world and
to beg God's mercy, as mercy is what we all need; and I presume that your
confessor certainly does not forbid you to pray for this intention. But as
regards this congregation, wait a while, Sister, so that all things may arrange
themselves more favorably. This thing is good in itself, but there is no need
to hurry. If it is God's will, it will be done, whether it be a little sooner
or a little later. Why shouldn't it be? There are so many different kinds of
congregations; this one too will come to be if God so wills. Be completely at
peace. The Lord Jesus can do all things. Strive for a close union with God and
do not lose heart." These words filled me with great joy.
589 Love
casts out fear. Since I came to love God with my whole being and with all the
strength of my heart, fear has left me. Even if I were to hear the most
terrifying things about God's justice, I would not fear Him at all, because I
have come to know Him well. God is love, and His Spirit is peace. I see now
that my deeds which have flowed from love are more perfect than those which I
have done out of fear. I have placed my trust in God and fear nothing. I have
given myself over to His holy will; let Him do with me as He wishes, and I will
still love Him.
607 In the
midst of the worst difficulties and adversities, I do not lose inner peace or
exterior balance, and this discourages my adversaries. Patience in adversity
gives power to the soul.
622 Intimate
communion of a soul with God. God approaches a soul in a special way known only
to himself and to the soul. No one perceives this mysterious union. Love
presides in this union, and everything is achieved by love alone. Jesus gives
himself to the soul in a gentle and sweet manner, and in His depths there is
peace. He grants the soul many graces and makes it capable of sharing His
eternal thoughts. And frequently, He reveals to it His divine plans.
626 In the
evening, during Benediction, my soul was for some time in communion with God
the Father. I felt I was in His hand like a little child, and I heard these
words in my soul: Do not
fear anything, My daughter; all the adversaries will be shattered at My feet. At
these words, a deep peace and a great interior calm entered my soul.
627 When I
complained to the Lord that He was taking my help away and that I would be
alone again and would not know what to do, I heard these words: Do not be afraid; I am always with
you. After these words, a deep peace once again entered my
soul. His presence penetrated me completely in a way that could be sensed. My
spirit was flooded with light, and my body participated in this as well.
628 On the
evening of the last day before my departure from Vilnius, an elderly sister [131]
revealed the condition of her soul to me. She said that she had already been
suffering interiorly for several years, that it seemed to her that all her confessions
had been bad, and that she had doubts as to whether the Lord Jesus had forgiven
her. I asked her if she had ever told her confessor about this. She answered
that she had spoken many times about this to her confessors and... "the
confessors are always telling me to be at peace, but still I suffer very much,
and nothing brings me relief, and it constantly seems to me that God has not
forgiven me." I answered, "You should obey your confessor, Sister,
and be fully at peace, because this is certainly a temptation."
But she entreated me with tears in her eyes to ask Jesus if He had forgiven her and whether her confessions had been good or not. I answered forcefully, "Ask Him yourself, Sister, if you don't believe your confessors!" But she clutched my hand and did not want to let me go until I gave her an answer, and she kept asking me to pray for her and to let her know what Jesus would tell me about her. Crying bitterly, she would not let me go and said to me, "I know that the Lord Jesus speaks to you, Sister." Since she was clutching my hand and I could not wrench myself away, I promised her I would pray for her. In the evening, during Benediction, I heard these words in my soul: Tell her that her disbelief wounds My heart more than the sins she committed. When I told her this, she began to cry like a child, and great joy entered her soul. I understood that God wanted to console this soul through me. Even though it cost me a good deal, I fulfilled God's wish.
But she entreated me with tears in her eyes to ask Jesus if He had forgiven her and whether her confessions had been good or not. I answered forcefully, "Ask Him yourself, Sister, if you don't believe your confessors!" But she clutched my hand and did not want to let me go until I gave her an answer, and she kept asking me to pray for her and to let her know what Jesus would tell me about her. Crying bitterly, she would not let me go and said to me, "I know that the Lord Jesus speaks to you, Sister." Since she was clutching my hand and I could not wrench myself away, I promised her I would pray for her. In the evening, during Benediction, I heard these words in my soul: Tell her that her disbelief wounds My heart more than the sins she committed. When I told her this, she began to cry like a child, and great joy entered her soul. I understood that God wanted to console this soul through me. Even though it cost me a good deal, I fulfilled God's wish.
653 April 25,
1936. Walendow. On that day, the suffering in my soul was more severe than ever
before. From early morning, I felt as if my body and soul had separated. I felt
that God's presence had penetrated my whole being; I felt all the justice of
God within me; I felt I stood alone before God. I thought: one word from my
spiritual director would set me entirely at peace; but what can I do?-he is not
here. However, I decided to seek light in holy confession. When I uncovered my soul
to the priest, [134] he was afraid to continue hearing my confession, and
that caused me even greater suffering. When I see that a priest is fearful, I
do not obtain any inner peace. So I have decided that only to my spiritual
director will I open my soul in all matters, from the greatest to the least,
and that I will follow his directions strictly.
+ June 29,
1936.
665 Father Andrasz told me to make a novena for the intention of knowing better the will of God. I prayed ardently, adding a certain bodily mortification. Towards the end of the novena, I received an inner light and the assurance that the Congregation will come into being and that it is pleasing to God. Despite the difficulties and adversities, complete peace and strength entered my soul from on high. I understood that nothing could resist or nullify the will of God. I understood that I must carry out this will of God despite obstacles, persecution and sufferings of all kinds, and despite natural repugnance and fear.
665 Father Andrasz told me to make a novena for the intention of knowing better the will of God. I prayed ardently, adding a certain bodily mortification. Towards the end of the novena, I received an inner light and the assurance that the Congregation will come into being and that it is pleasing to God. Despite the difficulties and adversities, complete peace and strength entered my soul from on high. I understood that nothing could resist or nullify the will of God. I understood that I must carry out this will of God despite obstacles, persecution and sufferings of all kinds, and despite natural repugnance and fear.
666 I
understood that all striving for perfection and all sanctity consist in doing
God's will. Perfect fulfillment of God's will is maturity in sanctity; there is
no room for doubt here. To receive God's light and recognize what God wants of
us and yet not do it is a great offense against the majesty of God. Such a soul
deserves to be completely forsaken by God. It resembles Lucifer, who had great
light, but did not do God's will. An extraordinary peace entered my soul when I
reflected on the fact that, despite great difficulties, I had always faithfully
followed God's will as I knew it. O Jesus, grant me the grace to put Your will
into practice as I have come to know it, O God.
674 I gave no
answer to Jesus, but poured out all my sorrow before Him, and Satan's attempts
ceased. Jesus then said to me, The
inner peace that you have is a grace, and suddenly He was gone.
I felt happy and unaccountably peaceful. Really, for so much peace to return within
a moment-that is a thing only Jesus can do, He, the most high Lord.
693 September
14, [1936]. The Archbishop [Jalbrzykowski] of Vilnius visited us. Although he
stayed with us for a very short time, I still had a chance to talk with this
worthy priest about the work of mercy. He showed himself very favorably
disposed to this cause of mercy: "Sister, be completely at peace; if this
is within the plans of divine providence, it will come about. In the meantime,
Sister, pray for a clearer outward sign. Let the Lord Jesus give you a clearer
knowledge of this. I beg you to wait a little while longer. The Lord Jesus will
arrange the circumstances in such a way that everything will turn out all
right."
697 Jesus,
You know that I love suffering and want to drain the cup of suffering to the
last drop; and yet, my nature experienced a slight shudder and fear. Quickly,
however, my trust in the infinite mercy of God was awakened in all its force,
and everything else had to give way before it, like a shadow retreating before
the sun's rays. O Jesus, how great is Your goodness! Your infinite goodness, so
well known to me, enables me to bravely look death itself in the eye. I know
that nothing will happen to me without God's permission. I desire to glorify
Your infinite mercy during my life, at the hour of death, in the resurrection
and throughout eternity.
+ My Jesus, my strength, my peace, my repose; my soul bathes daily in the rays of Your mercy. There is nota moment in my life when I do not experience Your mercy, O God. I count on nothing in my whole life, but only on Your infinite mercy. It is the guiding thread of my life, O Lord. My soul is filled with God's mercy.
+ My Jesus, my strength, my peace, my repose; my soul bathes daily in the rays of Your mercy. There is nota moment in my life when I do not experience Your mercy, O God. I count on nothing in my whole life, but only on Your infinite mercy. It is the guiding thread of my life, O Lord. My soul is filled with God's mercy.
699 On one
occasion, I heard these words:
My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that
the Feast of Mercy [139] be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially
for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I
pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My
mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall
obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine
floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near
to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind,
be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity.
Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender
mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy
throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of
tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday
after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My
Mercy.
718 After
Holy Communion, I heard these words:- You
see what you are of yourself, but do not be frightened at this. If I were to
reveal to you the whole misery that you are, you would die of terror. However,
be aware of what you are. Because you are such great misery, I have revealed to
you the whole ocean of My mercy. I seek and desire souls like yours, but they
are few. Your great trust in Me forces Me to continuously grant you graces. You
have great and incomprehensible rights over My Heart, for you are a daughter of
complete trust. You would not have been able to bear the magnitude of the love
which I have for you if I had revealed it to you fully here on earth. I often
give you a glimpse of it, but know that this is only an exceptional grace from
Me. My love and mercy knows no bounds.
719 Today, I
heard these words: Know,
my child, that for your sake I grant blessings to this whole vicinity. But you
ought to thank Me on their behalf, as they do not thank Me for the kindnesses I
extend to them. For the sake of your gratitude, I will continue to bless them.
751 And so
You see, Jesus, that everything is now up to You. I am perfectly at peace,
despite these great urgings. For my part, I have done everything, and it is now
Your turn, my Jesus, and in this way Your cause will be made apparent. I am
totally in accord with Your will; do with me as You please, O Lord, but only
grant me the grace of loving You more and more ardently. This is what is most
precious to me. I desire nothing but You, O Love Eternal! It matters not along
what paths You will lead me, paths of pain or paths of joy. I want to love You
at every moment of my life. If You tell me to leave, O Jesus, in order to carry
out Your will, I will leave. If You tell me to stay, I will stay. It matters
not what I will suffer, in the one instance or the other. O my Jesus, if I
leave, I know what I shall have to suffer and endure. I agreed to this with
full awareness, and I have already accepted it by an act of the will. It does
not matter what the chalice holds for me. It is enough for me to know that it
has been given to me by the loving hand of God. If you tell me to turn back and
stay, I will stay in spite of all the interior urgings. If You still keep them
in my soul and leave me in this inner agony even to the end of my life, I
accept this in the full consciousness of my will and in loving submission to
You, O my God. If I stay, I shall hide myself in Your mercy, my God, so deeply
that no human eye will see me. Throughout my life, I want to be a thurible
filled with hidden fire, and may the smoke rising up to You, 0 Living Host, be
pleasing to You. I'll feel in my own heart that every little sacrifice arouses
the fire of my love for You, but in such a silent and secret way that no one will
detect it.
757 November
19, [1936]. During Mass today, I saw the Lord Jesus, who said to me, Be at peace, My daughter; I see your
efforts, which are very pleasing to Me. And the Lord
disappeared, and it was time for Holy Communion. After I received Holy Communion,
I suddenly saw the Cenacle and in it Jesus and the Apostles. I saw the
institution of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Jesus allowed me to penetrate His
interior, and I came to know the greatness of His majesty and, at the same
time, His great humbling of Himself. The extraordinary light that allowed me to
see His majesty revealed to me, at the same time, what was in my own soul.
761 Jesus, my
spirit yearns for You, and I desire very much to be united with You, but Your
works hold me back. The number of souls that I am to bring to You is not yet
complete. I desire toil and suffering; let everything You have planned before
the ages be fulfilled in me, O my Creator and Lord! It is only Your word that I
understand; it alone gives me strength. Your Spirit, O Lord, is the Spirit of
Peace; and nothing troubles my depths because You dwell there, O Lord.
I know that I am under Your special gaze, O Lord. I do not examine with fear Your plans regarding me; my task is to accept everything from Your hand. I do not fear anything, although the storm is raging, and frightful bolts strike all around me, and I then feel quite alone. Yet, my heart senses You, and my trust grows, and I see all Your omnipotence which upholds me. With You, Jesus, I go through life, amid storms and rainbows, with a cry of joy, singing the song of Your mercy. I will not stop singing my song of love until the choir of Angels picks it up. There is no power that can stop me in my flight toward God. I see that even the superiors do not always understand the road along which God is leading me, and I am not surprised at this.
I know that I am under Your special gaze, O Lord. I do not examine with fear Your plans regarding me; my task is to accept everything from Your hand. I do not fear anything, although the storm is raging, and frightful bolts strike all around me, and I then feel quite alone. Yet, my heart senses You, and my trust grows, and I see all Your omnipotence which upholds me. With You, Jesus, I go through life, amid storms and rainbows, with a cry of joy, singing the song of Your mercy. I will not stop singing my song of love until the choir of Angels picks it up. There is no power that can stop me in my flight toward God. I see that even the superiors do not always understand the road along which God is leading me, and I am not surprised at this.
769 I have
noticed that the Lord grants this grace to souls for two purposes. The first is
when the soul is to do some great work which is, humanly speaking, absolutely
beyond its power. In the second case, I have noticed that the Lord grants it in
order that kindred souls might be guided and set at peace, although the Lord
can grant this grace as He pleases and to whomever He pleases. However, I have
noticed this grace in three priests, one of whom is a secular priest [probably
Father Sopocko] and the other two, religious priests [probably Father Elter and
Father Andrasz], and also in two religious sisters [probably Mother Michael and
Sister Mary Joseph], but not in the same degree.
779 The sight
of this great majesty of God, which I came to understand more profoundly and
which is worshiped by the heavenly spirits according to their degree of grace
and the hierarchies into which they are divided, did not cause my soul to be stricken
with terror or fear; no, no, not at all! My soul was filled with peace and
love, and the more I come to know the greatness of God, the more joyful I
become that He is as He is. And I rejoice immensely in His greatness and am
delighted that I am so little because, since I am little, He carries me in His
arms and holds me close to His Heart.
780 O my God,
how I pity those people who do not believe in eternal life; how I pray for them
that a ray of mercy would envelop them too, and that God would clasp them to
His fatherly bosom.
792 I must
never speak of my own experiences. In suffering, I must seek relief in prayer.
In doubts, even the smallest, I must seek only the advice of my confessor. I
must always have a heart which is open to receive the sufferings of others, and
drown my own sufferings in the Divine Heart so that they would not be noticed
on the outside, in so far as possible.
I must always strive for equanimity, no matter how stormy the circumstances might be. I must not allow anything to disturb my interior calm and silence. Nothing can compare with peace of soul. When I am wrongfully accused of something, I will not explain myself; if the superior wants to know the truth, whether I was in the right or not, let her find out from others rather than from me. My concern is to accept everything with a humble inner disposition.
I will spend this Advent in accordance with the directions of the Mother of God: in meekness and humility.
I must always strive for equanimity, no matter how stormy the circumstances might be. I must not allow anything to disturb my interior calm and silence. Nothing can compare with peace of soul. When I am wrongfully accused of something, I will not explain myself; if the superior wants to know the truth, whether I was in the right or not, let her find out from others rather than from me. My concern is to accept everything with a humble inner disposition.
I will spend this Advent in accordance with the directions of the Mother of God: in meekness and humility.
795 I have
accepted the favor of this treatment, but I am fully resigned to the will of
God. Let God do with me as He pleases. I desire nothing but the fulfillment of
His holy will. I am uniting myself with the Mother of God, and I am leaving
Nazareth and going to Bethlehem. I will spend Christmas there among strangers,
but with Jesus, Mary and Joseph, because such is the will of God. I am striving
to do the will of God in all things. I do not desire a return to health more
than death. I entrust myself completely to His infinite mercy and, as a little
child, I am living in the greatest peace. I am trying only to make my love for
Him deeper and purer, to be a delight to His divine glance...
797 When I
was somewhat overcome by the fear that I was to be outside the community for so
long a time alone, Jesus said to me, You
will not be alone, because I am with you always and everywhere. Near to My
Heart, fear nothing. I myself am the cause of your departure. Know that My eyes
follow every move of your heart with great attention. I am bringing you into
seclusion so that I myself may form your heart according to My future plans.
What are you afraid of? If you are with Me, who will dare touch you?
Nevertheless, I am very pleased that you confide your fears to Me, My daughter:
Speak to Me about everything in a completely simple and human way; by this you
will give Me great joy. I understand you because I am God-Man. This simple
language of your heart is more pleasing to Me than the hymns composed in My
honor. Know, My daughter, that the simpler your speech is, the more you attract
Me to yourself. And now, be at peace close to My Heart. Lay your pen aside and
get ready to leave.
799 Suddenly, I saw the Lord Jesus, who said
to me, Be at peace, My
child. See, you are not alone. My Heart watches over you. Jesus
filled me with strength concerning a certain person. I feel strength within my
soul. A moral principle.
848 While I
was saying the chaplet, I heard a voice which said, Oh, what great graces I will grant to
souls who say this chaplet; the very depths of My tender mercy are stirred for
the sake of those who say the chaplet. Write down these words, My daughter.
Speak to the world about My mercy; let all mankind recognize My unfathomable
mercy. It is a sign for the end times; after it will come the day of justice.
While there is still time, let them have recourse to the fount of My mercy; let
them profit from the Blood and Water which gushed forth for them.
O human souls, where are you going to hide on the day of God's anger? Take refuge now in the fount of God's mercy. O what a great multitude of souls I see! They worshiped the Divine Mercy and will be singing the hymn of praise for all eternity.
O human souls, where are you going to hide on the day of God's anger? Take refuge now in the fount of God's mercy. O what a great multitude of souls I see! They worshiped the Divine Mercy and will be singing the hymn of praise for all eternity.
853 In the
evening, a great longing took possession of my soul. I took the pamphlet with
the Image of the Merciful Jesus on it and pressed it to my heart, and the
following words burst forth from my soul: "Jesus, Eternal Love, I live for
You, I die for You, and I want to become united with You." Suddenly I saw
the Lord in His inexpressible beauty. He looked at me graciously and said, My daughter, I too came down from
heaven out of love for you; I lived for you, I died for you, and I created the
heavens for you. And Jesus pressed me to His Heart and said to
me, Very soon now; be at
peace, My daughter.When I was alone, my soul was set afire with
the desire to suffer until the moment when the Lord would say,
"Enough." And even if I were to live for thousands of years, I see in
the light of God that that is but one moment. Souls ...[unfinished thought].
887 January 19, 1937. My life at present flows
on in peaceful awareness of God. My silent soul lives on Him, and this
conscious life of God in my soul is for me a source of happiness and strength.
I do not look for happiness outside the depths of my soul in which God dwells;
of this I am aware. I feel a certain need to share myself with others. I have
discovered a fountain of happiness in my soul, and it is God. O my God, I see
that everything that surrounds me is filled with God, and most of all my own
soul, which is adorned with the grace of God. Already now, I will begin to live
on that on which I shall live for all eternity.
895 January
23, [1937]. I did not feel like writing today. Then I heard a voice in my soul:My daughter, you do not live for
yourself but for souls; write for their benefit. You know that My will as to
your writing has been confirmed many times by your confessors. You know what is
pleasing to Me, and if you have any doubts about what I am saying, you also
know whom you are to ask. I grant him light to pronounce judgment on my case.
My eye watches over him. My daughter, you are to be like a child towards him,
full of simplicity and candor. Put his judgment above all My demands. He will
guide you according to My will. If he doesn't allow you to carry out My
demands, be at peace; I will not judge you, but the matter will remain between
Me and him. You are to be obedient.
952 My Jesus,
You see that Your holy will is everything to me. It makes no difference to me
what You do with me. You command me to set to work-and I begin calmly, although
I know that I am incapable of it; through Your representatives, You order me to
waitso I wait patiently; You fill my soul with enthusiasmbut You do not make it
possible for me to act; You attract me to yourself in heaven-and You leave me in
this world; You pour into my soul a great yearning for yourself-and You hide
yourself from me. I am dying of the desire to be united with You forever, and
You do not let death come near me. O will of God, you are the nourishment and
delight of my soul. When I submit to the holy will of my God, a deep peace
floods my soul.
O my Jesus, You do not give a reward for the successful performance of a work, but for the good will and the labor undertaken. Therefore, I am completely at peace, even if all my undertakings and efforts should be thwarted or should come to naught. If I do all that is in my power, the rest is not my business. And therefore the greatest storms do not disturb the depths of my peace; the will of God dwells in my conscience.
O my Jesus, You do not give a reward for the successful performance of a work, but for the good will and the labor undertaken. Therefore, I am completely at peace, even if all my undertakings and efforts should be thwarted or should come to naught. If I do all that is in my power, the rest is not my business. And therefore the greatest storms do not disturb the depths of my peace; the will of God dwells in my conscience.
967 + When I
set to work at underlining the Lord's words and thus was going through
everything in sequence, I reached the page where I had marked down Father
Andrasz's advice and directions. I did not know what to do, to underline or not
to underline, and then I heard these words in my soul: Underline, because these words are
Mine; I have borrowed the lips of the friend of My Heart in order to speak to
you and reassure you. You are to observe these directions until your death. It
would not please Me at all if you were to disobey these directions. Know that
it is I who have placed him between Myself and your soul. I am doing this to
set you at peace and so that you may not err.
968 Since I have placed you in this
priest's special care, you are thus exempted from giving a detailed account to
your superiors concerning My relationship with you. In all other matters, be as
a child with your superiors, but whatever I do in the depths of your soul is to
be told, with all frankness, only to the priests.
And I have noticed that, from the time God gave me a spiritual director, He has not required me to report everything to the superiors, as was the case before, but only that which concerns external matters; apart from this, only the director knows my soul. To have a spiritual director is a special grace of God. Oh, how few have received it! The soul remains in constant peace amidst the greatest difficulties. Every day after Holy Communion, I thank the Lord Jesus for this grace, and every day I ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten him. I have truly experienced in my soul what power the director's words have. Blessed be God's mercy for this grace!
And I have noticed that, from the time God gave me a spiritual director, He has not required me to report everything to the superiors, as was the case before, but only that which concerns external matters; apart from this, only the director knows my soul. To have a spiritual director is a special grace of God. Oh, how few have received it! The soul remains in constant peace amidst the greatest difficulties. Every day after Holy Communion, I thank the Lord Jesus for this grace, and every day I ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten him. I have truly experienced in my soul what power the director's words have. Blessed be God's mercy for this grace!
989 My Lord
and my God, You know that it is You alone whom my soul has come to love. My
soul is entirely drowned in You, O Lord. Even if I did not accomplish any of
the things that You have made known to me, O Lord, I would be completely at
peace because I would have done what I could.
1048 Then, in
an instant, I was caught up to stand near Jesus, and I stood on the altar next
to the Lord Jesus, and my spirit was filled with a happiness so great that I am
unable to comprehend it or write about it. A profound peace as well as repose
filled my soul. Jesus bent toward me and said with great kindness, What is it you desire, My daughter?
And I answered, "I desire worship and glory be given to Your mercy." I already am receiving worship by the
institution and celebration of this Feast; what else do you desire?
I then looked at the immense crowd worshiping The Divine Mercy and I said to
the Lord, "Jesus, bless all those who are gathered to give glory to You
and to venerate Your infinite mercy." Jesus made a sign of the cross with
His hand, and this blessing was reflected in the souls like a flash of light.
My spirit was engulfed in His love. I felt as if I had dissolved and
disappeared completely in God. When I came to myself, a profound peace was
flooding my soul, and an extraordinary understanding of many things was
communicated to my intellect, an understanding that had not been granted me previously.
1067 March
28. Resurrection. During the Mass of Resurrection, I saw the Lord in beauty and
splendor, and He said to me, My
daughter, peace be with you. He blessed me and disappeared, and
my soul was filled with gladness and joy beyond words. My heart was fortified
for struggle and sufferings.
1069 March
29, 1937. During meditation today, I saw the Lord in great beauty, and He said
to me, Peace be to you,
My daughter. My whole soul trembled with love for Him and I
said, "O Lord, although I love You with all my heart, please do not appear
to me, because my spiritual director has told me that these sudden appearances
of Yours arouse the suspicion that You could be an illusion. And although I
love You more than my own life, and I know that You are my Lord and God, who
are communing with me, I must above all be obedient to my confessor."
Jesus listened to my words with gravity and kindness and spoke these words to me: Tell your confessor that I commune with your soul in such an intimate manner because you do not steal My gifts, and this is why I pour all these graces upon your soul, because I know that you will not hoard them for yourself. But as a sign that his prudence is agreeable to Me, you shall not see Me, and I will not appear to you in this way until you have given him an account of what I have just said.
Jesus listened to my words with gravity and kindness and spoke these words to me: Tell your confessor that I commune with your soul in such an intimate manner because you do not steal My gifts, and this is why I pour all these graces upon your soul, because I know that you will not hoard them for yourself. But as a sign that his prudence is agreeable to Me, you shall not see Me, and I will not appear to you in this way until you have given him an account of what I have just said.
1072 + April
3, 1937. Today, the Lord said to me, Tell
the Reverend Professor [probably Father Theodore [186] ] that I desire that on the Feast of My
Mercy he deliver a sermon about My fathomless mercy. I
fulfilled God's wish, but the priest did not want to acknowledge the Lord's
message. When I left the confessional, I heard these words: Do as I tell you and be at peace; this
matter is between him and Me. You will not be held responsible for this.
1074 When I
went for adoration, I heard these words: My
beloved daughter, write down these words, that today My Heart has rested in
this convent [the Cracow house]. Tell the world about My mercy and My love.
The flames of mercy are burning me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls. Oh, what pain they cause Me when they do not want to accept them!
My daughter, do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My mercy. I will make up for what you lack. Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it -with peace.
Tell [all people], My daughter, that I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls.
1075 Souls who spread the honor of My mercy I shield through their entire lives as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior. At that last hour, a soul has nothing with which to defend itself except My mercy. Happy is the soul that during its lifetime immersed itself in the Fountain of Mercy, because justice will have no hold on it.
The flames of mercy are burning me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls. Oh, what pain they cause Me when they do not want to accept them!
My daughter, do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My mercy. I will make up for what you lack. Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it -with peace.
Tell [all people], My daughter, that I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls.
1075 Souls who spread the honor of My mercy I shield through their entire lives as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior. At that last hour, a soul has nothing with which to defend itself except My mercy. Happy is the soul that during its lifetime immersed itself in the Fountain of Mercy, because justice will have no hold on it.
1076 Write this: Everything that exists is
enclosed in the bowels of My mercy, more deeply than an infant in its mother's
womb. How painfully distrust of My goodness wounds Me! Sins of distrust wound
Me most painfully.
1090 And this
happened on the last day of my novena to the Holy Spirit. After this return to
health, I found myself united with the Lord Jesus in a purely spiritual way.
Jesus gave me strong assurances; that is, He confirmed me in respect to His
demands. I remained close to the Lord Jesus all that day and talked with Him
about the details concerning that congregation.
Jesus infused my soul with power and courage to act. Now I understand that if the Lord demands something of a soul, He gives it the means to carry it out, and through grace He makes it capable of doing this. So, even if the soul be utterly miserable, at the Lord's command it can undertake things beyond its expectation, because this is the sign by which it can be known that the Lord is with that soul: if God's power and strength, which make the soul courageous and valiant, is manifest within it. As for myself, I am always at first a bit frightened at the Lord's greatness, but afterwards my soul is filled with profound peace which nothing can disturb, as well as an inner strength to do what the Lord is demanding at that particular moment....
Jesus infused my soul with power and courage to act. Now I understand that if the Lord demands something of a soul, He gives it the means to carry it out, and through grace He makes it capable of doing this. So, even if the soul be utterly miserable, at the Lord's command it can undertake things beyond its expectation, because this is the sign by which it can be known that the Lord is with that soul: if God's power and strength, which make the soul courageous and valiant, is manifest within it. As for myself, I am always at first a bit frightened at the Lord's greatness, but afterwards my soul is filled with profound peace which nothing can disturb, as well as an inner strength to do what the Lord is demanding at that particular moment....
1097 Since
that time, I have been living under the virginal ', cloak of the Mother of God.
She has been guarding me and instructing me. I am quite at peace, close to Her
Immaculate Heart. Because I am so weak and inexperienced, I nestle like a
little child close to Her heart.
1121 May 6, [1937]. The Ascension of Our Lord.
Since early this morning, my soul has been touched by God. After Holy Communion, I communed for a while with the heavenly Father. My soul was drawn into the glowing center of love. I understood that no exterior works could stand comparison with pure love of God... I saw the joy of the Incarnate Word, and I was immersed in the Divine Trinity. When I came to myself, longing filled my soul, and I yearned to be united with God. Such tremendous love for the heavenly Father enveloped me that I call this day an uninterrupted ecstasy of love. The whole universe seemed to me like a tiny drop in comparison with God. There is no greater happiness than when God gives me to know interiorly that every beat of my heart is pleasing to Him, and when He shows me that He loves me in a special way. This strong inner conviction, by which God assures me of His love for me and of how much my soul pleases Him, brings deep peace to my soul. Throughout this day I was unable to take any food; I felt gratified to the full with love.
Since early this morning, my soul has been touched by God. After Holy Communion, I communed for a while with the heavenly Father. My soul was drawn into the glowing center of love. I understood that no exterior works could stand comparison with pure love of God... I saw the joy of the Incarnate Word, and I was immersed in the Divine Trinity. When I came to myself, longing filled my soul, and I yearned to be united with God. Such tremendous love for the heavenly Father enveloped me that I call this day an uninterrupted ecstasy of love. The whole universe seemed to me like a tiny drop in comparison with God. There is no greater happiness than when God gives me to know interiorly that every beat of my heart is pleasing to Him, and when He shows me that He loves me in a special way. This strong inner conviction, by which God assures me of His love for me and of how much my soul pleases Him, brings deep peace to my soul. Throughout this day I was unable to take any food; I felt gratified to the full with love.
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-585, 589, 607, 622,
626-628, 653)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-665-666, 674, 693, 699,
718-719 )
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-751, 757, 761, 769,
779-780, 792, 795 )
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-797, 848, 853, 887, 895,
952)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-III-1048, 1067, 1069, 1072, 1074-1076)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-III-1090, 1121)
http://www.saint-faustina.com/Diary/DMIMS10.shtml
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