Sixteenth Sunday in
Ordinary Time
Mark 6:30-34
The apostles gathered
together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them,
"Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."
People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even
to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People
saw them leaving and many came to know about it. When he disembarked and saw
the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like
sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man, I believe in You. I
trust in You because as a man You experienced everything I experience except
sin. You have pity on me in my weakness because You became weak for love of me.
I believe in You. I trust You. I thank You for Your everlasting love and
benevolence.
Petition: Lord, help me to know You more intimately.
1. Father, Brother,
Mentor: The apostles joyfully
reported to Jesus all they had done and taught. They are like children, and he
is a true father and a brother toward them. He is their mentor par excellence.
He listens, responds, encourages and instructs them. They feel privileged to
belong to him. Because of their love for Christ they continually renew their
commitment to his cause. There is no doubt that he deserves this and much more.
That is why they stick with him even when doing so means serving the large
crowds amidst their own hunger and exhaustion. They wouldn’t leave him for the
world.
2. Empowering the
Apostles: Christ is a true
leader for his apostles. He attracts them and guides them. His leadership is
highly positive. He conquers their hearts because he is a man possessed by a
transcendent and eternal ideal, which radiates from him with extraordinary
vigor. With his deep knowledge of the human person (John 15:13), he is able to
draw from each apostle’s qualities the maximum benefit for what is true and
good. He doesn’t use them as lifeless instruments or tools. He begins by
promoting each one’s temporal and eternal good and then directs them towards
fulfilling the ideal that unites them. He creates a healthy mystique of
belonging to the circle of his disciples.
3. Fellowship with
Him: The crowds find out
where Jesus and his apostles are going. From all the towns they hasten there on
foot and arrive at that place before them. Imagine their excitement, their
drive to seek out Jesus, and their rush to be with him. It is true that they
are a fickle crowd. They have yet to know the Lord in all the breadth of his
virtue and goodness. Nevertheless, the little they know of him resounds in the
depths of their hearts. They sense in the Lord and within the community of his
followers bonds of loyalty and fellowship and a spirit of authentic love. This
is what their human hearts long for. Those who seek out Christ are never
disappointed.
Conversation with
Christ: Lord, You were a
father, a brother and a guide for the apostles. You were a master sculptor,
molding them into Your image of goodness, humility and generosity. Do the same
for me, Lord. Mold me. Sculpt me into Your image. Make me one of Yours.
Resolution: I will see myself as Your apprentice today,
Lord. I will try to listen to Your voice in every thought and action. I will do
this for love of You.
Excerpts from the DIARY of Saint Faustina
Kowalska
145
Oh, how wretched my soul is for having wasted so many graces! I was running
away from God, and He pursued me with his graces. I most often experienced
God's graces when I least expected them. From the moment He gave me a spiritual
director, I have been more faithful to grace. Thanks to the director and his
watchfulness over my soul, I have learned what guidance means and how Jesus
looks at it. Jesus warned me of the least fault and stressed that He himself
judges the matter that I present to my confessor; and [He told me] that ... any
transgressions against the confessor touch Me myself.
When under his direction my soul began to experience deep recollection and peace, I often heard these words in my soul: Strengthen yourself for combat - repeated over and over at various times.
+Jesus often makes known to me what He does not like in my soul, and He has more than once rebuked me for what seemed to be trifles, but which were, in fact, things of great importance. He has warned me and tried me like a Master. For many years He himself educated me, until the moment when He gave me a spiritual director. Previously, He himself had made clear to me what I did not understand; but now, He tells me to ask my confessor about everything and often says, I will answer you through his mouth. Be at peace. It has never happened to me that I have received an answer which was contrary to what the Lord wanted of me, when I presented it to the spiritual director [Father Sopocko]. It sometimes happens that Jesus first asks certain things of me, about which no one knows anything, and then, when I kneel at the confessional, my confessor gives me the same order-however, this is infrequent.
+When, over a long period of time, a soul has received much light and many inspirations, and when the confessors have confirmed the source of these inspirations and set the soul at peace; if its love is great, Jesus now makes it known that it is time to put into action what it has received. The soul recognizes that God is counting on it, and this knowledge fortifies it. It knows that to be faithful it will often have to face various difficulties, but it trusts in God and, thanks to this trust, it reaches that point to which God is calling it. Difficulties do not terrify it; they are its daily bread, as it were. They do not frighten or terrify the soul, just as a warrior who is constantly in battle is not terrified by the roar of the cannon. Far from being frightened, it listens to determine from which side the enemy is launching his attack, in order to defeat him. It does nothing blindly, but examines and ponders everything deeply and, not counting on itself, it prays fervently and asks advice of other warriors who are experienced and wise. When the soul acts in this way, it nearly always wins.
There are attacks when a soul has no time to think or seek advice; then it must enter into a life-or-death struggle. Sometimes it is good to flee for cover in the wound of the Heart of Jesus, without answering a single word. By this very act the enemy is already defeated.
In time of peace, as well, the soul continues making efforts, just as in time of battle. It must exercise itself, and do so with energy; otherwise it has no chance of attaining victory. I regard the time of peace as a time of preparation for victory. The soul must be ever watchful; watchfulness and again, watchfulness. The soul that reflects receives much light. A distracted soul runs the risk of a fall, and let it not be surprised when it does fall. O Spirit of God, Director of the soul, wise is he whom You have trained! But for the Spirit of God to act in the soul, peace and recollection are needed.
When under his direction my soul began to experience deep recollection and peace, I often heard these words in my soul: Strengthen yourself for combat - repeated over and over at various times.
+Jesus often makes known to me what He does not like in my soul, and He has more than once rebuked me for what seemed to be trifles, but which were, in fact, things of great importance. He has warned me and tried me like a Master. For many years He himself educated me, until the moment when He gave me a spiritual director. Previously, He himself had made clear to me what I did not understand; but now, He tells me to ask my confessor about everything and often says, I will answer you through his mouth. Be at peace. It has never happened to me that I have received an answer which was contrary to what the Lord wanted of me, when I presented it to the spiritual director [Father Sopocko]. It sometimes happens that Jesus first asks certain things of me, about which no one knows anything, and then, when I kneel at the confessional, my confessor gives me the same order-however, this is infrequent.
+When, over a long period of time, a soul has received much light and many inspirations, and when the confessors have confirmed the source of these inspirations and set the soul at peace; if its love is great, Jesus now makes it known that it is time to put into action what it has received. The soul recognizes that God is counting on it, and this knowledge fortifies it. It knows that to be faithful it will often have to face various difficulties, but it trusts in God and, thanks to this trust, it reaches that point to which God is calling it. Difficulties do not terrify it; they are its daily bread, as it were. They do not frighten or terrify the soul, just as a warrior who is constantly in battle is not terrified by the roar of the cannon. Far from being frightened, it listens to determine from which side the enemy is launching his attack, in order to defeat him. It does nothing blindly, but examines and ponders everything deeply and, not counting on itself, it prays fervently and asks advice of other warriors who are experienced and wise. When the soul acts in this way, it nearly always wins.
There are attacks when a soul has no time to think or seek advice; then it must enter into a life-or-death struggle. Sometimes it is good to flee for cover in the wound of the Heart of Jesus, without answering a single word. By this very act the enemy is already defeated.
In time of peace, as well, the soul continues making efforts, just as in time of battle. It must exercise itself, and do so with energy; otherwise it has no chance of attaining victory. I regard the time of peace as a time of preparation for victory. The soul must be ever watchful; watchfulness and again, watchfulness. The soul that reflects receives much light. A distracted soul runs the risk of a fall, and let it not be surprised when it does fall. O Spirit of God, Director of the soul, wise is he whom You have trained! But for the Spirit of God to act in the soul, peace and recollection are needed.
A
Moment Before the Blessed Sacrament.
220 O my eternal Lord and Creator, how am I going to thank You for this great favor; namely, that You have deigned to choose miserable me to be Your betrothed and that You are to unite me to yourself in an eternal bond? O dearest Treasure of my heart, I offer You all the adoration and thanksgiving of the Saints and of all the choirs of Angels, and I unite myself in a special way with Your Mother. O Mary, my Mother, I humbly beg of You, cover my soul with Your virginal cloak at this very important moment of my life, so that thus I may become dearer to Your Son and may worthily praise Your Son's mercy before the whole world and throughout all eternity.
223 O living Host, my one and only strength, fountain of love and mercy, embrace the whole world, fortify faint souls. Oh, blessed be the instant and the moment when Jesus left us His most merciful Heart!
227 +In the midst of trials I will try to see the loving hand of God. Nothing is as constant as suffering-it always faithfully keeps the soul company. O Jesus, I will let no one surpass me in loving You!
+O Jesus, hidden in the Blessed Sacrament,
230 Jesus, living Host, You are my Mother, You are my all! It is with simplicity and love, with faith and trust that I will always come to You, O Jesus! I will share everything with You, as a child with its loving mother, my joys and sorrows-in a word, everything.
231 No one can comprehend what my heart feels when I meditate on the fact that God unites me with himself through the vows. God makes known to me, even now, the immensity of the love He already had for me before time began; and as for me, I have just begun to love Him, in time. His love was [ever] great, pure and disinterested, and my love for Him comes from the fact that I am beginning to know Him. The more I come to know Him, the more ardently, the more fiercely I love Him, and the more perfect my acts become. Meanwhile, each time I call to mind that in a few days I am to become one with the Lord through perpetual vows, a joy beyond all description floods my soul. From the very first time that I came to know the Lord, the gaze of my soul became drowned in Him for all eternity. Each time the Lord draws close to me and my knowledge of Him grows deeper, a more perfect love grows within my soul.
220 O my eternal Lord and Creator, how am I going to thank You for this great favor; namely, that You have deigned to choose miserable me to be Your betrothed and that You are to unite me to yourself in an eternal bond? O dearest Treasure of my heart, I offer You all the adoration and thanksgiving of the Saints and of all the choirs of Angels, and I unite myself in a special way with Your Mother. O Mary, my Mother, I humbly beg of You, cover my soul with Your virginal cloak at this very important moment of my life, so that thus I may become dearer to Your Son and may worthily praise Your Son's mercy before the whole world and throughout all eternity.
223 O living Host, my one and only strength, fountain of love and mercy, embrace the whole world, fortify faint souls. Oh, blessed be the instant and the moment when Jesus left us His most merciful Heart!
227 +In the midst of trials I will try to see the loving hand of God. Nothing is as constant as suffering-it always faithfully keeps the soul company. O Jesus, I will let no one surpass me in loving You!
+O Jesus, hidden in the Blessed Sacrament,
230 Jesus, living Host, You are my Mother, You are my all! It is with simplicity and love, with faith and trust that I will always come to You, O Jesus! I will share everything with You, as a child with its loving mother, my joys and sorrows-in a word, everything.
231 No one can comprehend what my heart feels when I meditate on the fact that God unites me with himself through the vows. God makes known to me, even now, the immensity of the love He already had for me before time began; and as for me, I have just begun to love Him, in time. His love was [ever] great, pure and disinterested, and my love for Him comes from the fact that I am beginning to know Him. The more I come to know Him, the more ardently, the more fiercely I love Him, and the more perfect my acts become. Meanwhile, each time I call to mind that in a few days I am to become one with the Lord through perpetual vows, a joy beyond all description floods my soul. From the very first time that I came to know the Lord, the gaze of my soul became drowned in Him for all eternity. Each time the Lord draws close to me and my knowledge of Him grows deeper, a more perfect love grows within my soul.
423
Praise the Lord, my soul, for everything, and glorify His mercy, for His
goodness is without end. Everything will pass, but His mercy is without limit
or end. And although evil will attain its measure, in mercy there is no
measure.
O my God, even in the punishments You send down upon the earth I see the abyss of Your mercy, for by punishing us here on earth You free us from eternal punishment. Rejoice, all you creatures, for you are closer to God in His infinite mercy than a baby to its mother's heart. O God, You are compassion itself for the greatest sinners who sincerely repent. The greater the sinner, the greater his right to God's mercy.
O my God, even in the punishments You send down upon the earth I see the abyss of Your mercy, for by punishing us here on earth You free us from eternal punishment. Rejoice, all you creatures, for you are closer to God in His infinite mercy than a baby to its mother's heart. O God, You are compassion itself for the greatest sinners who sincerely repent. The greater the sinner, the greater his right to God's mercy.
440
O my Creator and Lord, my entire being is Yours! Dispose of me according to
Your divine pleasure and according to Your eternal plans and Your unfathomable
mercy. May every soul know how good the Lord is; may no soul fear to commune
intimately with the Lord; may no soul use unworthiness as an excuse, and may it
never postpone [accepting] God's invitations, for that is not pleasing to the
Lord. There is no soul more wretched than I am, as I truly know myself, and I
am astounded that divine Majesty stoops so low. O eternity, it seems to me that
you are too short to extol [adequately] the infinite mercy of the Lord!
465
Jesus, my Life, how well I feel that You are transforming me into Yourself, in
the secrecy of my soul where the senses can no longer perceive much. O my
Savior, conceal me completely in the depths of Your Heart and shield me with
Your rays against everything that is not You. I beg You, Jesus, let the two
rays that have issued from Your most merciful Heart continuously nourish my
soul.
478
O my Jesus, You know, You alone know well that m heart knows no other love but
You! All my virginal love is drowned eternally in You, O Jesus! I sense keenly
ho Your divine Blood is circulating in my heart; I have no the least doubt that
Your most pure love has entered m heart with Your most sacred Blood. I am aware
did You are dwelling in me, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, or
ratherIam aware that it is I who it living in You, O incomprehensible God! I am
aware that I am dissolving in You like a drop in an ocean. I am aware that You
are within me and all about me, that You are in all things that surround me, in
all that happens to me. O my God, I have come to know You within my heart, and
I have loved You above all things that exist on earth or in heaven. Our hearts
have a mutual understanding, and no one of humankind will comprehend this.
482
O my God, I am conscious of my mission in the Holy Church. It is my constant
endeavor to plead for me mercy for the world. I unite myself closely with Jesus
and stand before Him as an atoning sacrifice on behalf of the world. God will
refuse me nothing when I entreat Him with the voice of His Son. My sacrifice is
nothing in itself, but when I join it to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, it
becomes all-powerful and has the power to appease divine wrath. God loves us in
His Son; the painful Passion of the Son of God constantly turns aside the wrath
of God.
483
O God, how I desire that souls come to know You and to see that You have
created them because of Your unfathomable love. O my Creator and Lord, I feel
that I am going to remove the veil of heaven so that earth will not doubt Your
goodness.
Make of me, Jesus, a pure and agreeable offering before the Face of Your Father. Jesus, transform me, miserable and sinful as I am, into Your own self (for You can do all things), and give me to Your Eternal Father. I want t become a sacrificial host before You, but an ordinary wafer to people. I want the fragrance of my sacrifice be known to You alone. O Eternal God, an unquenchable fire of supplication for Your mercy burns within me. I know and understand that this is my task here and in eternity. You yourself have told me to speak about this great mercy and about Your goodness.
Make of me, Jesus, a pure and agreeable offering before the Face of Your Father. Jesus, transform me, miserable and sinful as I am, into Your own self (for You can do all things), and give me to Your Eternal Father. I want t become a sacrificial host before You, but an ordinary wafer to people. I want the fragrance of my sacrifice be known to You alone. O Eternal God, an unquenchable fire of supplication for Your mercy burns within me. I know and understand that this is my task here and in eternity. You yourself have told me to speak about this great mercy and about Your goodness.
495
Jesus, Eternal Light, enlighten my mind, strengthen my will, inflame my heart
and be with me as You have promised, for without You I am nothing. You know,
Jesus, how weak lam. l do not need to tell You this, for You yourself know
perfectly well how wretched I am. It is in You that all my strength lies.
501
Oh, how great is Your beauty, Jesus my Spouse! Living Flower enclosing
life-giving dew for a thirsting soul! My soul is drowned in You. You alone are
the object of my desires and strivings. Unite me as closely as possible to
Yourself, to the Father and to the Holy Spirit. Let me live and die in You.
502
Only love has meaning; it raises up our smallest actions into infinity.
503
My Jesus, truly I would not know how to live without You-my spirit is welded to
Yours. No one can really understand this; one must first live in You in order
to recognize You in others.
Cracow, October 25, 1935.
Retreat Resolutions.
Cracow, October 25, 1935.
Retreat Resolutions.
505
All my nothingness is drowned in the sea of Your mercy. With the confidence of
a child, I throw myself into Your arms, O Father of Mercy, to make up for the
unbelief of so many souls who are afraid to trust in You. Oh, how very few
souls really know You! How ardently I desire that the Feast of Mercy be known
by souls! Mercy is the crown of Your works; You provide for all with the love
of a most tender mother.
507
I desire, O my Jesus, to suffer and burn with the flame of Your love in all the
circumstances of my life. I am Yours, completely Yours, and I wish to disappear
in You, O Jesus, I wish to be lost in Your divine beauty. You pursue me with
Your love, O Lord; You penetrate my soul like a ray of the sun and change its
darkness into Your light. I feel very vividly that I am living in You as one
small spark swallowed up by the incomprehensible fire with which You burn, O
inconceivable Trinity! No greater joy is to be found than that of loving God.
Already here on earth we can taste the happiness of those in heaven by an
intimate union with God, a union that is extraordinary and often quite
incomprehensible to us. One can attain this very grace through simple
faithfulness of soul.
534
Chastity. There is no need to explain that this vow forbids all those things
prohibited by the sixth and ninth commandments: deeds, thoughts, words,
feelings... I understand that a solemn vow differs from a simple vow; I
understand this in all its implications. While reflecting upon this, I heard
these words in my soul:You
are My spouse forever; your chastity should be greater than that of the Angels,
for I call no angel to such intimacy as I do you. The smallest act of My spouse
is of infinite value. A pure soul has inconceivable power before God.
571
O my Jesus, Eternal Truth, I fear nothing, neither hardships nor sufferings; I
fear only one thing, and that is to offend You. My Jesus, I would rather not
exist than make You sad. Jesus, You know that my love knows no one but You. My
soul is absorbed in You.
576
O Holy Trinity, Eternal God, my spirit is drowned in Your beauty. The ages are
as nothing in Your sight. You are always the same. Oh, how great is Your
majesty. Jesus, why do You conceal Your majesty, why have You left Your
heavenly throne and dwelt among us? The Lord answered me, My daughter, love has brought Me here,
and love keeps Me here. My daughter, if you knew what great merit and reward is
earned by one act of pure love for Me, you would die of joy. I am saying this
that you may constantly unite yourself with Me through love, for this is the
goal of the life of your soul. This act is an act of the will. Know that a pure
soul is humble. When you lower and empty yourself before My majesty, I then pursue
you with My graces and make use of My omnipotence to exalt you.
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.
611
O my Jesus, I implore You by the goodness of Your most sweet Heart, let Your
anger diminish and show us Your mercy. May Your wounds be our shield against
Your Father's justice. I have come to know You, O God, as the source of mercy
that vivifies and nourishes every soul. Oh, how great is the mercy of the Lord;
it surpasses all His other qualities! Mercy is the greatest attribute of God;
everything that surrounds me speaks to me of this. Mercy is the life of souls;
His compassion is inexhaustible. O Lord, look on us and deal with us according
to Your countless mercies, according to Your great mercy.
617
O Holy Trinity, Eternal God, I want to shine in the crown of Your mercy as a
tiny gem whose beauty depends on the ray of Your light and of Your inscrutable
mercy. All that is beautiful in my soul is Yours, O God; of myself, I am ever
nothing.
631
O my Jesus, Your goodness surpasses all understanding, and no one will exhaust
Your mercy. Damnation is for the soul who wants to be damned; but for the one
who desires salvation, there is the inexhaustible ocean of the Lord's mercy to
draw from. How can a small vessel contain the unfathomable ocean?
638
Jesus, drive away from me the thoughts that are not in accord with Your will. I
know that nothing now binds me to this earth but this work of mercy.
725
+ Eight-day Retreat, October 20, 1936.
My Jesus, I am going into the wilderness today to speak only with You, my Master and my Lord. Let the earth be silent, and You alone speak to me, Jesus. You know that I understand no other voice but Yours, O Good Shepherd. In the dwelling of my heart is that wilderness to which no creature has access. There, You alone are King.
My Jesus, I am going into the wilderness today to speak only with You, my Master and my Lord. Let the earth be silent, and You alone speak to me, Jesus. You know that I understand no other voice but Yours, O Good Shepherd. In the dwelling of my heart is that wilderness to which no creature has access. There, You alone are King.
740
+ O Savior of the world. I unite myself with Your mercy. My Jesus, I join all
my sufferings to Yours and deposit them in the treasury of the Church for the
benefit of souls.
1628
During Holy Mass, I saw Jesus stretched out on the Cross, and He said to me, My pupil, have great love for those
who cause you suffering. Do good to those who hate you. I
answered, "O my Master, You see very well that I feel no love for them,
and that troubles me." Jesus answered, It is not always within your power to control your
feelings. You will recognize that you have love if, after having experienced
annoyance and contradiction, you do not lose your peace, but pray for those who
have made you suffer and wish them well. When I returned [...]
1752
Under the direction of Master Jesus, who Himself commanded me to make this
retreat, and who selected the days on which I was to make it; namely, the three
days preceding Pentecost and who, Himself, conducted this retreat. However, I asked
my confessor [probably Father Andrasz] whether I could make such a retreat, and
I received his permission. I also asked Mother Superior [Irene] and received
her permission too. I had resolved that I would not make the retreat unless I
obtained the permission of the Superiors. I began a novena to the Holy Spirit,
and waited for Mother Superior's answer.
I should be beginning the retreat today, but I have not yet received news of Mother Superior's decision. When I went to Church for the evening devotions, I saw the Lord Jesus during the litany. My daughter, we are beginning the retreat. I answered, "Jesus, my dearest Master, I ask Your forgiveness, but I cannot make the retreat, because I have received no news as to whether Mother Superior allows it or not." Do not worry, My daughter, the Superior has given her permission. You will learn of it tomorrow morning. But we are to start the retreat today.
And indeed, Mother Superior had telephoned that evening to the sister who is looking after me during my illness [Sister David], asking her to tell me that I was allowed to make the retreat, but the sister had forgotten to tell me. It was only next morning that she told me, and she was very apologetic that she had not told me the day before. I answered her, "Please do not worry. I have already started my retreat, according to the Superior's wish."
I should be beginning the retreat today, but I have not yet received news of Mother Superior's decision. When I went to Church for the evening devotions, I saw the Lord Jesus during the litany. My daughter, we are beginning the retreat. I answered, "Jesus, my dearest Master, I ask Your forgiveness, but I cannot make the retreat, because I have received no news as to whether Mother Superior allows it or not." Do not worry, My daughter, the Superior has given her permission. You will learn of it tomorrow morning. But we are to start the retreat today.
And indeed, Mother Superior had telephoned that evening to the sister who is looking after me during my illness [Sister David], asking her to tell me that I was allowed to make the retreat, but the sister had forgotten to tell me. It was only next morning that she told me, and she was very apologetic that she had not told me the day before. I answered her, "Please do not worry. I have already started my retreat, according to the Superior's wish."
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-I-145, 220, 223, 227, 230-231 423, 440, 465)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-I-478, 482-483, 495, 501-503, 505, 507)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-II-534, 571, 576, 589, 611, 617, 631, 638)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-II-725, 740)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-VI-1628, 1752)
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