Fidelity to the Holy Spirit’s Inspirations
Saturday of the Twenty Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Father James Swanson, LC
Luke 12:8-12
Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before
others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever
denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. Everyone who
speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who
blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you
before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or
what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit
will teach you at that moment what you should say."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe that You are present here as I turn to You in prayer. I trust and have confidence in Your desire to give me every grace I need to receive today. Thank you for Your love, thank You for Your immense generosity toward me. I give You my life and my love in return.
Petition: Grant me, Lord, the grace to stand up for my beliefs today.
1. Too Cowardly for Martyrdom: Sometimes it’s very difficult to acknowledge Jesus before others. We think of the possibility of martyrdom, and we all wonder if we would be able to be faithful to Jesus if it meant death. We may think that we witness to him pretty well in our everyday lives, but do we really? We listen to attacks on Jesus and his Church without objection. Sometimes we even kind of nod or smile as if to let on that we agree. We would never say such things ourselves, but we don’t really stand up for Jesus even when there is no possibility of martyrdom. How many of us have a terrible time just making the sign of the Cross in a public place? It’s a simple thing, something I do every time I come to the table to eat, but somehow, it can be incredibly difficult in a restaurant, where the only burden is that “people might think I’m a Catholic.”
2. Accepting the Truth: Christ’s teaching about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit may be worrisome because we may think that there exists some unforgivable sin. Yet, there is no unforgivable sin. God’s love and mercy is all-powerful against sin. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit has been understood by the Church to mean final impenitence -- that the Holy Spirit is trying to convince us of our sins and we won’t accept them. If we are finally convinced, there is no blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. However, if we die without having accepted his truth, then we will be guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Do I let the Holy Spirit convince me of my sinfulness? Are there things that the Church teaches as wrong that I don’t want to accept? Are there sins that I think aren’t too bad because I want to make them a part of my life? Sins cannot be forgiven if they are not accepted as sins.
3. Witnessing with My Life: Maybe we don’t worry too much about being hauled into court for our Christianity, but we still have to testify to it every day with our lives. No matter where we go or what we do, we are witnesses to our belief in Christ. The Greek word “martyr” means “witness.” I need to let the Holy Spirit speak through me when I am in front of others. People will be judging not just me, but all Christians by my actions, so I need to live charity as the mark of a genuine Christian. I need to foster the humility of a person who looks at the greatness and holiness of God the Father and yet recognizes his own pettiness and sinfulness. I need to live all the virtues in the concrete circumstances of my daily life. The only way I can do all these things is by letting the Holy Spirit speak through the actions of my life, so that my life is the testimony that others need it to be.
Conversation with Christ: Dear Jesus, I can hear Your call to a deeper intimacy with You. I want to draw closer, yet at times, I also feel reluctance. Help my weak will. Inflame my heart with a greater love for You so that I can be a true “martyr”, a witness to your faithful love. Open my heart to Your Holy Spirit so that I live as a true Christian.
Resolution:When I am in front of others, I will foster the awareness that I am a witness to the truth of Christ’s revelation and try to let the Holy Spirit speak through my actions.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe that You are present here as I turn to You in prayer. I trust and have confidence in Your desire to give me every grace I need to receive today. Thank you for Your love, thank You for Your immense generosity toward me. I give You my life and my love in return.
Petition: Grant me, Lord, the grace to stand up for my beliefs today.
1. Too Cowardly for Martyrdom: Sometimes it’s very difficult to acknowledge Jesus before others. We think of the possibility of martyrdom, and we all wonder if we would be able to be faithful to Jesus if it meant death. We may think that we witness to him pretty well in our everyday lives, but do we really? We listen to attacks on Jesus and his Church without objection. Sometimes we even kind of nod or smile as if to let on that we agree. We would never say such things ourselves, but we don’t really stand up for Jesus even when there is no possibility of martyrdom. How many of us have a terrible time just making the sign of the Cross in a public place? It’s a simple thing, something I do every time I come to the table to eat, but somehow, it can be incredibly difficult in a restaurant, where the only burden is that “people might think I’m a Catholic.”
2. Accepting the Truth: Christ’s teaching about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit may be worrisome because we may think that there exists some unforgivable sin. Yet, there is no unforgivable sin. God’s love and mercy is all-powerful against sin. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit has been understood by the Church to mean final impenitence -- that the Holy Spirit is trying to convince us of our sins and we won’t accept them. If we are finally convinced, there is no blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. However, if we die without having accepted his truth, then we will be guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Do I let the Holy Spirit convince me of my sinfulness? Are there things that the Church teaches as wrong that I don’t want to accept? Are there sins that I think aren’t too bad because I want to make them a part of my life? Sins cannot be forgiven if they are not accepted as sins.
3. Witnessing with My Life: Maybe we don’t worry too much about being hauled into court for our Christianity, but we still have to testify to it every day with our lives. No matter where we go or what we do, we are witnesses to our belief in Christ. The Greek word “martyr” means “witness.” I need to let the Holy Spirit speak through me when I am in front of others. People will be judging not just me, but all Christians by my actions, so I need to live charity as the mark of a genuine Christian. I need to foster the humility of a person who looks at the greatness and holiness of God the Father and yet recognizes his own pettiness and sinfulness. I need to live all the virtues in the concrete circumstances of my daily life. The only way I can do all these things is by letting the Holy Spirit speak through the actions of my life, so that my life is the testimony that others need it to be.
Conversation with Christ: Dear Jesus, I can hear Your call to a deeper intimacy with You. I want to draw closer, yet at times, I also feel reluctance. Help my weak will. Inflame my heart with a greater love for You so that I can be a true “martyr”, a witness to your faithful love. Open my heart to Your Holy Spirit so that I live as a true Christian.
Resolution:When I am in front of others, I will foster the awareness that I am a witness to the truth of Christ’s revelation and try to let the Holy Spirit speak through my actions.
Excerpts from the DIARY of Saint Faustina Kowalska
56 O my God, I understand well that You demand this
spiritual childhood[32]
of me, because You are constantly asking it of me through Your representatives.
At the beginning of my religious life, suffering and adversities frightened and disheartened me. So I prayed continuously, asking Jesus to strengthen me and to grant me the power of His Holy Spirit that I might carry out His holy will in all things, because from the beginning I have been aware of my weakness. I know very well what I am of myself, because for this purpose Jesus has opened the eyes of my soul; I am an abyss of misery, and hence I understand that whatever good there is in my soul consists solely of His holy grace. The knowledge of my own misery allows me, at the same time, to know the immensity of Your mercy. In my own interior life, I am looking with one eye at the abyss of my misery and baseness, and with the other, at the abyss of Your mercy, O God.
At the beginning of my religious life, suffering and adversities frightened and disheartened me. So I prayed continuously, asking Jesus to strengthen me and to grant me the power of His Holy Spirit that I might carry out His holy will in all things, because from the beginning I have been aware of my weakness. I know very well what I am of myself, because for this purpose Jesus has opened the eyes of my soul; I am an abyss of misery, and hence I understand that whatever good there is in my soul consists solely of His holy grace. The knowledge of my own misery allows me, at the same time, to know the immensity of Your mercy. In my own interior life, I am looking with one eye at the abyss of my misery and baseness, and with the other, at the abyss of Your mercy, O God.
148 +A noble and delicate soul, even the most simple, but
one of delicate sensibilities, sees God in everything, finds Him everywhere,
and knows how to find Him in even the most hidden things. It finds all things
important, it highly appreciates all things, it thanks God for all things, it
draws profit for the soul from all things, and it gives all glory to God. It
places its trust in God and is not confused when the time of ordeals comes. It
knows that God is always the best of Fathers and makes little of human opinion.
It follows faithfully the faintest breath of the Holy Spirit; it rejoices in
this Spiritual Guest and holds onto Him like a child to its mother. Where other
souls come to a standstill and fear, this soul passes on without fear or
difficulty.
167 Today [November, 1932], I arrived in Warsaw for the
third probation. After a cordial meeting with the dear Mothers, I went into the
small chapel for a moment. Suddenly God's presence filled my soul, and I heard
these words, My daughter, I desire that your heart be formed after the model
of My merciful Heart. You must be completely imbued with My mercy.
Dear Mother Directress [Margaret]
at once asked me whether I had had a retreat that year, and I said no. "Then you must first have a retreat of at least three days." Thanks be to God there was at Walendows[57] an eight-day retreat in which I could take part. But difficulties arose in regard to my leaving for this retreat. A certain person opposed my going very much, and it already [appeared that] I was not to go. After dinner, I went into the chapel for a five-minute adoration. Suddenly I saw the Lord Jesus, who said to me, My daughter, I am preparing many graces for you, which you will receive during this retreat which you will begin tomorrow. I answered, "Jesus, the retreat has already begun, and I am not supposed to go." And He said to me, Get ready for it, because you will begin the retreat tomorrow. And as for your departure, I will arrange that with the superiors. And in an instant, Jesus disappeared.
I began to wonder how this was going to happen. But after a moment I rejected all such thoughts and devoted the time I had to prayer, begging the Holy Spirit for light to see the whole misery that I am. After a short while, I left the little chapel to go about my duties. Soon Mother General [Michael] called me and said, "Sister, you will go to Walendow today with Mother Valeria so that you can start the retreat tomorrow. Fortunately, Mother Valeria happens to be here and you can go together." Within two hours I was already in Walendow. I reflected for a moment within myself and recognized that only Jesus can arrange things in such a way.
Dear Mother Directress [Margaret]
at once asked me whether I had had a retreat that year, and I said no. "Then you must first have a retreat of at least three days." Thanks be to God there was at Walendows[57] an eight-day retreat in which I could take part. But difficulties arose in regard to my leaving for this retreat. A certain person opposed my going very much, and it already [appeared that] I was not to go. After dinner, I went into the chapel for a five-minute adoration. Suddenly I saw the Lord Jesus, who said to me, My daughter, I am preparing many graces for you, which you will receive during this retreat which you will begin tomorrow. I answered, "Jesus, the retreat has already begun, and I am not supposed to go." And He said to me, Get ready for it, because you will begin the retreat tomorrow. And as for your departure, I will arrange that with the superiors. And in an instant, Jesus disappeared.
I began to wonder how this was going to happen. But after a moment I rejected all such thoughts and devoted the time I had to prayer, begging the Holy Spirit for light to see the whole misery that I am. After a short while, I left the little chapel to go about my duties. Soon Mother General [Michael] called me and said, "Sister, you will go to Walendow today with Mother Valeria so that you can start the retreat tomorrow. Fortunately, Mother Valeria happens to be here and you can go together." Within two hours I was already in Walendow. I reflected for a moment within myself and recognized that only Jesus can arrange things in such a way.
170 The first day of the retreat. I tried to be the first
in the chapel in the morning; before the meditation I had a bit of time for
prayer to the Holy Spirit and to Our Lady. I earnestly begged the Mother of God
to obtain for me the grace of fidelity to these inner inspirations and of
faithfully carrying out God's will, whatever it might be. I began this retreat
with a very special kind of courage.
248 The words of the Bishop [Rospond[73]],
spoken at the ceremony of the taking of perpetual vows: "Accept this
candle as a sign of heavenly light and of burning love." While giving the
ring: "I betroth you to Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father Most High; may
He keep you unblemished. Take this ring as a sign of the eternal covenant you
are making with Christ, the Spouse of Virgins. May it be for you the ring of
faith and the sign of the Holy Spirit, that you may be called the bride of
Christ and, if you serve Him faithfully, be crowned [as such] for all eternity.
291 On a certain occasion, I saw a person about to commit
a mortal sin. I asked the Lord to send me the greatest torments so that that
soul could be saved. Then I suddenly felt the terrible pain of a crown of
thorns on my head. It lasted for quite a long time, but that person remained in
the Lord's grace. 0 my Jesus, how very easy it is to become holy; all that is
needed is a bit of good will. If Jesus sees this little bit of good will in the
soul, He hurries to give himself to the soul, and nothing can stop Him, neither
shortcomings nor falls-absolutely nothing. Jesus is anxious to help that soul,
and if it is faithful to this grace from God, it can very soon attain the
highest holiness possible for a creature here on earth. God is very generous
and does not deny His grace to anyone. Indeed He gives more than what we ask of
Him. Faithfulness to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit-that is the shortest
route.
356 O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the testament of
God's mercy for us, and especially for poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus as proof of infinite mercy for us, and especially for poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained life eternal and of infinite mercy, dispensed in abundance to us and especially to poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the mercy of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit toward us, and especially toward poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the infinite price of mercy which will compensate for all our debts, and especially those of poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the fountain of living water which springs from infinite mercy for us, and especially for poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the fire of purest love which blazes forth from the bosom of the Eternal Father, as from an abyss of infinite mercy for us, and especially for poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the medicine for all our infirmities, flowing from infinite mercy, as from a fount, for us and especially for poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the union between God and us through His infinite mercy for us, and especially for poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom are contained all the sentiments of the most sweet Heart of Jesus toward us, and especially poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in all the sufferings and adversities of life.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in the midst of darkness and of storms within and without.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in life and at the hour of our death.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in the midst of adversities and floods of despair.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in the midst of falsehood and treason.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in the midst of the darkness and godlessness which inundate the earth. O Blessed Host, our only hope in the longing and pain in which no one will understand us.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in the toil and monotony of everyday life.
O Blessed Host, our only hope amid the ruin of our hopes and endeavors.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in the midst of the ravages of the enemy and the efforts of hell.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when the burdens are beyond my strength and I find my efforts are fruitless.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when storms toss my heart about and my fearful spirit tends to despair.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when my heart is about to tremble and mortal sweat moistens my brow.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when everything conspires against me and black despair creeps into my soul.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when my eyes will begin to grow dim to all temporal things and, for the first time, my spirit will behold the unknown worlds.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when my tasks will be beyond my strength and adversity will become my daily lot.
O Blessed Host I trust in You when the practice of virtue will appear difficult for me and my nature will grow rebellious.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when hostile blows will be aimed against me.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when my toils and efforts will be misjudged by others.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when Your judgments will resound over me; it is then that I will trust in the sea of Your mercy.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus as proof of infinite mercy for us, and especially for poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained life eternal and of infinite mercy, dispensed in abundance to us and especially to poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the mercy of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit toward us, and especially toward poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the infinite price of mercy which will compensate for all our debts, and especially those of poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the fountain of living water which springs from infinite mercy for us, and especially for poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the fire of purest love which blazes forth from the bosom of the Eternal Father, as from an abyss of infinite mercy for us, and especially for poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the medicine for all our infirmities, flowing from infinite mercy, as from a fount, for us and especially for poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom is contained the union between God and us through His infinite mercy for us, and especially for poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, in whom are contained all the sentiments of the most sweet Heart of Jesus toward us, and especially poor sinners.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in all the sufferings and adversities of life.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in the midst of darkness and of storms within and without.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in life and at the hour of our death.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in the midst of adversities and floods of despair.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in the midst of falsehood and treason.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in the midst of the darkness and godlessness which inundate the earth. O Blessed Host, our only hope in the longing and pain in which no one will understand us.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in the toil and monotony of everyday life.
O Blessed Host, our only hope amid the ruin of our hopes and endeavors.
O Blessed Host, our only hope in the midst of the ravages of the enemy and the efforts of hell.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when the burdens are beyond my strength and I find my efforts are fruitless.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when storms toss my heart about and my fearful spirit tends to despair.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when my heart is about to tremble and mortal sweat moistens my brow.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when everything conspires against me and black despair creeps into my soul.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when my eyes will begin to grow dim to all temporal things and, for the first time, my spirit will behold the unknown worlds.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when my tasks will be beyond my strength and adversity will become my daily lot.
O Blessed Host I trust in You when the practice of virtue will appear difficult for me and my nature will grow rebellious.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when hostile blows will be aimed against me.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when my toils and efforts will be misjudged by others.
O Blessed Host, I trust in You when Your judgments will resound over me; it is then that I will trust in the sea of Your mercy.
359 January 10, 1935. +Thursday. In the evening during
benediction,[85] such thoughts as these began to distress me: Is not
perhaps all this that I am saying about God's great mercy just a lie or an
illusion...? And I wanted to think about this for a while, when I heard a
strong and clear inner voice saying,
Everything that you say about My goodness is true; language has no adequate
expression to extol My goodness. These words were so filled
with power and so clear that I would give my life in declaring they came from
God. I can tell this by the profound peace that accompanied them at that time
and that still remains with me. This peace gives me such great strength and
power that all difficulties, adversities, sufferings, and death itself are as
nothing. This light gave me a glimpse of the truth that all my efforts to bring
souls to know the mercy of the Lord are very pleasing to God. And from this
springs such great joy in my soul that I do not know whether it could be any
greater in heaven. Oh, if souls would only be willing to listen, at least a
little, to the voice of conscience and the voicethat is, the inspirations-of
the Holy Spirit! I say "at least a little," because once we open
ourselves to the influence of the Holy Spirit, He himself will fulfill what is
lacking in us.
392 The Lord God grants His graces in two ways: by
inspiration and by enlightenment. If we ask God for a grace, He will give it to
us; but let us be willing to accept it. And in order to accept it, self-denial
is needed. Love does not consist in words or feelings, but in deeds. It is an
act of the will; it is a gift; that is to say, a giving. The reason, the will,
the heart-these three faculties must be exercised during prayer. I will rise
from the dead in Jesus, but first I must live in Him. If I do not separate
myself from the Cross, then the Gospel will be revealed in me. Jesus in me
makes up for all my deficiencies. His grace operates without ceasing. The Holy
Trinity grants me Its life abundantly, by the gift of the Holy Spirit. The
Three Divine Persons live in me. When God loves, He loves with all His Being,
with all the power of His Being. If God has loved me in this way, how should I
respond I, His spouse?
451 Once after
Holy Communion, I heard these words: You
are Our dwelling place. At that moment, I felt in my soul the
presence of the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I felt
that I was the temple of God. I felt I was a child of the Father. I cannot
explain all this, but the spirit understands it well. O infinite Goodness, how
low You stoop to Your miserable creature!
472 I knew, more distinctly than ever before, the Three
Divine Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. But their being, their
equality and their majesty are one. My soul is in communion with these Three;
but I do not know how to express this in words; yet my soul understands it
well. Whoever is united to One of the Three Persons is thereby united to the
whole Blessed Trinity, for this Oneness is indivisible. This vision, or rather,
this knowledge filled my soul with unimaginable happiness, because God is so
great. What I am describing I did not see with my eyes, as on previous
occasions, but in a purely interior manner, in a purely spiritual way,
independent of the senses. This continued until the end of Holy Mass.
This now happens often to me, and not only in the chapel, but also at work and at times when I least expect it.
This now happens often to me, and not only in the chapel, but also at work and at times when I least expect it.
477 Silence is a sword in the spiritual struggle. A
talkative soul will never attain sanctity. The sword of silence will cut off
everything that would like to cling to the soul. We are sensitive to words and
quickly want to answer back, without taking any regard as to whether it is
God's will that we should speak. A silent soul 14 strong; no adversities will
harm it if it perseveres in silence. The silent soul is capable of attaining
the closest union with God. It lives almost always under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit. God works in a silent soul without hindrance.
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.
486 Jesus, when You come to me in Holy Communion, You who
together with the Father and the Holy Spirit have deigned to dwell in the
little heaven of my heart, I try to keep You company throughout the day, I do
not leave You alone for even a moment. Although I am in the company of other
people or with our wards, my heart is always united to Him. When I am asleep I
offer Him every beat of my heart; when I awaken I immerse myself in Him without
saying a word. When I awaken I adore the Holy Trinity for a short while and
thank God for having deigned to give me yet another day, that the mystery of
the incarnation of His Son may once more be repeated in me, and that once again
His sorrowful Passion may unfold before my eyes. I then try to make it easier
for Jesus to pass through me to other souls. I go everywhere with Jesus; His
presence accompanies me everywhere.
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.
525 O Holy Trinity, in whom is contained the inner life
of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, eternal joy, inconceivable
depth of love, poured out upon all creatures and constituting their happiness,
honor and glory be to Your holy name forever and ever. Amen.
When I consider Your greatness and beauty, O my God, I rejoice exceedingly that the Lord I serve is so great. With love and joy I carry out His will, and the more I come to know Him, the more I desire to love Him. I burn with the desire to love Him ever more and more.
When I consider Your greatness and beauty, O my God, I rejoice exceedingly that the Lord I serve is so great. With love and joy I carry out His will, and the more I come to know Him, the more I desire to love Him. I burn with the desire to love Him ever more and more.
552 In addition to the vows, I see one rule as most
important. Although all the rules are important, I put this one in first place,
and it is silence. Truly, if this rule were to be observed strictly, I would
not worry about the others. Women are very fond of talking, but the Holy Spirit
does not speak to a soul that is distracted and garrulous. He speaks by His
quiet inspirations to a soul that is recollected, to a soul that knows how to
keep silence. If silence were strictly observed, there would not be any
grumbling, bitterness, slandering, or gossip, and charity would not be
tarnished. In a word, many wrongs would not be done. Silent lips are pure gold
and bear witness to holiness within.
647 From this, I came to understand one thing: that I
must pray much for each of my confessors, that he might obtain the light of the
Holy Spirit, for when I approach the confessional without first praying,
fervently, the confessor does not understand me very well. Father encouraged me
to pray fervently for these intentions, that God would give better knowledge
and understanding of the things He is asking of me. "Make novena after
novena, Sister, and God will not refuse the graces."
June, 1936. Conversation with Father A. [Andrasz]
658 "Know that these are hard and difficult things. Your principal spiritual director is the Holy Spirit. We can only give direction to these inspirations, but your real director is the Holy Spirit. If you yourself have decided to leave, Sister, I neither prohibit nor order you to do so. You take the responsibility for yourself. I say this to you, Sister: you can begin to take action. You are capable of doing so, and therefore you can do so. These things are indeed probable; all you have told me up to now [before perpetual vows in Cracow in 1933] speaks in favor of taking action. Still, you have to be very careful in all this. Pray much and ask that I be given light."
658 "Know that these are hard and difficult things. Your principal spiritual director is the Holy Spirit. We can only give direction to these inspirations, but your real director is the Holy Spirit. If you yourself have decided to leave, Sister, I neither prohibit nor order you to do so. You take the responsibility for yourself. I say this to you, Sister: you can begin to take action. You are capable of doing so, and therefore you can do so. These things are indeed probable; all you have told me up to now [before perpetual vows in Cracow in 1933] speaks in favor of taking action. Still, you have to be very careful in all this. Pray much and ask that I be given light."
734 I see that Jesus himself is acting in my soul during
this retreat. And as for me, I try only to be faithful to His grace. I have
submitted my soul completely to the influence of God. This Mighty Ruler of
Heaven has taken entire possession of my soul. I feel that I am being lifted up
above earth and heaven into the inner life of God, where I come to know the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, but always in the unity of majesty.
777 November 27, [1936]. Today I was in heaven, in
spirit, and I saw its inconceivable beauties and the happiness that awaits us
after death. I saw how all creatures give ceaseless praise and glory to God. I
saw how great is happiness in God, which spreads to all creatures, making them
happy; and then all the glory and praise which springs from this happiness
returns to its source; and they enter into the depths of God, contemplating the
inner life of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, whom they will
never comprehend or fathom.
This source of happiness is unchanging in its essence, but it is always new, gushing forth happiness for all creatures. Now I understand Saint Paul, who said, "Eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him."
This source of happiness is unchanging in its essence, but it is always new, gushing forth happiness for all creatures. Now I understand Saint Paul, who said, "Eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him."
1073 April 4, 1937. Low Sunday; that is, the Feast of Mercy.
In the morning, after Holy Communion, my soul was immersed in the Godhead. I
was united to the Three Divine Persons in such a way that when I was united to
Jesus, I was simultaneously united to the Father and to the Holy Spirit. My
soul was flooded with joy beyond understanding, and the Lord gave me to
experience the whole ocean and abyss of His fathomless mercy. Oh, if only souls
would want to understand how much God loves them! All comparisons, even if they
were the most tender and the most vehement, are but a mere shadow when set
against the reality.
When I was united to the Lord, I came to know how many souls are glorifying God's mercy.
When I was united to the Lord, I came to know how many souls are glorifying God's mercy.
1106 + Virtue without prudence is not virtue at all. We
should often pray to the Holy Spirit for this grace of prudence. Prudence
consists in discretion, rational reflection and courageous resolution. The
final decision is always up to us. We must decide; we can and we ought to seek
advice and light...
1174 July 4, 1937. First Sunday of the month.
Monthly retreat.
This evening, I prepared with great care and prayed long to the Holy Spirit that He might deign to grant me His light and take me under His special guidance; [I prayed] also to Our Lady, to my Guardian Angel, and to our patron saints. [200]
Monthly retreat.
This evening, I prepared with great care and prayed long to the Holy Spirit that He might deign to grant me His light and take me under His special guidance; [I prayed] also to Our Lady, to my Guardian Angel, and to our patron saints. [200]
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-56, 148, 167, 170, 248,
291, 356, 359)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-392, 451, 472, 477-478,
486, 501 )
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-525-526, 552, 647, 658,
734, 777 )
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-III-1073, 1106, 1174)
http://www.saint-faustina.com/Diary/DMIMS10.shtml
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