The Good Samaritan
Monday of the 27th Week of Ordinary Time (October 08, 2012)
Luke 10: 25-37
Luke 10: 25-37
There was
a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I
do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law?
How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with
all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your
mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live.” But because he wished to justify himself, he said
to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to
robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him
and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.´ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers´ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Introductory Prayer: Oh God, You are love itself. I long to be filled with the faith to see Your love and to experience it more fully. Help me to overcome my own lack of love.
Petition: Make my heart charitable like yours.
1. “They stripped and beat him and went off, leaving him half dead”
Charity is the subject of Jesus’ parable about the Good Samaritan. He makes the parable very graphic to drive this point home. The pathetic sight of a victim of violence is an appeal to conscience to show compassion and mercy. So many people around us need our love. Sometimes the need is not urgent, but rather is a case of long-term commitment. Pope John Paul II has said many times, “Man cannot live without love”. Wherever authentic love is shown, God is present. We should ask the Lord to help us to allow more people to experience his presence through our charity.
2. The priest and the Levite pass him by
We are shocked at the apparent lack of compassion shown by these men. But should it be so surprising? The road to Jericho was dangerous—stopping to help on the side of that notorious road would be to make oneself vulnerable, to risk undergoing a similar fate. At times, charity can make us vulnerable, and we do not necessarily like that. Sometimes fear, rather than hardness of heart, is the cause of our lack of charity. Our help may be rejected, or go unthanked, we may not know exactly the right thing to do… This is where the Good Samaritan has to inspire us. Let’s try to put our fears and second thoughts aside so that we can be ambassadors of the love of God.
3. He poured oil and wine over his wounds
Christ is our Good Samaritan. The Church Fathers have seen in the oil and wine images of the Sacraments, the wonderful means of Christ’s mercy that bring us grace and heal our spiritual wounds. Every time we receive the Eucharist or go to confession, our Lord is healing our wounds, especially the self-inflicted ones of sin. Like the Good Samaritan, he will spare no expense to give us the healing that we need. Our efforts to correspond to the Lord’s love and kindness will bear much fruit when we heed his word at the end of this parable: “Go and do likewise.”
Conversation with Christ: Lord, like the Good Samaritan, You have come to my rescue. I thank You for loving me so much that You shouldered the wood of the cross to bring me to salvation. I will never forget how much You have done for me.
Resolution: I will perform a hidden act of charity for someone that I have a hard time getting along with.
A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.´ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers´ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Introductory Prayer: Oh God, You are love itself. I long to be filled with the faith to see Your love and to experience it more fully. Help me to overcome my own lack of love.
Petition: Make my heart charitable like yours.
1. “They stripped and beat him and went off, leaving him half dead”
Charity is the subject of Jesus’ parable about the Good Samaritan. He makes the parable very graphic to drive this point home. The pathetic sight of a victim of violence is an appeal to conscience to show compassion and mercy. So many people around us need our love. Sometimes the need is not urgent, but rather is a case of long-term commitment. Pope John Paul II has said many times, “Man cannot live without love”. Wherever authentic love is shown, God is present. We should ask the Lord to help us to allow more people to experience his presence through our charity.
2. The priest and the Levite pass him by
We are shocked at the apparent lack of compassion shown by these men. But should it be so surprising? The road to Jericho was dangerous—stopping to help on the side of that notorious road would be to make oneself vulnerable, to risk undergoing a similar fate. At times, charity can make us vulnerable, and we do not necessarily like that. Sometimes fear, rather than hardness of heart, is the cause of our lack of charity. Our help may be rejected, or go unthanked, we may not know exactly the right thing to do… This is where the Good Samaritan has to inspire us. Let’s try to put our fears and second thoughts aside so that we can be ambassadors of the love of God.
3. He poured oil and wine over his wounds
Christ is our Good Samaritan. The Church Fathers have seen in the oil and wine images of the Sacraments, the wonderful means of Christ’s mercy that bring us grace and heal our spiritual wounds. Every time we receive the Eucharist or go to confession, our Lord is healing our wounds, especially the self-inflicted ones of sin. Like the Good Samaritan, he will spare no expense to give us the healing that we need. Our efforts to correspond to the Lord’s love and kindness will bear much fruit when we heed his word at the end of this parable: “Go and do likewise.”
Conversation with Christ: Lord, like the Good Samaritan, You have come to my rescue. I thank You for loving me so much that You shouldered the wood of the cross to bring me to salvation. I will never forget how much You have done for me.
Resolution: I will perform a hidden act of charity for someone that I have a hard time getting along with.
Excerpts from the
DIARY of Saint Faustina Kowalska
140 Pure love is capable of great
deeds, and it is not broken by difficulty or adversity. As it remains strong in
the midst of great difficulties, so too it perseveres in the toilsome and drab
life of each day. It knows that only one thing is needed to please God: to do
even the smallest things out of great love-love, and always love.
Pure love never errs. Its light is strangely plentiful. It will not do anything that might displease God. It is ingenious at doing what is more pleasing to God, and no one will equal it. It is happy when it can empty itself and burn like a pure offering. The more it gives of itself, the happier it is. But also, no one can sense dangers from afar as can love; it knows how to unmask and also knows with whom it has to deal.
Pure love never errs. Its light is strangely plentiful. It will not do anything that might displease God. It is ingenious at doing what is more pleasing to God, and no one will equal it. It is happy when it can empty itself and burn like a pure offering. The more it gives of itself, the happier it is. But also, no one can sense dangers from afar as can love; it knows how to unmask and also knows with whom it has to deal.
163 JMJ The Year 1937
General Exercises
+O Most Holy Trinity! As
many times as I breathe, as many times as my heart beats, as many times as my
blood pulsates through my body, so many thousand times do I want to glorify
Your mercy.
+I want to be completely
transformed into Your mercy and to be Your living reflection, O Lord. May the
greatest of all divine attributes, that of Your unfathomable mercy, pass
through my heart and soul to my neighbor.
Help me, O Lord, that my
eyes may be merciful, so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances,
but look for what is beautiful in my neighbors' souls and come to their rescue.
Help me, that my ears may
be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbors' needs and not be
indifferent to their pains and moanings. Help me, O Lord, that my tongue may be
merciful, so that I should never speak negatively of my neighbor, but have a
word of comfort and forgiveness for all.
Help me, O Lord, that my
hands may be merciful and filled with good deeds, so that I may do only good to
my neighbors and take upon myself the more difficult and toilsome tasks.
Help me, that my feet may
be merciful, so that I may hurry to assist my neighbor, overcoming my own
fatigue and weariness. My true rest is in the service of my neighbor.
Help me, O Lord, that my
heart may be merciful so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my
neighbor. I will refuse my heart to no one. I will be sincere even with those
who, I know, will abuse my kindness. And I will lock myself up in the most merciful
Heart of Jesus. I will bear my own suffering in silence. May Your mercy, O
Lord, rest upon me.
+You yourself command me
to exercise the three degrees of mercy. The first: the act of mercy, of
whatever kind. The second: the word of mercy-if I cannot carry out a work of
mercy, I will assist by my words. The third: prayer-if I cannot show mercy by
deeds or words, I can always do so by prayer. My prayer reaches out even there
where
I cannot reach out physically.
O my Jesus, transform me
into Yourself, for you can do all things.
180 +During Advent, a great yearning
for God arose in my soul. My spirit rushed toward God with all its might.
During that time, the Lord gave me much light to know His attributes.
The first attribute which the Lord gave me to know is His holiness. His holiness is so great that all the Powers and Virtues tremble before Him. The pure spirits veil their faces and lose themselves in unending adoration, and with one single word they express the highest form of adoration; that is-Holy... The holiness of God is poured out upon the Church of God and upon every living soul in it, but not in the same degree. There are souls who are completely penetrated by God, and there are those who are barely alive.
The second kind of knowledge which the Lord granted me concerns His justice. His justice is so great and penetrating that it reaches deep into the heart of things, and all things stand before Him in naked truth, and nothing can withstand Him.
The third attribute is love and mercy. And I understood that the greatest attribute is love and mercy. It unites the creature with the Creator. This immense love and abyss of mercy are made known in the Incarnation of the Word and in the Redemption [of humanity], and it is here that I saw this as the greatest of all God's attributes.
The first attribute which the Lord gave me to know is His holiness. His holiness is so great that all the Powers and Virtues tremble before Him. The pure spirits veil their faces and lose themselves in unending adoration, and with one single word they express the highest form of adoration; that is-Holy... The holiness of God is poured out upon the Church of God and upon every living soul in it, but not in the same degree. There are souls who are completely penetrated by God, and there are those who are barely alive.
The second kind of knowledge which the Lord granted me concerns His justice. His justice is so great and penetrating that it reaches deep into the heart of things, and all things stand before Him in naked truth, and nothing can withstand Him.
The third attribute is love and mercy. And I understood that the greatest attribute is love and mercy. It unites the creature with the Creator. This immense love and abyss of mercy are made known in the Incarnation of the Word and in the Redemption [of humanity], and it is here that I saw this as the greatest of all God's attributes.
186 +Today Jesus said to me, I
desire that you know more profoundly the love that burns in My Heart for souls,
and you will understand this when you meditate upon My Passion. Call upon My
mercy on behalf of sinners; I desire their salvation. When you say this prayer,
with a contrite heart and with faith on behalf of some sinner, I will give him
the grace of conversion. This is the prayer:
187 "O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You."
187 "O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You."
201 I want to hide myself so that no
creature might know my heart. Jesus, You alone know my heart and possess it
whole and entire. No one knows our secret. We understand each other mutually
with one look. From the moment we came to know each other I have been happy.
Your greatness is my fullness. O Jesus, when I am in the last place, lower than
the postulants, even the youngest of them, then I feel that I am in my proper
place. I did not know that the Lord had put so much happiness in these drab
little corners. Now I understand that even in prison there can burst forth from
a pure heart the fullness of love for You, O Lord! External things mean nothing
to pure love; it cuts through them all. Neither prison doors nor the gates of
heaven are strong enough to stop it. It reaches God himself, and nothing can
quench it. It knows no obstacles; it is free like a queen and has free access
to all places. Death itself must bow its head before it....
285
1934. Once, when I returned to my cell, I was so tired that I had to
rest a moment before I started to undress, and when I was already undressed,
one of the sisters asked me to fetch her some hot water. Although I was tired,
I dressed quickly and brought her the water she wanted, even though it was
quite a long walk from the cell to the kitchen, and the mud was ankle-deep.
When I re-entered my cell, I saw the ciborium with the Blessed Sacrament, and I
heard this voice, Take this ciborium and bring it to the tabernacle. I
hesitated at first, but when I approached and touched it, I heard these words,
Approach each of the sisters with the same love with which you approach Me; and
whatever you do for them, you do it for Me. A moment later, I saw that I
was alone.
292 +When a soul loves God
sincerely, it ought not fear anything in the spiritual life. Let it subject
itself to the action of grace, and let it not impose any restraints on itself
in communing with the Lord.
293 +When Jesus ravished me by His beauty and drew me to Himself, I then saw what in my soul was displeasing to Him and made up my mind to remove it, cost what it may; and aided by the grace of God I did remove it at once. This magnanimity pleased the Lord, and from that moment God started granting me higher graces. In my interior life I never reason; I do not analyze the ways in which God's Spirit leads me. It is enough for me to know that I am loved and that I love. Pure love enables me to know God and understand many mysteries. My confessor is an oracle for me. His word is sacred to me-I am speaking about the spiritual director [Father Sopocko].
293 +When Jesus ravished me by His beauty and drew me to Himself, I then saw what in my soul was displeasing to Him and made up my mind to remove it, cost what it may; and aided by the grace of God I did remove it at once. This magnanimity pleased the Lord, and from that moment God started granting me higher graces. In my interior life I never reason; I do not analyze the ways in which God's Spirit leads me. It is enough for me to know that I am loved and that I love. Pure love enables me to know God and understand many mysteries. My confessor is an oracle for me. His word is sacred to me-I am speaking about the spiritual director [Father Sopocko].
303 Great love can change small
things into great ones, and it is only love which lends value to our actions.
And the purer our love becomes, the less there will be within us for the flames
of suffering to feed upon, and the suffering will cease to be a suffering for
us; it will become a delight! By the grace of God, I have received such a
disposition of heart that I am never so happy as when I suffer for Jesus, whom
I love with every beat of my heart.
Once when I was suffering greatly, I left my work and escaped to Jesus and asked Him to give me His strength. After a very short prayer I returned to my work filled with enthusiasm and joy. Then, one of the sisters [probably Sister Justine] said to me, "You must have many consolations today, Sister; you look so radiant. Surely, God is giving you no suffering, but only consolations." "You are greatly mistaken, Sister," I answered, "for it is precisely when I suffer much that my joy is greater; and when I suffer less, my joy also is less." However, that soul was letting me recognize that she does not understand what I was saying. I tried to explain to her that when we suffer much we have a great chance to show God that we love Him; but when we suffer little we have less occasion to show God our love; and when we do not suffer at all, our love is then neither great nor pure. By the grace of God, we can attain a point where suffering will become a delight to us, for love can work such things in pure souls.
Once when I was suffering greatly, I left my work and escaped to Jesus and asked Him to give me His strength. After a very short prayer I returned to my work filled with enthusiasm and joy. Then, one of the sisters [probably Sister Justine] said to me, "You must have many consolations today, Sister; you look so radiant. Surely, God is giving you no suffering, but only consolations." "You are greatly mistaken, Sister," I answered, "for it is precisely when I suffer much that my joy is greater; and when I suffer less, my joy also is less." However, that soul was letting me recognize that she does not understand what I was saying. I tried to explain to her that when we suffer much we have a great chance to show God that we love Him; but when we suffer little we have less occasion to show God our love; and when we do not suffer at all, our love is then neither great nor pure. By the grace of God, we can attain a point where suffering will become a delight to us, for love can work such things in pure souls.
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.
1190 + Jesus. -From all My
wounds, like from streams, mercy flows for souls, but the wound in My Heart is
the fountain of unfathomable mercy. From this fountain spring all graces for
souls. The flames of compassion burn Me. I desire greatly to pour them out upon
souls. Speak to the whole world about My mercy.
1191As long as we live, the love of God grows in us. Until we die, we ought to strive for the love of God. I have learned and experienced that souls living in love are distinguished in this: that they are greatly enlightened concerning the things of God, both in their own souls and in the souls of others. And simple souls, without an education, are outstanding for their knowledge.
1191As long as we live, the love of God grows in us. Until we die, we ought to strive for the love of God. I have learned and experienced that souls living in love are distinguished in this: that they are greatly enlightened concerning the things of God, both in their own souls and in the souls of others. And simple souls, without an education, are outstanding for their knowledge.
1447 +Oh, how painful it is to Me
that souls so seldom unite themselves to Me in Holy Communion. I wait for
souls, and they are indifferent toward Me. I love them tenderly and sincerely,
and they distrust Me. I want to lavish My graces on them, and they do not want
to accept them. They treat Me as a dead object, whereas My Heart is full of
love and mercy. In order that you may know at least some of My pain, imagine
the most tender of mothers who has great love for her children, while those
children spurn her love. Consider her pain. No one is in a position to console
her. This is but a feeble image and likeness of My love.
1448 Write, speak of My mercy. Tell souls where they are to look for solace; that is, in the Tribunal of Mercy [the Sacrament of Reconciliation]. There the greatest miracles take place [and] are incessantly repeated. To avail oneself of this miracle, it is not necessary to go on a great pilgrimage or to carry out some external ceremony; it suffices to come with faith to the feet of My representative and to reveal to him one's misery, and the miracle of Divine Mercy will be fully demonstrated. Were a soul like a decaying corpse so that from a human standpoint, there would be no [hope of] restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full. Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God's mercy! You will call out in vain, but it will be too late.
1448 Write, speak of My mercy. Tell souls where they are to look for solace; that is, in the Tribunal of Mercy [the Sacrament of Reconciliation]. There the greatest miracles take place [and] are incessantly repeated. To avail oneself of this miracle, it is not necessary to go on a great pilgrimage or to carry out some external ceremony; it suffices to come with faith to the feet of My representative and to reveal to him one's misery, and the miracle of Divine Mercy will be fully demonstrated. Were a soul like a decaying corpse so that from a human standpoint, there would be no [hope of] restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full. Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God's mercy! You will call out in vain, but it will be too late.
1489 Conversation of the Merciful
God with a Perfect Soul.
Soul: My Lord and Master, I desire to converse with You.
Jesus: Speak, My beloved child, for I am always listening. I wait for you. What do you desire to say?
Soul: Lord, first let me pour out my heart at Your feet in a fragrant anointing of gratitude for the many blessings which You lavish upon me; even if I wanted to, I could not count them. I only recall that there has never been a moment in my life in which I have not experienced Your protection and goodness.
Jesus: Your words please Me, and your thanksgiving opens up new treasures of graces. But, My child, we should talk in more detail about the things that lie in your heart. Let us talk confidentially and frankly, as two hearts that love one another do.
Soul: O my merciful Lord, there are secrets in my heart which no one knows or will ever know except You because, even if I wanted to reveal them, no one would understand me. Your minister knows some because I confess to him, but he knows only the bit of these mysteries that I am capable of revealing; the rest remains between us for eternity, O My Lord! You have covered me with the cloak of Your mercy, pardoning my sins. Not once did You refuse Your pardon; You always had pity on me, giving me a new life of grace. To prevent doubts, You have entrusted me to the loving care of Your Church, that tender mother, who in Your name assures me of the truths of faith and watches lest I wander. Especially in the tribunal of Your mercy does my soul meet an ocean of favors, though You did not give the Fallen Angels time to repent or prolong their time of mercy. O my Lord, you have provided saintly priests to show me the sure way. Jesus, there is one more secret in my life, the deepest and dearest to my heart: it is You yourself when You come to my heart under the appearance of bread. Herein lies the whole secret of my sanctity. Here my heart is so united with Yours as to be but one. There are no more secrets, because all that is Yours is mine, and all that is mine is Yours. Such is the omnipotence and the miracle of Your mercy. All the tongues of men and of angels united could not find words adequate to this mystery of Your love and mercy.
When I contemplate this mystery, my heart falls into a new ecstasy. In silence I tell You everything, Lord, because the language of love is without words; not a single stirring of my heart escapes You. O Lord, the extent of Your great condescension has awakened in my soul an even greater love for You, the sole object of my love. The life of union manifests itself in perfect purity, deep humility, gentle silence, and great zeal for the salvation of souls.
O my sweetest Lord, You watch over me each moment and inspire me as to how I should act in a precise situation, when my heart wavers between two things. You yourself frequently intervened in the resolution of a difficulty. Countless times, by means of a sudden enlightenment, You have given me to know what is the more pleasing to You.
Oh, how numerous are the instances of forgiveness about which no one knows! How often You have poured into my soul courage and perseverance to go forward. It is You yourself who removed obstacles from my road, intervening directly in the actions of people. O Jesus, everything I have said to You is but a pale shadow of what is taking place in my heart. O my Jesus, how ardently I desire the conversion of sinners! You know what I am doing for them to win them for You. Every offense against You wounds me deeply. I spare neither strength, nor health, nor life itself in defense of Your kingdom. Although my efforts may remain invisible on earth, they are no less valuable in Your eyes.
O Jesus, I want to bring souls to the fount of Your mercy to draw the reviving water of life with the vessel of trust. The soul desirous of more of God's mercy should approach God with greater trust; and if her trust in God is unlimited, then the mercy of God toward it will be likewise limitless. O my God, Who know every beat of my heart, You know how eagerly I desire that all hearts would beat for You alone, that every soul glorify the greatness of Your mercy.
Jesus: My beloved child, delight of My Heart, your words are dearer and more pleasing to me than the angelic chorus. All the treasures of My Heart are open to you. Take from this Heart all that you need for yourself and for the whole world. For the sake of your love, I withhold the just chastisements, which mankind has deserved. A single act of pure love pleases Me more than a thousand imperfect prayers. One of your sighs of love atones for many offenses with which the godless overwhelm Me. The smallest act of virtue has unlimited value in My eyes because of your great love for Me. In a soul that lives on My love alone, I reign as in heaven. I watch over it day and night. In it I find My happiness; My ear is attentive to each request of its heart; often I anticipate its requests. O child, especially beloved by Me, apple of My eye, rest a moment near My Heart and taste of the love in which you will delight for all eternity.
But child, you are not yet in your homeland; so go, fortified by My grace, and fight for My kingdom in human souls; fight as a king's child would; and remember that the days of your exile will pass quickly, and with them the possibility of earning merit for heaven. I expect from you, My child, a great number of souls who will glorify My mercy for all eternity. My child, that you may answer My call worthily, receive Me daily in Holy Communion. It will give you strength...
Jesus, do not leave me alone in suffering. You know, Lord, how weak I am. I am an abyss of wretchedness, I am nothingness itself; so what will be so strange if You leave me alone and I fall? I am an infant, Lord, so I cannot get along by myself. However, beyond all abandonment I trust, and in spite of my own feeling I trust, and I am being completely transformed into trust-often in spite of what I feel. Do not lessen any of my sufferings, only give me strength to bear them. Do with me as You please, Lord, only give me the grace to be able to love You in every event and circumstance. Lord, do not lessen my cup of bitterness, only give me strength that I may be able to drink it all.
O Lord, sometimes You lift me up to the brightness of visions, and then again You plunge me into the darkness of night and the abyss of my nothingness, and my soul feels as if it were alone in the wilderness. Yet, above all things, I trust in You, Jesus, for You are unchangeable. My moods change, but You are always the same, full of mercy.
Soul: My Lord and Master, I desire to converse with You.
Jesus: Speak, My beloved child, for I am always listening. I wait for you. What do you desire to say?
Soul: Lord, first let me pour out my heart at Your feet in a fragrant anointing of gratitude for the many blessings which You lavish upon me; even if I wanted to, I could not count them. I only recall that there has never been a moment in my life in which I have not experienced Your protection and goodness.
Jesus: Your words please Me, and your thanksgiving opens up new treasures of graces. But, My child, we should talk in more detail about the things that lie in your heart. Let us talk confidentially and frankly, as two hearts that love one another do.
Soul: O my merciful Lord, there are secrets in my heart which no one knows or will ever know except You because, even if I wanted to reveal them, no one would understand me. Your minister knows some because I confess to him, but he knows only the bit of these mysteries that I am capable of revealing; the rest remains between us for eternity, O My Lord! You have covered me with the cloak of Your mercy, pardoning my sins. Not once did You refuse Your pardon; You always had pity on me, giving me a new life of grace. To prevent doubts, You have entrusted me to the loving care of Your Church, that tender mother, who in Your name assures me of the truths of faith and watches lest I wander. Especially in the tribunal of Your mercy does my soul meet an ocean of favors, though You did not give the Fallen Angels time to repent or prolong their time of mercy. O my Lord, you have provided saintly priests to show me the sure way. Jesus, there is one more secret in my life, the deepest and dearest to my heart: it is You yourself when You come to my heart under the appearance of bread. Herein lies the whole secret of my sanctity. Here my heart is so united with Yours as to be but one. There are no more secrets, because all that is Yours is mine, and all that is mine is Yours. Such is the omnipotence and the miracle of Your mercy. All the tongues of men and of angels united could not find words adequate to this mystery of Your love and mercy.
When I contemplate this mystery, my heart falls into a new ecstasy. In silence I tell You everything, Lord, because the language of love is without words; not a single stirring of my heart escapes You. O Lord, the extent of Your great condescension has awakened in my soul an even greater love for You, the sole object of my love. The life of union manifests itself in perfect purity, deep humility, gentle silence, and great zeal for the salvation of souls.
O my sweetest Lord, You watch over me each moment and inspire me as to how I should act in a precise situation, when my heart wavers between two things. You yourself frequently intervened in the resolution of a difficulty. Countless times, by means of a sudden enlightenment, You have given me to know what is the more pleasing to You.
Oh, how numerous are the instances of forgiveness about which no one knows! How often You have poured into my soul courage and perseverance to go forward. It is You yourself who removed obstacles from my road, intervening directly in the actions of people. O Jesus, everything I have said to You is but a pale shadow of what is taking place in my heart. O my Jesus, how ardently I desire the conversion of sinners! You know what I am doing for them to win them for You. Every offense against You wounds me deeply. I spare neither strength, nor health, nor life itself in defense of Your kingdom. Although my efforts may remain invisible on earth, they are no less valuable in Your eyes.
O Jesus, I want to bring souls to the fount of Your mercy to draw the reviving water of life with the vessel of trust. The soul desirous of more of God's mercy should approach God with greater trust; and if her trust in God is unlimited, then the mercy of God toward it will be likewise limitless. O my God, Who know every beat of my heart, You know how eagerly I desire that all hearts would beat for You alone, that every soul glorify the greatness of Your mercy.
Jesus: My beloved child, delight of My Heart, your words are dearer and more pleasing to me than the angelic chorus. All the treasures of My Heart are open to you. Take from this Heart all that you need for yourself and for the whole world. For the sake of your love, I withhold the just chastisements, which mankind has deserved. A single act of pure love pleases Me more than a thousand imperfect prayers. One of your sighs of love atones for many offenses with which the godless overwhelm Me. The smallest act of virtue has unlimited value in My eyes because of your great love for Me. In a soul that lives on My love alone, I reign as in heaven. I watch over it day and night. In it I find My happiness; My ear is attentive to each request of its heart; often I anticipate its requests. O child, especially beloved by Me, apple of My eye, rest a moment near My Heart and taste of the love in which you will delight for all eternity.
But child, you are not yet in your homeland; so go, fortified by My grace, and fight for My kingdom in human souls; fight as a king's child would; and remember that the days of your exile will pass quickly, and with them the possibility of earning merit for heaven. I expect from you, My child, a great number of souls who will glorify My mercy for all eternity. My child, that you may answer My call worthily, receive Me daily in Holy Communion. It will give you strength...
Jesus, do not leave me alone in suffering. You know, Lord, how weak I am. I am an abyss of wretchedness, I am nothingness itself; so what will be so strange if You leave me alone and I fall? I am an infant, Lord, so I cannot get along by myself. However, beyond all abandonment I trust, and in spite of my own feeling I trust, and I am being completely transformed into trust-often in spite of what I feel. Do not lessen any of my sufferings, only give me strength to bear them. Do with me as You please, Lord, only give me the grace to be able to love You in every event and circumstance. Lord, do not lessen my cup of bitterness, only give me strength that I may be able to drink it all.
O Lord, sometimes You lift me up to the brightness of visions, and then again You plunge me into the darkness of night and the abyss of my nothingness, and my soul feels as if it were alone in the wilderness. Yet, above all things, I trust in You, Jesus, for You are unchangeable. My moods change, but You are always the same, full of mercy.
1643 Listen, My daughter,
although all the works that come into being by My will are exposed to great
sufferings, consider whether any of them has been subject to greater
difficulties than that work which is directly Mine-the work of Redemption. You
should not worry too much about adversities. The world is not as powerful as it
seems to be; its strength is strictly limited. Know, My daughter, that if your
soul is filled with the fire of My pure love, then all difficulties dissipate
like fog before the sun's rays and dare not touch the soul. All adversaries are
afraid to start a quarrel with such a soul, because they sense that it is
stronger than the whole world...
1644 My daughter, do as much for this work of mercy as obedience allows, but present clearly to your confessor the very least of My demands, and he will decide. You must not shirk in any way, but carry out everything faithfully; otherwise, I would find no pleasure in you...
1644 My daughter, do as much for this work of mercy as obedience allows, but present clearly to your confessor the very least of My demands, and he will decide. You must not shirk in any way, but carry out everything faithfully; otherwise, I would find no pleasure in you...
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-140, 163, 180, 186-187, 201)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-285, 292-293, 303)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-552)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-III-1190-1191)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-V-1447-1448, 1489)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-VI-1643-1644, 1896)
http://www.regnumchristi.org/english/articulos/semanal.phtml?se=363&ca=975&te=866
http://www.saint-faustina.com/Diary/DMIMS10.shtml
Hi Every one. I saw the art work above. I am starting up ngo in africa basically Tanzania. And my why write this to you is may i use the art?
TumugonBurahin