Where Mercy Reigns
Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Matthew
9:9-13
As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at
the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and
followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and
sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and
said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and
sinners?" He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a
physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ´I desire
mercy, not sacrifice.´ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I come to You in this meditation ready to do whatever it is You
ask. Left to myself I often take the easy and convenient path, yet I know the
way of a Christian is through the narrow gate. In You I find the reason to
abandon the easy path for a more perfect mission of love. I’m ready to learn
the meaning of Your command: “Follow me.”
Petition: Lord, grant me the grace of a humble and contrite heart.
1. "Why Does Your Teacher Eat with Tax
Collectors and Sinners?" The Pharisees want to keep their
status secure. In their eyes, religion is not a quest for truth, but a way to tranquilize
their conscience under the guise of a law which makes few demands on them. They
are unwilling to break away from the “baby food” that is the old law and chew
on the “steak” of real holiness. It is easy to return back to “baby food” and
to remember the times when God was asking less , in order to keep a false sense
of peace . Such a manner is never enough, though, for an honest man of God ,
who learns every day to face the brutal facts of who he really is before God –
that God expects much from him, and that the Lord’s grace will empower him to
deliver. I must seek out the areas of routine where I have justified myself in
giving less than what Christ is really asking.
2. “I Did Not Come to Call the Righteous but Sinners." How does God pick which souls to approach with his consoling presence? “Through the abundance of your mercy, O God our Savior, you appeared to sinners and tax collectors. Where else was your light to shine if not upon those who were sitting in darkness? Glory be to you!” (Iraeneus, Anthologion, 1:1390). Christ is attracted to those to whom his grace will mean something, those in whom there is fertile ground for a response to his invitation to holiness. No abundance of religious achievement or spiritual knowledge will catch his attention, but put in front of him a contrite soul ready to abandon himself to his grace, and there he is.
2. “I Did Not Come to Call the Righteous but Sinners." How does God pick which souls to approach with his consoling presence? “Through the abundance of your mercy, O God our Savior, you appeared to sinners and tax collectors. Where else was your light to shine if not upon those who were sitting in darkness? Glory be to you!” (Iraeneus, Anthologion, 1:1390). Christ is attracted to those to whom his grace will mean something, those in whom there is fertile ground for a response to his invitation to holiness. No abundance of religious achievement or spiritual knowledge will catch his attention, but put in front of him a contrite soul ready to abandon himself to his grace, and there he is.
3. “Those Who Are Well Do Not Need a Physician,
But the Sick Do.”
A posture of humility helps us to never take God’s mercy for granted.
One day Brother Elias found St . Francis crying over how terrible a sinner he
was. Surprised, Br. Elias asked how he could think such a thing. Francis
therein recalled all the graces he had received, and reflected that if any
other man had received them they would have been a far greater man than he
(Crowley, A Day With the Lord, p.146). Such are the saints – never
satisfied with themselves, always in need of God and his mercy. All that Christ
needs to make me a saint is that I have a heart ready to change and be ready to
base myself on his grace and less on my formulas for success.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I ask you to receive me in all my weakness, so that I may more
confidently base my future growth on your grace and mercy. Let me enter heaven,
as St. Theresa of the Child Jesus wished, “with my hands empty.” All glory and
victory is yours alone. Thank you for choosing me, out of love for me.
Resolution: I will set a time
and place for confession this week, that I may honor God’s mercy and show with
my fervor what it means for me to be his chosen one.
Excerpts from the
DIARY of Saint Faustina Kowalska
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."
206 The next day, after
Communion, I heard the voice saying, My daughter, look into the abyss of My
mercy and give praise and glory to this mercy of Mine. Do it in this way:
Gather all sinners from the entire world and immerse them in the abyss of My
mercy. I want to give Myself to souls; I yearn for souls, My daughter. On the
day of My feast, the Feast of Mercy, you will go through the whole world and
bring fainting souls to the spring of My mercy. I shall heal and strengthen
them.
280 Jesus commanded me to
celebrate the Feast of God's Mercy on the first Sunday after Easter. [This I
did] through interior recollection and exterior mortification, wearing the belt
for three hours and praying continuously for sinners and for mercy on the whole
world. And Jesus said to me, My eyes rest with pleasure upon this house
today.
308 1934, Holy Thursday. Jesus
said to me, I desire that you make an offering of yourself for sinners and
especially far those souls who have lost hope in God's mercy.
God and Souls. An Act of Oblation.
309 Before heaven and earth, before all the choirs of Angels, before the Most Holy Virgin Mary, before all the Powers of heaven, I declare to the One Triune God that today, in union with Jesus Christ, Redeemer of souls, I make a voluntary offering of myself for the conversion of sinners, especially for those souls who have lost hope in God's mercy. This offering consists in my accepting, with total subjection to God's will, all the sufferings, fears and terrors with which sinners are filled. In return, I give them all the consolations which my soul receives from my communion with God. In a word, I offer everything for them: Holy Masses, Holy Communions, penances, mortifications, prayers. I do not fear the blows, blows of divine justice, because I am united with Jesus. O my God, in this way I want to make amends to You for the souls that do not trust in Your goodness. I hope against all hope in the ocean of Your mercy. My Lord and my God, my portion-my portion forever, I do not base this act of oblation on my own strength, but on the strength that flows from the merits of Jesus Christ. I will daily repeat this act of self-oblation by pronouncing the following prayer which You yourself have taught me, Jesus:
"O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You!"
God and Souls. An Act of Oblation.
309 Before heaven and earth, before all the choirs of Angels, before the Most Holy Virgin Mary, before all the Powers of heaven, I declare to the One Triune God that today, in union with Jesus Christ, Redeemer of souls, I make a voluntary offering of myself for the conversion of sinners, especially for those souls who have lost hope in God's mercy. This offering consists in my accepting, with total subjection to God's will, all the sufferings, fears and terrors with which sinners are filled. In return, I give them all the consolations which my soul receives from my communion with God. In a word, I offer everything for them: Holy Masses, Holy Communions, penances, mortifications, prayers. I do not fear the blows, blows of divine justice, because I am united with Jesus. O my God, in this way I want to make amends to You for the souls that do not trust in Your goodness. I hope against all hope in the ocean of Your mercy. My Lord and my God, my portion-my portion forever, I do not base this act of oblation on my own strength, but on the strength that flows from the merits of Jesus Christ. I will daily repeat this act of self-oblation by pronouncing the following prayer which You yourself have taught me, Jesus:
"O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You!"
319 August 9, 1934. Night
adoration on Thursdays.[79]
I made my hour of adoration from eleven o'clock till midnight. I offered it for
the conversion of hardened sinners, especially for those who have lost hope in
God's mercy. I was reflecting on how much God had suffered and on how great was
the love He had shown for us, and on the fact that we still do not believe that
God loves us so much. O Jesus, who can understand this? What suffering it is
for our Savior! How can He convince us of His love if even His death cannot
convince us? I called upon the whole of heaven to join me in making amends to
the Lord for the ingratitude of certain souls.
320 Jesus made known to me how
very pleasing to Him were prayers of atonement. He said to me, The prayer of
a humble and loving soul disarms the anger of My Father and draws down an ocean
of blessings. After the adoration, half way to my cell, I was surrounded by
a , pack of huge black dogs who were jumping and howling and trying to tear me
to pieces. I realized that they were not dogs, but demons. One of them spoke up
in a rage, "Because you have snatched so many souls away from us this
night, we will tear you to pieces." I answered, "If that is the will
of the most merciful God, tear me to pieces, for I have justly deserved it,
because I am the most miserable of all sinners, and God is ever holy, just, and
infinitely merciful." To these words all the demons answered as one,
"Let us flee, for she is not alone; the Almighty is with her!" And
they vanished like dust, like the noise of the road, while I continued on my
way to my cell undisturbed, finishing my Te Deum and pondering the infinite and
unfathomable mercy of God.
324 The next day, I felt very
weak, but experienced no further suffering. After Holy Communion, I saw the
Lord Jesus just as I had seen Him during one adoration. The Lord's gaze pierced
my soul through and through, and not even the least speck of dust escaped His
notice. And I said to Jesus, "Jesus, I thought You were going to take me.
"And Jesus answered, My will has not yet been fully accomplished in
you; you will still remain on earth, but not for long. I am well pleased with
your trust, but your love should be more ardent. Pure love gives the soul
strength at the very moment of dying. When I was dying on the cross, I was not
thinking about Myself, but about poor sinners, and I prayed for them to My
Father. I want your last moments to be completely similar to Mine on the cross.
There is but one price at which souls are bought, and that is suffering united
to My suffering on the cross. Pure love understands these words; carnal love
will never understand them.
349 In the morning, during
meditation, I felt a painful thorn in the left side of my head. The suffering
continued all day. I meditated continually about how Jesus had been able to
endure the pain of so many thorns which made up His crown. I joined my
suffering to the sufferings of Jesus and offered it for sinners. At four
o'clock when I came for adoration, I saw one of our wards offending God greatly
by sins of impure thoughts. I also saw a certain person who was the cause of
her sin. My soul was pierced with fear, and I asked God, for the sake of Jesus'
pain, to snatch her from this terrible misery.
350 Jesus answered that He would
grant her that favor, not for her sake, but for the sake of my request. Now I
understood how much we ought to pray for sinners, and especially for our wards.
Our life is truly apostolic; I cannot imagine a religious living in one of our houses; that is, in our Community, and not having an apostolic spirit. Zeal for the salvation of souls should burn in our hearts.
Our life is truly apostolic; I cannot imagine a religious living in one of our houses; that is, in our Community, and not having an apostolic spirit. Zeal for the salvation of souls should burn in our hearts.
355 1934-1935. New Year's Eve. I
was given permission not to go to sleep, but rather pray in the chapel. One of
the sisters had asked me to offer an hour of adoration for her. I said yes, and
prayed for her for an hour. During the hour, God gave me to understand how very
pleasing this soul was to Him.
I offered the second hour of adoration for the conversion of sinners, and I tried especially to offer expiation to God for the insults that were being committed against Him at this present moment. How greatly God is being offended!
I offered the third hour for my spiritual director. I fervently prayed for light for him in a particular matter. Finally the clock struck twelve, the last hour of the year. I finished it in the Name of the Holy Trinity, and I also started the first hour of the New Year in the Name of the Holy Trinity. I asked each of the Three Persons to bless me and, with great confidence, looked toward the New Year which certainly would not be sparing of suffering.
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.
I offered the second hour of adoration for the conversion of sinners, and I tried especially to offer expiation to God for the insults that were being committed against Him at this present moment. How greatly God is being offended!
I offered the third hour for my spiritual director. I fervently prayed for light for him in a particular matter. Finally the clock struck twelve, the last hour of the year. I finished it in the Name of the Holy Trinity, and I also started the first hour of the New Year in the Name of the Holy Trinity. I asked each of the Three Persons to bless me and, with great confidence, looked toward the New Year which certainly would not be sparing of suffering.
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.
Holy Trinity, One God,
361 incomprehensible in the greatness of Your mercy for creatures, and especially for poor sinners, You have made known the abyss of Your mercy, incomprehensible and unfathomable [as it is] to any mind, whether of man or angel. Our nothingness and our misery are drowned in Your greatness. O infinite goodness, who can ever praise You sufficiently? Can there be found a soul that understands You in Your love? O Jesus, there are such souls, but they are few.
361 incomprehensible in the greatness of Your mercy for creatures, and especially for poor sinners, You have made known the abyss of Your mercy, incomprehensible and unfathomable [as it is] to any mind, whether of man or angel. Our nothingness and our misery are drowned in Your greatness. O infinite goodness, who can ever praise You sufficiently? Can there be found a soul that understands You in Your love? O Jesus, there are such souls, but they are few.
367 +On one occasion, Jesus gave
me to know that when I pray for intentions which people are wont to entrust to
me, He is always ready to grant His graces, but souls do not always want to
accept them: My Heart overflows with great mercy for souls, and especially
for poor sinners. If only they could understand that I am the best of Fathers
to them and that it is for them that the Blood and Water flowed from My Heart
as from a fount overflowing with mercy. For them I dwell in the tabernacle as
King of Mercy. I desire to bestow My graces upon souls, but they do not want to
accept them. You, at least, come to Me as often as possible and take these
graces they do not want to accept. In this way you will console My Heart. Oh,
how indifferent are souls to so much goodness, to so many proofs of love! My
Heart drinks only of the ingratitude and forgetfulness of souls living in the
world. They have time for everything, but they have no time to come to Me for
graces.
So I turn to you, you-chosen souls, will you also fail to understand the love of My Heart? Here, too, My Heart finds disappointment; I do not find complete surrender to My love. So many reservations, so much distrust, so much caution. To comfort you, let Me tell you that there are souls living in the world who love Me dearly. I dwell In their hearts with delight. But they are few. In convents too, there are souls that fill My Heart with joy. They bear My features; therefore the Heavenly Father looks upon them with special pleasure. They will be a marvel to Angels and men. Their number is very small. They are a defense for the world before the justice of the Heavenly Father and a means of obtaining mercy for the world. The love and sacrifice of these souls sustain the world in existence. The infidelity of a soul specially chosen by Me wounds My Heart most painfully. Such infidelities are swords which pierce My Heart.
So I turn to you, you-chosen souls, will you also fail to understand the love of My Heart? Here, too, My Heart finds disappointment; I do not find complete surrender to My love. So many reservations, so much distrust, so much caution. To comfort you, let Me tell you that there are souls living in the world who love Me dearly. I dwell In their hearts with delight. But they are few. In convents too, there are souls that fill My Heart with joy. They bear My features; therefore the Heavenly Father looks upon them with special pleasure. They will be a marvel to Angels and men. Their number is very small. They are a defense for the world before the justice of the Heavenly Father and a means of obtaining mercy for the world. The love and sacrifice of these souls sustain the world in existence. The infidelity of a soul specially chosen by Me wounds My Heart most painfully. Such infidelities are swords which pierce My Heart.
384 When I stayed for adoration
from nine to ten o'clock, four other sisters stayed; too. When 1 approached the
altar and began to meditate on the Passion of the Lord Jesus, a terrible pain
immediately filled my soul because of the ingratitude of so many souls living
in the world; but particularly painful was the ingratitude of souls especially
chosen by God. There is no notion or comparison [which can describe it]. At the
sight of this blackest ungratefulness I felt as though my heart were torn open;
my strength failed me completely, and I fell on my face, not attempting to hide
my loud cries. Each time I thought of God's great mercy and of the ingratitude
of souls, pain stabbed at my heart, and I understood how painfully it wounded
the sweetest Heart of Jesus. With a burning heart, I renewed my act of
self-oblation on behalf of sinners.
420 Low Sunday; that is, the
Feast of The Divine Mercy, the conclusion of the Jubilee of Redemption. When we
went to take part in the celebrations, my heart leapt with joy that the two
solemnities were so closely united. I asked God for mercy on the souls of
sinners. Toward the end of the service, when the priest took the Blessed
Sacrament to bless the people, I saw the Lord Jesus as He is represented in the
image. The Lord gave His blessing, and the rays extended over the whole world.
Suddenly, I saw an impenetrable brightness in the form of a crystal dwelling
place, woven together from waves of a brilliance unapproachable to both
creatures and spirits. Three doors led to this resplendence. At that moment,
Jesus, as He is represented in the image, entered this resplendence through the
second door to the Unity within. It is a triple Unity, which is
incomprehensible-which is infinity. I heard a voice, This Feast emerged from
the very depths of My mercy, and it is confirmed in the vast depths of My
tender mercies. Every soul believing and trusting in My mercy will obtain it. I
was overjoyed at the immense goodness and greatness of my God.
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.
687 Once, as I was going down the
hall to the kitchen, I heard these words in my soul: Say unceasingly the
chaplet that I have taught you. Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy
at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope
of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite
this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy. I desire
that the whole world know My infinite mercy. I desire to grant unimaginable
graces to those souls who trust in My mercy.
699 On one occasion, I heard
these words: My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy.
I desire that the Feast of Mercy [139]
be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that
day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of
graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will
go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness
of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which
grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its
sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of
angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that
exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul
in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity.
The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire
that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will
not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.
730 + In this retreat, I shall
keep you continually close to My Heart, that you may better know My mercy, that
mercy which I have for people and especially for poor sinners.
741 Today, I was led by an Angel
to the chasms of hell. It is a place of great torture; how awesomely large and
extensive it is! The kinds of tortures I saw: the first torture that
constitutes hell is the loss of God; the second is perpetual remorse of
conscience; the third is that one's condition will never change; the fourth is
the fire that will penetrate the soul without destroying it-a terrible
suffering, since it is a purely spiritual fire, lit by God's anger; the fifth
torture is continual darkness and a terrible suffocating smell, and, despite
the darkness, the devils and the souls of the damned see each other and all the
evil, both of others and their own; the sixth torture is the constant company
of Satan; the seventh torture is horrible despair, hatred of God, vile words,
curses and blasphemies. These are the tortures suffered by all the damned
together, but that is not the end of the sufferings. There are special tortures
destined for particular souls. These are the torments of the senses. Each soul
undergoes terrible and indescribable sufferings, related to the manner in which
it has sinned. There are caverns and pits of torture where one form of agony
differs from another. I would have died at the very sight of these tortures if
the omnipotence of God had not supported me. Let the sinner know that he will
be tortured throughout all eternity, in those senses which he made use of to
sin. I am writing this at the command of God, so that no soul may find an
excuse by saying there is no hell, or that nobody has ever been there, and so
no one can say what it is like.
I, Sister Faustina, by the order of God, have visited the abysses of hell so that I might tell souls about it and testify to its existence. I cannot speak about it now; but I have received a command from God to leave it in writing. The devils were full of hatred for me, but they had to obey me at the command of God. What I have written is but a pale shadow of the things I saw. But I noticed one thing: that most of the souls there are those who disbelieved that there is a hell. When I came to, I could hardly recover from the fright. How terribly souls suffer there! Consequently, I pray even more fervently for the conversion of sinners. I incessantly plead God's mercy upon them. O my Jesus, I would rather be in agony until the end of the world, amidst the greatest sufferings, than offend You by the least sin.
I, Sister Faustina, by the order of God, have visited the abysses of hell so that I might tell souls about it and testify to its existence. I cannot speak about it now; but I have received a command from God to leave it in writing. The devils were full of hatred for me, but they had to obey me at the command of God. What I have written is but a pale shadow of the things I saw. But I noticed one thing: that most of the souls there are those who disbelieved that there is a hell. When I came to, I could hardly recover from the fright. How terribly souls suffer there! Consequently, I pray even more fervently for the conversion of sinners. I incessantly plead God's mercy upon them. O my Jesus, I would rather be in agony until the end of the world, amidst the greatest sufferings, than offend You by the least sin.
793 I am reliving these moments
with Our Lady. With great longing, I am waiting for the Lord's coming. Great
are my desires. I desire that all humankind come to know the Lord. I would like
to prepare all nations for the coming of the Word Incarnate. O Jesus, make the
fount of Your mercy gush forth more abundantly, for humankind is seriously ill
and thus has more need than ever of Your compassion. You are a bottomless sea
of mercy for us sinners; and the greater the misery, the more right we have to
Your mercy. You are a fount which makes all creatures happy by Your infinite
mercy.
845 Before the vigil supper, I
entered the chapel for a moment to break the wafer spiritually with those dear
to my heart. I presented them all, by name, to Jesus and begged for graces on
their behalf. But that wasn't all. I commended to the Lord all those who are
being persecuted, those who are suffering, those who do not know His Name, and
especially poor sinners. O little Jesus, I fervently ask You, enclose them all
in the ocean of Your incomprehensible mercy. O sweet little Jesus, here is my
heart; let it be a little cozy dwelling place for Yourself. O Infinite Majesty,
with what sweetness You drew close to us. Here, there is no dread of the
thunderbolts of the great Jehovah; here, there is the sweet little Jesus. Here,
no soul is afraid, although Your majesty has not lessened, but only concealed
itself. After supper, I felt very tired and was in pain. I had to lie down. But
I kept vigil with the Most Holy Mother, awaiting the arrival of the little
Child.
873 January 8. On Friday morning,
as I was going to the chapel to attend Holy Mass, I suddenly saw a huge juniper
tree on the pavement and in it a horrible cat who, looking angrily at me,
blocked my way to the chapel. One whisper of the name of Jesus dissipated all
that. I offered the whole day for dying sinners. During Holy Mass, I felt the
closeness of the Lord in a special way. After Holy Communion, I turned my gaze
with trust toward the Lord and told him, "Jesus, I so much desire to tell
You something." And the Lord looked at me with love and said, And what
is it that you desire to tell Me?
"Jesus, I beg You, by the inconceivable power of Your mercy, that all the souls who will die today escape the fire of hell, even if they have been the greatest sinners. Today is Friday, the memorial of Your bitter agony on the Cross; because Your mercy is inconceivable, the Angels will not be surprised at this." Jesus pressed me to His Heart and said, My beloved daughter, you have come to know well the depths of My mercy. I will do what you ask, but unite yourself continually with My agonizing Heart and make reparation to My justice. Know that you have asked Me for a great thing, but I see that this was dictated by your pure love for Me; that is why I am complying with your requests.
"Jesus, I beg You, by the inconceivable power of Your mercy, that all the souls who will die today escape the fire of hell, even if they have been the greatest sinners. Today is Friday, the memorial of Your bitter agony on the Cross; because Your mercy is inconceivable, the Angels will not be surprised at this." Jesus pressed me to His Heart and said, My beloved daughter, you have come to know well the depths of My mercy. I will do what you ask, but unite yourself continually with My agonizing Heart and make reparation to My justice. Know that you have asked Me for a great thing, but I see that this was dictated by your pure love for Me; that is why I am complying with your requests.
875 Today, I experienced a great
suffering during the visit of our sisters. I learned of something that hurt me
terribly, but I controlled myself so that the sisters didn't notice anything.
For some time, the pain was tearing my heart apart, but all that is for the
sake of poor sinners.... O Jesus, for poor sinners.... Jesus, my strength, stay
close to me, help me....
893 January 22, [1937]. Today is
Friday. My soul is in a sea of suffering. Sinners have taken everything away
from me. But that is all right; I have given everything away for their sake
that they might know that You are good and infinitely merciful. I shall be
faithful to You, come rain or shine.
908 + O Jesus, how sorry I feel
for poor sinners. Jesus, grant them contrition and repentance. Remember Your
own sorrowful Passion. I know Your infinite mercy and cannot bear it that a
soul that has cost You so much should perish. Jesus, give me the souls of sinners;
let Your mercy rest upon them. Take everything away from me, but give me souls.
I want to become a sacrificial host for sinners. Let the shell of my body
conceal my offering, for Your Most Sacred Heart is also hidden in a Host, and
certainly You are a living sacrifice.
Transform me into Yourself, O Jesus, that I may be a living sacrifice and pleasing to You. I desire to atone at each moment for poor sinners. The sacrifice of my spirit is hidden under the veil of the body; the human eye does not perceive it, and for that reason it is pure and pleasing to You. O my Creator and Father of great mercy, I trust in You, for You are Goodness Itself. Souls, do not be afraid of God, but trust in Him, for He is good, and His mercy is everlasting.
Transform me into Yourself, O Jesus, that I may be a living sacrifice and pleasing to You. I desire to atone at each moment for poor sinners. The sacrifice of my spirit is hidden under the veil of the body; the human eye does not perceive it, and for that reason it is pure and pleasing to You. O my Creator and Father of great mercy, I trust in You, for You are Goodness Itself. Souls, do not be afraid of God, but trust in Him, for He is good, and His mercy is everlasting.
927 On these two days, I received
Holy Communion as an act of reparation, and I said to the Lord, "Jesus, I
offer everything today for sinners. Let the blows of Your justice fall on me,
and the sea of Your mercy engulf the poor sinners." And the Lord heard my
prayer: many souls returned to the Lord, but I was in agony under the yoke of
God's justice. I felt I was the object of the anger of the Most High God. By
evening my sufferings had reached such a stage of interior desolation that
moans welled up involuntarily from my breast. I locked the door of my room and
began an adoration; that is to say, a Holy Hour. Interior desolation and an
experience of God's justice-that was my prayer; and the moans and pain that
welled up from my soul took the place of a sweet conversation with the Lord.
929 When I had rested near His
sweetest Heart, I told Him, "Jesus, I have so much to tell You." And
the Lord said to me with great love, Speak, My daughter. And I started
to enumerate the pains of my heart; that is, how greatly concerned I am for all
mankind, that "they all do not know You, and those who do know You do not
love You as You deserve to be loved. I also see how terribly sinners offend
You; and then again, I see how severely the faithful, especially Your servants,
are oppressed and persecuted. And then, too, I see many souls rushing headlong
into the terrible abyss of hell. You see, Jesus, this is the pain that gnaws at
my heart and bones. And, although You show me special love and inundate my
heart with streams of Your joys, nevertheless, this does not appease the
sufferings I have just mentioned, but rather they penetrate my poor heart all
the more acutely. Oh, how ardently I desire that all mankind turn with trust to
Your mercy. Then, seeing the glory of Your name, my heart will be
comforted."
Jesus listened to these outpourings of my heart with gravity and interest, as if He had known nothing about them, and this seemed to make it easier for me to talk. And the Lord said to me, My daughter, those words of your heart are pleasing to Me, and by saying the chaplet you are bringing humankind closer to Me. After these words, I found myself alone, but the presence of God is always in my soul.
Jesus listened to these outpourings of my heart with gravity and interest, as if He had known nothing about them, and this seemed to make it easier for me to talk. And the Lord said to me, My daughter, those words of your heart are pleasing to Me, and by saying the chaplet you are bringing humankind closer to Me. After these words, I found myself alone, but the presence of God is always in my soul.
934 Small practices for Lent.
Although I wish and desire to do so, I cannot practice big mortifications as
before, because I am under the strict surveillance of the doctor. But I can
practice little things: first-sleep without a pillow; keep myself a little
hungry; every day, with my arms outstretched, say the chaplet which the Lord
taught me; occasionally, with arms outstretched, for an indefinite period of
time pray informally. Intention: to beg divine mercy for poor sinners, and for
priests, the power to bring sinful hearts to repentance.
942 February 11, [1937]. Today is
Friday. During Mass, I suffered pain in my body: in my hands, my feet and my
side. Jesus is sending me this kind of suffering that I may make reparation for
sinners. The pain is brief, but very severe. I do not suffer for more than a
couple of minutes, but the impression remains for a long time and is very
vivid.
943 + Today, I feel such
desolation in my soul that I do not know how to explain it even to myself. I
would like to hide from people and cry endlessly. No one understands a heart
wounded by love, and when such a heart feels itself abandoned interiorly, no
one can comfort it. O souls of sinners, you have taken the Lord away from me,
but all right, all right; you get to know how sweet the Lord is, and let the
whole sea of bitterness flood my heart. I have given all my divine comforts to
you.
951 + O incomprehensible and limitless Mercy
Divine, To extol and adore You worthily, who can? Supreme attribute of Almighty
God, You are the sweet hope for sinful man.
Into one hymn yourselves unite, stars, earth and sea, and in one accord, thankfully and fervently sing of the incomprehensible Divine Mercy.
Into one hymn yourselves unite, stars, earth and sea, and in one accord, thankfully and fervently sing of the incomprehensible Divine Mercy.
975 Today I heard these words: Pray
for souls that they be not afraid to approach the tribunal of My mercy. Do not
grow weary of praying for sinners. You know what a burden their souls are to My
Heart. Relieve My deathly sorrow; dispense My mercy.
999 Last night I was in such pain
that I thought it was the end. The doctors could not diagnose what the sickness
was. I felt as if my entrails had been torn to shreds, but after a few hours of
such sufferings I am all right. All this is for sinners. Let Your mercy descend
upon them, O Lord.
1059 Jesus is commanding me to
make a novena before the Feast of Mercy, and today I am to begin it for the
conversion of the whole world and for the recognition of The Divine Mercy... so
that every soul will praise My goodness. I desire trust from My creatures.
Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak,
sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than
there are grains of sand in the world, all would be drowned in the unmeasurable
depths of My mercy.
1062 + I made an hour of
adoration in thanksgiving for the graces which had been granted me and for my
illness. Illness also is a great grace. I have been ill for four months, but I
do not recall having wasted so much as a minute of it. All has been for God and
souls; I want to be faithful to Him everywhere.
During this adoration, I realized the utter care and goodness that Jesus has been lavishing upon me and the protection He has given me against all evil. I thank You especially, Jesus, for visiting me in my solitude, and I thank You also for inspiring my superiors to send me for this treatment. Give them, Jesus, the omnipotence of Your blessing and compensate them for all the losses incurred because of me.
During this adoration, I realized the utter care and goodness that Jesus has been lavishing upon me and the protection He has given me against all evil. I thank You especially, Jesus, for visiting me in my solitude, and I thank You also for inspiring my superiors to send me for this treatment. Give them, Jesus, the omnipotence of Your blessing and compensate them for all the losses incurred because of me.
1063 Today, Jesus is bidding me
to comfort and reassure a certain soul who has opened herself to me and told me
about her difficulties. This soul is pleasing to the Lord, but she is not aware
of it. God is keeping her in deep humility. I have carried out the Lord's
directives.
1064 + O my most sweet Master,
good Jesus, I give You my heart. You shape and mold it after Your liking. O
fathomless love, I open the calyx of my heart to You, like a rosebud to the
freshness of dew. To You alone, my Betrothed, is known the fragrance of the
flower of my heart. Let the fragrance of my sacrifice be pleasing to You. O
Immortal God, my everlasting delight, already here on earth You are my heaven.
May every beat of my heart be a new hymn of praise to You, O Holy Trinity! Had
I as many hearts as there are drops of water in the ocean or grains of sand in
the whole world, I would offer them all to You, O my Love, O Treasure of my
heart! Whomever I shall meet in my life, no matter who they may be, I want to
draw them all to love You, O my Jesus, my Beauty, my Repose, my sole Master,
Judge, Savior and Spouse, all in one; I know that one title will modify the
other-I have entrusted everything to Your mercy.
1065 + My Jesus, support me when
difficult and stormy days come, days of testing, days of ordeal, when suffering
and fatigue begin to oppress my body and my soul. Sustain me, Jesus, and give
me strength to bear suffering. Set a guard upon my lips that they may address
no word of complaint to creatures. Your most merciful Heart is all my hope. I
have nothing for my defense but only Your mercy; in it lies all my trust.
1122 God of great mercy, who
deigned to send us Your only begotten Son as the greatest proof of Your
fathomless love and mercy, You do not reject sinners; but in Your boundless
mercy You have opened for them also Your treasures, treasures from which they
can draw abundantly, not only justification, but also all the sanctity that a
soul can attain. Father of great mercy, I desire that all hearts turn with
confidence to Your infinite mercy. No one will be justified before You if he is
not accompanied by Your unfathomable mercy. When You reveal the mystery of Your
mercy to us, there will not be enough of eternity to properly thank You for it.
1123 Oh, how sweet it is to have in the depth of one's soul that which the Church tells us we must believe. When my soul is immersed in love, I solve the most intricate questions clearly and quickly. Only love is able to cross over precipices and mountain peaks. Love, once again, love.
1123 Oh, how sweet it is to have in the depth of one's soul that which the Church tells us we must believe. When my soul is immersed in love, I solve the most intricate questions clearly and quickly. Only love is able to cross over precipices and mountain peaks. Love, once again, love.
1396 Today I heard a voice in my
soul: Oh, if sinners knew My mercy, they would not perish in such great
numbers. Tell sinful souls not to be afraid to approach Me; speak to them of My
great mercy.
1397 The Lord said to me, The
loss of each soul plunges Me into mortal sadness. You always console Me when
you pray for sinners. The prayer most pleasing to Me is prayer for the
conversion of sinners. Know, My daughter, that this prayer is always heard and
answered.
1446 The Lord said to me, It
should be of no concern to you how anyone else acts; you are to be My living
reflection, through love and mercy. I answered, "Lord, but they often
take advantage of my goodness." That makes no difference, My daughter.
That is no concern of yours. As for you, be always merciful toward other
people, and especially toward sinners.
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-186-187, 206, 280, 308-309, 319, 320)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-324, 349, 350, 355-356, 361, 367, 384)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-420, 423
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-687, 699, 730, 741, 793, 854, 873, 875)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-893, 908, 927, 929, 934, 942-943, 951)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-975, 999
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-III-1059, 1062-1065, 1122-1123)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-1393-1397)
http://www.saint-faustina.com/Diary/DMIMS10.shtml
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