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.
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...
1148 cJune 20, [1937]. We resemble God most when
we forgive our neighbors. God is Love, Goodness, and Mercy...
Every soul, and especially the soul of every religious, should reflect My mercy. My Heart overflows with compassion and mercy for all. The heart of My beloved must resemble Mine; from her heart must spring the fountain of My mercy for souls; otherwise I will not acknowledge her as Mine.
Every soul, and especially the soul of every religious, should reflect My mercy. My Heart overflows with compassion and mercy for all. The heart of My beloved must resemble Mine; from her heart must spring the fountain of My mercy for souls; otherwise I will not acknowledge her as Mine.
1164
My daughter, when I was before Herod, I obtained a grace for you; namely,
that you would be able to rise above human scorn and follow faithfully in My
footsteps. Be silent when they do not want to acknowledge your truth, because
it is then that you speak more eloquently.
1167 Satan has admitted to me that I
am the object of his hatred. He said that "a thousand souls do me less
harm than you do when you speak of the great mercy of the Almighty One. The
greatest sinners regain confidence and return to God, and I lose everything.
But what is more, you persecute me personally with that unfathomable mercy of
the Almighty One." I took note of the great hatred Satan has for the Mercy
of God. He does not want to acknowledge that God is good.
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, 1148, 1164, 1167, 1174)
http://www.saint-faustina.com/Diary/DMIMS10.shtml
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