Listen and Learn
February 21, 2016. Second
Sunday of Lent
Luke 9:28-36
And it came to pass about an eight days after
these sayings, [1] he took Peter and John and James,
and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his
countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold,
there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in
glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at
Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep:
and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with
him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto
Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles;
one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared
as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud,
saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And when the voice was past,
Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days
any of those things which they had seen.
Introductory Prayer: I come before You, Lord, a sinner in awe of Your
great love and mercy. I believe in You, and I put You at the center of my life.
I humbly put all that I am before You and, like the apostles, recognize my
littleness before Your grandeur. With the help of the Blessed Mother’s
intercession, I place this meditation in Your hands, trusting that You will
give me the graces that I need most.
Petition: Lord, teach me how to listen to Your voice.
1. Unexpected Graces: Peter, James and John are privileged to go
with Jesus atop the mountain where he is transfigured before them. What a
splendid sight it was: Jesus conversing with Moses and Elijah before their very
eyes. They are beside themselves and are in awe at what unfolds. This is the
way Christ is with each of us. When we least expect it, he gives us a wonderful
dose of his grace to strengthen us in our walk with him. This privilege,
however, isn’t simply for us to look at and admire; it is a call to respond to
his invitation of love. Jesus was calling these three apostles to a deeper
level of love and trust in him; he is doing so with us, too.
2. Listen to Him: At this sight, the apostles are awestruck and
don’t know what to say. Peter feels compelled to say something, although it
seems he really didn’t know what he was saying. The question is: Why did he
feel as if he had to say something? Often in the spiritual life, we can
struggle with the temptation to say too much. In this Gospel passage we hear
the portentous words of the Father: “This is my son with whom I am well
pleased. Listen to him!” Christ is calling us to listen attentively to his
words and not to feel compelled to have to say something. He is looking for a
response in action more than in words.
3. Get up. Be Not
Afraid: When his
Transfiguration is over, Jesus gets the three apostles up. This experience of
Christ was beyond them. Yet Christ is educating them as to his true nature, his
divine nature. They don’t have to be able to explain it or understand it fully;
they need to act in faith. This is what we are called to do: act in faith.
There is no time for us to be afraid of what the future will bring. We must get
up out of our comfort zones and our attitudes, listen to Christ, and do as he
says in faith. There is so much for us to do and so little time in which to do
it. We need to make use of every instant to learn from the Lord himself through
prayer and the sacraments and to make a real difference in the world by
bringing more souls to know, love and live for Christ.
Conversation with
Christ: Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing yourself
to me and for showing me how to listen to God and do his will faithfully. I
know that I can frustrate You, putting my two cents in and talking when I
should be listening to You. I need to continue to learn how to listen more
attentively to You. Please help me to be open and docile to You and Your loving
messages for me.
Resolution: In my prayer time today I will dedicate
myself to listening to the Lord.
Excerpts from the DIARY of Saint Faustina Kowalska
6 I am to write [3] down the encounters of my
soul with You, O God, at the moments of Your special visitations. I am to write
about You, O Incomprehensible in mercy towards my poor soul. Your holy will is
the life of my soul. I have received this order through him who is for me Your
representative here on earth, who interprets Your holy Will to me. Jesus, You
see how difficult it is for me to write, how unable I am to put down clearly
what I experience in my soul. O God, can a pen write down that for which many a
time there are no words? But You give the order to write, O God; that is enough
for me.
18 However, after three weeks I became aware
that there is so very little time here for prayer, and of many other things
which spoke to my soul in favor of entering a religious community of a stricter
observance. This thought took a firm hold of my soul, but the will of God was
not in it. Still, the thought, or rather the temptation, was growing stronger
and stronger to the point where I decided one day to announce my departure to
Mother Superior and definitely to leave [the convent]. But God arranged the
circumstances in such a way that I could not get to the Mother Superior
[Michael]. I stepped into the little chapel [7] before going to bed,
and I asked Jesus for light in this matter. But I received nothing in my soul
except a strange unrest which I did not understand. But, in spite of
everything, I made up my mind to approach Mother Superior the next morning
right afte rMass and tell her of my decision.
19 I came to my cell. The sisters were already in bed - the lights were out. I entered the cell full of anguish and discontent; I did not know what to do with myself. I threw myself headlong on the ground and began to pray fervently that I might come to know the will of God. There is silence everywhere as in the tabernacle. All the sisters are resting like white hosts enclosed in Jesus’ chalice. It is only from my cell that God can hear the moaning of a soul. I did not know that one was not allowed to pray in the cell after nine without permission. [8]
19 I came to my cell. The sisters were already in bed - the lights were out. I entered the cell full of anguish and discontent; I did not know what to do with myself. I threw myself headlong on the ground and began to pray fervently that I might come to know the will of God. There is silence everywhere as in the tabernacle. All the sisters are resting like white hosts enclosed in Jesus’ chalice. It is only from my cell that God can hear the moaning of a soul. I did not know that one was not allowed to pray in the cell after nine without permission. [8]
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.
497 O Eternal Truth, Word Incarnate, who most
faithfully fulfilled Your Father's will, today I am becoming a martyr of Your
inspirations, since I cannot carry them out because I have no will of my own,
though interiorly I see Your will clearly. I submit in everything to the will
of my superiors and my confessor. I will follow Your will insofar as You will
permit me to do so through Your representative. O my Jesus, it cannot be
helped, but I give priority to the voice of the Church over the voice with
which You speak to me.
678 The essence of
the virtues is the will of God. He who does the will of God faithfully,
practices all the virtues. In all the events and circumstances of my life, I
adore and bless the holy will of God. The holy will of God is the object of my
love. In the most secret depths of my soul, I live according to His will. I act
exteriorly according to what I recognize inwardly as the will of God. Sweeter
to me are the torments, sufferings, persecutions and all manner of adversities
by divine will than popularity, praise and esteem by my own will.
724 On the eve of the retreat, I started to
pray that the Lord Jesus might give me just a little health so that I could
take part in the retreat, because I was feeling so ill that I thought perhaps
it might be my last. However, as soon as I had started praying I felt a strange
dissatisfaction. I interrupted the prayer of supplication and began to thank
the Lord for everything He sends me, submitting myself completely to His holy
will. Then I felt profound peace of soul. + Faithful submission to the will of
God, always and everywhere, in all events and circumstances of life, gives
great glory to God. Such submission to the will of God carries more weight with
Him than long fasts, mortifications and the most severe penances. Oh, how great
is the reward for one act of loving submission to the will of God! As I write,
my soul is enraptured at the thought of how much God loves it and of the peace
that my soul already enjoys, here on earth.
954 Today after Holy Communion, the Lord told
me, My daughter, My
delight is to unite myself with you. It is when you submit yourself to My will
that you give Me the greatest glory and draw down upon yourself a sea of
blessings. I would not take such special delight in you if you were not living
by my will. O my sweet Guest, I am prepared for all sacrifices
for Your sake, but You know that I am weakness itself. Nevertheless, with You I
can do all things. O my Jesus, I beseech You, be with me at each instant.
995 + Although it is not easy to
live in constant agony,
To be nailed to the cross of various pains,
Still, I am inflamed with love by loving,
And like a Seraph I love God, though I am but weakness.
Oh, great is the soul that, midst suffering,
Stands faithfully by God and does His will
And remains uncomforted midst great rainbows and storms,
For God's pure love sweetens her fate.
It is no great thing to love God in prosperity
And thank Him when all goes well,
But rather to adore Him midst great adversities
And love Him for His own sake and place one's hope in Him.
When the soul is in the shadows of Gethsemane,
All alone in the bitterness of pain,
It ascends toward the heights of Jesus,
And though ever drinking bitterness-it is not sad.
When the soul does the will of the Most High God,
Even amidst constant pain and torments,
Having pressed its lips to the chalice proferred,
It becomes mighty, and nothing will daunt it.
Though tortured, it repeats: Your will be done,
Patiently awaiting the moment of its transfiguration,
For, though in deepest darkness, it hears the voice of Jesus: You are Mine,
And this it will know fully when the veil falls.
To be nailed to the cross of various pains,
Still, I am inflamed with love by loving,
And like a Seraph I love God, though I am but weakness.
Oh, great is the soul that, midst suffering,
Stands faithfully by God and does His will
And remains uncomforted midst great rainbows and storms,
For God's pure love sweetens her fate.
It is no great thing to love God in prosperity
And thank Him when all goes well,
But rather to adore Him midst great adversities
And love Him for His own sake and place one's hope in Him.
When the soul is in the shadows of Gethsemane,
All alone in the bitterness of pain,
It ascends toward the heights of Jesus,
And though ever drinking bitterness-it is not sad.
When the soul does the will of the Most High God,
Even amidst constant pain and torments,
Having pressed its lips to the chalice proferred,
It becomes mighty, and nothing will daunt it.
Though tortured, it repeats: Your will be done,
Patiently awaiting the moment of its transfiguration,
For, though in deepest darkness, it hears the voice of Jesus: You are Mine,
And this it will know fully when the veil falls.
1180 June [July] 15, 1937. Once, I learned
that I was to be transferred to another house. My knowledge of this was purely
interior. At the same time, I heard a voice in my soul: Do not be afraid, My daughter; it is
My will that you should remain here. Human plans will be thwarted, since they
must conform to My will.
1181 When I was close to the Lord, He said to
me, Why are you afraid to begin the work which I have commanded you to carry
out? I answered, "Why do You leave me on my own at such times, Jesus,
and why do I not feel Your presence?" My daughter, even though you do
not perceive Me in the most secret depths of your heart, you still cannot say
that I am not there. I only remove from you the awareness of My presence, and
that should not be an obstacle to the carrying out of My will. I do this to
achieve My unfathomable ends, which you will know of later on.
My daughter, know without doubt, and once and for all, that only mortal sin drives Me out of a soul, and nothing else.
My daughter, know without doubt, and once and for all, that only mortal sin drives Me out of a soul, and nothing else.
1182 + Today the Lord said to me, My
daughter, My pleasure and delight, nothing will stop Me from granting you
graces. Your misery does not hinder My mercy. My daughter, write that the
greater the misery of a soul, the greater its right to My mercy; [urge] all
souls to trust in the unfathomable abyss of My mercy, because I want to save
them all. On the cross, the fountain of My mercy was opened wide by the lance
for all souls-no one have I excluded!
1183 O Jesus, I want to live in the present
moment, to live as if this were the last day of my life. I want to use every
moment scrupulously for the greater glory of God, to use every circumstance for
the benefit of my soul. I want to look upon everything, from the point of view
that nothing happens without the will of God.
1184 On an earlier occasion.
In the evening, I saw the Lord Jesus upon the cross. From His hands, feet and side, the Most Sacred Blood was flowing. After some time, Jesus said to me, All this is for the salvation of souls. Consider well, My daughter, what you are doing for their salvation. I answered, "Jesus, when I look at Your suffering, I see that I am doing next to nothing for the salvation of souls." And the Lord said to me, Know, My daughter, that your silent day-to-day martyrdom in complete submission to My will ushers many souls into heaven. And when it seems to you that your suffering exceeds your strength, contemplate My wounds, and you will rise above human scorn and judgment. Meditation on My Passion will help you rise above all things. I understood many things I had been unable to comprehend before.
In the evening, I saw the Lord Jesus upon the cross. From His hands, feet and side, the Most Sacred Blood was flowing. After some time, Jesus said to me, All this is for the salvation of souls. Consider well, My daughter, what you are doing for their salvation. I answered, "Jesus, when I look at Your suffering, I see that I am doing next to nothing for the salvation of souls." And the Lord said to me, Know, My daughter, that your silent day-to-day martyrdom in complete submission to My will ushers many souls into heaven. And when it seems to you that your suffering exceeds your strength, contemplate My wounds, and you will rise above human scorn and judgment. Meditation on My Passion will help you rise above all things. I understood many things I had been unable to comprehend before.
1199 [July] 29. I am to leave for Rabka
today. I went into the chapel and asked the Lord Jesus for a safe journey. But
within my soul there was silence and darkness. I felt I was all alone and had
no one [to turn to]. I asked Jesus to be with me. Then I felt a tiny ray of
light in my soul as a sign that Jesus was with me but, after this grace, the
darkness and shadows in my soul increased. Then I said, "Your will be
done, for everything is possible to You." When I was on the train and
gazed through the window at the beautiful countryside and the mountains, the
torments of my soul grew even greater. As the sisters welcomed me and began to surround
me with their warmth, my sufferings redoubled.
1200 I would have like to hide and rest for a
while in solitude, in a word, to be alone. At such moments, no creature is
capable of giving me comfort, and even if I had wanted to say something about
myself, I would have experienced new anguish. Therefore, I have kept silent at
such moments and submitted myself, in silence, to the will of God-and that has
given me relief. I demand nothing from creatures and communicate with them only
in so far as is necessary. I will not take them into my confidence unless this
is for the greater glory of God. My communing is with the angels [cf. Mt.
18:10; Ex. 23:20].
1202 I could not even go to Holy Mass or
receive Holy Communion today but, amidst the sufferings of body and soul, I
kept on repeating, "May the Lord's will be done. I know that Your bounty
is without limit." Then 1 heard an angel who sang out my whole life
history and everything it comprised. I was surprised, but also strengthened.
1204 A retreat of suffering. O Jesus, in
these days of suffering, I am not capable of any kind of prayer. The oppression
of my body and soul has increased. O my Jesus, You do see that Your child is on
the decline. I am not forcing myself further, but simply submitting my will to
the will of Jesus. O Jesus, You are always Jesus to me.
1205 When I went to confession, I did not
even know how to confess. However, the priest [probably Father Casimir
Ratkiewicz [205]] recognized the condition
of my soul at once and said to me, "Despite everything, you are on the way
to salvation; you are on the right path, but God may leave your soul in this
darkness and obscurity until death, and the former light may never return. But
in all things abandon yourself to the will of God."
1207 August 10. Today I am returning to
Cracow, in the company of one of the sisters. My soul is shrouded in suffering.
I am continually uniting myself to Him by an act of the will. He is my power
and strength.
1208 May You be blessed, O God, for
everything You send me. Nothing under the sun happens without Your will. I
cannot penetrate Your secrets with regard to myself, but I press my lips to the
chalice You offer me.
1237 O Jesus, what darkness is enveloping me
and what nothingness is penetrating me. But, my Jesus, do not leave me alone;
grant me the grace of faithfulness. Although I cannot penetrate the mystery of
God's visitation, it is in my power to say: Your will be done.
1239 O living Host, O hidden Jesus. You see
the condition of my soul. Of myself, I am unable to utter Your Holy Name. I
cannot bring forth from my heart the fire of love but, kneeling at Your feet, I
cast upon the Tabernacle the gaze of my soul, a gaze of faithfulness. As for
You, You are ever the same, while within my soul a change takes place. I trust
that the time will come when You will unveil Your countenance, and Your child
will again see Your sweet face. I am astonished, Jesus, that You can hide
yourself from me for so long and that You can restrain the enormous love You
have for me. In the dwelling of my heart, I am listening and waiting for Your
coming, O only Treasure of my heart!
1241 + 0 my Jesus, when someone is unkind and
unpleasant toward us, it is difficult enough to bear this kind of suffering.
But this is very little in comparison to a suffering which I cannot bear;
namely, that which I experience when someone exhibits kindness towards me and
then lays snares at my feet at every step I take. What great will power is
necessary to love such a soul for God's sake. Many a time one has to be heroic
in loving such a soul as God demands. If contact with that person were
infrequent, it would be easier to endure, but when one lives in close contact
with the person and experiences this at each step, this demands a very great
effort.
1243 "These times of dryness and stark
awareness of one's wretchedness, which God has permitted, allow the soul to
know how little it can do by itself. They will teach you how much you should
appreciate God's graces. Secondly, faithfulness in all exercises and duties,
faithfulness in everything, just as in times of joy. Thirdly, as regards the
matters in question, be absolutely obedient to the Archbishop [Jalbrzykowski]
although, from time to time, the matter can be brought to his attention, but
peacefully. Sometimes, a little bitter truth is necessary."
At the end of the conversation, I asked the priest to allow me to commune with Jesus as I had done formerly. He answered, "I cannot give orders to the Lord Jesus, but if He himself draws you to himself you may follow the attraction. However, always remember to show Him great reverence, for the Lord is great indeed. If you are truly seeking God's will in all this and desire to fulfill it, you can be at peace; the Lord will not allow any sort of error. As to the mortifications and sufferings, you will give me an account next time of how you carry them out. Place yourself in the hands of the Most Holy Mother."
At the end of the conversation, I asked the priest to allow me to commune with Jesus as I had done formerly. He answered, "I cannot give orders to the Lord Jesus, but if He himself draws you to himself you may follow the attraction. However, always remember to show Him great reverence, for the Lord is great indeed. If you are truly seeking God's will in all this and desire to fulfill it, you can be at peace; the Lord will not allow any sort of error. As to the mortifications and sufferings, you will give me an account next time of how you carry them out. Place yourself in the hands of the Most Holy Mother."
1244 August 15, 1937. During meditation,
God's presence pervaded me keenly, and I was aware of the Virgin Mary's joy at
the moment of Her Assumption. Towards the end of the ceremony carried out in
honor of the Mother of God, I saw the Virgin Mary, and She said to me, Oh, how
very pleased I am with the homage of your love! And at that moment She covered
all the sisters of our Congregation with Her mantle. With Her right hand, She
clasped Mother General Michael to herself, and with Her left hand She did so to
me, while all the sisters were at Her feet, covered with Her mantle. Then the
Mother of God said, Everyone who perseveres zealously till death in My
Congregation will be spared the fire of purgatory, and I desire that each one
distinguish herself by the following virtues: humility and meekness; chastity
and love of God and neighbor; compassion and mercy. After these words, the
whole Congregation disappeared from my sight, and I remained alone with the
Most Holy Mother who instructed me about the will of God and how to apply it to
my life, submitting completely to His most holy decrees. It is impossible for
one to please God without obeying His holy will. My daughter, I strongly
recommend that you faithfully fulfill all God's wishes, for that is most
pleasing in His holy eyes. I very much desire that you distinguish yourself in
this faithfulness in accomplishing God's will. Put the will of God before all
sacrifices and holocausts. While the heavenly Mother was talking to me, a
deep understanding of this will of God was entering my soul.
1255 "As concerns yourself, Sister, it
is good that you are remaining in a state of holy indifference in everything
that pertains to the will of God, and that you are better maintaining a state
of equilibrium. Please do your best to keep this equanimity. Now, as regards
all these matters, you are to depend exclusively on Father Andrasz; I am in
complete agreement with him. Do nothing on your own, Sister, but in all matters
take counsel from your spiritual director. I beg you to keep your
levelheadedness and as great a calm as possible.One more thing-I am having
printed the chaplet which is to be on the back of the image, as well as the
invocations that resemble a litany; these too will be placed on the back.
Another large image has also been printed, and with it a few pages which
contain the Novena to The Divine Mercy. [208] Pray, Sister, that this be
approved."
1256 [August] 30. Reverend Father Sopocko left this morning. When I was steeped in a prayer of thanksgiving for the great grace that I had received from God; namely, that of seeing Father, I became united in a special way with the Lord who said to me, He is a priest after My own Heart; his efforts are pleasing to Me. You see, My daughter, that My will must be done and that which I had promised you, I shall do. Through him I spread comfort to suffering and careworn souls. Through him it pleased Me to proclaim the worship of My mercy. And through this work of mercy more souls will come close to Me than otherwise would have, even if he had kept giving absolution day and night for the rest of his life, because by so doing, he would have labored only for as long as he lived; whereas, thanks to this work of mercy, he will be laboring till the end of the world.
1256 [August] 30. Reverend Father Sopocko left this morning. When I was steeped in a prayer of thanksgiving for the great grace that I had received from God; namely, that of seeing Father, I became united in a special way with the Lord who said to me, He is a priest after My own Heart; his efforts are pleasing to Me. You see, My daughter, that My will must be done and that which I had promised you, I shall do. Through him I spread comfort to suffering and careworn souls. Through him it pleased Me to proclaim the worship of My mercy. And through this work of mercy more souls will come close to Me than otherwise would have, even if he had kept giving absolution day and night for the rest of his life, because by so doing, he would have labored only for as long as he lived; whereas, thanks to this work of mercy, he will be laboring till the end of the world.
1262 September 3. First Friday of the month.
During Holy Mass, I became united with God. Jesus gave me to know that even the
smallest thing does not happen on earth without His will. After having seen
this, my soul entered into an unusual repose; I found myself completely at
peace as to the work in its full extent. God can deal with me as He pleases,
and I will bless Him for everything.
1264 Act of total abandonment to the will of
God, which is for me, love and mercy itself.
Act of Oblation
Jesus-Host, whom I have this very moment received into my heart, through this union with You I offer myself to the heavenly Father as a sacrificial host, abandoning myself totally and completely to the most merciful and holy will of my God. From today onward, Your will, Lord, is my food. Take my whole being; dispose of me as You please. Whatever Your fatherly hand gives me, I will accept with submission, peace and joy. I fear nothing, no matter in what direction You lead me; helped by Your grace I will carry out everything You demand of me. I no longer fear any of Your inspirations nor do I probe anxiously to see where they will lead me. Lead me, O God, along whatever roads You please; I have placed all my trust in Your will which is, for me, love and mercy itself.
Bid me to stay in this convent, I will stay; bid me to undertake the work, I will undertake it; leave me in uncertainty about the work until I die, be blessed; give me death when, humanly speaking, my life seems particularly necessary, be blessed. Should You take me in my youth, be blessed; should You let me live to a ripe old age, be blessed. Should You give me health and strength, be blessed; should You confine me to a bed of pain for my whole life, be blessed. Should you give only failures and disappointments in life, be blessed. Should You allow my purest intentions to be condemned, be blessed. Should You enlighten my mind, be blessed. Should You leave me in darkness and all kinds of torments, be blessed.
From this moment on, I live in the deepest peace, because the Lord himself is carrying me in the hollow of His hand. He, Lord of unfathomable mercy, knows that I desire Him alone in all things, always and everywhere.
1265 Prayer. O Jesus, stretched out upon the cross, I implore You, give me the grace of doing faithfully the most holy will of Your Father, in all things, always and everywhere. And when this will of God will seem to me very harsh and difficult to fulfill, it is then I beg You, Jesus, may power and strength flow upon me from Your wounds, and may my lips keep repeating, "Your will be done, O Lord." O Savior of the world, Lover of man's salvation, who in such terrible torment and pain forget Yourself to think only of the salvation of souls, O most compassionate Jesus, grant me the grace to forget myself that I may live totally for souls, helping You in the work of salvation, according to the most holy will of Your Father....
Act of Oblation
Jesus-Host, whom I have this very moment received into my heart, through this union with You I offer myself to the heavenly Father as a sacrificial host, abandoning myself totally and completely to the most merciful and holy will of my God. From today onward, Your will, Lord, is my food. Take my whole being; dispose of me as You please. Whatever Your fatherly hand gives me, I will accept with submission, peace and joy. I fear nothing, no matter in what direction You lead me; helped by Your grace I will carry out everything You demand of me. I no longer fear any of Your inspirations nor do I probe anxiously to see where they will lead me. Lead me, O God, along whatever roads You please; I have placed all my trust in Your will which is, for me, love and mercy itself.
Bid me to stay in this convent, I will stay; bid me to undertake the work, I will undertake it; leave me in uncertainty about the work until I die, be blessed; give me death when, humanly speaking, my life seems particularly necessary, be blessed. Should You take me in my youth, be blessed; should You let me live to a ripe old age, be blessed. Should You give me health and strength, be blessed; should You confine me to a bed of pain for my whole life, be blessed. Should you give only failures and disappointments in life, be blessed. Should You allow my purest intentions to be condemned, be blessed. Should You enlighten my mind, be blessed. Should You leave me in darkness and all kinds of torments, be blessed.
From this moment on, I live in the deepest peace, because the Lord himself is carrying me in the hollow of His hand. He, Lord of unfathomable mercy, knows that I desire Him alone in all things, always and everywhere.
1265 Prayer. O Jesus, stretched out upon the cross, I implore You, give me the grace of doing faithfully the most holy will of Your Father, in all things, always and everywhere. And when this will of God will seem to me very harsh and difficult to fulfill, it is then I beg You, Jesus, may power and strength flow upon me from Your wounds, and may my lips keep repeating, "Your will be done, O Lord." O Savior of the world, Lover of man's salvation, who in such terrible torment and pain forget Yourself to think only of the salvation of souls, O most compassionate Jesus, grant me the grace to forget myself that I may live totally for souls, helping You in the work of salvation, according to the most holy will of Your Father....
1266 August 5, [1937]. [209] The Lord let me know how
much our dear Mother Superior [Irene] is defending me against... not only by
prayer but also by deed. Thank You, Jesus, for this grace. It will not go
unrequited in my heart; when I am with Jesus, I do not forget about her.
1267 September 6, 1937. Today, I begin a new
assignment. I go from the garden to the desert of the gate. [210] I went in to talk to the
Lord for a while. I asked Him for a blessing and for graces to faithfully carry
out the duties entrusted to me. I heard these words: My daughter, I am
always with you. I have given you the opportunity to practice deeds of mercy
which you will perform according to obedience. You will give Me much pleasure
if, each evening, you will speak to Me especially about this task. I felt
that Jesus had given me a new grace in relation to my new duties; but, despite
this, I have locked myself deeper in His Heart.
1268 Today I felt more ill, but Jesus has
given me many more opportunities on this day to practice virtue. It so happened
that I was busier than usual, and the sister in charge of the kitchen made it
clear to me how irritated she was that I had come late for dinner, although it
was quite impossible for me to have come sooner. At any rate, I felt so unwell
that I had to ask Mother Superior to allow me to lie down. I went to ask Sister
N. to take my place, and again I got a scolding: "What is this, Sister,
you're so exhausted that you're going back to bed again! Confound you with all
this lying in bed!" I put up with all that, but that wasn't the end. I
still had to ask the sister who was in charge of the sick to bring me my meal.
When I told her this, she burst out of the chapel into the corridor after me to
give me a piece of her mind: "Why on earth are you going to bed, Sister,
etc...... I asked her not to bother bringing me anything. I am writing all this
very briefly because it is not my intention to write about such things, and I
am doing so merely to dissuade souls from treating others in this way, for this
is displeasing to the Lord. In a suffering soul we should see Jesus Crucified,
and not a loafer or burden on the community. A soul who suffers with submission
to the will of God draws down more blessings on the whole convent than all the
working sisters. Poor indeed is a convent where there are no sick sisters. God
often grants many and great graces out of regard for the souls who are
suffering, and He withholds many punishments solely because of the suffering
souls.
1588 Today I heard the words: In
the Old Covenant I sent prophets wielding thunderbolts to My people. Today I am
sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to
punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful
Heart. I use punishment when they themselves force Me to do so; My hand is
reluctant to take hold of the sword of justice. Before the Day of Justice I am
sending the Day of Mercy. I replied, "O my Jesus, speak to souls
Yourself, because my words are insignificant."
+ J.M.J.
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-6, 18-19, 248, 497)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-678, 724, 742, 954)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-III-1180-1184, 1199-1200, 1202, 1204)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-III-1207-1208, 1237, 1239, 1241, 1244 )
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-III-1255-1256, 1262, 1264-1268)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-V-1588)
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