You Are Witnesses of These Things
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March 31, 2016. Thursday
in the Octave of Easter
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Father Robert Presutti, LC
Luke
24:35-48
The disciples of Jesus recounted what had
taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of
the bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst
and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and
terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them,
"Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look
at my hands and my feet, it is really I. Touch me and see, because a ghost
does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have." And as he said
this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still
incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, "Have you anything
here to eat?" They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it
in front of them. He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to
you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law
of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled." Then he
opened their minds to understand the scriptures. And he said to them,
"Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead
on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be
preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are
witnesses of these things."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, You are the source of all life because
You are life itself. Your resurrection gives me the hope of being raised from
the dead to rejoice with You in heaven forever. I need to reflect more often
on the good You have done for us and on Your promises to those who put their
trust in You. Thank You, Jesus, for taking up Your life again and leading the
way home to heaven. I love You, and I want to follow after You with all my
heart. I want to cooperate more fully with You in bringing many others to
heaven with me.
Petition: Lord Jesus, bring me your Easter peace. Let me share in Your
victory over sin and death. May I live for You alone.
1. The Disciples’ Mixed and Changing
Reaction to the Resurrection: The Gospel narratives manifest the disciples’ volatile
situation. They want to believe, but lack confidence. They experience the
sincere joy of seeing Christ resurrected, but have not completely overcome
their cautious disbelief. The two from Emmaus recount their encounter, and
Christ himself appears to them. Yet even when he is right there in front of
them, they are slow to believe. Our Lord’s patient, accepting attitude is
encouraging. He did not come for a meal, but takes a piece of fish to help
them believe. We all have our moments of light and generosity, and our
moments of sluggishness and inner resistance. I want to believe, but because
it implies letting go of my false securities, I need detachment and
purification. Christ aids my weakness by his nearness and closeness.
2. It Is I Myself: Christ is not a ghost. He is not a figment
of my imagination, nor the result of my wishful thinking––something too good
to be true. Christ is more real than my fears; his grace is stronger than my
weakness, more powerful than sin and death itself. As the disciples have
mixed reactions to his presence, he invites them to get a grip on themselves
and reflect in faith. Reflection and contemplation in faith always lead to
the truth of Christ. Am I living in an illusory world of my own making
because I’m not reflecting in faith on the realities and experiences of my
life? All I need to do is overcome my incredulity with faith and trust in the
Christ.
3. Thus It Was Written: The Cross was not a mistake. Christ does not see it as a necessary evil. Rather, “it was written”. In other words, it could not have been any other way. Without the Cross, no resurrection. Without the Resurrection, no experience of the fullness of life, no hope for things to come. My life too has its own experience of Christ’s cross. What for me might be an unexpected twist, an obstacle or a problem, is for the Lord a means of purifying my heart, and bringing me to the Resurrection.
Conversation with Christ: At times Lord, I fear I am seeing a ghost,
just like the disciples. Your plan and will are so far beyond me that at
times I have difficulty distinguishing my own wishful thinking or false hopes
from Your will and Your call. Help me to find in You the only source of my
hopes, and the One who will never fail me.
Resolution: Today I will speak of Christ’s resurrection and the hope which
it brings us.
Excerpts from the DIARY of Saint Faustina
Kowalska
1 O Eternal Love, You command Your Sacred Image [1] to be painted And reveal to us the
inconceivable fount of mercy,
You bless whoever approaches Your rays, And a soul all black will turn into snow. O sweet Jesus, it is here [2] You established the throne of Your mercy To bring joy and hope to sinful man. From Your open Heart, as from a pure fount, Flows comfort to a repentant heart and soul. May praise and glory for this Image Never cease to stream from man's soul. May praise of God's mercy pour from every heart, Now, and at every hour, and forever and ever.
O My God
2 When I look into the future, I am frightened, But why plunge into the future? Only the present moment is precious to me, As the future may never enter my soul at all. It is no longer in my power, To change, correct or add to the past; For neither sages nor prophets could do that. And so, what the past has embraced I must entrust to God. O present moment, you belong to me, whole and entire. I desire to use you as best I can. And although I am weak and small, You grant me the grace of your omnipotence. And so, trusting in Your mercy, I walk through life like a little child, Offering You each day this heart Burning with love for Your greater glory.
24 One day, just as I had
awakened, when I was putting myself in the presence of God, I was suddenly overwhelmed
by despair. Complete darkness in the soul. I fought as best I could till
noon. In the afternoon, truly deadly fears began to seize me; my physical
strength began to leave me. I went quickly to my cell, fell on my knees
before the Crucifix and began to cry out for mercy. But Jesus did not hear my
cries. I felt my physical strength leave me completely. I fell to the ground,
despair flooding my whole soul. I suffered terrible tortures in no way
different from the torments of hell. I was in this state for three quarters
of an hour. I wanted to go and see the Directress, but was too weak. I wanted
to shout but I had no voice. Fortunately, one of the sisters [another novice,
Sister Placida Putyra] came into my cell. Finding me in such a strange condition,
she immediately told the Directress about it. Mother came at once. As soon as
she entered the cell she said, "In the name of holy obedience [16] get up from the ground." Immediately
some force raised me up from the ground and I stood up, close to the dear
Mother Directress. With kindly words she began to explain to me that this was
a trial sent to me by God, saying, "Have great confidence; God is always
our Father, even when He sends us trials."
I returned to my duties as if I had come out from the tomb, my senses saturated with what my soul had experienced. During the evening service, my soul began to agonize again in a terrible darkness. I felt that I was in the power of the Just God, and that I was the object of His indignation. During these terrible moments I said to God, "Jesus, who in the Gospel compare Yourself to a most tender mother," I trust in Your words because You are Truth and Life. In spite of everything, Jesus, I trust in You in the face of every interior sentiment which sets itself against hope. Do what You want with me; I will never leave You, because You are the source of my life." Only one who has lived through similar moments can understand how terrible is this torment of the soul.
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Marso 31, 2016
You Are Witnesses of These Things-Divine Mercy Miracles Meditations
Marso 30, 2016
Unexpected Company and Personal Reassessments-Divine Mercy Miracles Meditations
Unexpected Company and Personal Reassessments
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March
30, 2016. Wednesday in
the Octave of Easter
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Father Robert Presutti, LC
Luke
24:13-35
That very day, the first day of the week,
two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem
called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had
occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus
himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from
recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk
along?" They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said
to him in reply, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not
know of the things that have taken place there in these days?" And he
replied to them, "What sort of things?" They said to him, "The
things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed
and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both
handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping
that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now
the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have
astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his
body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of
angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to
the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did
not see." And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow
of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that
the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" Then
beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what
referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to
which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther.
But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day
is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that,
while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it,
and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized
him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other,
"Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way
and opened the scriptures to us?" So they set out at once and returned
to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with
them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared
to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and
how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, You are the source of all life because
You are life itself. Your resurrection gives me the hope of being raised from
the dead to rejoice with You forever in heaven. I need to dwell more often on
the good You have done for us and on Your promises to those who put their
trust in You. Thank You, Jesus, for taking up Your life again and leading the
way home to heaven. I love You, and I want to follow after You with all my
heart. I want to cooperate more fully with You in bringing many others there
with me.
Petition: Lord Jesus, walk by
my side. Open up my person to the meaning of Scripture and the events of
life. Make my heart burn within me with Your words .
1. Two Downcast Faces: These two disciples had been badly shaken
by the events of the last few days. They had courageously left home and
family to follow the Lord. They had listened to his words, witnessed his
miracles, and even generously gone out and preached in his name. They had
expected Jesus to be the longed-for Messiah. And it was precisely at the
moment Jesus referred to as “his hour”, when he was accomplishing his
greatest work, that these disciples broke with Jesus. What when wrong? God
worked in a way and with a power these disciples had not expected, and which
they did not accept. The cross and suffering had not entered into their
plans. A gloriously triumphant path, they could accept; but not a crucified
Lord. As long as there were miracles, encouraging crowds and the high of
emotion, following Christ was their thing. But when the Cross cast its
shadow, they threw in the towel. And so, they are on their way back home,
back to their old lifestyle, hopes shattered and faces downcast. Their
conversation was a self-pitying reconstruction of events, without faith,
without a sense of God, sunken in their own sorrow.
2. Unexpected Questions from an Unexpected Guest:
The two disciples
are so centered on their own woes and wounds that they do not recognize who
walks alongside them. Feeling sorry for ourselves does not help us go to God,
but only immerses us further in our own impotence. What breaks through this
situation? An unexpected question that destroys the incorrect assumptions of
these two malcontents and invites them to look more deeply at their own
situation. Reflection on the obvious, on the real events of our life (and not
our own broken, limited plans and hopes) is what begins to open the door to a
reborn hope. What are you talking about? Why? Did you fail to grasp
something?
3. The Breaking of the Bread: Christ is the shepherd that seeks out these
two stray sheep. As always, he masterfully and gently enlightens their
conscience and leads them to the truth. Listening to Christ prepares these
two disciples to recognize him when he takes, breaks, blesses and gives them
“bread” – the same actions of the Last Supper. After recognizing Our Lord in
the “breaking of the bread”, their entire dispositions change. Even their way
of assessing events and situations changes. They had stopped for the evening,
but after experiencing the Lord, they race out in the middle of the night to
share their experience with the others.
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, teach me detachment from self,
and acceptance of Your glorious plan. Walk always by my side, and help me
realize, that as long as I am in conversation with You, even without my
realizing it, there is always hope and salvation.
Resolution: I will let God break my own limited plans and expectations. I
will talk to Christ about what goals he wants me to set for my life,
impossible though they may seem.
Excerpts from the
DIARY of Saint Faustina Kowalska
24 One day, just as I had
awakened, when I was putting myself in the presence of God, I was suddenly
overwhelmed by despair. Complete darkness in the soul. I fought as best I
could till noon. In the afternoon, truly deadly fears began to seize me; my
physical strength began to leave me. I went quickly to my cell, fell on my
knees before the Crucifix and began to cry out for mercy. But Jesus did not
hear my cries. I felt my physical strength leave me completely. I fell to the
ground, despair flooding my whole soul. I suffered terrible tortures in no
way different from the torments of hell. I was in this state for three
quarters of an hour. I wanted to go and see the Directress, but was too weak.
I wanted to shout but I had no voice. Fortunately, one of the sisters [another
novice, Sister Placida Putyra] came into my cell. Finding me in such a
strange condition, she immediately told the Directress about it. Mother came
at once. As soon as she entered the cell she said, "In the name of holy
obedience [16] get up from the
ground." Immediately some force raised me up from the ground and I stood
up, close to the dear Mother Directress. With kindly words she began to
explain to me that this was a trial sent to me by God, saying, "Have
great confidence; God is always our Father, even when He sends us
trials."
I returned to my duties as if I had come out from the tomb, my senses saturated with what my soul had experienced. During the evening service, my soul began to agonize again in a terrible darkness. I felt that I was in the power of the Just God, and that I was the object of His indignation. During these terrible moments I said to God, "Jesus, who in the Gospel compare Yourself to a most tender mother," I trust in Your words because You are Truth and Life. In spite of everything, Jesus, I trust in You in the face of every interior sentiment which sets itself against hope. Do what You want with me; I will never leave You, because You are the source of my life." Only one who has lived through similar moments can understand how terrible is this torment of the soul.
77 My mind became dimmed in a
strange way; no truth seemed clear to me. When people spoke to me about God,
my heart was like a rock. I could not draw from it a single sentiment of love
for Him. When I tried, by an act of the will, to remain close to Him, I
experienced great torments, and it seemed to me that I was only provoking God
to an even greater anger. It was absolutely impossible for me to meditate as
I had been accustomed to do in the past. I felt in my soul a great void, and
there was nothing with which I could fill it. I began to suffer from a great
hunger and yearning for God, but I saw my utter powerlessness. I tried to
read slowly, sentence by sentence, and to meditate in this way, but this also
was of no avail. I understood nothing of what I had read.
The abyss of my misery was constantly before my eyes. Every time I entered the chapel for some spiritual exercise, I experienced even worse torments and temptations. More than once, all through Holy Mass, I had to struggle against blasphemous thoughts which were forcing themselves to my lips. I felt an aversion for the Holy Sacraments, and it seemed to me that I was not profiting from them in any way. It was only out of obedience to my confessor that I frequented them, and this blind obedience was for me the only path I could follow and my very last hope of survival. The priest explained to me that these were trials sent by God and that, in the situation I was in, not only was I not offending God, but I was most pleasing to Him. "This is a sign," he told me, "that God loves you very much and that He has great confidence in you, since He is sending you such trials." But these words brought me no comfort; it seemed to me that they did not apply to me at all. One thing did surprise me: it often happened that, at the time when I was suffering greatly, these terrible torments would disappear suddenly just as I was approaching the confessional; but as soon as I had left the confessional, all these torments would again seize me with even greater ferocity. I would then fall on my face before the Blessed Sacrament repeating these words: "Even if You kill me, still will I trust in You!" [cf. Job 13:15] It seemed to me that I would die in these agonies. But the most terrible thought for me was the conviction that I had been rejected by God. Then other thoughts came to me: why strive to acquire virtues and do good works? why mortify and annihilate yourself? what good is it to take vows? to pray? to sacrifice and immolate yourself? why sacrifice myself all the time? what good is it - if I am already rejected by God? why all these efforts? And here, God alone knew what was going on in my heart.
94 O my Lord, inflame my heart
with love for You, that my spirit may not grow weary amidst the storms, the
sufferings and the trials. You see how weak I am. Love can do all.
96 +Trials sent by God to a soul
which is particularly loved by Him.
Temptations and darkness; Satan. The soul's love [for God] is still not such as God would have it. The soul suddenly loses the tangible perception of God's presence. Various defects and imperfections rise up within it, and it must fight them furiously. All her faults lift up their heads, but the soul's vigilance is great. The former awareness of the presence of God gives place to coldness and spiritual dryness; the soul has no taste for spiritual exercises; it cannot pray, either in the old way, or in the manner in which it had just begun to pray. It struggles this way and that, but can find no satisfaction. God has hidden himself from it, and it can find no consolation in creatures, nor can any of these creatures find a way of consoling it. The soul craves passionately for God, but sees its own misery; it begins to sense God's justice; it seems to it that it has lost all the gifts that God had given it; its mind is dimmed, and darkness fills it; unspeakable torment begins. The soul tries to explain its state to the confessor, but it is not understood and is assailed by an even greater unrest. Satan begins his work.
97 Faith staggers under the
impact; the struggle is fierce. The soul tries hard to cling to God by an act
of will. With God's permission, Satan goes even further: hope and love are
put to the test. These temptations are terrible. God supports the soul in
secret, so to speak. The soul is not aware of this, but otherwise it would be
impossible to stand firm; and God knows very well how much He can allow to
befall a soul. The soul is tempted to unbelief in respect to revealed truths
and to insincerity toward the confessor. Satan says to it, "Look, no one
understands you; why speak about all this?" Words that terrify it sound
in its ears, and it seems to the soul that it is uttering these against God.
It sees what it does not want to see. It hears what it does not want to hear.
And, oh, it is a terrible thing at times like these not to have an
experienced confessor! The soul carries the whole burden alone. However, one
should make every effort to find, if it is at all possible, a well-informed
confessor, for the soul can collapse under the burden and come to the very
edge of the precipice. All these trials are heavy and difficult. God does not
send them to a soul which has not already been admitted to a deeper intimacy
with Him and which has not yet tasted the divine delights. Besides, in this
God has His own plans, which for us are impenetrable. God often prepares a
soul in this way for His future designs and great works. He wants to try it
as pure gold is tried. But this is not yet the end of the testing; there is
still the trial of trials, the complete abandonment of the soul by God.
+ The Trial of Trials, Complete
Abandonment - Despair
98 When the soul comes out victorious from the preceding trials, even though it may stumble here and there, it fights on valiantly, humbly calling upon God, "Save me, I am perishing!" And it is still able to fight on. At this point, however, the soul is engulfed in a horrible night. It sees within itself only sin. It feels terrible. It sees itself completely abandoned by God. It feels itself to be the object of His hatred. It is but one step away from despair. The soul does its best to defend itself; it tries to stir up its confidence; but prayer is an even greater torment for it, as this prayer seems to arouse God to an even greater anger. The soul finds itself poised on the summit of a lofty mountain on the very brink of a precipice. The soul is drawn to God, but feels repulsed. All other sufferings and tortures in the world are as nothing compared with this sensation into which it has been plunged; namely, that of being rejected by God. No one can bring it any relief; it finds itself completely alone; there is no one to defend it. It raises its eyes to heaven, but is convinced that this is not for her-for her all is lost. It falls deeper and deeper from darkness to darkness, and it seems to it that it has lost forever the God it used to love so dearly. This thought is torture beyond all description. But the soul does not agree to it and tries to lift its gaze toward heaven, but in vain! And this makes the torture even more intense. If God wishes to keep the soul in such darkness, no one will be able to give it light. It experiences rejection by God in a vivid and terrifying manner. From its heart burst forth painful moans, so painful that no priest will comprehend it, unless he himself has been through these trials. In the midst of this, the evil spirit adds to the soul's suffering, mocking it: "Will you persist in your faithfulness? This is your reward; you are in our power!" But Satan has only as much influence over the soul as God allows him, and God knows how much we can bear. "What have you gotten out of your mortifications," says Satan, "and out of your fidelity to the rule? What use are all these efforts? You have been rejected by God!" This word, rejected, becomes a fire which penetrates every nerve to the marrow of the bone. It pierces right through her entire being. The ordeal reaches its climax. The soul no longer looks for help anywhere. It shrinks into itself and loses sight of everything; it is as though it has accepted the torture of being abandoned. This is a moment for which I have no words. This is the agony of the soul.
105 However, in all these
sufferings and struggles, I was not omitting Holy Communion. When it seemed
to me that I should not communicate, I went, before Holy Communion, to the
Directress and told her that I could not approach the Sacrament, because it
seemed to me that I should not do so. But she would not permit me to omit
Holy Communion, so I went, and I understand now that it was only obedience
that saved me.
The Directress herself told me later that my trials had passed quickly, "and this solely because you were obedient, Sister; and it was through the power of obedience that you struggled through this so bravely." It is true that it was the Lord himself who brought me out of this torment, but my fidelity to obedience did please Him.
109 After such sufferings the soul
finds itself in a state of great purity of spirit and very close to God. But
I should add that during these spiritual torments it is close to God, but it
is blind. The soul's vision is plunged into darkness, and though God is
nearer than ever to the soul which is suffering, the whole secret consists in
the fact that it knows nothing of this. The soul in fact declares that, not
only has God abandoned it, but it is the object of His hatred. With how great
a malady are they eyes of the soul afflicted! When struck by divine light,
the soul affirms that this light does not exist, although it is precisely
because this divine light is so bright that it is blinded. Yet despite all, I
learned later that God is closer to a soul at such moments than at others,
because it would not be able to endure these trials with the help of ordinary
grace alone. God's omnipotence and an extraordinary grace must be active
here, for otherwise the soul would succumb at the first blow.
112 +A few words about confession
and confessors. I shall speak only of what I have experienced and gone
through within my own soul. There are three things which hinder the soul from
drawing profit from confession in these exceptional moments.
The first thing: when the confessor has little knowledge of extraordinary ways and shows surprise if a soul discloses to him the great mysteries worked in it by God. Such surprise frightens a sensitive soul, and it notices that the confessor hesitates to give his opinion; and if it does notice this, it will not be set at peace, but will have even more doubts after confession than before, because it will sense that the confessor is trying to set it at peace while he himself is uncertain. Or else, as has happened to me, a confessor, unable to penetrate some of the soul's mysteries, refuses to hear the confession, showing a certain fear when the soul approaches the confessional. How can a soul in this state obtain peace in the confessional when it has become so oversensitive to every word of the priest? In my opinion, at times of such special trials sent by God to a soul, the priest, if he does not understand the soul, should direct it to some other experienced and well-instructed confessor. Or else he himself should seek light in order to give the soul what it needs, instead of downrightly denying it confession. For in this way he is exposing the soul to a great danger; and more than one soul may well leave the road along which God wanted it to journey. This is a matter of great importance, for I have experienced it myself. I myself began to waver; despite special gifts from God, and even though God himself reassured me, I have nevertheless always wanted to have the Church's seal as well. The second thing: the confessor does not allow the soul to express itself frankly, and shows impatience. The soul then falls silent and does not say everything [it has to say] and, by this, profits nothing. It profits even less when the confessor, without really knowing the soul, proceeds to put it to the test. Instead of helping the soul, he does it harm. The soul is aware that the confessor does not know it, because he did not allow it to lay itself open fully as regards both its graces and its misery. And so the test is ill-adapted. I have been submitted to some tests at which I have had to laugh. I will express this better thus: The confessor is the doctor of the soul, but how can a doctor prescribe a suitable remedy if he does not know the nature of the sickness? Never will he be able to do so. For either the remedy will not produce the desired effect, or else it will be too strong and will aggravate the illness, and sometimes-God forbid-even bring about death. I am speaking from my own experience because, in certain instances, it was the Lord himself who directly sustained me. The third thing: it also happens sometimes that the confessor makes light of little things. There is nothing little in the spiritual life. Sometimes a seemingly insignificant thing will disclose a matter of great consequence and will be for the confessor a beam of light which helps him to get to know the soul. Many spiritual undertones are concealed in little things. A magnificent building will never rise if we reject the insignificant bricks. God demands great purity of certain souls, and so He gives them a deeper knowledge of their own misery. Illuminated by light from on high, the soul can better know what pleases God and what does not. Sin depends upon the degree of knowledge and light that exists within the soul. The same is true of imperfections. Although the soul knows that it is only sin in the strict sense of the term which pertains to the sacrament of penance, yet these petty things are of great importance to a soul which is tending to sanctity, and the confessor must not treat them lightly. The patience and kindness of the confessor open the way to the innermost secrets of the soul. The soul, unconsciously as it were, reveals its abysmal depth and feels stronger and more resistant; it fights with greater courage and tries to do things better because it knows it must give an account of them. I will mention one more thing regarding the confessor. It is his duty to occasionally put to the test, to try, to exercise, to learn whether he is dealing with straw, with iron or with pure gold. Each of these three types of souls needs different kinds of training. The confessor must-and this is absolutely necessary-form a clear judgment of each soul in order to know how heavy a burden it can carry at certain times, in certain circumstances, or in particular situations. As for myself, it was only later on, after many [negative] experiences, that, when I saw that I was not understood, I no longer laid bare my soul or allowed my peace to be disturbed. But this happened only when all these graces had already been submitted to the judgement of a wise, well-instructed and experienced confessor. Now I know what to go by in certain cases.
116 My Jesus, You know what my
soul goes through at the recollection of these sufferings. I have often marvelled
that the angels and saints hold their peace at the sight of a soul suffering
like that. Yet they have special love for us at such moments. My soul has
often cried out after God, as a little child who cries as loudly as he can
when his mother covers her face and he cannot recognize her. O my Jesus,
honor and glory to You for these trials of love! Great and incomprehensible
is your mercy. All that You intended for my soul, O Lord, is steeped in Your
mercy.
117 I will mention here that those
who live with such a person should not add external sufferings; for indeed,
when the soul's cup is full, the little drop we may add to it may be the one
drop too much, and the cup of bitterness will overflow. And who will answer
for such a soul? Let us beware of adding to the suffering of others, because
that is displeasing to the Lord. If the sisters or the superiors knew or even
suspected that a soul was suffering such trials, and they nevertheless added
still other sufferings, they would be sinning gravely, and God himself would
demand an account of them on behalf of such a soul. I am not speaking here of
instances which of their very nature are sinful, but of things which in other
circumstances would not be sinful. Let us be on our guard against having the
weight of such a soul on our conscience. This is a grave and common defect in
religious life; namely, that when one sees a suffering soul, one always wants
to add even more suffering. I do not say that everyone acts like this, but
there are some. We take the liberty of passing all sorts of judgments, and we
repeat them when we would do better to remain silent.
121 +There is a series of graces
which God pours into the soul after these trials by fire. The soul enjoys
intimate union with God. It has many visions, both corporeal and
intellectual. It hears many supernatural words, and sometimes distinct
orders. But despite these graces, it is not self-sufficient. In fact it is
even less so as a result of God's graces, because it is now open to many
dangers and can easily fall prey to illusions. It ought to ask God for a
spiritual director; but not only must it pray for one, it must also make
every effort to find a leader who is an expert in these things, just as a
military leader must know the ways along which he will lead [his followers]
into battle. A soul that is united with God must be prepared for great and
hard-fought battles.
+After these purifications and tears, God abides in the soul in a special way, but the soul does not always cooperate with these graces. Not that the soul itself is not willing to work, but it encounters so many interior and exterior difficulties that it really takes a miracle to sustain the soul on these summits. In this, it absolutely needs a director. People have often sown doubt in my soul, and I myself have sometimes become frightened at the thought that I was, after all, an ignorant person and did not have knowledge of many things, above all, spiritual things. But when my doubts increased, I sought light from my confessor or my superiors. Yet I did not obtain what I desired.
166 In prayer I always find light and strength of spirit,
although there are moments so trying and hurtful, that it is sometimes
difficult to imagine that these things can happen in a convent. Strangely,
God sometimes allows them, but always in order to manifest or develop virtue
in a soul. That is the reason for trials.
227 +In the midst of trials I will
try to see the loving hand of God. Nothing is as constant as suffering-it
always faithfully keeps the soul company. O Jesus, I will let no one surpass
me in loving You!
240 Three requests on the day of my perpetual vows. Jesus,
I know that today You will refuse me nothing.
First request: Jesus, my most beloved Spouse, I beg You for the triumph of the Church, particularly in Russia and in Spain; for blessings on the Holy Father, Pius XI, and on all the clergy; for the grace of conversion for impenitent sinners. And I ask You for a special blessing and for light, O Jesus, for the priests before whom I will make my confessions throughout my lifetime. Second request :I beg Your blessings on our Congregation, and may it be filled with great zeal. Bless, O Jesus, our Mother General and our Mother Directress, all the novices and all the superiors. Bless my dearest parents. Bestow Your grace, O Jesus, on our wards; strengthen them so powerfully by Your grace so that those who leave our houses will no longer offend You by any sin. Jesus, I beg You for my homeland; protect it against the assaults of its enemies. Third request:Jesus, I plead with You for the souls that are most in need of prayer. I plead for the dying; be merciful to them. I also beg You, Jesus, to free all souls from purgatory. Jesus, I commend to You these particular persons: My confessors, persons recommended to my prayers, a certain person..., Father Andrasz, Father Czaputa, and the priest I met in Vilnius [Father Sopocko], who is to be my confessor, a certain soul... a certain priest, a certain religious[70] to whom You know how much I owe, Jesus, and all the people who have been recommended to my prayer. Jesus, on this day You can do everything for those for whom I am pleading. For myself I ask, Lord, transform me completely into Yourself, maintain in me a holy zeal for Your glory, give me the grace and spiritual strength to do Your holy will in all things. Thank You, o my dearest Bridegroom, for the dignity You have conferred on me, and in particular for the royal coat-of-arms which will adorn me from this day on and which even the Angels do not possess; namely, the cross, the sword and the crown of thorns. But above all, O my Jesus, I thank You for Your Heart-it is all I need. Mother of God, Most Holy Mary, my Mother, You are my Mother in a special way now because Your beloved Son is my Bridegroom, and thus we are both Your children. For Your Son's sake, You have to love me. O Mary, my dearest Mother, guide my spiritual life in such a way that it will please Your Son. +Holy and Omnipotent God, at this moment of immense grace by which You are uniting me with Yourself forever, I, mere nothingness, with the utmost gratitude, cast myself at Your feet like a tiny, unknown flower and, each day, the fragrance of that flower of love will ascend to Your throne. In times of struggle and suffering, of darkness and storm, of yearning and sorrow, in times of difficult trials, in times when nobody will understand me, when I will even be condemned and scorned by everyone, I will remember the day of my perpetual vows, the day of God's incomprehensible grace.
272 But previously, this priest
had put me through many trials. When I told him that the Lord wanted these
things of me [that is, the painting of the image, the establishing of a feast
of The Divine Mercy, and the founding of a new community], he laughed at me
and told me to come to confession at eight in the evening. When I came at
eight, a brother was already locking the church. When I told him that Father
had ordered me to come at that time and asked him to let Father know I was
there, the good brother went to let him know. Father told him to tell me that
priests do not hear confessions at that time of day. I returned home
emptyhanded and did not go to confession to him again, but I made a whole
hour's adoration and took on certain mortifications for him, that he might
obtain light from God in order to know souls. But when Father Sopocko left,
and he substituted for him, I was forced to go to confession to him. Yet,
while previously he had been unwilling to acknowledge these inner
inspirations, he now put me under obligation to be faithful to them. God lets
such things happen sometimes, but may He be glorified in everything. Still,
it requires much grace not to falter.
+O Jesus, hidden in the Blessed
Sacrament,
580 On a certain occasion, the
Lord said to me, I am more deeply wounded by the small imperfections of
chosen souls than by the sins of those living in the world. It made me
very sad that chosen souls make Jesus suffer, and Jesus told me, These
little imperfections are not all. I will reveal to you a secret of My Heart:
what I suffer from chosen souls. Ingratitude in return for so many graces is
My Heart's constant food, on the part of [such] a chosen soul. Their love is
lukewarm, and My Heart cannot bear it; these souls force Me to reject them.
Others distrust My goodness and have no desire to experience that sweet
intimacy in their own hearts, but go in search of Me, off in the distance,
and do not find Me. This distrust of My goodness hurts Me very much. If My
death has not convinced you of My love, what will? Often a soul wounds Me
mortally, and then no one can comfort Me. They use My graces to offend Me.
There are souls who despise My graces as well as all the proofs of My love.
They do not wish to hear My call, but proceed into the abyss of hell. The
loss of these souls plunges Me into deadly sorrow. God though I am, I cannot
help such a soul because it scorns Me; having a free will, it can spurn Me or
love Me. You, who are the dispenser of My mercy, tell all the world about My
goodness, and thus you will comfort My Heart.
581 I will tell you most when
you converse with Me in the depths of your heart. Here, no one can disturb My
actions. Here, I rest as in a garden enclosed.
609 I said to Him, "I know
that You are my Lord and Creator even though You are so tiny." Jesus
stretched His little arms out to me and looked at me with a smile. My spirit
was filled with incomparable joy. Then suddenly Jesus disappeared, and it was
time for Holy Communion. I went with the other sisters to the Holy Table, my
soul deeply moved. After Holy Communion, I heard these words in my soul: I
am in your heart, I whom you had in your arms. I then pleaded with Jesus
for a certain soul [Father Sopocko], asking the Lord to grant him the grace
to fight, and to take this trial from him. As you ask, so shall it be, but
his merit will not be lessened. Joy reigned in my soul that God is so
good and merciful; God grants everything that we ask of Him with trust.
770 As for myself, I received this grace for
the first time, and that for only a brief moment, in the eighteenth [149] year of my life, within the octave of Corpus Christi [June
18-25, 1925], during Vespers, when I made to the Lord Jesus the vow of
perpetual chastity. I was still living in the world, but I entered the
convent soon afterwards. The grace lasted for a very brief moment, but its
power was great. After this grace, there was a long interval. It is true that
I received many graces from the Lord during this interval, but they were of a
different order. It was a time of trials and purification. The trials were so
painful that my soul felt as though it was being totally abandoned by God and
it was steeped in profound darkness. I became aware and understood that no
one would be able to bring me out of those torments or even understand me.
There were two occasions when my soul was
plunged into despair, once for half an hour, and the second time for three
quarters of an hour. Just as I cannot describe the greatness of the graces,
so too with these ordeals sent by the Lord; whatever words I might use, they
are only a pale shadow [of the reality]. However, just as the Lord plunged me
into these torments, so too He brought me out of them. Only this lasted for a
few years, after which I again received this extraordinary grace of union
which has continued to this day. Still, during this second period of union,
there also have been short interruptions. But for some time now, I have not
experienced any interruption at all; on the contrary, I am more and more
deeply steeped in God. The great light which illumines the mind gives me a
knowledge of the greatness of God; but it is not as if I were getting to know
the individual attributes, as before no, it is different now: in one moment,
I come to know the entire essence of God.
831 O my Jesus, my soul was
yearning for the days of trial, but do not leave me alone in the darkness of
my soul. Rather, do You hold me firmly, close to Yourself. Set a guard over
my lips, so that the fragrance of my sufferings may be known and pleasing to
You alone.
848 While I was saying the
chaplet, I heard a voice which said, Oh, what great graces I will grant to
souls who say this chaplet; the very depths of My tender mercy are stirred
for the sake of those who say the chaplet. Write down these words, My
daughter. Speak to the world about My mercy; let all mankind recognize My
unfathomable mercy. It is a sign for the end times; after it will come the
day of justice. While there is still time, let them have recourse to the
fount of My mercy; let them profit from the Blood and Water which gushed
forth for them.
O human souls, where are you going to hide on the day of God's anger? Take refuge now in the fount of God's mercy. O what a great multitude of souls I see! They worshiped the Divine Mercy and will be singing the hymn of praise for all eternity.
897 January 27, 1937. I feel considerable improvement in
my health. Jesus is bringing me from the gates of death to life, because
there was so little left but for me to die, and lo, the Lord grants me the
fullness of life. Although I am still to remain in the sanatorium, I am
almost completely well. I see that the will of God has not yet been fulfilled
in me, and that is why I must live, for I know that if I fulfill everything
the Lord has planned for me in this world, He will not leave me in exile any
longer, for heaven is my home. But before we go to our Homeland, we must
fulfill the will of God on earth; that is, trials and struggles must run
their full course in us.
915 + O Mary, today a terrible
sword has pierced Your holy soul. Except for God, no one knows of Your
suffering. Your soul does not break; it is brave, because it is with Jesus.
Sweet Mother, unite my soul to Jesus, because it is only then that I will be
able to endure all trials and tribulations, and only in union with Jesus will
my little sacrifices be pleasing to God. Sweetest Mother, continue to teach
me about the interior life. May the sword of suffering never break me. O pure
Virgin, pour courage into my heart and guard it.
940 I myself suffered a great deal
and was much tried in this respect. Therefore, I am writing only about what I
myself have experienced. It was only after many novenas, prayers and penances
that God sent me a priest who understood my soul. Oh, there would be many
more saintly souls if there were more experienced and saintly confessors.
Many a soul, earnestly striving for sanctity, cannot manage by itself during
times of trial and abandons the road to perfection.
+ Conversation of the Merciful God
with a Suffering Soul
1487 Jesus: Poor soul, I see that you suffer much and that you do not have even the strength to coverse with me. So I will speak to you. Even though your sufferings were very great, do not lose heart or give in to despondency. But tell Me, my child, who has dared to wound your heart? Tell me about everything, be sincere in dealing with Me, reveal all the wounds of your heart. I will heal them, and your suffering will become a source of your sanctification. Soul: Lord, my sufferings are so great and numerous and have lasted so long that I become discouraged. Jesus: My child, do not be discouraged. I know your boundless trust in Me; I know you are aware of My goodness and mercy. Let us talk in detail about everything that weighs so heavily upon your heart. Soul: There are so many different things that I do not know what to speak about first, nor how to express it. Jesus: Talk to Me simply, as a friend to a friend. Tell Me now, My child, what hinders you from advancing in holiness? Soul: Poor health detains me on the way to holiness. I cannot fulfill my duties. I am as useless as an extra wheel on a wagon. I cannot mortify myself or fast to any extent, as the saints did. Furthermore, nobody believes I am sick, so that mental pain is added to those of the body, and I am often humiliated. Jesus, how can anyone become holy in such circumstances? Jesus: True, My child, all that is painful. But there is no way to heaven except the way of the cross. I followed it first. You must learn that it is the shortest and surest way. Soul: Lord, there is another obstacle on the road to holiness. Because I am faithful to You, I am persecuted and suffer much. Jesus: It is because you are not of this world that the world hates you. First it persecuted Me. Persecution is a sign that you are following in My footsteps faithfully. Soul: My Lord, I am also discouraged because neither my superiors nor my confessor understand my interior trials. A darkness clouds my mind. How can I advance? All this discourages me from striving for the heights of sanctity. Jesus: Well, My child, this time you have told Me a good deal. I realize how painful it is not to be understood, and especially by those whom one loves and with whom one has been very open. But suffice it to know that I understand all your troubles and misery. I am pleased by the deep faith you have, despite everything, in My representatives. Learn from this that no one will understand a soul entirely-that is beyond human ability. Therefore, I have remained on earth to comfort your aching heart and to fortify your soul, so that you will not falter on the way. You say that a dense darkness is obscuring your mind. But why, at such times, do you not come to Me, the light who can in an instant pour into your soul more understanding about holiness than can be found in any books? No confessor is capable of teaching and enlightening a soul in this way. Know, too, that the darkness about which you complain I first endured in the Garden of Olives when My Soul was crushed in mortal anguish. I am giving you a share in those sufferings because of My special love for you and in view of the high degree of holiness I am intending for you in heaven. A suffering soul is closest to My Heart. Soul: One more thing, Lord. What should I do when I am ignored and rejected by people, especially by those on whom I had a right to count in times of greatest need? Jesus: My child, make the resolution never to rely on people. Entrust yourself completely to My will saying, "Not as I want, but according to Your will, O God, let it be done unto me." These words, spoken from the depths of one's heart, can raise a soul to the summit of sanctity in a short time. In such a soul I delight. Such a soul gives Me glory. Such a soul fills heaven with the fragrance of her virtue. But understand that the strength by which you bear sufferings comes from frequent Communions. So approach this fountain of mercy often, to draw with the vessel of trust whatever you need. Soul: Thank You, Lord, for Your goodness in remaining with us in this exile as the God of mercy and blessing us with the radiance of Your compassion and goodness. It is through the light of Your mercy that I have come to understand how much You love me.
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-24, 77, 94, 96-98 105,
109, 112, 116)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-117, 121, 166, 227,
240, 272)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-580-581, 609, 770,
831, 848)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-II-897, 915, 940 )
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-V-1487)
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