Consolation from the Spirit
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May 23, 2017. Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Father John Doyle, LC
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John 16:5-11
Jesus
said to his disciples: "But now I am going to the one who sent me, and
not one of you asks me, ´Where are you going?´ But because I told you this,
grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you
that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I
go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in
regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not
believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will
no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been
condemned."
Introductory
Prayer: Lord, as I begin
this prayer I offer You my whole self: my thoughts, desires, decisions,
actions, hopes, fears, weaknesses, failures and petty successes. I open my
entire being to You, aware that You know everything already. I’m certain of Your
mercy and of the purifying power of Your penetrating, loving gaze.
Petition:
Lord, help me to
experience the joy and consolation of the Spirit.
1.
Sadness at Jesus’ Parting: As Jesus’ imminent self-sacrifice approaches, the apostles are
overwhelmed with confusion and grief. “Who is going to betray him?” “Why is
he going?” “What will we do without him?” Questions like these — fruit of
their concern for their Master and friend — are whispered to and fro. They
have given up everything to follow him. Jesus strives to console them
although he is immersed in grief himself. Sorrow is not lacking in the life
of any pilgrim, and as Christians we are exiles in a foreign land. Our joy
and hope comes from the vision of faith, which enables us to follow in the
footsteps of Our Lord. His sacrifice and victory give meaning to our daily
trials.
2.
The Consoler’s Coming: We are called to an intimate friendship with the Holy Spirit,
the “Sweet Guest of the Soul.” Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon us at our
baptism to be the craftsman of our holiness, and our consolation and strength
as we await Christ’s return. No one would wish to face a criminal trial alone
and unaided; nor should we try to face the ordeal against sin without the
help of Christ’s advocate. Am I aware of the gentle presence of the Holy
Spirit in my soul? Am I attentive and docile to his inspirations and
movements?
3.
Setting Things Right: Nothing is so unsettling as to see the “bad guy” win. Whether
it be in the movies or in real life, somehow it seems written in the very
fabric of the universe that good should prevail. Many times evil has appeared
to usurp the upper hand momentarily, but a Higher Power has always
intervened, causing one tyranny and dictatorship after another to crumble. In
our own day, evils abound in societies where the lives of the most vulnerable
are greatly undervalued. Christ reminds us, however, that the Holy Spirit is
at work. Time and again the Holy Spirit continues renewing the face of the
earth and changing hearts, bringing good out of evil. Am I too pessimistic in
the face of evil, or do I have the optimism of a Christian? Do I confide in
the grace and action of the Holy Spirit?
Conversation
with Christ: Lord
Jesus, You have left us to go to the Father and yet You are still with us
through the action of Your Holy Spirit. Help me to find strength and
consolation as I strive to follow his guidance.
Resolution:
I will take a moment
out of my day today to thank the Holy Spirit for his action in the world and
in my life.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
511
When my intentions are not recognized, but rather condemned, I am not too
much surprised, for I know that it is only God who scrutinizes my heart.
Truth will not die; the wounded heart will regain peace in due time, and my
spirit is strengthened through adversities. I do not always listen to what my
heart tells me, but I keep asking God for light; and when I feel l have
regained my equilibrium, then I say more.
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.
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."
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."
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.
1090 And this happened on the last
day of my novena to the Holy Spirit. After this return to health, I found
myself united with the Lord Jesus in a purely spiritual way. Jesus gave me
strong assurances; that is, He confirmed me in respect to His demands. I
remained close to the Lord Jesus all that day and talked with Him about the
details concerning that congregation.
Jesus infused my soul with power and courage to act. Now I understand that if the Lord demands something of a soul, He gives it the means to carry it out, and through grace He makes it capable of doing this. So, even if the soul be utterly miserable, at the Lord's command it can undertake things beyond its expectation, because this is the sign by which it can be known that the Lord is with that soul: if God's power and strength, which make the soul courageous and valiant, is manifest within it. As for myself, I am always at first a bit frightened at the Lord's greatness, but afterwards my soul is filled with profound peace which nothing can disturb, as well as an inner strength to do what the Lord is demanding at that particular moment....
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...
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]
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.
1286 + Thank You, O God, for all the graces
Which unceasingly You lavish upon me, Graces which enlighten me with the brilliance of the sun, For by them You show me the sure way. Thank You, 0 Lord, for creating me, For calling me into being from nothingness, For imprinting Your divinity on my soul, The work of sheer merciful love. Thank You, O God, for Holy Baptism Which engrafted me into Your family, A gift great beyond all thought or expression Which transforms my soul. Thank You, O Lord, for Holy Confession, For that inexhaustible spring of great mercy, For that inconceivable fountain of graces In which sin-tainted souls become purified. Thank You, O Jesus, for Holy Communion In which You give us Yourself. I feel Your Heart beating within my breast As You cause Your divine life to unfold within me. Thank You, O Holy Spirit, for the Sacrament of Confirmation, Which dubs me Your knight And gives strength to my soul at each moment, Protecting me from evil. Thank You, O God, for the grace of a vocation. For being called to serve You alone, Leading me to make You my sole love, An unequal honor for my soul. Thank You, O Lord, for perpetual vows, For that union of pure love, For having deigned to unite Your pure heart with mine And uniting my heart to Yours in the purest of bonds. Thank You, O Lord, for the Sacrament of Anointing Which, in my final moments, will give me strength; My help in battle, my guide to salvation, Fortifying my soul till we rejoice forever. Thank You, O God, for all the inspirations That Your goodness lavishes upon me, For the interior lights given my soul, Which the heart senses, but words cannot express. Thank You, O Holy Trinity, for the vastness of the graces Which You have lavished on me unceasingly through life. My gratitude will intensify as the eternal dawn rises, When, for the first time, I sing to Your glory.
1445 In the
greatest torments of soul I am always alone, but no-not alone, for I am with
You, Jesus; but here I am speaking about [other] people. None of them
understands my heart, but this does not surprise me anymore, whereas I used
to be surprised when my intentions were condemned and wrongly interpreted;
no, this does not surprise me now at all. People do not know how to perceive
the soul. They see the body, and they judge according to the body. But as
distant as heaven is from earth, so distant are God's thoughts from our
thoughts. I myself have experienced that quite often it happens that [... ]
1452
When the clock struck twelve, my soul immersed itself more deeply in
recollection, and I heard a voice in my
Soul: Do not fear, My little child, you are not alone. Fight bravely, because My arm is supporting you; fight for the salvation of souls, exhorting them to trust in My mercy, as that is your task in this life and in the life to come. After these words, I received a deeper understanding of divine mercy. Only that soul who wants it will be damned, for God condemns no one.
1504 +
Lord, You know that since my youth I have always sought Your will and,
recognizing it, have always tried to carry it out. My heart has been
accustomed to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, to whom I am faithful. In
the midst of the greatest din I have heard the voice of God. I always know
what is going on in my interior...
1552
Then I heard the words:
As you are united with Me in life, so will you be united at the moment of
death. After these words, such great trust in God's great
mercy was awakened in my soul that, even if I had had the sins of the whole
world, as well as the sins of all the condemned souls weighing on my
conscience, I would not have doubted God's goodness but, without hesitation,
would have thrown myself into the abyss of the divine mercy, which is always
open to us; and, with a heart crushed to dust, I would have cast myself at
His feet, abandoning myself totally to His holy will, which is mercy itself.
1556 When I had gone to the chapel for a moment, the
Lord gave me to know that, among His chosen ones, there are some who are
especially chosen, and whom He calls to a higher form of holiness, to
exceptional union with Him. These are seraphic souls, from whom God demands
greater love than He does from others. Although all live in the same convent,
yet He sometimes demands of a particular soul a greater degree of love. Such
a soul understands this call, because God makes this known to it interiorly,
but the soul may either follow this call or not. It depends on the soul
itself whether it is faithful to these touches of the Holy Spirit, or whether
it resists them. I have learned that there is a place in purgatory where
souls will pay their debt to God for such transgressions; this kind of
torment is the most difficult of all. The soul which is specially marked by
God will be distinguished everywhere, whether in heaven or in purgatory or in
hell. In heaven, it will be distinguished from other souls by greater glory
and radiance and deeper knowledge of God. In purgatory, by greater pain,
because it knows God more profoundly and desires Him more vehemently. In
hell, it will suffer more profoundly than other souls, because it knows more
fully whom it has lost. This indelible mark of God's exclusive love, in the
[soul], will not be obliterated.
1557 O Jesus, keep
me in holy fear, so that I may not waste graces. Help me to be faithful to
the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. Grant that my heart may burst for love
of You, rather than I should neglect even one act of love for You.
1567 As I took the
pen in hand, I addressed a short prayer to the Holy Spirit and said,
"Jesus, bless this pen so that everything You order me to write may be
for the glory of God." Then I heard a voice: Yes, I bless [it], because this writing bears the
seal of obedience to your superior and confessor, and by that very fact I am
already given glory, and many souls will be drawing profit from it. My
daughter, I demand that you devote all your free moments to writing about My
goodness and mercy. It is your office and your assignment throughout your
life to continue to make known to souls the great mercy I have for them and
to exhort them to trust in My bottomless mercy.
1670 + Easter [April 17, 1938]. During Mass, I thanked
the Lord Jesus for having deigned to redeem us and for having given us that
greatest of all gifts; namely, His love in Holy Communion; that is, His very
own Self. At that moment, I was drawn into the bosom of the Most Holy
Trinity, and I was immersed in the love of the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit. These moments are hard to describe.
1828 16. + Today, the Majesty of God is surrounding me.
There is no way that I can help myself to prepare better. I am thoroughly
enwrapped in God. My soul is being inflamed by His love. I only know that I
love and am loved. That is enough for me. I am trying my best to be faithful
throughout the day to the Holy Spirit and to fulfill His demands. I am trying
my best for interior silence in order to be able to hear His voice...
(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, 511)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-525-526, 552, 647, 658, 734, 777 )
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-III-1073, 1090, 1106, 1174)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-IV-1264, 1286)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-V-1445, 1504, 1556-1557, 1567)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-VI-1670)
(Preperation for Holy Communion-1828)
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