The Fruit of the Kingdom
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January 31, 2020.
Memorial of Saints John
Bosco, Priest
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Mark 4:26-34
He said, "This is how it is with the
kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would
sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not
how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear,
then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the
sickle at once, for the harvest has come." He said, "To what shall
we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like
a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all
the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the
largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky
can dwell in its shade." With many such parables he spoke the word to
them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to
them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I come into Your presence with
openness of heart. I know that You want to plant Your seed in me and help it
to bear fruit. I trust that You will pour out Your mercy on me as I spend
this time with You. I want to love You more and become a better instrument of
Your love.
Petition: Lord, help me contemplate the action of Your
grace upon the world and fully cooperate with You.
1. Steady Growth: Jesus reminds me that his grace is working
in the world. His message carries an interior dynamism that affects souls and
brings about change in them. I think of someone who has surprised me by a
sudden conversion or steady growth in Christian living. I see many people who
are working on projects of evangelization or are full of Christian charity. I
see many other people who are trying in their secular occupations to do their
part to make this world better. I contemplate the many families that are
striving to be places of love in which each person is valued as a unique
gift. This is the seed of the Gospel that grows silently without our knowing
how.
2. When the Grain Is Ripe: God, in his mercy, often adds years to our
life so that we can learn wisdom and produce in our actions fruit that is
worthy of eternity. How much do I value the opportunities I have each day to
do simple acts of charity or leave messages that have a beneficial effect on
others? How often do I pray for others? Each day I should be attentive to the
small and big opportunities the Lord gives me to help establish his kingdom
more deeply in my soul and in the souls of others.
3. Disproportionate Strength: Like the image of the mustard tree in the
parable, Christ’s grace sustains many men and women throughout the world.
People discover in Christ’s friendship the true home their hearts seek and
the communion with all men they intuitively desire. What a great gift we have
in the Church! Let us try to make it a true home for all people. Let us
partake deeply of its teachings and its grace and become more deeply a gift
for others. The strength of love sustains us.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, thank You for the workings of Your
grace in so many souls. I want to be united with Your grace throughout this
day and throughout my life. Help me to use this day in such a way that I will
be planting Your love around me.
Resolution: Today I will take time to say a special
prayer or make a special sacrifice for the conversion of sinners.
Excerpts from the DIARY of Saint Faustina
Kowalska
36 Once I was summoned to the
judgment [seat] of God. I stood alone before the Lord. Jesus appeared such as
we know Him during His Passion. After a moment, His wounds disappeared except
for five, those in His hands, His feet and His side. Suddenly I saw the
complete condition of my soul as God sees it. I could clearly see all that is
displeasing to God. I did not know that even the smallest transgressions will
have to be accounted for. What a moment! Who can describe it? To stand before
the Thrice-Holy God! Jesus asked me, Who are you? I answered, "I
am Your servant, Lord." You are guilty of one day of fire in
purgatory. I wanted to throw myself immediately into the flames of purgatory,
but Jesus stopped me and said, Which do you prefer, suffer now for one day in
purgatory or for a short while on earth? I replied, "Jesus, I want
to suffer in purgatory, and I want to suffer also the greatest pains on
earth, even if it were until the end of the world." Jesus said, One [of
the two] is enough; you will go back to earth, and there you will suffer
much, but not for long; you will accomplish My will and My desires, and a
faithful servant of Mine will help you to do this. Now, rest your head on My
bosom, on My heart, and draw from it strength and power for these sufferings,
because you will find neither relief nor help nor comfort anywhere else. Know
that you will have much, much to suffer, but don't let this frighten you; I
am with you.
83 Write this: before I come as
the just Judge, I am coming first as the King of Mercy. Before the day of
justice arrives, there will be given to people a sign in the heavens of this
sort: All light in the heavens will be extinguished, and there will be great
darkness over the whole earth. Then the sign of the cross will be seen in the
sky, and from the openings where the hands and the feet of the Savior were
nailed will come forth great lights which will light up the earth for a
period of time. This will take place shortly before the last day.
374 J.M.J Vilnius, Februrary 4,
1935
[page in the Dairy with the words "From today on my will does not exist" crossed out with a large 'X'] The moment I knelt down to cross out my own will, as the Lord had bid me to do, I heard this voice in my soul: From today on, do not fear God's judgment, for you will not be judged [The next page has...] J.M.J Vilnius, February 4, 1935
496 Confession Day. From early morning, the turmoil in my
soul was more violent than anything I had ever experienced before. Complete
abandonment by God; I felt the utter weakness that I was. Thoughts bore in upon
me: why should I leave this convent where I am loved by the sisters and
superiors, where life is so tranquil; [where I am] bound by perpetual vows
and carry out my duties without difficulty; why should I listen to the voice
of my conscience; why follow an inspiration coming from who knows where;
wouldn't it be better to carry on like all the other sisters? Perhaps the
Lord's words could be stifled, not taken heed of; maybe God will not demand
an account of them on the day of judgment. Where will this inner voice lead
me? If I follow it, what tremendous difficulties, tribulations and
adversities are in store for me. I fear the future, and I am agonizing in the
present.
This suffering continued with the same intensity throughout the whole day. When, in the evening, my turn came for confession, I could not make a full confession, even though I had been preparing for a long time. I received absolution and left, not knowing what was going on within me. When I went to bed, the suffering grew even worse; or rather, it changed into a fire which penetrated all the faculties of my soul like lightning, piercing me to the marrow, and to the most secret recesses of my heart. In the midst of this suffering, I was unable to bring myself to do anything. "Your will be done, Lord." At times I could not even think these words. Truly, a deadly fear had taken hold of me, and the flames of hell were touching me. Toward morning, silence set in, and my tribulations disappeared in the twinkling of an eye, but I felt so frightfully exhausted that I could not even move. During my conversation with Mother Superior, my strength returned bit by bit, but God alone knows how I felt throughout that whole day.
625 In the evening, when I was praying, the Mother of God
told me, Your lives must be like Mine: quiet and hidden, in unceasing union
with God, pleading for humanity and preparing the world for the second coming
of God
635 March 25. In the morning, during meditation, God's
presence enveloped me in a special way, as I saw the immeasurable greatness
of God and, at the same time, His condescension to His creatures. Then I saw
the Mother of God, who said to me, Oh,
how pleasing to God is the soul that follows faithfully the inspirations of
His grace! I gave the Savior to the world; as for you, you have to speak to
the world about His great mercy and prepare the world for the Second Coming
of Him who will come, not as a merciful Savior, but as a just Judge. Oh, how
terrible is that day! Determined is the day of justice, the day of divine wrath.
The angels tremble before it. Speak to souls about this great mercy while it
is still the time for [granting] mercy. If you keep silent now, you will be
answering for a great number of souls on that terrible day. Fear nothing. Be
faithful to the end. I sympathize with you.
660 O my Jesus, on the day of the last judgment, You will
demand from me an account of this work of mercy. O just Judge, but my Spouse
as well, help me to do Your holy will. O mercy, O divine virtue!
O most merciful Heart of Jesus, my Betrothed, make my heart like unto Yours.
793 I am reliving these moments with Our Lady. With great
longing, I am waiting for the Lord's coming. Great are my desires. I desire
that all humankind come to know the Lord. I would like to prepare all nations
for the coming of the Word Incarnate. O Jesus, make the fount of Your mercy
gush forth more abundantly, for humankind is seriously ill and thus has more
need than ever of Your compassion. You are a bottomless sea of mercy for us
sinners; and the greater the misery, the more right we have to Your mercy.
You are a fount which makes all creatures happy by Your infinite mercy.
825 + O bright and clear day on which all my dreams will
be fulfilled; O day so eagerly desired, the last day of my life! I look forward
with joy to the last stroke the Divine Artist will trace on my soul, which
will give my soul a unique beauty that will distinguish me from the beauty of
other souls. O great day, on which divine love will be confirmed in me. On
that day, for the first time, I shall sing before heaven and earth the song
of the Lord's fathomless mercy. This is my work and the mission which the
Lord has destined for me from the beginning of the world. That the song of my
soul may be pleasing to the Holy Trinity, do You, O Spirit of God, direct and
form my soul yourself. I arm myself with patience and await Your coming, O
merciful God, and as to the terrible pains and fear of death, at this moment
more than at any other time, I trust in the abyss of Your mercy and am reminding
You, O merciful Jesus, sweet Savior, of all the promises You have made to me.
840 December 23, [1936]. I am spending this time with the
Mother of God and preparing myself for the solemn moment of the coming of the
Lord Jesus. The Mother of God is instructing me in the interior life of the
soul with Jesus, especially in Holy Communion. It is only in eternity that we
shall know the great mystery effected in us by Holy Communion. O most
precious moments of my life!
895 January 23, [1937]. I did not feel like writing today.
Then I heard a voice in my soul: My daughter, you do not live for yourself
but for souls; write for their benefit. You know that My will as to your
writing has been confirmed many times by your confessors. You know what is
pleasing to Me, and if you have any doubts about what I am saying, you also
know whom you are to ask. I grant him light to pronounce judgment on my case.
My eye watches over him. My daughter, you are to be like a child towards him,
full of simplicity and candor. Put his judgment above all My demands. He will
guide you according to My will. If he doesn't allow you to carry out My
demands, be at peace; I will not judge you, but the matter will remain
between Me and him. You are to be obedient.
1074 When I went for adoration,
I heard these words: My beloved daughter, write down these words, that
today My Heart has rested in this convent [the Cracow house]. Tell the
world about My mercy and My love.
The flames of mercy are burning me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls. Oh, what pain they cause Me when they do not want to accept them! My daughter, do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My mercy. I will make up for what you lack. Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it -with peace. Tell [all people], My daughter, that I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls.
1075 Souls who spread the honor
of My mercy I shield through their entire lives as a tender mother her
infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the
Merciful Savior. At that last hour, a soul has nothing with which to defend
itself except My mercy. Happy is the soul that during its lifetime immersed
itself in the Fountain of Mercy, because justice will have no hold on it.
1076 Write this: Everything that exists is enclosed in the bowels of My mercy, more deeply than an infant in its mother's womb. How painfully distrust of My goodness wounds Me! Sins of distrust wound Me most painfully.
+ Particular Examen
Union with the merciful Christ. With my heart I encompass the whole world, especially countries which are uncivilized or where there is persecution. I am praying for mercy upon them. 1317 I understand Your words, Lord, and the magnitude of the mercy that ought to shine in my soul. Jesus: I know, My daughter, that you understand it and that you do everything within your power. But write this for the many souls who are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permissions nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul. If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy.
1339 O merciful God, You do not despise us, but lavish
Your graces on us continuously. You make us fit to enter ` Your kingdom, and
in Your goodness You grant that human beings may fill the places vacated by
the ungrateful angels. O God of great mercy, who turned Your sacred gaze away
from the rebellious angels and turned it upon contrite man, praise and glory
be to Your unfathomable mercy, O God who do not despise the lowly heart.
1489 Conversation of the Merciful God with a Perfect Soul.
Soul: My Lord and Master, I desire to converse with You. Jesus: Speak, My beloved child, for I am always listening. I wait for you. What do you desire to say? Soul: Lord, first let me pour out my heart at Your feet in a fragrant anointing of gratitude for the many blessings which You lavish upon me; even if I wanted to, I could not count them. I only recall that there has never been a moment in my life in which I have not experienced Your protection and goodness. Jesus: Your words please Me, and your thanksgiving opens up new treasures of graces. But, My child, we should talk in more detail about the things that lie in your heart. Let us talk confidentially and frankly, as two hearts that love one another do. Soul: O my merciful Lord, there are secrets in my heart which no one knows or will ever know except You because, even if I wanted to reveal them, no one would understand me. Your minister knows some because I confess to him, but he knows only the bit of these mysteries that I am capable of revealing; the rest remains between us for eternity, O My Lord! You have covered me with the cloak of Your mercy, pardoning my sins. Not once did You refuse Your pardon; You always had pity on me, giving me a new life of grace. To prevent doubts, You have entrusted me to the loving care of Your Church, that tender mother, who in Your name assures me of the truths of faith and watches lest I wander. Especially in the tribunal of Your mercy does my soul meet an ocean of favors, though You did not give the Fallen Angels time to repent or prolong their time of mercy. O my Lord, you have provided saintly priests to show me the sure way. Jesus, there is one more secret in my life, the deepest and dearest to my heart: it is You yourself when You come to my heart under the appearance of bread. Herein lies the whole secret of my sanctity. Here my heart is so united with Yours as to be but one. There are no more secrets, because all that is Yours is mine, and all that is mine is Yours. Such is the omnipotence and the miracle of Your mercy. All the tongues of men and of angels united could not find words adequate to this mystery of Your love and mercy. When I contemplate this mystery, my heart falls into a new ecstasy. In silence I tell You everything, Lord, because the language of love is without words; not a single stirring of my heart escapes You. O Lord, the extent of Your great condescension has awakened in my soul an even greater love for You, the sole object of my love. The life of union manifests itself in perfect purity, deep humility, gentle silence, and great zeal for the salvation of souls. O my sweetest Lord, You watch over me each moment and inspire me as to how I should act in a precise situation, when my heart wavers between two things. You yourself frequently intervened in the resolution of a difficulty. Countless times, by means of a sudden enlightenment, You have given me to know what is the more pleasing to You. Oh, how numerous are the instances of forgiveness about which no one knows! How often You have poured into my soul courage and perseverance to go forward. It is You yourself who removed obstacles from my road, intervening directly in the actions of people. O Jesus, everything I have said to You is but a pale shadow of what is taking place in my heart. O my Jesus, how ardently I desire the conversion of sinners! You know what I am doing for them to win them for You. Every offense against You wounds me deeply. I spare neither strength, nor health, nor life itself in defense of Your kingdom. Although my efforts may remain invisible on earth, they are no less valuable in Your eyes. O Jesus, I want to bring souls to the fount of Your mercy to draw the reviving water of life with the vessel of trust. The soul desirous of more of God's mercy should approach God with greater trust; and if her trust in God is unlimited, then the mercy of God toward it will be likewise limitless. O my God, Who know every beat of my heart, You know how eagerly I desire that all hearts would beat for You alone, that every soul glorify the greatness of Your mercy. Jesus: My beloved child, delight of My Heart, your words are dearer and more pleasing to me than the angelic chorus. All the treasures of My Heart are open to you. Take from this Heart all that you need for yourself and for the whole world. For the sake of your love, I withhold the just chastisements, which mankind has deserved. A single act of pure love pleases Me more than a thousand imperfect prayers. One of your sighs of love atones for many offenses with which the godless overwhelm Me. The smallest act of virtue has unlimited value in My eyes because of your great love for Me. In a soul that lives on My love alone, I reign as in heaven. I watch over it day and night. In it I find My happiness; My ear is attentive to each request of its heart; often I anticipate its requests. O child, especially beloved by Me, apple of My eye, rest a moment near My Heart and taste of the love in which you will delight for all eternity. But child, you are not yet in your homeland; so go, fortified by My grace, and fight for My kingdom in human souls; fight as a king's child would; and remember that the days of your exile will pass quickly, and with them the possibility of earning merit for heaven. I expect from you, My child, a great number of souls who will glorify My mercy for all eternity. My child, that you may answer My call worthily, receive Me daily in Holy Communion. It will give you strength... Jesus, do not leave me alone in suffering. You know, Lord, how weak I am. I am an abyss of wretchedness, I am nothingness itself; so what will be so strange if You leave me alone and I fall? I am an infant, Lord, so I cannot get along by myself. However, beyond all abandonment I trust, and in spite of my own feeling I trust, and I am being completely transformed into trust-often in spite of what I feel. Do not lessen any of my sufferings, only give me strength to bear them. Do with me as You please, Lord, only give me the grace to be able to love You in every event and circumstance. Lord, do not lessen my cup of bitterness, only give me strength that I may be able to drink it all. O Lord, sometimes You lift me up to the brightness of visions, and then again You plunge me into the darkness of night and the abyss of my nothingness, and my soul feels as if it were alone in the wilderness. Yet, above all things, I trust in You, Jesus, for You are unchangeable. My moods change, but You are always the same, full of mercy.
1548 January 30, 1938. One-day retreat.
The Lord gave me to know, during meditation, that as long
as my heart beats in my breast, I must always strive to spread the Kingdom of
God on earth. I am to fight for the glory of my Creator. I know that I will
give God the glory He expects of me if I try faithfully to cooperate with God's
grace.
1701 I asked the Lord today that
He might deign to teach me about the interior life, because of myself I can
neither understand nor conceive anything perfectly. The Lord answered me,
I was your Teacher, I am and I will be; strive to make your heart like unto
My humble and gentle Heart. Never claim your rights. Bear with great calm and
patience everything that befalls you. Do not defend yourself when you are put
to shame, though innocent. Let others triumph. Do not stop being good when
you notice that your goodness is being abused. I Myself will speak up for you
when it is necessary. Be grateful for the smallest of My graces, because your
gratitude compels Me to grant you new graces...
1702 Towards the end of the Way of
the Cross which I was making, the Lord Jesus began to complain about the
souls of religious and priests, about the lack of love in chosen souls. I
will allow convents and churches to be destroyed. I answered,
"Jesus, but there are so many souls praising You in convents." The
Lord answered, That praise wounds My Heart, because love has been banished
from convents. Souls without love and without devotion, souls full of egoism
and self-love, souls full of pride and arrogance, souls full of deceit and
hypocrisy, lukewarm souls who have just enough warmth to keep them alive: My
Heart cannot bear this. All the graces that I pour out upon them flow off
them as off the face of a rock. I cannot stand them, because they are neither
good or bad. I called convents into being to sanctify the world through them.
It is from them that a powerful flame of love and sacrifice should burst
forth. And if they do not repent and become enkindled by their first love, I
will deliver them over to the fate of this world...
How can they sit on the promised throne of judgment to judge the world, when their guilt is greater than the guilt of the world? There is neither penance nor atonement. O heart, which received Me in the morning and at noon are all ablaze with hatred against Me, hatred of all sorts! O heart specially chosen by Me, were you chosen for this, to give Me more pain? The great sins of the world are superficial wounds on My Heart, but the sins of a chosen soul pierce My Heart through and through... 1703 When I tried to intercede for them, I could find nothing with which to excuse them and, being at the time unable to think of anything in their defense, my heart was seized with pain, and I wept bitterly. Then the Lord looked at me kindly and comforted me with these words: Do not cry. There are still a great number of souls who love Me very much, but My Heart desires to be loved by all and, because My love is great, that is why I warn and chastise them.
1712 A certain person whom I have
mentioned before visited me again. When I saw that she was beginning to get
entangled in her own lies, I let her know that I knew she was lying. She
became very embarrassed and stopped speaking. Then I spoke to her about the
great judgments of God, and I also remarked that she was leading innocent
souls astray and along dangerous roads. I uncovered before her everything
that was in her heart. Since I had to overcome my own feelings in order to
talk to her, to prove to Jesus that I love my enemies, I gave her my
afternoon snack. She went away enlightened in soul, but action is still far
away...
1722 I heard these words: If
you did not tie My hands, I would send down many punishments upon the earth.
My daughter, your look disarms My anger. Although your lips are silent, you
call out to Me so mightily that all heaven is moved. I cannot escape from
your requests, because you pursue Me, not from afar but within your own
heart.
1728 Write: I am Thrice Holy,
and I detest the smallest sin. I cannot love a soul which is stained with
sin; but when it repents, there is no limit to My generosity toward it. My
mercy embraces and justifies it. With My mercy, I pursue sinners along all
their paths, and My Heart rejoices when they return to Me. I forget the
bitterness with which they fed My Heart and rejoice at their return.
Tell sinners that no one shall escape My Hand; if they run away from My Merciful Heart, they will fall into My Just Hands. Tell sinners that I am always waiting for them, that I listen intently to the beating of their heart... when will it beat for Me? Write, that I am speaking to them through their remorse of conscience, through their failures and sufferings, through thunderstorms, through the voice of the Church. And if they bring all My graces to naught, I begin to be angry with them, leaving them alone and giving them what they want. 1729 O my Jesus, You alone know of my efforts. I seem to be a bit better, but better only to the point that I can go out on the veranda instead of lying in bed. I see and am fully aware of what is happening to me. Despite the diligent care of my superiors and the efforts of the doctors, my health is fading and running out. But I rejoice greatly at Your call, my God, my Love, because I know that my mission will begin at the moment of my death. Oh, how much I desire to be set free from the bonds of this body. O my Jesus, You know that, in all my desires, I always want to see Your will. Of myself, I would not want to die one minute sooner, or to live one minute longer, or to suffer less, or to suffer more, but I only want to do Your holy will. Although I have great enthusiasm, and the desires burning in my heart are immense, they are never above Your will. 1730 I fly to Your mercy, Compassionate God, who alone are good. Although my misery is great, and my offenses are many, I trust in Your mercy, because You are the God of mercy; and, from time immemorial, it has never been heard of, nor do heaven or earth remember, that a soul trusting in Your mercy has been disappointed. O God of compassion, You alone can justify me, and You will never reject me when I, contrite, approach Your Merciful Heart, where no one has ever been refused, even if he were the greatest sinner.
1784 Today, in the course of a long conversation, the Lord
said to me, How very much I desire the salvation of souls! My dearest
secretary, write that I want to pour out My divine life into human souls and
sanctify them, if only they were willing to accept My grace. The greatest
sinners would achieve great sanctity, if only they would trust in My mercy.
The very inner depths of My being are filled to overflowing with mercy, and
it is being poured out upon all I have created. My delight is to act in a
human soul and to fill it with My mercy and to justify it. My kingdom on
earth is My life in the human soul. Write, My secretary, that I Myself am the
spiritual guide of souls-and I guide them indirectly through the priest, and
lead each one to sanctity by a road known to Me alone.
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-36, 83, 374, 496)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-660, 625, 635, 793, 825, 840, 895)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-III-1074-1076)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-IV-1317, 1339)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-V-1489, 1548)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-VI-1701-1703, 1712, 1722)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-VI-1728-1730, 1784)
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Enero 31, 2020
The Fruit of the Kingdom-Divine Mercy Miracles Meditations
Enero 30, 2020
Let Christ’s Light Shine-Divine Mercy Miracles Meditations
Let Christ’s Light Shine
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January 30, 2020. Thursday of
the Third Week in Ordinary Time
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Mark 4:21-25
He said to them, "Is a lamp brought in
to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a
lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is
secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to
hear." He also told them, "Take care what you hear. The measure
with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be
given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has
not, even what he has will be taken away."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank You for reminding me today of my
dignity as a Christian. By Your grace in baptism and by Your teaching in the
gospels and in the Church, You have put light in my soul. Lord, You are my
light.
Petition: Christ, help me to be a sincere witness of
Your light.
1. Transparency in Our Lives: God sees us. This is a simple truth—an
extremely powerful truth. God looks at us with love. We cannot hide from God.
We cannot hide from ourselves. We cannot even hide from others. We need to
live in the presence of God. God lets light shine on our lives so that we can
see the truth about ourselves, and so that we need not be ashamed that others
see the truth about who we are. True happiness is preserved and increased by
the tenacious living of sincerity.
2. Light for the World: Our life
is not just for ourselves. We are called to be a gift for others, a gift that
leads them to God. This is the greatest thing about our life: We are called
to give life. We are called to participate in the fruitfulness of God. We
give life by enlightening others. We help other people come to the light by
trying sincerely to go clearly towards the light and by not fearing to show
people the truth. The light shed by our lives produces a real effect in
souls. Vatican II reminds us that modern man needs reasons for hope. A
Christian carries hope. Will I keep it hidden; perhaps even kill it by being
afraid to share it? Or will I let the world receive hope? Will I let the
world see that we all can be much greater than we think because our Father is
greater than we think?
3. Standing up for the Light of Truth to Be
Lived: Moral relativism
seems to be the norm for our times. Many people think that they can decide
what principles they will live by, instead of seeking to form their
consciences by principles in accordance with God’s loving design for the
human person. Am I content merely to follow what I know to be right, or do I
also look to enlighten the consciences of others, prudently and charitably?
Have I ever given the impression of condoning actions that are wrong? Do I
take an interest in promoting the value of life in all of its stages? Am I courageous
in nobly defending others when people criticize them behind their backs?
Conversation with Christ: Lord, thank You for this calling. You have
given light to my soul so that I can be a light for others. Lord, help me to
have confidence in the power of Your light: the power of Your truth and
grace. Let me be brave enough to allow this light to penetrate my soul even
more today. Let me be brave enough to not hide from your light; let me be
brave enough to give it to others.
Resolution: I will enlighten my conscience better
about a point of our faith or morals by looking it up in the Catechism of the
Catholic Church (It can be found on-line at http://www.vatican.va
if needed).
Excerpts from the DIARY of Saint Faustina
Kowalska
30 +On
one occasion I was reflecting on the Holy Trinity, on the essence of God. I
absolutely wanted to know and fathom who God is. ... In an instant my spirit
was caught up into what seemed to be the next world. I saw an inaccessible light,
and in this light what appeared like three sources of light which I could not
understand. And out of that light came words in the form of lightning which
encircled heaven and earth. Not understanding anything, I was very sad.
Suddenly, from this sea of inaccessible light came our dearly beloved Savior,
unutterably beautiful with His shining Wounds. And from this light came a
voice which said, Who God is in His Essence, no one will fathom, neither
the mind of Angels nor of man. Jesus said to me, Get to know God by
contemplating His attributes. A moment later, He traced the sign of the
cross with His hand and vanished."
67 When
I fell sick [probably the beginning of consumption] after my first vows and
when, despite the kind and solicitous care of my Superiors and the efforts of
the doctor, I felt neither better nor worse, remarks began to reach my ears
which inferred that I was making believe. With that, my suffering was
doubled, and this lasted for quite a long time. One day I complained to Jesus
that I was being a burden to the sisters. Jesus answered me, You are not
living for yourself but for souls, and other souls will profit from your
sufferings. Your prolonged suffering will give them the light and strength to
accept My will.
O Divine Sun, in Your rays the
soul sees the tiniest specks of dust which displease You.
72 O Jesus, eternal Truth, our Life, I call upon You and I beg Your mercy for poor sinners. O sweetest Heart of my Lord, full of pity and unfathomable mercy, I plead with You for poor sinners. O Most Sacred Heart, Fount of Mercy from which gush forth rays of inconceivable graces upon the entire human race, I beg of You light for poor sinners. O Jesus, be mindful of Your own bitter Passion and do not permit the loss of souls redeemed at so dear a price of Your most precious Blood. O Jesus, when I consider the great price of Your Blood, I rejoice at its immensity, for one drop alone would have been enough for the salvation of all sinners. Although sin is an abyss of wickedness and ingratitude, the price paid for us can never be equaled. Therefore, let every soul trust in the Passion of the Lord, and place its hope in His mercy. God will not deny His mercy to anyone. Heaven and earth may change, but God's mercy will never be exhausted. Oh, what immense joy burns in my heart when I contemplate Your incomprehensible goodness, O Jesus! I desire to bring all sinners to Your feet that they may glorify Your mercy throughout endless ages.
75 But these doubts always come from without, a fact which
inclined me to close myself up more and more within myself. When, during
confession, I sense uncertainty on the part of the priest, I do not open my
soul to its depths, but only accuse myself of my sins. A priest who is not at
peace with himself will not be able to inspire peace in another soul.
O priests, you bright candles enlightening human souls,
let your brightness never be
dimmed. I understood that at that time it was not God's
will that I uncover my soul
completely. Later on, God did give
me this grace.
83 Write this: before I come as the just Judge, I am
coming first as the King of Mercy. Before the day of justice arrives, there
will be given to people a sign in the heavens of this sort: All light in the
heavens will be extinguished, and there will be great darkness over the whole
earth. Then the sign of the cross will be seen in the sky, and from the
openings where the hands and the feet of the Savior were nailed will come
forth great lights which will light up the earth for a period of time. This will
take place shortly before the last day.
84 O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of
Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!
Vilnius, August 2, 1934.
85 On Friday, after Holy Communion, I was carried in
spirit before the throne of God. There I saw the heavenly Powers which
incessantly praise God. Beyond the throne I saw a brightness inaccessible to
creatures, and there only the Incarnate Word enters as Mediator. When
Jesus entered this light, I heard
these words, Write down at once what you hear: I am the Lord in My
essence and am immune to orders or needs. If I call creatures into being -
that is the abyss of My mercy. And at that very moment I found myself, as
before, in our chapel at my kneeler, just as Mass had ended. I already had
these words written.
95 +A Deeper Knowledge of God and the Terror of the Soul.
In the beginning, God lets himself be known as Holiness,
Justice, Goodness - that is to say, Mercy. The soul does not come to know
this all at once, but piecemeal, in flashes; that is to say, when God draws
near. And this does not last for long, because the soul could not bear such
light. During prayer the soul experiences flashes of this light which make it
impossible to pray as before. Try as it may to force itself to pray as it did
before, all is in vain; it becomes completely impossible for it to continue
to pray as it did before it received this light. This light which has touched
the soul is alive within it, and nothing can either quench or diminish it.
This flash of the knowledge of God draws the soul and enkindles its love for
Him.
But this same flash, at the same time, allows the soul to
know itself as it is; the soul sees its whole interior in a superior light,
and it rises up alarmed and terrified. Still, it does not remain under the
effects of terror, but it begins to purify itself, to humble and abase itself
before the Lord. These lights become stronger and more frequent; the more the
soul is crystallized, the more these lights penetrate it. However, if the soul
has responded faithfully and courageously to these first graces, God fills it
with His consolations and gives himself to it in a perceptible manner. At
certain moments, the soul, as it were, enters into intimacy with God and
greatly rejoices in this; it believes that it has already reached the degree
of perfection destined for it, because its defects and faults are asleep
within it, and this makes it think that they no longer exist. Nothing seems
difficult for it; it is ready for everything. It begins to plunge itself into
God and taste the divine delights. It is carried along by grace and does not
take account of the fact that the time of trial and testing may come. And, in
fact, this state does not last long. Other moments will soon come. I should
add here, however, that the soul will respond more faithfully to divine grace
if it has a well - informed confessor to whom it can confide everything.
+ 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.
99 When for the first time this moment was drawing near, I
was snatched from it by virtue of holy obedience. The Directress of Novices,
alarmed by my appearance, sent me off to confession, but the confessor did
not understand me, and I experienced no relief whatsoever. O Jesus, give us
experienced priests!
When I told this priest I was undergoing infernal
tortures, he answered that he was not worried about my soul, because he saw
in it a great grace of God. But I understood nothing of this, and not even
the least glimmer of light broke through to my soul.
103 Suddenly I saw the Lord interiorly, and He said to me,
Fear not, My daughter; I am with you. In that single moment, all the
darkness and torments vanished, my senses were inundated with
unspeakable joy, [and] the faculties of my soul filled with light.
115 + When a soul has come out of these tribulations, it
is deeply humble. Its purity of soul is great. It knows better without need
of reflecting, as it were, what it ought to do at a given moment and what to
forbear. It feels the lightest touch of grace and is very faithful to God. It
recognizes God from afar and continuously rejoices in Him. It discovers God
very quickly in other souls and in its environment in general. The soul has
been purified by God himself. God, as Pure Spirit, introduces the soul to a
life which is purely spiritual. God himself has first prepared and purified
the soul; that is, He has made it capable of close communion with himself.
The soul, in a state of loving repose, communes spiritually with the Lord. It
speaks to God without the need of expressing itself through the senses. God
fills it with His light.
The enlightened mind sees clearly and distinguishes the various degrees of the spiritual life. It recognizes [that state] when its union with God was imperfect: where the senses were involved, and the spirit was linked with the senses in a manner-exalted and special, to be sure but not yet perfect. There is a higher and more perfect union with God; namely, intellectual union. Here, the soul is safer from illusions; its spirituality is purer and more profound. In a life where the senses are involved, there is more danger of illusion. Both for the soul and for its confessor, prudence must play a greater part. There are moments when God introduces the soul to a purely spiritual state. The senses dim and are seemingly dead. The soul is most closely united to God; it is immersed in the Deity; its knowledge is complete and perfect, not sporadic as before, but total and absolute. It rejoices in this. But I want to say more about those moments of trial; at those times the confessor must have patience with such a soul. But the soul must have even greater patience with itself.
129
Satan always takes advantage of such moments; thoughts of discouragement
began to rise to the surface-for your faithfulness and sincerity-this is your
reward. How can one be sincere when one is so misunderstood? Jesus, Jesus, I
cannot go on any longer. Again I fell to the ground under this weight, and I
broke out in a sweat, and fear began to overcome me. I had no one to lean on
interiorly. Suddenly I heard a voice within my soul, Do not fear; I am
with you. And an unusual light illumined my mind, and I understood that I
should not give in to such sorrows. I was filled with a certain strength and
left my cell with new courage to suffer.
654 Now I understand that
confession is only the confessing of one's sins, and spiritual guidance is a
different thing altogether. But this is not what I want to speak about. I
want to tell about a strange thing that happened to me for the first time.
When the confessor started talking to me, I did not understand a single word.
Then I saw Jesus Crucified and He said to me, It is in My Passion that you
must seek light and strength. After the confession, I meditated on Jesus'
terrible Passion, and I understood that what I was suffering was nothing
compared to the Savior's Passion, and that even the smallest imperfection was
the cause of this terrible suffering. Then my soul was filled with very great
contrition, and only then I sensed that I was in the sea of the unfathomable
mercy of God. Oh, how few words I have to express what I am experiencing! I
feel I am like a drop of dew engulfed in the depths of the bottomless ocean
of divine mercy.
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."
665 Father Andrasz told me to make
a novena for the intention of knowing better the will of God. I prayed
ardently, adding a certain bodily mortification. Towards the end of the
novena, I received an inner light and the assurance that the Congregation
will come into being and that it is pleasing to God. Despite the difficulties
and adversities, complete peace and strength entered my soul from on high. I
understood that nothing could resist or nullify the will of God. I understood
that I must carry out this will of God despite obstacles, persecution and
sufferings of all kinds, and despite natural repugnance and fear.
666 I understood that all striving for perfection and all sanctity consist in doing God's will. Perfect fulfillment of God's will is maturity in sanctity; there is no room for doubt here. To receive God's light and recognize what God wants of us and yet not do it is a great offense against the majesty of God. Such a soul deserves to be completely forsaken by God. It resembles Lucifer, who had great light, but did not do God's will. An extraordinary peace entered my soul when I reflected on the fact that, despite great difficulties, I had always faithfully followed God's will as I knew it. O Jesus, grant me the grace to put Your will into practice as I have come to know it, O God.
675 + August 7, 1936. When I
received the article] [136]
about Divine Mercy with the image [on the cover], God's presence filled me in
an extraordinary way. When I steeped myself in a prayer of thanksgiving, I
suddenly saw the Lord Jesus in a great brightness, just as He is painted, and
at His feet I saw Father Andrasz and Father Sopocko. Both were holding pens
in their hands, and flashes of light and fire, like lightning, were coming
from the tips of their pens and striking a great crowd of people who were
hurrying I know not where. Whoever was touched by the ray of light
immediately turned his back on the crowd and held out his hands to Jesus.
Some returned with great joy, others with great pain and compunction. Jesus
was looking at both priests with great kindness. After a while, I was left
alone with Jesus, and I said, "Jesus, take me now, for Your will has
already been accomplished." And Jesus answered, My will has not yet
been completely accomplished in you; you will still suffer much, but I am
with you; do not fear.
1394
Monthly one-day retreat. In the course of this retreat, the Lord has given me
the light to know His will more profoundly and to abandon myself completely
to the holy will of God. This light has confirmed me in profound peace,
making me understand that I should fear nothing except sin. Whatever God
sends me, I accept with complete submission to His holy will. Wherever He
puts me, I will try faithfully to do His holy will, as well as His wishes, to
the extent of my power to do so, even if the will of God were to be as hard
and difficult for me as was the will of the Heavenly Father for His Son, as
He prayed in the Garden of Olives. I have come to see that if the will of the
Heavenly Father was fulfilled in this way in His well-beloved Son, it will be
fulfilled in us in exactly the same way: by suffering, persecution, abuse,
disgrace. It is through all this that my soul becomes like unto Jesus. And
the greater the sufferings, the more I see that I am becoming like Jesus.
This is the surest way. If some other way were better, Jesus would have shown
it to me. Sufferings in no way take away my peace. On the other hand,
although I enjoy profound peace, that peace does not lessen my experience of
suffering. Although my face is often bowed to the ground, and my tears flow
profusely, at the same time my soul is filled with profound peace and
happiness...
1395 I
want to hide myself in Your Most Merciful Heart as a dewdrop does in a flower
blossom. Enclose me in this blossom against the frost of the world. No one
can conceive the happiness which my heart enjoys in its solitude, alone with
God.
1396 Today I heard a voice in my soul: Oh, if sinners knew My mercy, they would not perish in such great numbers. Tell sinful souls not to be afraid to approach Me; speak to them of My great mercy.
1397
The Lord said to me, The loss of each soul plunges Me into mortal sadness.
You always console Me when you pray for sinners. The prayer most pleasing to
Me is prayer for the conversion of sinners. Know, My daughter, that this
prayer is always heard and answered.
1490 +
Jesus, source of life, sanctify me. O my strength, fortify me. My Commander,
fight for me. Only light of my soul, enlighten me. My Master, guide me. I
entrust myself to You as a little child does to its mother's love. Even if
all things were to conspire against me, and even if the ground were to give
way under my feet, I would be at peace close to Your heart. You are always a
most tender mother to me, and You surpass all mothers. I will sing of my pain
to You by my silence, and You will understand me beyond any utterance...
1491 +
The Lord visited me today and said, My daughter, do not be afraid of what
will happen to you. I will give you nothing beyond your strength. You know
the power of My grace; let that be enough. After these words, the Lord
gave me a deeper understanding of the action of His grace.
1499 At
that moment, I saw Jesus, who said, I am pleased with what you are doing.
And you can continue to be at peace if you always do the best you can in
respect to this work of mercy. Be absolutely as frank as possible with your
confessor.
Satan gained nothing by tempting you, because you did not enter into conversation with him. Continue to act in this way. You gave Me great glory today by fighting so faithfully. Let it be confirmed and engraved on your heart that I am always with you, even if you don't feel My presence at the time of battle.
1500
Today, the love of God is transporting me into the other world. I am all
immersed in love; I love and feel that I am loved, and with full
consciousness I experience this. My soul is drowning in the Lord, realizing
the great Majesty of God and its own littleness; but through this knowledge
my happiness increases... This awareness is so vivid in the soul, so powerful
and, at the same time, so sweet.
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-30, 67, 72, 83-85, 95)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-98-99, 103, 115, 129)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-654, 658, 665-666, 675)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-V-1394-1397, 1490-1491,
1499, 1500)
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