The
Little Man in a Tree
October 30, 2016.
Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Father Steven Reilly,
LC
Luke 19: 1-10
He
entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he
was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but
on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he
ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass
that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him,
"Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house
today." So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it
began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a
sinner." Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of
my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone
of anything, I will pay back four times as much." Then Jesus said to him,
"Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of
Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."
Introductory
Prayer: Oh God, thank You for
allowing me to come into your presence. Your love enlarges my soul. I long to
see Your face! I come to this prayer with a thirst to just be in Your presence,
relax under Your loving gaze. May my presence here be an expression of my love
for You.
Petition: Lord, help me to
overcome obstacles in my spiritual life.
1. Climbing Trees: What a sight it must have been — that rotund,
little figure scampering up the tree. The astonished onlookers must have
guffawed and whistled at the chief tax collector tossing his dignity to the
winds as he huffed and puffed getting up that sycamore. Zacchaeus was nothing
if not persistent. He was used to overcoming obstacles as he fleeced the tax
payers of Jericho. But now his worldly skills were directed in a far different
way: He wanted to see Jesus! If only we showed half as much persistence in
pursuing our spiritual goals as we do our secular ones. When we really, really
want something, we can push, pull and tug to make sure that we get over, around
or under the obstacle that impedes our desires. But when it’s a question of our
prayer life, something as simple as a change in schedule can seem
insurmountable. Let’s yearn to see Christ! If we truly long for his love, we
will even climb trees to get it!
2. Called by Name: When the people looked at Zacchaeus in the
tree, they saw a hated enemy, to be laughed at with scorn. When Jesus looked at
Zacchaeus in the tree, he saw a soul with potential, to be called with love.
Jesus’ ability to read hearts enabled him to see the whole picture of
Zacchaeus. Yes, money had been his driving motivation, but there was an
openness in his heart that would be good soil for the seed. Jesus invited
himself over for dinner; Zacchaeus would have never imagined doing it himself.
The Lord was not embarrassed by Zacchaeus, and like the privileged souls of his
closest disciples, he called him by name. He wants to call us, too!
3. Christ’s
Credibility: The people began to grumble about Jesus — how
could he spend time with such a sinner? His credibility is put to the test.
Zacchaeus’ response is proof to others that the way of righteousness proclaimed
by Jesus is true and real. Jesus cured lepers, made the cripple walk and even
raised the dead, but the dramatic conversions of great sinners must have been
the most astounding of his miracles. It was harder NOT to believe Jesus in the
face of such evidence. As Catholics, we have to be proof, too, of the
credibility of Christ working through the Church. When our lives shine with
charity and self-denial, we are living proof that the graces received through
the Eucharist (and all the other sacraments and blessings we have as Catholics)
are real.
Conversation
with Christ: Lord, what joy You
received through Zacchaeus’ conversion. He responded fully to Your grace. At
times, I can drag my feet even when I feel You calling me to another step
forward in my spiritual life. Help me to be generous, so that other souls will
see how wonderful it is to follow You!
Resolution: I will strive to overcome all obstacles to my
prayer life today.
Excerpts from the DIARY of Saint Faustina Kowalska
50 + I desire that priests proclaim this great
mercy of Mine towards souls of sinners. Let the sinner not be afraid to
approach Me. The flames of mercy are burning Me - clamoring to be spent; I want
to pour them out upon these souls.
Jesus complained to me in these words, Distrust on the part of souls is tearing at My insides. The distrust of a chosen soul causes Me even greater pain; despite My inexhaustible love for them they do not trust Me. Even My death is not enough for them. Woe to the soul that abuses these [gifts].
Jesus complained to me in these words, Distrust on the part of souls is tearing at My insides. The distrust of a chosen soul causes Me even greater pain; despite My inexhaustible love for them they do not trust Me. Even My death is not enough for them. Woe to the soul that abuses these [gifts].
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.
80
O Jesus, Divine Prisoner of Love, when I consider Your love and how You emptied
Yourself for me, my senses fail me. You hide Your inconceivable majesty and
lower Yourself to miserable me. O King of Glory, though You hide Your beauty,
yet the eye of my soul rends the veil. I see the angelic choirs giving You
honor without cease, and all the heavenly Powers praising You without cease,
and without cease they are saying: Holy, Holy, Holy.
Oh, who will comprehend Your love and Your unfathomable mercy toward us! O Prisoner of Love, I lock up my poor heart in this tabernacle, that it may adore You without cease night and day. I know of no obstacle in this adoration, and even though I be physically distant, my heart is always with You. Nothing can put a stop to my love for You. No obstacles exist for me. O my Jesus, I will console You for all the ingratitude, the blasphemies, the coldness, the hatred of the wicked, the sacrileges. O Jesus, I want to burn as 'a pure offering and to be consumed before the throne of Your hiddenness. I plead with You unceasingly for poor dying sinners.
Oh, who will comprehend Your love and Your unfathomable mercy toward us! O Prisoner of Love, I lock up my poor heart in this tabernacle, that it may adore You without cease night and day. I know of no obstacle in this adoration, and even though I be physically distant, my heart is always with You. Nothing can put a stop to my love for You. No obstacles exist for me. O my Jesus, I will console You for all the ingratitude, the blasphemies, the coldness, the hatred of the wicked, the sacrileges. O Jesus, I want to burn as 'a pure offering and to be consumed before the throne of Your hiddenness. I plead with You unceasingly for poor dying sinners.
186 +Today Jesus said to me, I
desire that you know more profoundly the love that burns in My Heart for souls,
and you will understand this when you meditate upon My Passion. Call upon My
mercy on behalf of sinners; I desire their salvation. When you say this prayer,
with a contrite heart and with faith on behalf of some sinner, I will give him
the grace of conversion. This is the prayer:
187 "O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You."
188
During the last days of the carnival, when I was making a Holy Hour, I saw how
the Lord Jesus suffered as He was being scourged. Oh, such an inconceivable
agony! How terribly Jesus suffered during the scourging! O poor sinners, on the
day of judgment how will you face the Jesus whom you are now torturing so
cruelly? His blood flowed to the ground, and in some places His flesh started
to fall off. I saw a few bare bones on His back. The meek Jesus moaned softly
and sighed.
206 The next day, after Communion, I
heard the voice saying, My daughter, look into the abyss of My mercy and
give praise and glory to this mercy of Mine. Do it in this way: Gather all
sinners from the entire world and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. I want
to give Myself to souls; I yearn for souls, My daughter. On the day of My
feast, the Feast of Mercy, you will go through the whole world and bring
fainting souls to the spring of My mercy. I shall heal and strengthen them.
A
Moment Before the Blessed Sacrament.
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.
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.
280 Jesus
commanded me to celebrate the Feast of God's Mercy on the first Sunday after
Easter. [This I did] through interior recollection and exterior mortification,
wearing the belt for three hours and praying continuously for sinners and for
mercy on the whole world. And Jesus said to me, My eyes rest with pleasure
upon this house today.
308 1934,
Holy Thursday. Jesus said to me, I desire that you make an offering of
yourself for sinners and especially far those souls who have lost hope in God's
mercy.
God and
Souls. An Act of Oblation.
309 Before heaven and earth, before all the choirs of Angels, before the Most Holy Virgin Mary, before all the Powers of heaven, I declare to the One Triune God that today, in union with Jesus Christ, Redeemer of souls, I make a voluntary offering of myself for the conversion of sinners, especially for those souls who have lost hope in God's mercy. This offering consists in my accepting, with total subjection to God's will, all the sufferings, fears and terrors with which sinners are filled. In return, I give them all the consolations which my soul receives from my communion with God. In a word, I offer everything for them: Holy Masses, Holy Communions, penances, mortifications, prayers. I do not fear the blows, blows of divine justice, because I am united with Jesus. O my God, in this way I want to make amends to You for the souls that do not trust in Your goodness. I hope against all hope in the ocean of Your mercy. My Lord and my God, my portion-my portion forever, I do not base this act of oblation on my own strength, but on the strength that flows from the merits of Jesus Christ. I will daily repeat this act of self-oblation by pronouncing the following prayer which You yourself have taught me, Jesus:
"O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You!"
S. M. Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament
Holy Thursday, during Holy Mass, March 29, 1934.
309 Before heaven and earth, before all the choirs of Angels, before the Most Holy Virgin Mary, before all the Powers of heaven, I declare to the One Triune God that today, in union with Jesus Christ, Redeemer of souls, I make a voluntary offering of myself for the conversion of sinners, especially for those souls who have lost hope in God's mercy. This offering consists in my accepting, with total subjection to God's will, all the sufferings, fears and terrors with which sinners are filled. In return, I give them all the consolations which my soul receives from my communion with God. In a word, I offer everything for them: Holy Masses, Holy Communions, penances, mortifications, prayers. I do not fear the blows, blows of divine justice, because I am united with Jesus. O my God, in this way I want to make amends to You for the souls that do not trust in Your goodness. I hope against all hope in the ocean of Your mercy. My Lord and my God, my portion-my portion forever, I do not base this act of oblation on my own strength, but on the strength that flows from the merits of Jesus Christ. I will daily repeat this act of self-oblation by pronouncing the following prayer which You yourself have taught me, Jesus:
"O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You!"
S. M. Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament
Holy Thursday, during Holy Mass, March 29, 1934.
319 August
9, 1934. Night adoration on Thursdays.[79] I made my hour of adoration from
eleven o'clock till midnight. I offered it for the conversion of hardened
sinners, especially for those who have lost hope in God's mercy. I was
reflecting on how much God had suffered and on how great was the love He had
shown for us, and on the fact that we still do not believe that God loves us so
much. O Jesus, who can understand this? What suffering it is for our Savior!
How can He convince us of His love if even His death cannot convince us? I
called upon the whole of heaven to join me in making amends to the Lord for the
ingratitude of certain souls.
320 Jesus
made known to me how very pleasing to Him were prayers of atonement. He said to
me, The prayer of a humble and loving soul disarms the anger of My Father
and draws down an ocean of blessings. After the adoration, half way to my
cell, I was surrounded by a , pack of huge black dogs who were jumping and
howling and trying to tear me to pieces. I realized that they were not dogs,
but demons. One of them spoke up in a rage, "Because you have snatched so
many souls away from us this night, we will tear you to pieces." I
answered, "If that is the will of the most merciful God, tear me to
pieces, for I have justly deserved it, because I am the most miserable of all
sinners, and God is ever holy, just, and infinitely merciful." To these
words all the demons answered as one, "Let us flee, for she is not alone;
the Almighty is with her!" And they vanished like dust, like the noise of
the road, while I continued on my way to my cell undisturbed, finishing my Te
Deum and pondering the infinite and unfathomable mercy of God.
324 The next day, I felt very weak,
but experienced no further suffering. After Holy Communion, I saw the Lord
Jesus just as I had seen Him during one adoration. The Lord's gaze pierced my
soul through and through, and not even the least speck of dust escaped His
notice. And I said to Jesus, "Jesus, I thought You were going to take me.
"And Jesus answered, My will has not yet been fully accomplished in
you; you will still remain on earth, but not for long. I am well pleased with
your trust, but your love should be more ardent. Pure love gives the soul
strength at the very moment of dying. When I was dying on the cross, I was not
thinking about Myself, but about poor sinners, and I prayed for them to My
Father. I want your last moments to be completely similar to Mine on the cross.
There is but one price at which souls are bought, and that is suffering united
to My suffering on the cross. Pure love understands these words; carnal love
will never understand them.
350 Jesus
answered that He would grant her that favor, not for her sake, but for the sake
of my request. Now I understood how much we ought to pray for sinners, and
especially for our wards.
Our life is truly apostolic; I cannot imagine a religious living in one of our houses; that is, in our Community, and not having an apostolic spirit. Zeal for the salvation of souls should burn in our hearts.
Our life is truly apostolic; I cannot imagine a religious living in one of our houses; that is, in our Community, and not having an apostolic spirit. Zeal for the salvation of souls should burn in our hearts.
355
1934-1935. New Year's Eve. I was given permission not to go to sleep, but
rather pray in the chapel. One of the sisters had asked me to offer an hour of
adoration for her. I said yes, and prayed for her for an hour. During the hour,
God gave me to understand how very pleasing this soul was to Him.
I offered the second hour of adoration for the conversion of sinners, and I tried especially to offer expiation to God for the insults that were being committed against Him at this present moment. How greatly God is being offended!
I offered the third hour for my spiritual director. I fervently prayed for light for him in a particular matter. Finally the clock struck twelve, the last hour of the year. I finished it in the Name of the Holy Trinity, and I also started the first hour of the New Year in the Name of the Holy Trinity. I asked each of the Three Persons to bless me and, with great confidence, looked toward the New Year which certainly would not be sparing of suffering.
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.
I offered the second hour of adoration for the conversion of sinners, and I tried especially to offer expiation to God for the insults that were being committed against Him at this present moment. How greatly God is being offended!
I offered the third hour for my spiritual director. I fervently prayed for light for him in a particular matter. Finally the clock struck twelve, the last hour of the year. I finished it in the Name of the Holy Trinity, and I also started the first hour of the New Year in the Name of the Holy Trinity. I asked each of the Three Persons to bless me and, with great confidence, looked toward the New Year which certainly would not be sparing of suffering.
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.
Holy
Trinity, One God,
361 incomprehensible in the greatness of Your mercy for creatures, and especially for poor sinners, You have made known the abyss of Your mercy, incomprehensible and unfathomable [as it is] to any mind, whether of man or angel. Our nothingness and our misery are drowned in Your greatness. O infinite goodness, who can ever praise You sufficiently? Can there be found a soul that understands You in Your love? O Jesus, there are such souls, but they are few.
361 incomprehensible in the greatness of Your mercy for creatures, and especially for poor sinners, You have made known the abyss of Your mercy, incomprehensible and unfathomable [as it is] to any mind, whether of man or angel. Our nothingness and our misery are drowned in Your greatness. O infinite goodness, who can ever praise You sufficiently? Can there be found a soul that understands You in Your love? O Jesus, there are such souls, but they are few.
367 +On one
occasion, Jesus gave me to know that when I pray for intentions which people
are wont to entrust to me, He is always ready to grant His graces, but souls do
not always want to accept them: My Heart overflows with great mercy for
souls, and especially for poor sinners. If only they could understand that I am
the best of Fathers to them and that it is for them that the Blood and Water
flowed from My Heart as from a fount overflowing with mercy. For them I dwell
in the tabernacle as King of Mercy. I desire to bestow My graces upon souls,
but they do not want to accept them. You, at least, come to Me as often as
possible and take these graces they do not want to accept. In this way you will
console My Heart. Oh, how indifferent are souls to so much goodness, to so many
proofs of love! My Heart drinks only of the ingratitude and forgetfulness of
souls living in the world. They have time for everything, but they have no time
to come to Me for graces.
So I turn to you, you-chosen souls, will you also fail to understand the love of My Heart? Here, too, My Heart finds disappointment; I do not find complete surrender to My love. So many reservations, so much distrust, so much caution. To comfort you, let Me tell you that there are souls living in the world who love Me dearly. I dwell In their hearts with delight. But they are few. In convents too, there are souls that fill My Heart with joy. They bear My features; therefore the Heavenly Father looks upon them with special pleasure. They will be a marvel to Angels and men. Their number is very small. They are a defense for the world before the justice of the Heavenly Father and a means of obtaining mercy for the world. The love and sacrifice of these souls sustain the world in existence. The infidelity of a soul specially chosen by Me wounds My Heart most painfully. Such infidelities are swords which pierce My Heart.
So I turn to you, you-chosen souls, will you also fail to understand the love of My Heart? Here, too, My Heart finds disappointment; I do not find complete surrender to My love. So many reservations, so much distrust, so much caution. To comfort you, let Me tell you that there are souls living in the world who love Me dearly. I dwell In their hearts with delight. But they are few. In convents too, there are souls that fill My Heart with joy. They bear My features; therefore the Heavenly Father looks upon them with special pleasure. They will be a marvel to Angels and men. Their number is very small. They are a defense for the world before the justice of the Heavenly Father and a means of obtaining mercy for the world. The love and sacrifice of these souls sustain the world in existence. The infidelity of a soul specially chosen by Me wounds My Heart most painfully. Such infidelities are swords which pierce My Heart.
378 Who will proclaim My great
mercy. I shall protect them Myself at the hour of death, as My own glory. And
even if the sins of soul are as dark as night, when the sinner turns to My
mercy he gives Me the greatest praise and is the glory of My Passion. When a
soul praises My goodness, Satan trembles before it and flees to the very bottom
of hell.
384 When I
stayed for adoration from nine to ten o'clock, four other sisters stayed; too.
When 1 approached the altar and began to meditate on the Passion of the Lord
Jesus, a terrible pain immediately filled my soul because of the ingratitude of
so many souls living in the world; but particularly painful was the ingratitude
of souls especially chosen by God. There is no notion or comparison [which can
describe it]. At the sight of this blackest ungratefulness I felt as though my
heart were torn open; my strength failed me completely, and I fell on my face,
not attempting to hide my loud cries. Each time I thought of God's great mercy
and of the ingratitude of souls, pain stabbed at my heart, and I understood how
painfully it wounded the sweetest Heart of Jesus. With a burning heart, I
renewed my act of self-oblation on behalf of sinners.
420 Low
Sunday; that is, the Feast of The Divine Mercy, the conclusion of the Jubilee
of Redemption. When we went to take part in the celebrations, my heart leapt
with joy that the two solemnities were so closely united. I asked God for mercy
on the souls of sinners. Toward the end of the service, when the priest took
the Blessed Sacrament to bless the people, I saw the Lord Jesus as He is
represented in the image. The Lord gave His blessing, and the rays extended
over the whole world. Suddenly, I saw an impenetrable brightness in the form of
a crystal dwelling place, woven together from waves of a brilliance
unapproachable to both creatures and spirits. Three doors led to this
resplendence. At that moment, Jesus, as He is represented in the image, entered
this resplendence through the second door to the Unity within. It is a triple
Unity, which is incomprehensible-which is infinity. I heard a voice, This Feast
emerged from the very depths of My mercy, and it is confirmed in the vast
depths of My tender mercies. Every soul believing and trusting in My mercy will
obtain it. I was overjoyed at the immense goodness and greatness of my God.
423 Praise
the Lord, my soul, for everything, and glorify His mercy, for His goodness is
without end. Everything will pass, but His mercy is without limit or end. And
although evil will attain its measure, in mercy there is no measure.
O my God, even in the punishments You send down upon the earth I see the abyss of Your mercy, for by punishing us here on earth You free us from eternal punishment. Rejoice, all you creatures, for you are closer to God in His infinite mercy than a baby to its mother's heart. O God, You are compassion itself for the greatest sinners who sincerely repent. The greater the sinner, the greater his right to God's mercy.
O my God, even in the punishments You send down upon the earth I see the abyss of Your mercy, for by punishing us here on earth You free us from eternal punishment. Rejoice, all you creatures, for you are closer to God in His infinite mercy than a baby to its mother's heart. O God, You are compassion itself for the greatest sinners who sincerely repent. The greater the sinner, the greater his right to God's mercy.
522 +The mercy of the Lord I will
sing forever,
Before all the people will I sing it,
For it is God's greatest attribute
And for us an unending miracle.
You gush forth from the Divine Trinity,
But from one single womb filled with love.
The mercy of the Lord will be revealed in the soul
In all its fullness, when the veil falls.
From the fountain of Your mercy, O Lord,
Flows all happiness and life,
And thus, all creatures and the whole of creation
Sing out in ecstasy a song of mercy.
The bowels of God's mercy are opened for us
Through the life of Jesus, stretched on the Cross.
O sinner, you must not doubt or despair,
But trust in mercy, for you also can become holy.
Two streams in the form of rays
Have gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus,
Not for Angels, nor Cherubim, nor Seraphim,
But for the salvation of sinful man.
Before all the people will I sing it,
For it is God's greatest attribute
And for us an unending miracle.
You gush forth from the Divine Trinity,
But from one single womb filled with love.
The mercy of the Lord will be revealed in the soul
In all its fullness, when the veil falls.
From the fountain of Your mercy, O Lord,
Flows all happiness and life,
And thus, all creatures and the whole of creation
Sing out in ecstasy a song of mercy.
The bowels of God's mercy are opened for us
Through the life of Jesus, stretched on the Cross.
O sinner, you must not doubt or despair,
But trust in mercy, for you also can become holy.
Two streams in the form of rays
Have gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus,
Not for Angels, nor Cherubim, nor Seraphim,
But for the salvation of sinful man.
598 Oh, how ardently I desire that
every soul would praise Your mercy. Happy is the soul that calls upon the mercy
of the Lord. It will see that the Lord will defend it as His glory, as He said.
And who would dare fight against God? All you souls, praise the Lord's mercy by
trusting in His mercy all your life and especially at the hour of your death.
And fear nothing, dear soul, whoever you are; the greater the sinner, the
greater his right to Your mercy, O Lord. O incomprehensible goodness! God is
the first to stoop to the sinner. O Jesus, I wish to glorify Your mercy on
behalf of thousands of souls. I know very well, O my Jesus, that I am to keep
telling souls about Your goodness, about Your incomprehensible mercy.
619 At
the beginning of Lent, I also asked to have the subject of my particular examen
changed, and I was told to do everything with the pure intention of reparation
for poor sinners. This keeps me in continual union with God, and this intention
perfects my actions, because everything I do is done for immortal souls. All
hardships and fatigue are as nothing when I think that they reconcile sinful
souls with God.
630
Then I saw one of the seven spirits near me, radiant as at other times, under a
form of light. I constantly saw him beside me when I was riding on the train. I
saw an angel standing on every church we passed, but surrounded by a light
which was paler than that of the spirit who was accompanying me on the journey,
and each of these spirits who were guarding the churches bowed his head to the
spirit who was near me.
When I entered the convent gate at Warsaw, the spirit disappeared. I thanked God for His goodness, that He gives us angels for companions. Oh, how little people reflect on the fact that they always have beside them such a guest, and at the same time a witness to everything! Remember, sinners, that you likewise have a witness to all your deeds.
When I entered the convent gate at Warsaw, the spirit disappeared. I thanked God for His goodness, that He gives us angels for companions. Oh, how little people reflect on the fact that they always have beside them such a guest, and at the same time a witness to everything! Remember, sinners, that you likewise have a witness to all your deeds.
648 Good
Friday. At three o'clock, I saw the Lord Jesus, crucified, who looked at me and
said, I thirst. Then I saw two rays issue from His side, just
as they appear in the image. I then felt in my soul the desire to save souls
and to empty myself for the sake of poor sinners. I offered myself, together
with the dying Jesus, to the Eternal Father, for the salvation of the whole
world. With Jesus, through Jesus and in Jesus is my communion with You, Eternal
Father. On Good Friday, Jesus suffered in His soul in a way which was different
from [His suffering on] Holy Thursday.
687 Once, as
I was going down the hall to the kitchen, I heard these words in my soul: Say
unceasingly the chaplet that I have taught you. Whoever will recite it will
receive great mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners
as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if
he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My
infinite mercy. I desire that the whole world know My infinite mercy. I desire
to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy.
699 On one
occasion, I heard these words: My daughter, tell the whole world about My
inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy [139] be a refuge and shelter for all
souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My
tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who
approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive
Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On
that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no
soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is
so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it
throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very
depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will
contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged
from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly
celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until
it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.
723 + Today, I heard these words:
The graces I grant you are not for you alone, but for a great number of other
souls as well... And your heart is My constant dwelling place, despite the
misery that you are. I unite Myself with you, take away your misery and give
you My mercy. I perform works of mercy in every soul. The greater the sinner,
the greater the right he has to My mercy. My mercy is confirmed in every work
of My hands. He who trusts in My mercy will not perish, for all his affairs are
Mine, and his enemies will be shattered at the base of My footstool.
730 + In
this retreat, I shall keep you continually close to My Heart, that you may
better know My mercy, that mercy which I have for people and especially for
poor sinners.
741 Today, I
was led by an Angel to the chasms of hell. It is a place of great torture; how
awesomely large and extensive it is! The kinds of tortures I saw: the first
torture that constitutes hell is the loss of God; the second is perpetual
remorse of conscience; the third is that one's condition will never change; the
fourth is the fire that will penetrate the soul without destroying it-a
terrible suffering, since it is a purely spiritual fire, lit by God's anger;
the fifth torture is continual darkness and a terrible suffocating smell, and,
despite the darkness, the devils and the souls of the damned see each other and
all the evil, both of others and their own; the sixth torture is the constant
company of Satan; the seventh torture is horrible despair, hatred of God, vile
words, curses and blasphemies. These are the tortures suffered by all the
damned together, but that is not the end of the sufferings. There are special
tortures destined for particular souls. These are the torments of the senses.
Each soul undergoes terrible and indescribable sufferings, related to the manner
in which it has sinned. There are caverns and pits of torture where one form of
agony differs from another. I would have died at the very sight of these
tortures if the omnipotence of God had not supported me. Let the sinner know
that he will be tortured throughout all eternity, in those senses which he made
use of to sin. I am writing this at the command of God, so that no soul may
find an excuse by saying there is no hell, or that nobody has ever been there,
and so no one can say what it is like.
I, Sister Faustina, by the order of God, have visited the abysses of hell so that I might tell souls about it and testify to its existence. I cannot speak about it now; but I have received a command from God to leave it in writing. The devils were full of hatred for me, but they had to obey me at the command of God. What I have written is but a pale shadow of the things I saw. But I noticed one thing: that most of the souls there are those who disbelieved that there is a hell. When I came to, I could hardly recover from the fright. How terribly souls suffer there! Consequently, I pray even more fervently for the conversion of sinners. I incessantly plead God's mercy upon them. O my Jesus, I would rather be in agony until the end of the world, amidst the greatest sufferings, than offend You by the least sin.
I, Sister Faustina, by the order of God, have visited the abysses of hell so that I might tell souls about it and testify to its existence. I cannot speak about it now; but I have received a command from God to leave it in writing. The devils were full of hatred for me, but they had to obey me at the command of God. What I have written is but a pale shadow of the things I saw. But I noticed one thing: that most of the souls there are those who disbelieved that there is a hell. When I came to, I could hardly recover from the fright. How terribly souls suffer there! Consequently, I pray even more fervently for the conversion of sinners. I incessantly plead God's mercy upon them. O my Jesus, I would rather be in agony until the end of the world, amidst the greatest sufferings, than offend You by the least sin.
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.
845 Before
the vigil supper, I entered the chapel for a moment to break the wafer
spiritually with those dear to my heart. I presented them all, by name, to
Jesus and begged for graces on their behalf. But that wasn't all. I commended
to the Lord all those who are being persecuted, those who are suffering, those
who do not know His Name, and especially poor sinners. O little Jesus, I
fervently ask You, enclose them all in the ocean of Your incomprehensible
mercy. O sweet little Jesus, here is my heart; let it be a little cozy dwelling
place for Yourself. O Infinite Majesty, with what sweetness You drew close to
us. Here, there is no dread of the thunderbolts of the great Jehovah; here,
there is the sweet little Jesus. Here, no soul is afraid, although Your majesty
has not lessened, but only concealed itself. After supper, I felt very tired
and was in pain. I had to lie down. But I kept vigil with the Most Holy Mother,
awaiting the arrival of the little Child.
873 January
8. On Friday morning, as I was going to the chapel to attend Holy Mass, I
suddenly saw a huge juniper tree on the pavement and in it a horrible cat who,
looking angrily at me, blocked my way to the chapel. One whisper of the name of
Jesus dissipated all that. I offered the whole day for dying sinners. During
Holy Mass, I felt the closeness of the Lord in a special way. After Holy
Communion, I turned my gaze with trust toward the Lord and told him,
"Jesus, I so much desire to tell You something." And the Lord looked
at me with love and said, And what is it that you desire to tell Me?
"Jesus, I beg You, by the inconceivable power of Your mercy, that all the souls who will die today escape the fire of hell, even if they have been the greatest sinners. Today is Friday, the memorial of Your bitter agony on the Cross; because Your mercy is inconceivable, the Angels will not be surprised at this." Jesus pressed me to His Heart and said, My beloved daughter, you have come to know well the depths of My mercy. I will do what you ask, but unite yourself continually with My agonizing Heart and make reparation to My justice. Know that you have asked Me for a great thing, but I see that this was dictated by your pure love for Me; that is why I am complying with your requests.
"Jesus, I beg You, by the inconceivable power of Your mercy, that all the souls who will die today escape the fire of hell, even if they have been the greatest sinners. Today is Friday, the memorial of Your bitter agony on the Cross; because Your mercy is inconceivable, the Angels will not be surprised at this." Jesus pressed me to His Heart and said, My beloved daughter, you have come to know well the depths of My mercy. I will do what you ask, but unite yourself continually with My agonizing Heart and make reparation to My justice. Know that you have asked Me for a great thing, but I see that this was dictated by your pure love for Me; that is why I am complying with your requests.
875 Today, I
experienced a great suffering during the visit of our sisters. I learned of
something that hurt me terribly, but I controlled myself so that the sisters
didn't notice anything. For some time, the pain was tearing my heart apart, but
all that is for the sake of poor sinners.... O Jesus, for poor sinners....
Jesus, my strength, stay close to me, help me....
893 January
22, [1937]. Today is Friday. My soul is in a sea of suffering. Sinners have
taken everything away from me. But that is all right; I have given everything
away for their sake that they might know that You are good and infinitely
merciful. I shall be faithful to You, come rain or shine.
908 + O
Jesus, how sorry I feel for poor sinners. Jesus, grant them contrition and
repentance. Remember Your own sorrowful Passion. I know Your infinite mercy and
cannot bear it that a soul that has cost You so much should perish. Jesus, give
me the souls of sinners; let Your mercy rest upon them. Take everything away
from me, but give me souls. I want to become a sacrificial host for sinners.
Let the shell of my body conceal my offering, for Your Most Sacred Heart is
also hidden in a Host, and certainly You are a living sacrifice.
Transform me into Yourself, O Jesus, that I may be a living sacrifice and pleasing to You. I desire to atone at each moment for poor sinners. The sacrifice of my spirit is hidden under the veil of the body; the human eye does not perceive it, and for that reason it is pure and pleasing to You. O my Creator and Father of great mercy, I trust in You, for You are Goodness Itself. Souls, do not be afraid of God, but trust in Him, for He is good, and His mercy is everlasting.
Transform me into Yourself, O Jesus, that I may be a living sacrifice and pleasing to You. I desire to atone at each moment for poor sinners. The sacrifice of my spirit is hidden under the veil of the body; the human eye does not perceive it, and for that reason it is pure and pleasing to You. O my Creator and Father of great mercy, I trust in You, for You are Goodness Itself. Souls, do not be afraid of God, but trust in Him, for He is good, and His mercy is everlasting.
927 On these
two days, I received Holy Communion as an act of reparation, and I said to the
Lord, "Jesus, I offer everything today for sinners. Let the blows of Your
justice fall on me, and the sea of Your mercy engulf the poor sinners."
And the Lord heard my prayer: many souls returned to the Lord, but I was in
agony under the yoke of God's justice. I felt I was the object of the anger of
the Most High God. By evening my sufferings had reached such a stage of
interior desolation that moans welled up involuntarily from my breast. I locked
the door of my room and began an adoration; that is to say, a Holy Hour.
Interior desolation and an experience of God's justice-that was my prayer; and
the moans and pain that welled up from my soul took the place of a sweet conversation
with the Lord.
929 When I
had rested near His sweetest Heart, I told Him, "Jesus, I have so much to
tell You." And the Lord said to me with great love, Speak, My daughter.
And I started to enumerate the pains of my heart; that is, how greatly concerned
I am for all mankind, that "they all do not know You, and those who do
know You do not love You as You deserve to be loved. I also see how terribly
sinners offend You; and then again, I see how severely the faithful, especially
Your servants, are oppressed and persecuted. And then, too, I see many souls
rushing headlong into the terrible abyss of hell. You see, Jesus, this is the
pain that gnaws at my heart and bones. And, although You show me special love
and inundate my heart with streams of Your joys, nevertheless, this does not
appease the sufferings I have just mentioned, but rather they penetrate my poor
heart all the more acutely. Oh, how ardently I desire that all mankind turn
with trust to Your mercy. Then, seeing the glory of Your name, my heart will be
comforted."
Jesus listened to these outpourings of my heart with gravity and interest, as if He had known nothing about them, and this seemed to make it easier for me to talk. And the Lord said to me, My daughter, those words of your heart are pleasing to Me, and by saying the chaplet you are bringing humankind closer to Me. After these words, I found myself alone, but the presence of God is always in my soul.
Jesus listened to these outpourings of my heart with gravity and interest, as if He had known nothing about them, and this seemed to make it easier for me to talk. And the Lord said to me, My daughter, those words of your heart are pleasing to Me, and by saying the chaplet you are bringing humankind closer to Me. After these words, I found myself alone, but the presence of God is always in my soul.
934 Small
practices for Lent. Although I wish and desire to do so, I cannot practice big
fortifications as before, because I am under the strict surveillance of the
doctor. But I can practice little things: first-sleep without a pillow; keep
myself a little hungry; every day, with my arms outstretched, say the chaplet
which the Lord taught me; occasionally, with arms outstretched, for an
indefinite period of time pray informally. Intention: to beg divine mercy for
poor sinners, and for priests, the power to bring sinful hearts to repentance.
942 February
11, [1937]. Today is Friday. During Mass, I suffered pain in my body: in my
hands, my feet and my side. Jesus is sending me this kind of suffering that I
may make reparation for sinners. The pain is brief, but very severe. I do not
suffer for more than a couple of minutes, but the impression remains for a long
time and is very vivid.
943 + Today,
I feel such desolation in my soul that I do not know how to explain it even to
myself. I would like to hide from people and cry endlessly. No one understands
a heart wounded by love, and when such a heart feels itself abandoned
interiorly, no one can comfort it. O souls of sinners, you have taken the Lord
away from me, but all right, all right; you get to know how sweet the Lord is,
and let the whole sea of bitterness flood my heart. I have given all my divine
comforts to you.
948
February 13, [1937]. Today, during the Passion Service, [170] I saw Jesus being tortured and
crowned with thorns and holding a reed in His hand. Jesus was silent as the
soldiers were bustling about, vying with each other in torturing Him. Jesus
said nothing, but just looked at me, and in that gaze I felt His pain, so
terrible that we have not the faintest idea of how much He suffered for us
before He was crucified. My soul was filled with pain and longing; in my soul,
I felt great hatred for sin, and even the smallest infidelity on my part seemed
to me like a huge mountain for which I must expiate by mortification and
penance. When I see Jesus tormented, my heart is torn to pieces, and I think:
what will become of sinners if they do not take advantage of the Passion of
Jesus? In His Passion, I see a whole sea of mercy.
951 + O incomprehensible and
limitless Mercy Divine, To extol and adore You worthily, who can? Supreme
attribute of Almighty God, You are the sweet hope for sinful man.
Into one hymn yourselves unite, stars, earth and sea, and in one accord, thankfully and fervently sing of the incomprehensible Divine Mercy.
Into one hymn yourselves unite, stars, earth and sea, and in one accord, thankfully and fervently sing of the incomprehensible Divine Mercy.
953 + February 15, 1937. Today my
suffering increased somewhat: I not only feel greater pain all through my
lungs, but also some strange pains in my intestines. I am suffering as much as
my weak nature can bear, all for immortal souls, to plead the mercy of God for
poor sinners and to beg for strength for priests. Oh, how much reverence I have
for priests; and I am asking Jesus, the High Priest, to grant them many graces.
975 Today I
heard these words: Pray for souls that they be not afraid to approach the
tribunal of My mercy. Do not grow weary of praying for sinners. You know what a
burden their souls are to My Heart. Relieve My deathly sorrow; dispense My
mercy.
999 Last
night I was in such pain that I thought it was the end. The doctors could not
diagnose what the sickness was. I felt as if my entrails had been torn to
shreds, but after a few hours of such sufferings I am all right. All this is
for sinners. Let Your mercy descend upon them, O Lord.
1032 +
During Holy Mass, I saw the Lord Jesus nailed upon the cross amidst great
torments. A soft moan issued from His Heart. After some time, He said, I
thirst. I thirst for the salvation of souls. Help Me, My daughter, to save
souls. Join your sufferings to My Passion and offer them to the heavenly Father
for sinners.
1122 God of
great mercy, who deigned to send us Your only begotten Son as the greatest
proof of Your fathomless love and mercy, You do not reject sinners; but in Your
boundless mercy You have opened for them also Your treasures, treasures from
which they can draw abundantly, not only justification, but also all the
sanctity that a soul can attain. Father of great mercy, I desire that all
hearts turn with confidence to Your infinite mercy. No one will be justified
before You if he is not accompanied by Your unfathomable mercy. When You reveal
the mystery of Your mercy to us, there will not be enough of eternity to
properly thank You for it.
1146 [Let] the greatest sinners place their trust in My
mercy. They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy. My
daughter, write about My mercy towards tormented souls. Souls that make an
appeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than they
ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an appeal to My
compassion, but on the contrary, I justify him in My unfathomable and
inscrutable mercy. Write: before I come as a just Judge, I first open wide the
door of My mercy. He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass
through the door of My justice...
1160 When once I asked the Lord Jesus how He could tolerate so many sins
and crimes and not punish them, the Lord answered me, I have eternity for
punishing [these], and so I am prolonging the time of mercy for
the sake of [sinners]. But woe to them if they do not recognize
this time of My visitation. My daughter, secretary of My mercy, your duty
is not only to write about and proclaim My mercy, but also to beg for this grace
for them, so that they too may glorify My mercy.
1167 Satan has admitted to me that I
am the object of his hatred. He said that "a thousand souls do me less
harm than you do when you speak of the great mercy of the Almighty One. The
greatest sinners regain confidence and return to God, and I lose everything.
But what is more, you persecute me personally with that unfathomable mercy of
the Almighty One." I took note of the great hatred Satan has for the Mercy
of God. He does not want to acknowledge that God is good.
1320
At three o'clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for
a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment
at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. I
will allow you to enter into My mortal sorrow. In this hour, I will refuse
nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion....
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.
1446 The
Lord said to me, It should be of no concern to you how anyone else acts; you
are to be My living reflection, through love and mercy. I answered,
"Lord, but they often take advantage of my goodness." That makes
no difference, My daughter. That is no concern of yours. As for you, be always
merciful toward other people, and especially toward sinners.
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-I-50, 72, 80, 186-187, 206, 280, 308-309)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-I-310, 319, 320, 324, 349, 350, 355-356,)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-I-361, 367, 378, 384, 420, 423)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-II-522, 598, 619, 630, 648, 687, 699, 723)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-II-730, 741, 793, 845, 873, 875, 893, 908)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-II-927, 929, 934, 942-943, 948, 951, 953)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-II-975, 999)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-III-1032, 1122, 1146, 1160, 1167)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-IV-1320)
(Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska
Notebook-V-1393-1397, 1446)
