From St Faustina's Diary...... 294 +Once the Lord said to me, Act like a beggar who does not back away when he gets more alms [than he asked for], but offers thanks the more fervently. You too should not back away and say that you are not worthy of receiving greater graces when I give them to you. I know you are unworthy, but rejoice all the more and take as many treasures from My Heart as you can carry, for then you will please Me more. And I will tell you one more thing: Take these graces not only for yourself, but also for others; that is, encourage the souls with whom you come in contact to trust in My infinite mercy. Oh, how I love those souls who have complete confidence in Me. I will do everything for them.
With the words of Jesus, there is always somthing to think about. What comes to one person's mind might be different for another. That is why I love hearing what others get out of Jesus' messages. We can learn so much more. I see like this... Jesus would be offended if we didn't accept His gifts, even though we are unworthy. This is no different to us. If we give someone a gift, we would be horrified if that person said 'they don't want it.' We should always remember to thank Him. I know I take alot for granted, and I shouldn't. But what good Jesus gives us, He wants us to share it with others. He gives us mercy, and He wants us to let others know of His great mercy. And above all, He wants us to trust in Him. "Jesus, I trust in You."
Hi Jerry, How are you going with your reading of St Faustina? It is a long book, but worth while. I hope you're taking notes.
Jesus said these messages to St Faustina so she could give them to us. These words are very important to us. One thing that sticks in my mind is. Satan does NOT want us to recognise Jesus coming in His mercy! Satan knows when Jesus comes, in His FINAL COMING, just before we see our sins, we can enter the new life where there is no more suffering. This is what Jesus said! Satan hates souls and he wants to distroy us. This is Satan's last grab for souls so he is putting obstacles in our way. He is the King of lies! Quote from St Faustina's Diary.... 1577 "Tell souls not to place within their own hearts obstacles to My mercy, which so greatly wants to act within them. My mercy works in all those hearts which open their doors to it. Both the sinner and the righteous person have need of My mercy. Conversion, as well as perseverance, is a grace of My mercy." Jesus also says "But woe to them if they do not recognize this time of My visitation." 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."
I loved that book "Diary of a Soul." Anyone that is going through a difficult time, I would advise them to get this book, read it, keep praying and follow what she does. You will not be sorry. I gained many spiritual graces and really grew up in my faith. This book was my little torch in the darkness.
i'm sorry to disappoint you Jane, but i haven't begun to read the Diary through - i am still in the process of reading the Interior Castle (see Forum Book Club thread). What i am doing is reading all your posts in this thread. The passages you have quoted stand on their own and have not raised in me a need to consult the Diary to check for context.
No, you haven't disappointed me. Reading books take time. While the whole book is important for todays times. I am going through and posting what I feel is appropriate. You know just seeing one or two messages a day is probably better than reading alot at once, it tends to sink in better, a bit like the Gospel. Yes. As I said, they stand on their own. No one can argue with what Jesus said to St Faustina.
From St Faustina's Diary.... Jesus said.. 301 "Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My hands are crowned with mercy." Satan does not want anyone to know that God is mercy. Satan would prefer us to see God who has a heavy hand. Satan wants us to be fearful of God. Jesus, I trust in You!
Oh my gosh. If we want to know if God is merciful or not. We just need to think of all the things that we have had to forgive others for, then put that all together on this forum.. What an image of God's mercy we would have!! And that is just with us !!! God is so so merciful. The fact that He has never given up on us speaks for itself. I am completely in love with God because of His mercy and His wonderful attributes.
From St Faustina's Diary.... 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.
St Faustina had her share of visits from demons. But she had no fear in her. She was even prepared to let them attack her, if it were to be the will of God. Her trust in Jesus is something I'd like to have. Jesus is so full of mercy, slow to anger and full of love. "Jesus, I trust in You."
From St Faustina's Diary..... August 12, 1934. 321 A sudden illness-a mortal suffering. It was not death, that is to say, a passing over to real life, but a taste of the sufferings of death. Although it gives us eternal life, death is dreadful. Suddenly, I felt sick, I gasped for breath, there was darkness before my eyes, my limbs grew numb-and there was a terrible suffocation. Even a moment of such suffocation is extremely long.... There also comes a strange fear, in spite of trust. I wanted to receive the last sacraments, but it was extremely difficult to make a confession even though I desired to do so. A person does not know what he is saying; not finishing one thing, he begins another. Oh, may God keep every soul from delaying confession until the last hour! I understood the great power of the priest's words when they are poured out upon the sick person's soul. When I asked my spiritual father whether I was ready to stand before the Lord and whether I could be at peace, I received the reply, "You can be completely at peace, not only right now but after each weekly confession." Great is the divine grace that accompanies these words of the priest. The soul feels power and courage for battle.
Dying must be a dreadful thing to experience. I often hear "..he died peacefully" But I wonder.. Does any one die peacefully? I think when we are in that moment of death we have Satan ready to grab our soul, and maybe he is at that moment telling us to go with him so you can escape the pain????? In the mean time Jesus and Mary are opening their arms to us???? In the movie "Song of Bernadette" It showed Bernadette in agony, but just as she was about to close her eyes, she saw The Blessed Virgin Mary. Bernadette's eyes lit up. Here St Faustina, talks about weekly confession. Yet our priest says once a month is what is recommended. I was doing fortnightly confession, but I seem to have gone back to monthly again. But it gives me something to think about. As Jesus will come like a thief in the night, so we are told to be always ready.
Again Satan shows his anger at St Faustina. She is doing everything in her suffering for souls, so people will trust in the goodness of God. Sometimes we can forget God is so good. He is full of mercy, He is slow to anger and full of love. He never wants us to look for 'doom and gloom'. He wants us to trust in His goodness. Jesus, I trust in You! From St Faustina's Diary..... 323 After I received the last sacraments, there was a definite improvement. I remained alone. This lasted for half an hour and then came another attack; but this one was not so strong, as the doctor intervened. I united my sufferings with the sufferings of Jesus and offered them for myself and for the conversion of souls who do not trust in the goodness of God. Suddenly, my cell was filled with black figures full of anger and hatred for me. One of them said, "Be damned, you and He who is within you, for you are beginning to torment us even in hell." As soon as I said, "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us," the figures vanished in a sudden whir.
Fatima, If she had still been alive she probably would have whipped me with a wet noodle! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
I thought this was appropriate for this week, where Jesus said..... "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." No wonder Jesus talks about His Unfathamable Divine Mercy. We just can't fatham it. Maybe because we are selfish and full of hate. We always seem to find ways of putting our own needs as a top priority. What would you be thinking, if it was you dying on that cross? I would probably be cursing those who put me there. Or/and thinking of only my own pain. But Jesus is pure love. Love that I can't understand. St Faustina was growing very much like Jesus. She was so accepting of sacrifice for the sake of His sorrowful Passion and for the love 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.
