St. Faustina's Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul: Reading/Discussion Group

[Michie]

BTW- I think we are the only ones left reading.

It's ok though. I want to get the whole Diary here & have it moved up to the Chapel for reference eventually.

 

[isabella1]

BTW- I think we are the only ones left reading.

It's ok though. I want to get the whole Diary here & have it moved up[ to the Chapel for reference eventually.

LOL! I think you are right. I feel the same with the Medugorje thread.

 

[Sianelle]

Sancta Maria, Mater Dolorosa, Ora pro nobis. Amen

O how these writings of the blessed Saint speak to the soul. I feel ashamed of the shallowness of my own faith as I read her words and I ask Our Lady to have pity upon me and pray to her Son+ for me.

 

[isabella1]

Sancta Maria, Mater Dolorosa, Ora pro nobis. Amen

O how these writings of the blessed Saint speak to the soul. I feel ashamed of the shallowness of my own faith as I read her words and I ask Our Lady to have pity upon me and pray to her Son+ for me.

Me too.

 

[Michie]

LOL! I think you are right. I feel the same with the Medugorje thread.

I kind of look at it as an obligation to the Lord & St. Faustina.

I'm sure you feel the same about the Medugorje thread.

 

[isabella1]

I kind of look at it as an obligation to the Lord & St. Faustina.

I'm sure you feel the same about the Medugorje thread.

yep

 

[Michie]

1629
J.M.J.
I am a host in Your hand,
O Jesus, my Creator and Lord,
Silent, hidden, without beauty or charm,
Because all the beauty of my soul is imprinted within me.

I am a host in Your hand, O Divine Priest,
Do with me as You please;
I am totally dependent on Your will, O Lord
Because it is the delight and adornment of my soul.

I am like a white host in Your hand, O God,
I implore You, transform me into Yourself.
May I be wholly hidden in You,
Locked in Your merciful Heart as in Heaven.

I am like a host in Your hand, O Eternal Priest,
May the wafer of my body hide me from human eye;
May your eye alone measure my love and devotion,
Because my heart is always united with Your Divine Heart.

I am like a sacrificial host in Your hand, O Divine Mediator,
And I burn on the altar of holocaust,
Crushed and ground by suffering like grains of wheat,
And all this for the sake of Your glory, for the salvation of souls.

I am a host abiding in the tabernacle of Your Heart.
I go through life drowned in Your love,
And I fear nothing in the world,
For you Yourself are my shield, my strength, and my defense.

I am a host, laid on the alter of Your Heart,
To burn forever with the fire of love,
For I know that You have lifted me up solely because of Your mercy,
And so I turn all these gifts and graces to Your glory.

I am a host in Your hand, O Judge and Savior.
In the last hour of my life,
May the omnipotence of Your grace lead me to my goal,
May Your compassion on the vessel of mercy become famous.

1630
Jesus, fortify the powers of my soul that the enemy gain nothing. Without You, I am weakness itself. What am I without your grace if not an abyss of my own misery? Misery is my possession.

1631
O wound of mercy, Heart of Jesus, hide me in Your depths as a drop of Your own blood, and do not let me out forever! Lock me in your depths, and do You yourself teach me to love You! Eternal Love, do You yourself form my soul that it be make capable of returning Your love. O living Love, enable me to love You forever, I yearn to eternally reciprocate Your love. O Christ, a single gaze from You is dearer to me than a thousand worlds, than all heaven itself. Lord, You can make my soul capable of understanding completely who You are. I know and I believe that You can do all things; if you have deigned to give Yourself to me so generously, then I know that You can be even more generous. Bring me into an intimacy with You so far as it is possible for human nature to be brought…

Continued tomorrow...

 

[Michie]

1632
J.M.J.
The desires of my heart are so great and incomprehensible that nothing can fill the abyss of my heart.
Even the most beautiful things, gathered from all over the world,
Would not for a moment fill Your place for me, O God.

With one glance, I penetrated the whole world,
And I found no other love like the love of my heart.
Therefore I looked into the world of eternity
Because this one is too small for me.
My heart has desired the love of the Immortal One.

My heart has sensed that I am a royal child,
That I have found myself in exile, in a foreign land.
I see that the heavenly palace is my home;
Only there will I feel as in my own fatherland.

You yourself have drawn my soul to You, O Lord;
O Eternal Word, You yourself have stooped to me,
Giving my soul a deeper knowledge of Yourself.
Behold, the mystery of love for which You have created me!

Pure love has made me strong and brave.
I fear neither the seraphim nor the cherubim, standing with sword in hand,
And I pass over with ease where others tremble,
Because there is nothing to fear, there where love is the guide.

And suddenly the eye of my soul came to rest upon You,
O Lord Jesus Christ, stretched upon the cross.
Here is my Love, with whom I will rest in my grave,
This is my Bridegroom, my incomprehensible Lord and God.

[Here occurs a bigger space in the Diary]

Continued tomorrow...

 

[Michie]

1633
March 10, 1938. Continuous physical suffering. I am on the cross with Jesus. On one occasion, M. Superior [Irene] said to me, “it is a lack of love of neighbor on your part, sister, that you eat something and then you suffer and disturb the others during their night’s rest.” Yet I know for sure that these pains which occur in my intestines are not at all caused by food. The doctor [probably Dr. Silberg] has said the same thing. These sufferings come from the body itself, or rather are a visitation of the Lord. Nevertheless, after that remark I resolved to suffer in secret and not to ask for help, because it is of no avail anyway, since I throw up the medicines that are given to me.

May a time, I have managed to suffer through attacks that were known only to Jesus. The pains are so violent and severe that they cause me to lost consciousness. When they cause me to faint, and I am drenched in cold sweat, then they gradually begin to go away. Sometimes they last three hours or more. O My Jesus, may Your holy will be done; I accept everything from Your hand. If I accept the delights and raptures of love to the point of becoming oblivious to what is going on around me, it is only right that I should accept with love these sufferings which cause me to faint.

1634
When the doctor came, I could not go down to the parlor to see him, like the other sisters, but asked that he come to my cell, because I could not go down due to a certain difficulty. After a while, he came to the cell and, having examined me, said, “I tell everything to the sister infirmarian.” When the sister infirmarian came, after the doctor had left, I told her why I hadn’t been able to go down to the parlor, but she gave me to know what how very displeased she was. And when I asked, “sister, what did the doctor say about these pains?” she answered that he had said nothing, that it was nothing, that he had said the patient was just sulking. And with that she went off. Then I said to God, “Christ, give me strength and power to suffer; give to my heart a pure love for this sister.” After that, she did not look in on me again for a whole week. But the sufferings returned with great violence and lasted almost the whole night, and it seemed that it would be the end, then and there. The superiors decided to approach another doctor, and he ascertained that my condition was serious and said to me, “it will not be possible to return you to good health. We can remedy your condition partially, but complete recovery is out of question.” He prescribed a medicine for the pains, and after I had taken it, the major attacks did not return. “But if you come here, sister, we will try to patch up your health somehow, if that is still possible.” The doctor very much wanted me to go there for a treatment. O my Jesus, how strange are your decrees!

1635
Jesus orders me to write all this for the consolation of other souls who will often be exposed to similar sufferings.

1636
Although I was feeling very weak, I went to see the doctor [silberg] because that was the superior’s will. The sister who was my companion was very unhappy about this. She made this known to me several times and finally said, “What are we going to do? I don’t have enough money to pay for the cab.” How are we going to get there? It’s such a long way.” She said this and many other things just to worry me, because our dear superiors had given us enough money for everything, and we didn’t run short. And understanding this whole business within myself, I laughed and told sister that I was not worried one bit: “let’s trust in God.” But I saw that my deep peace was getting on her nerves, and so I started to pray for her intention.

1637
O my Lord, all this is for You and to obtain mercy for poor sinners. When I returned, I was so very tired that I had to lie down right away. But it was the day for the quarterly confession. I tried to go to confession, not only because I had need to do so, but also to ask advice of my spiritual director [Father Andrasz]. I began to prepare myself; however I felt so weak that I decided to go ask Mother superior [Irene] to allow me to go before the novices. Mother superior answered, “Go and look for the directress of Novices, [sister Callista]. If she allows you to go before the novices, it is all right with me.” However, there were only three sisters ahead of me, waiting for confession, and so I waited because I did not have enough strength to go and look for the Directress of Novices. When I went in to make my confession I was feeling so bad that I could not give an account of the condition of my soul; I barely managed to make my confession. At that point, I noted how much the spirit is needed; the letter itself does not make love grow.

1638
On that day, there arose some misunderstandings between the Superior and myself. Neither she nor I was to blame, but moral suffering remained, because I could not explain the matter in question, since it was a secret. This was the reason why I suffered, even though by a single word, I could have revealed the truth.

Continued tomorrow...

 

[Michie]

1639
March 20, 1938. Today, in spirit, I accompanied a certain dying soul. I obtained trust in God’s mercy for her. The soul was near despair.

1640
This night is known only to You, O Lord. I have offered it for poor obdurate sinners, to obtain Your mercy for them. Scourge me here, burn me here, as long as You give me the souls of sinners, and especially … O Jesus, with You nothing is lost; take everything and give me souls… sinners.

1641
At adoration during the Fourthy-Hour devotion, the Lord said to me, My daughter, write that involuntary offenses of souls do not hinder My love for them or prevent Me from uniting Myself with them. But voluntary offenses, even the smallest, obstruct My graces, and I cannot lavish My gifts on such souls.

1642
Jesus gave me to know of how everything is dependent on His will, thus giving me profound peace as regards the security of His work.

1643
Listen, My daughter, although all the works that come into being by My will are exposed to great sufferings, consider whether any of them has been subject to greater difficulties than that work which is directly Mine – the work of Redemption. You should not worry too much about adversaries. The world is not as powerful as it seems to be; its strength is strictly limited. Know, My daughter, that if your soul is filled with the fire of My pure Love, then all difficulties dissipate like fog before the sun’s rays and dare not touch the soul. All adversaries are afraid to start a quarrel with such a soul, because they sense that it is stronger than the whole world…

1644
My daughter, do as much for this work of mercy as obedience allows, but present clearly to your confessor the very least of My demands, and he will decide. You must not shirk in any way, but carry out everything faithfully; otherwise, I would find no pleasure in you…

Continued tomorrow...

 

[Michie]

1645
March 25, 1938. Today, I saw the suffering Lord Jesus. He leaned down toward me and whispered softly, My daughter, help Me to save sinners. Suddenly, a burning desire to save souls entered my soul. When I recovered my senses, I knew just how I was to help souls, and I prepared myself for greater sufferings.

1646
Today, [probably Friday, March 25, 1938] my suffering increased; in addition, I felt wounds in my hands, feet and side. I endured this with patience. I sensed the hostility of the enemy of souls, but he did not touch me.

1647
April 1, 1938. Once again, I am feeling worse today. A high fever is beginning to consume me, and I cannot take any food. I would like to have something refreshing to drink, but there is not even any water in my pitcher. All this, O Jesus, to obtain mercy for souls.

Just as I was renewing my intention with greater love, one of the novices came in and gave me a big orange which had been sent by the Directress of Novices [sister Callista]. I saw the Lord’s hand in this. The same thing happened again, several times. During this time, although my needs were known, I never received anything refreshing to eat, even though I had asked for it. However, I knew that God was demanding suffering and sacrifices. I am not writing in detail about these refusals, because these are delicate matters, and it is difficult to believe. Yet God can demand even such sacrifices.

1648
I was about to ask Mother superior [Irene] to allow me to have something in my cell with which to quench my great thirst, but before I managed to ask, Mother herself began to speak. “Sister, let’s make an end of this illness once and for all, one way or another. You’ll have to undergo regular treatment or something. Things can’t go on like this any longer.” A little later when I was alone I said, “Christ, what am I to do? Am I to ask You for health or for death?” I had no clear command, so I knelt down and said, “May your holy will be done in my regard. Do with me, Jesus, as You please.” At that very moment, I felt as though I were all alone, and various temptations attacked me. But I found peace and light in earnest prayer, and I understood that the superior only wished to test me.

1649
I don’t know how this happens, but the room in which I have been lying has been very much neglected. Sometimes, it has not been cleaned for more than two weeks. Often, no one would light a fire in the stove, and so my cough would get worse. Sometimes I would ask to have a fire lit, and at other times I did not have the courage to ask. On one occasion, when Mother superior [Irene] came to see me and asked me if perhaps it was necessary to heat the room more, I said, No, because it was already getting warmer outside, and we had the window open.

1650
First Friday. When I took the Messenger of the Sacred Heart into my hand and read the account of the canonization of Saint Andrew Bobola, my soul was instantly filled with a great longing that our Congregation, too, might have a saint, and I wept like a child that there was no saint in our midst. And I said to the Lord, “I know your generosity, and yet it seems to me that You are less generous toward us.” And I began again to weep like a little child. And the Lord Jesus said to me, Don’t cry. You are that Saint. Then the light of God inundated my soul, and I was given to know how much I was to suffer, and I said to the Lord, “How will that come about? You have been speaking to me about another congregation.” and the Lord answered, It is not for you to know how this will come about. Your duty is to be faithful to My grace and to do always what is within your power and what obedience allows you to do…

1651
Today one of the sisters came into my room and said that such and such a sister was very fussy over her own illness, and that she found this very annoying and would gladly give her a piece of her mind were it not for the fact that she was not a member of this convent. I answered that I was surprised that she should even think in such a way: “sister, just think of how many sleepless nights this sick sister has been through and of how many tears…” the sister then came to think differently.

Continued tomorrow...

 

[Michie]

1652
J.M.J.
Adore, my soul, the mercy of the Lord,
O my heart, rejoice wholly in Him,
Because for this you have been chosen by Him,
To spread the glory of His mercy.

His goodness no one has fathomed, no one can measure,
His compassion is untold.
Every soul that approaches Him experiences this.
He will shield her and clasp her to His merciful bosom.

Happy the soul that has trusted in Your goodness
And has abandoned herself completely to Your mercy.
Her soul is filled with the peace of love.
You defend her everywhere as Your own child.

O soul, whoever you may be in this world,
Even if your sins were as black as night,
Do not fear God, weak child that you are,
For great is the power of God’s mercy.

Continued tomorrow...

 

[Michie]

1653
J.M.J.
The light above, where my God reigns,
This it is that my soul yearns for,
This it is for which my heart longs,
And my whole being bounds towards You.

I hasten on to the other world, to God alone,
Into the incomprehensible light, the very fire of love,
For my soul and my heart are created for Him,
And my heart has loved Him from my tender youth.

There, in the resplendent light of Your countenance
My languishing love will rest.
For Your virgin agonizes for You in her exile,
For she lives only when united with You.

J.M.J.
My day is drawing to a close,
Even now I glimpse the refulgence of Your light, O my God.
No one shall learn of what my heart is feeling;
My lips shall fall silent in great humility.

Even now, I draw nigh to the eternal nuptials,
To heaven unending, to spaces without limit.
I long for no repose or reward;
The pure love of God draws me to heaven.

Even now, I go to meet You, eternal love
With a heart languishing in its desire for You.
I feel that Your pure love, Lord, dwells in my heart,
And I sense my eternal destiny in heaven.

Even now, I go to my Father, in heaven eternal,
From the land of exile, from this vale of tears,
The earth can no longer hold back my pure heart,
And the heights of heaven have drawn me close.

I go, O my Bridegroom, I go to see Your glory,
Which even now fills my soul with joy
There were all heaven is plunged in Your adoration,
I feel that my worship is pleasing to You, nothingness though I am.

In eternal happiness, I will not forget those on earth,
I will obtain God’s mercy for all,
And I will remember especially those who were dear to my heart,
And the deepest absorption in God will not allow me to forget them.

In these last moments I know not how to converse with others.
In silence I await only You, O Lord.
I know the time will come when all will understand the work of God in my soul.
I know that such is Your will. – So be it.

1654
O truth, o thorny life,
In order to pass through you victoriously
It is necessary to lean on You, O Christ,
And to be always close to You.

I would not know how to suffer without You, O Christ.
Of myself I would not be able to brave adversities.
Alone, I would not have the courage to drink from Your cup;
But You, Lord, are always with me, and You lead me along mysterious paths.

A weak child, I have begun the battle in Your Name.
I have fought bravely, though often without success,
And I know that my efforts have pleased You,
And I know that it is the effort alone which you eternally reward.

O truth, O life and death struggle,
When I rose to do battle, an inexperienced knight,
I felt I had a knight’s blood, though still a child,
And therefore, O Christ, I needed Your help and protection.

My heart will not rest from its efforts and struggle
Until you Yourself call me from the field of battle.
I will stand before You, not to receive a reward,
But to be drowned in You, in peace forever.

1655
O Christ, if my soul had known, all at once, what it was going to have to suffer during its lifetime, it would have died of terror at the very sight; it would not have touched its lips to the cup of bitterness. But as it has been given to drink a drop at a time, it has emptied the cup to the very bottom. O Christ, if You Yourself did not support the soul, how much could it do of itself? We are strong, but with Your strength; we are holy, but with Your holiness. And of ourselves, what are we? – Less than nothing…

My Jesus, You suffice me for everything else in the world. Although the sufferings are severe, You sustain me. Although the times of loneliness are terrible, You make them sweet for me. Although the weakness is great, You change it into power for me.

1656
I do not know how to describe all that I suffer, and what I have written thus far is merely a drop. There are moments of suffering about which I cannot write. But there are also moments in my life when my lips are silent, and there are no words for my defense, and I submit myself completely to the will of God; then the Lord Himself defends me and makes claims on my behalf, and His demands are such that they can be noticed exteriorly. Nevertheless, when I perceive His major interventions, which manifest themselves by way of punishment, then I beg Him earnestly for mercy and forgiveness. Yet I am not always heard. The Lord acts toward me in a mysterious manner. There are times when He Himself allows terrible sufferings, and then again there are times when He does not let me suffer and removes everything that might afflict my soul. These are His ways, unfathomable and incomprehensible to us. It is for us to submit ourselves completely to His holy will. There are mysteries that the human mind will never fathom here on earth; eternity will reveal them.

Continued tomorrow...

 

[Michie]

1657
April 10, 1938. Palm Sunday. I attended Holy Mass, but did not have the strength to go and get the palm. I felt so weak that I barely made it till the end of Mass. During Mass, Jesus gave me to know the pain of His soul, and I could clearly feel how the hymns of Hosanna reverberated as a painful echo in His Sacred Heart. My soul, too, was inundated by a sea of bitterness, and each Hosanna pierced my own heart to its depths. My whole soul was drawn close to Jesus. I heard Jesus’ voice: My daughter, your compassion for Me refreshes Me. By meditating on My Passion, your soul acquires a distinct beauty.

1658
I received Holy Communion upstairs, for there was no question of my going down to the chapel since I was exhausted because of intense sweating, and when that passed, I had a fever and chills. I felt completely worn out. Today, one of the Jesuit Fathers [Father Zukowicz] brought us Holy Communion. He gave the Lord to three other sisters and then to me; and thinking I was the last, he gave me two hosts. But one of the novices was lying in bed in the next cell, and there was no Host left for her. The priest went back again and brought her the Lord, but Jesus told me, I enter that heart unwillingly. You received those two hosts, because I delayed My coming into this soul who resists My grace. My visit to such a soul is not pleasant for Me. At that point, my soul was drawn close to Him, and I received a deep inner light which gave me to understand, in spirit, all the workings of mercy. It was like a flash of lightning, but more distinct than if I had watched it for hours with the eyes of my body.

1659
Still, in order to write anything at all, I must make use of words, though they cannot render all of what my soul enjoyed on seeing the glory of God’s mercy. The glory of the Divine Mercy is resounding, even now, in spite of the efforts of its enemies and satan himself, who has a great hatred for God’s mercy. This work will snatch a great number of souls from him, and that is why the spirit of darkness sometimes tempts good people violently, so that they may hinder the work. But I have clearly seen that the will of God is already being carried out, and that it will be accomplished to the very last detail. The enemy’s greatest efforts will not thwart the smallest detail of what the Lord has decreed. No matter if there are times when the work seems to be completely destroyed; it is then that the work is being all the more consolidated.

1660
My soul was filled with a peace much deeper than anything I had experienced before, a divine reassurance which nothing can efface, a deep peace which nothing can disturb, even though I were to go through the severest of ordeals. I am at peace; God himself governs all things.

1661
I spent the whole day in thanksgiving, and gratitude kept flooding my soul. O my God, how good You are, how great is Your mercy! You visit me with so many graces, me who am a most wretched speck of dust. Prostrating myself at your feet, O Lord, I confess with a sincere heart that I have done nothing to deserve even the least of Your graces. It is in Your infinite goodness that You give yourself to me so generously. Therefore, the greater the graces which my heart receives, the deeper it plunges itself in humility.

1662
O Christ, suffering for You is the delight of my heart and my soul. Prolong my sufferings to infinity, that I may give You a proof of my love. I accept everything that Your hand will hold out to me. Your love, Jesus, is enough for me. I will glorify You in abandonment and darkness, in agony and fear, in pain and bitterness, in anguish of spirit and grief of heart. In all things may You be blessed. My heart is so detached from the earth, that You yourself are enough for me. There is no longer any moment in my life for self concern.

Continued tomorrow...

 

[Michie]

1663
Holy Thursday, April 14, 1938. Today I felt strong enough to take part in the ceremonies of the Church. During Holy Mass, Jesus stood before me and said, Look into My heart and see there the love and mercy which I have for humankind, and especially for sinners. Look, and enter into My Passion. In an instant, I experienced and lived through the whole Passion of Jesus in my own heart. I was surprised that these tortures did not deprive me of my life.

1664
During adoration, Jesus said to me, My daughter, know that your ardent love and the compassion you have for Me were a consolation to Me in the Garden of Olives.

1665
During Holy Hour in the evening, I heard the words, You see my mercy for sinners, which at this moment is revealing itself in all its power. See how little you have written about it; it is only a single drop. Do what is in your power, so tht sinners may come to know My goodness.

1666
Good Friday, April 15, 1938. I saw the Lord Jesus tortured, but not nailed to the Cross. It was still before the crucifixion, and He said to me, You are My Heart. Speak to sinners about My mercy. And the Lord gave me interior knowledge of the whole abyss of His mercy for souls, and I learned that that which I had written is truly a drop.

1667
Holy Saturday, april 16, 1938. During adoration, the Lord said to me, Be at peace, My daughter. This work of mercy is Mine; there is nothing of you in it. It pleases Me that you are carrying out faithfully what I have commanded you to do, not adding or taking away a single word. And He gave me an interior light by which I learned that not a single work was mine; despite difficulties and adversities, I have always, always fulfilled His will, as He has made known to me.

1668
The Resurrection. Before the Mass of the Resurrection, I felt so weak that I lost all hope of participating in the procession which takes place in the church; and I said to the Lord, “Jesus, if my prayers are pleasing to You, give me the strength for this moment that I may take part in the procession.” At that same instant, I felt strong and certain that I could go along with the sisters in the procession.

1669
When the procession began, I saw Jesus in a brightness greater than the light of the sun. Jesus looked at me with love and said, Heart of My Heat, be filled with joy. At that moment my spirit was drowned in Him… when I came to myself, I was walking along in the procession with the sisters, while my soul was totally immersed in Him…

1670
Easter, April 17, 1938. during Mass, I thanked the Lord Jesus for having deigned to redeem us and for having given us that greatest of all gifts; namely, His love in Holy Communion; that is, His very own self. At that moment, I was drawn into the bosom of the Most Holy Trinity, and I was immersed in the love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These moments are hard to describe.

1671
At that moment, I prayed to the Lord for a certain person, and the Lord answered me, This soul is particularly dear to Me. I was immensely happy with this. The happiness of other souls fills me with a new joy, and when I see the higher gifts in some soul, my heart soars up to the Lord in a new hymn of adoration.

Continued tomorrow...

 

[Michie]

1672
April 19, 1938. during recreation, one of the sisters [sister Cajetan] said, “sister, Faustina is doing so poorly that she can hardly walk, but may she die soon because she is going to be a saint.” Then one of the sister directresses [sister Casimir] said, “That she is going to die, we know; but whether she is going to be a saint, that is another question.” There then began some malicious remarks on this subject. I kept silent, then I put in a word, but I saw that the conversation was getting worse, so again I fell silent.

1673
At present, I am getting letters from sisters who are in other houses and who made their novitiate with me. They often amuse me and make me laugh, as they usually go something like this: “dear Sister Faustina, we are very sorry that you are so gravely ill; but we are very happy that, when the Lord Jesus takes you away, you will pray for us, for you have a lot of influence with the Lord.” One of the sisters put it this way: “when you die, sister, please take me under your special care, for certainly you can do that for me.” Another sister wrote as follows: “how I am waiting for the time when the Lord Jesus will take you, because I know what will happen then; and I greatly desire death for you.” I did want to ask her what she was thinking of, concerning my death, but I mortified myself and answered. “The same thing will happen to me, a sinner, as happens to all sinners, if Gods’ mercy does not shield me.”

1674
April 20, 1938. Departure for Pradnik. I was very worried that I would be put in bed in a ward and be exposed to all sorts of things. If it were to be for only a week or two… but it is for such a long time, two months or perhaps more. In the evening, I went for a long talk with the Lord Jesus. When I saw the Lord Jesus, I poured out my whole heart before Him, all my troubles, fears and apprehensions. Jesus lovingly listened to me and then said, Be at peace, My child, I am with you. Go in great peace. All is ready; I have ordered, in my own special way, a private room to be prepared for you. Reassured and overwhelmed with gratitude I went to bed.

1675
On the following day, Sister Felicia took me there. I left in great peace and a calm spirit. When we arrived, they told us there was a private room for sister Faustina. When we entered the room, we were surprised that everything had been prepared so beautifully: all was clean and neat, covered with tablecloths and bedecked with flowers; a pretty Easter Lamb had been placed on the night table by the sisters. At once, three Sacred Heart sisters who work at the sanatorium, my old acquaintances, came and greeted me warmly. Sister Felicia was surprised at all this. We bid a warm farewell to each other, and she left. When I was alone, with just the Lord Jesus and myself, I thanked Him for this great grace.

1676
Jesus said to me, Be at peace; I am with you. Tired, I fell asleep. In the evening, the sister [sister David] who was to look after me came and said, “tomorrow you will not receive the Lord Jesus, sister, because you are very tired; later on, we shall see.” This hurt me very much, but I said with great calmness, “very well,” and, resigning myself totally to the will of the Lord, I tried to sleep. In the morning, I made my meditation and prepared for Holy Communion, even though I was not to receive the Lord Jesus. When my love and desire had reached a high degree, I saw at my bedside a Seraph, who gave me Holy Communion, saying these words: “Behold the Lord of Angels.” When I received the Lord, my spirit was drowned in the love of God and in amazement. This was repeated for thirteen days, although I was never sure he would bring me Holy Communion the next day. Yet, I put my trust completely in the goodness of God, but did not even dare to think that I would receive Holy Communion in this way on the following day. The Seraph was surrounded by a great light, the divinity and love of God being reflected in him. He wore a golden robe and, over it, a transparent surplice and a transparent stole. The chalice was crystal, covered with a transparent veil. As soon as he gave me the Lord, he disappeared.

1677
Once, when a certain doubt rose within me shortly before Holy Communion, the Seraph with the Lord Jesus stood before me again. I asked the Lord Jesus, and not receiving an answer, I said to the Seraph, “could you perhaps hear my confession?” and he answered me, “No spirit in heaven has that power.” And at that moment, the Sacred Host rested on my lips.

Continued tomorrow...

 

[Michie]

1678
On Sunday, April 24, 1938, the sister who had charge of the sick said to me, “well, sister, the priest will bring you the Lord Jesus today.” I answered, “good,” and he brought Him. After some time, I received permission to leave my bed. So I went to Holy Mass and to spend time with the Lord, regularly.

1679
After the first examination, the doctor [Silberg] found that my condition was grave. “We suspect, sister, that you do have the illness about which you spoke to me. But almighty God can do all things.”

When I entered my room, I steeped myself in prayer of thanksgiving for everything the Lord had been sending me throughout my whole life, surrendering myself totally to His most Holy will. A deep joy and peace flooded my soul. I felt a peace so great that, if death had come at that moment, I would not have said to it, “wait, for I still have some matters to attend to.” No, I would have welcomed it with joy, because I am ready for the meeting with the Lord, not only today, but ever since the moment when I placed my complete trust in the Divine Mercy, resigning myself totally to His most holy will, full of mercy and compassion. I know what I am of myself…

1680
Low Sunday. Today, I again offered myself to the Lord as a holocaust for sinners. My Jesus, if the end of my life is already approaching, I beg you most humbly, accept my death in union with You as a holocaust which I offer You today, while I still have full possession of my faculties and a fully conscious will, and this for a threefold purpose:

Firstly: that the work of Your Mercy may spread throughout the whole world and that the feast of the Divine Mercy may be solemnly promulgated and celebrated.

Secondly: That sinners, especially dying sinners, may have recourse to Your Mercy and experience the unspeakable effects of this mercy.

Thirdly: that all the work of Your mercy may be realized according to Your wishes, and for a certain person who is in charge of this work…

Accept, most merciful Jesus, this, my inadequate sacrifice, which I offer to You today before heaven and earth. May your most Sacred Heart, so full of mercy, complete what is lacking in my offering, and offer it to Your Father for the conversion of sinners. I thirst after souls, O Christ.

1681
At that moment, the light of God penetrated my being, and I felt that I was Gods’ exclusive property; and I experienced the greatest spiritual freedom, of which I had had no previous idea. And at the same time, I saw the glory of the Divine Mercy and an infinite multitude of souls who were praising His goodness. My soul was completely drowned in God, and I heard the words, You are My well-beloved daughter. The vivid presence of God continued throughout the whole day.

Continued tomorrow...

 

[Michie]

1682
May 1, 1938. This evening, Jesus said to me, My daughter, do you need anything? I answered, “O my Love, when I have You I have everything.” And the Lord answered, If souls would put themselves completely in My care, I myself would undertake the task of sanctifying them, and I would lavish even greater graces on them. There are souls who thwart My efforts, but I have not given up on them; as often as they turn to Me, I hurry to their aid, shielding them with My mercy, and I give them the first place in My compassionate Heart.

1683
Write for the benefit of religious souls that it delights me to come to their hearts in Holy Communion. But if there is anyone else in such a heart, I cannot bear it and quickly leave that heart, taking with Me all the gifts and graces I have prepared for the soul. And the soul does not even notice my going. After some time, inner emptiness and dissatisfaction will come to her attention. Oh, if only she would turn to Me then; I would help her to cleanse her heart, and I would fulfill everything in her soul, but without her knowledge and consent, I cannot be the Master of her heart.

1684
I often communicate with persons who are dying and obtain the divine mercy for them. Oh, how great is the goodness of God, greater than we can understand. There are moments and there are mysteries of the divine mercy over which the heavens are astounded. Let or judgment of souls cease, for God’s mercy upon them is extraordinary.

1685
During Holy hour today, I asked the Lord Jesus if He would deign to teach me about the spiritual life. Jesus answered me, My daughter, faithfully live up to the words which I speak to you. Do not value any external things too highly, even if it were to seem very precious to you. Let go of yourself, and abide with Me continually. Entrust everything to Me and do nothing on your own, and you will always have great freedom of spirit. No circumstances or events will ever be able to upset you. Set little store on what people say. Let everyone judge you as they like. Do not make any excuses for yourself; it will do you no harm. Give away everything at the first sign of a demand, even if they were the most necessary things. Do not ask for anything without consulting Me. Allow them to take away even what is due you – respect, your good name – let your spirit rise above all that. And so, set free from everything, rest close to My Heart, not allowing your peace to be disturbed by anything. My pupil, consider the words which I have spoken.

1686
O my love, my eternal Master, how good it is to obey; because when obedience infuses the soul, it brings with it power and strength to act.

1687
Today I saw the crucified Lord Jesus. Precious pearls and diamonds were pouring forth from the wound in His Heart. I saw how a multitude of souls was gathering these gifts, but there was one soul who was closest to His Heart, and she, knowing the greatness of these gifts, was gathering them with liberality, not only for herself, but for others as well. The Savior said to me, Behold, the treasures of grace that flow down upon souls, but not all souls know how to take advantage of My generosity.

1688
Today, the Lord said to me, My daughter, look into My Merciful Heart and reflect its compassion in our own heart and in your deeds, so that you, who proclaim My mercy to the world, may yourself be aflame with it.

Continued tomorrow...

 

[Michie]

1689
May 8, 1938. Today, I saw two enormous pillars implanted in the ground; I had implanted one of them, and a certain person, S.M., the other. We had done so with unheard of effort, much fatigue and difficulty. And when I had implanted the pillar, I myself wondered where such extraordinary strength had come from. And I recognized that I had not done this by my own strength, but with the power which came from above. These two pillars were close to each other, in the area of the image. And I saw the image, raised up very high and hanging from these two pillars. In an instant, there stood a large temple, supported both from within and from without, upon these two pillars. I saw a hand finishing the temple, but I did not see the person. There was a great multitude of people, inside and outside the temple, and the torrents issuing from the Compassionate Heart of Jesus were flowing down upon everyone.

1690
After Holy Communion today, Jesus said, My daughter, give Me souls, know that it is your mission to win souls from Me by prayer and sacrifice, and by encouraging them to trust in My mercy.

1691
Oh, how greatly I desire the glory of Your mercy – for me, bitterness and suffering! When I see the glory of your mercy, I am immeasurably happy. Let all disgrace, humiliation come down upon me, as long as the glory and praise of Your mercy resounds everywhere – that’s all that matters.

1692
The Creator and The Creature.
I adore You, Lord and Creator, hidden in the Blessed Sacrament. I adore You for all the works of Your hands, that reveal to me so much wisdom, goodness and mercy, O Lord. You have spread so much beauty over the earth, and it tells me about Your beauty, even though these beautiful things are but a faint reflection of You, Incomprehensible Beauty. And although You have hidden yourself and concealed Your beauty, my eye, enlightened by faith, reaches You, and my soul recognizes its Creator, its Highest Good; and my heart is completely immersed in prayer of adoration.

My Lord and creator, Your goodness encourages me to converse with You. Your mercy abolishes the chasm which separates the Creator from the creature. To converse with You, O Lord, is the delight of my heart. In You I find everything that my heart could desire. Here Your light illumines my mind, enabling it to know You more and more deeply. Here streams of graces flow down upon my heart. Here my soul draws eternal life. O my Lord and Creator, You alone, beyond all these gifts, give your own self to me and unite Yourself intimately with Your miserable creature. Here, without searching for words, our hearts understand each other. Here, no one is able to interrupt our conversation. What I talk to You about, Jesus, is our secret, which creatures shall not know and Angels dare not ask about. These are secret acts of forgiveness, known only to Jesus and me; this is the mystery of His mercy, which embraces each soul separately. For this incomprehensible goodness of Yours, I adore You, O Lord and Creator, with all my heart and all my soul. And, although my worship is so little and poor, I am at peace because I know that You know it is sincere, however inadequate…

1693
As I was writing the above words, I saw the Lord Jesus leaning over me, and He asked, My daughter, what are you writing? I answered, “I am writing about You, Jesus, about Your being hidden in the Blessed Sacrament, about Your inconceivable love and mercy for people.” And Jesus said, Secretary of My most profound mystery, know that yours is an exclusive intimacy with Me. Your task is to write down everything that I make known to you about My mercy, for the benefit of those who by reading these things will be comforted in their souls and will have the courage to approach Me. I therefore want you to devote all your free moments to writing. “But, O Lord, shall I always have a moment, at least a brief one, in which to write?” and Jesus answered, it is not for you to think about that. Only do as much as you can, and I will always arrange things so that you will easily be able to do what I ask of you…

Continued tomorrow...

 

[Michie]

1694
Today, I was visited by a certain lay person [probably Stanislava Kwietniewska] who has caused me a lot of sorrow and who has abused my goodness, telling many lies. At the first moment I saw her, the blood froze in my veins, because there stood before my eyes all that I had to suffer because of her, although with one word I could have freed myself of them all. And the thought came to me to tell her the truth, firmly and immediately. But at the same moment, the mercy of God came before my eyes, and I resolved to act toward her as Jesus would have acted in my place. I started to talk to her gently, and when she expressed the wish to talk to me alone, I then, in a very delicate manner, made know to her clearly the sad condition of her soul. I saw that she was deeply moved, though she was trying to hide this from me. At that point, a third person came in, and so our heart-to-heart talk came to an end. She asked me for a glass of water and for two other things which I did willingly. However, had it not been for the grace of God, I would not have been able to act in such a way toward her. When they left, I thanked God for the grace which had supported me during that time.

1695
Then I heard the words, I am glad you behaved like My true daughter. Be always merciful as I am merciful. Love everyone out of love for Me, even your greatest enemies, so that My mercy may be fully reflected in your heart.

1696
O Christ, although much effort is required, all things can be done with Your grace.

1697
I was feeling fairly well today, and I was glad that I would be able to make the Holy Hour. But when I began to make the Holy Hour, my physical sufferings intensified, so that I was not able to pray. When the Holy Hour was over, my sufferings came to an end, and I complained to the Lord that I had wanted so much to steep myself in His sorrowful Passion, but that my sufferings had not allowed me to do so. Then Jesus said to me, My daughter, know that if I allow you to feel and have a more profound knowledge of My sufferings, that is a grace from Me. But when your mind is dimmed and your sufferings are great, it is then that you take an active part in My Passion, and I am conforming you more fully to Myself. It is your task to submit yourself to My will at such time, more than at others…

1698
I often attend upon the dying and through entreaties obtain for them trust in God’s mercy, and I implore God for an abundance of divine grace, which is always victorious. God’s mercy sometimes touches the sinner at the last moment in a wondrous and mysterious way. Outwardly, it seems as if everything were lost, but it is not so. The soul, illuminated by a ray of God’s powerful final grace, turns to God in the last moment with such a power of love that, in an instant, it receives from God forgiveness of sin and punishment, while outwardly it shows no sign either of repentance or of contrition, because souls [at that stage] no longer react to external things. Oh, how beyond comprehension is God’s mercy! But – horror! – There are also souls who voluntarily and consciously reject and scorn this grace! Although a person is at the point of death, the merciful God gives the soul that interior vivid moment, so that if the soul is willing, it has the possibility of returning to God. But sometimes, the obduracy in souls is so great that consciously they choose hell; they thus make useless all the prayers that other souls offer to God for them and even the efforts of God himself…

Continued tomorrow...