Dialogue of Jesus with a sinful soul according to the Diary of Sister Faustina Kowalska

 Jesus: Do not be afraid, sinful soul, of your Savior; I am the first to approach you, for I know that by yourself you are incapable of ascending to Me. Do not flee, daughter, from your Father; desire to speak alone with your God of Mercy, who wants to speak to you personally the words of forgiveness and fill you with His graces. Oh, how dear your soul is to Me. I have settled you in My arms. And you have been engraved like a deep wound on My heart.

-Soul: Lord, I hear Your voice calling me to abandon the evil path, but I have neither courage nor strength.

-Jesus: Why are you afraid, My daughter, of the God of Mercy? My Holiness does not prevent Me from being merciful to you. Look, soul, for you I have established the throne of mercy on earth, and this throne is the tabernacle, and from this throne of mercy I desire to descend into your heart. Look, I have surrounded Myself with neither retinue nor guards; you have access to Me at any moment, at any hour of the day. I desire to speak with you and I desire to grant you graces.

-Soul: Lord, I fear that you will not forgive me such a large number of sins; my misery fills me with fear.

Jesus: My mercy is greater than your misery and that of the whole world. Who has measured My goodness? For you, I allowed My Sacred Heart to be pierced by a lance, and I opened the Fountain of Mercy for you. Come and draw graces from this fountain with the vessel of trust. I will never reject a repentant heart; your misery has sunk into the abyss of My mercy. Why should you argue with Me about your misery? Do Me this favor: give Me all your sorrows and all your misery, and I will fill you with the treasures of My graces.

-The Soul: With Your goodness You have conquered, Lord, my heart of stone; here I am approaching with confidence and humility the tribunal of Your Mercy. Absolve me Yourself through the hand of Your representative (priest). O Lord, I feel that grace and peace have flowed into my poor soul completely. You have forgiven me more than I dared hope for or could imagine. Your goodness has surpassed all my desires. And now, I invite You into my heart, filled with gratitude for so many graces. I had strayed down the wrong path like the prodigal son, but You never ceased to be my Father. Multiply Your mercy within me, for You see how weak I am.

Jesus: My child, speak no more of your misery, for I no longer remember it. Listen, My child, to what I wish to tell you: draw near to My wounds and draw from the Fountain of Life all that your heart may desire. Drink deeply from the Fountain of Life, and you will not stop during the journey. Behold the radiance of My Mercy and do not fear the enemies of your salvation. Glorify My Mercy.

Jesus I Love You

 

Because You are present

In the Tabernacle,

Willing to listen

And also to forgive

 All my things.

Ah, ah, ah.

Your love is powerful.

For you died on the cross,

You forgave the traitor

And you brought the light.

Because one day on my journey,

You changed my life,

By extending the nets,

You caught me.

Jesus, I love you.

I love you,

I love you,

Oh, oh

Jesus, I love you

I love you

I love you

Oh, oh, oh, oh,

Oh, oh, oh

Because you encourage my existence.

Even if I fall

You are my companion

My friend and advisor

At every moment.

Oh, oh, oh.

Your love is powerful.

For you died on the cross,

You forgave the traitor

And you brought the light.

Because one day on my way

You changed my life,

By extending the nets,

You caught me.

Jesus, I love you.

I love you,

I love you,

Oh, oh,

Uoh, oh, oh, oh.

- Choir song, I don't know who the author is.

God loves you and wants to save you

 

Let uzs give thanks to God who loved us so much and chose us before the creation of the world, before we ourselves were created, before the first dawn, before the first rain. God had chosen us to be his adopted children, to be saved from sin through Jesus Christ.   God the Father, in his infinite love,   sent us his only Son, and through him, grace flowed to humanity through his most holy blood.   It was not by chance that we came to believe in Jesus Christ; God willed it so, and together with the Holy Spirit, he moves us to seek him, so that we may not perish in our sins. God loves us and wants us to enjoy his inheritance with him; that is his will, that we live according to the grace we have received, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, listening to and following Jesus Christ, who has already shown us the way to the Father . Blessed and praised be God, whose mercy endures forever.   

EPHESIANS 1:3-14

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³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, ⁴

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as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love

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he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will,

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for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved.

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In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace

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that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight,

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he has made known to us the mystery ⁵ of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him

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as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

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In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,

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so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped ⁶ in Christ.

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In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed ⁷ with the promised holy Spirit,

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which is the first installment ⁸ of our inheritance toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory.

My Crucified Jesus

 A few minutes ago (2/14/2020) I found a question on Facebook that might put us at odds with non-Catholic Christians. The question kept coming up: "Why does the Catholic Church display a cross with Christ crucified?" I read several comments attacking our faith. Actually, I spent several years asking myself the same question. Seeing Jesus crucified made me cry; it reminded me of how much He suffered for me. I felt guilty about His crucifixion, and it forced me to remember my sins. I couldn't get used to seeing Him; it was too much for me. I didn't understand such love, that love that is capable of giving one's life for the beloved. Yes, that beloved by Jesus is you, is me, all human beings. I felt so unworthy of His divine love and His sacrifice on the cross. But little by little, although it still hurts to see Jesus crucified, I understood that this crucifix represents the greatest sacrifice anyone will ever make for me. It is a demonstration of love. Now, seeing it reminds me that someone, precisely the Son of God, wanted to come into the world to suffer on a cross so that I could be saved, so that I could have the opportunity to repent of my sins and begin a new life. A new life, a life in Jesus Christ . It shows me the love of God the Father as well. It's as if, seeing the crucifix, Jesus speaks to me and says, "I love you! Don't you understand? I gave my life for you so that you may be happy. Don't enslave yourself to sin. Don't be discouraged. What wouldn't I do for you, if I was capable of dying crucified for you!" It also gives me the opportunity to be renewed, to "see" Him, to return to His flock. Yes, my Jesus died for me on a cross, and then on the third day He rose again and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. And yet, the crown He chose to wear was a crown of thorns. This is my testimony. I don't have the answer to the Facebook question, but I know that because of that cross, today I can have hope not only in this life but also in the one that comes after death. If Jesus suffered for me, I too can suffer and offer it to God the Father. Yes, I too have a cross to bear, and I hope that, like Jesus rose again, and I too may achieve it through the merits of His glorious resurrection at the end of time. I leave you with a biblical quote where Saint Paul speaks about Jesus crucified.

1 Corinthians 1:23-24 

23  But we preach Christ crucified. This is a stumbling block  to Jews and foolish to Gentiles,  24  but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power and wisdom of God.

Sailboat

 

Every year, around New Year's Eve or in the first few days of the year, I write a poem on my Catholic blog about what I would like for this new year. Years ago I wrote this in Spanish (I'm writing from memory, it might not be accurate):

 "How I wish that this year that begins would be filled with God's love, and be like the blue, serene sea, be like the river that begins in nothing and ends as the sea. How I wish, if I cannot be the sea, at least to be a sailboat."

I Still Remember - God's Letter to You

 I still remember the day I formed you.

With great care, attention, and meticulousness, I chose every aptitude, every gift, every characteristic, every fiber of your being, until I obtained exactly the combination I desired.

 Even the smallest specifications were perfectly synchronized to accomplish My will and My purpose in your existence and in the lives of all those you would touch during your journey through life.

I remember the moment I breathed life into you. I felt such immense love that I couldn't contain it! I knew how much happiness you would bring, not only to Me, but also to all those you would encounter on life's path.

I love you from eternity to eternity, and I am delighted in you.

Sincerely,

God

Near-Death Experiences

   I confess that I enjoy watching videos of NDE testimonies (Near-Death Experiences). What I love most is the common thread they all share: the feeling of being embraced by divine love, the sense of being loved above all else. Two days ago, I saw one that deeply moved me. In it, the woman giving the testimony recounted how Jesus himself told her that we are all "chosen," but not all of us respond to that call, even though God is constantly calling us. I also appreciated hearing how a small act of kindness can change someone's life, and not only that person's life, but how it has effects beyond what we can imagine. Another thing I liked hearing was how we all have a purpose in this life. Nothing I didn't already know, but it's always beautiful to hear, especially if it's supposed to come from the lips of Jesus. And it got me thinking that there are also so many personal revelations to the saints from which we can learn about God's love and... How should we live this purpose in life? Reading the lives of the saints is a good example for our own lives because they show us that it is possible to follow Jesus in this life. It reminded me of the words God conveyed to us through Jeremiah: "I have loved you with an everlasting love." And also, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you hope and a future." I translated these last words from what I remember of the English text. But you see, all that love of God that those who die and return feel has already been revealed to us by God in His word. We are never alone; God loves us, and that is why He sent Jesus to give us the hope of a better future, as long as we accept Jesus as our Savior. God loves us much more than all our sins. He does not judge; we ourselves are the ones who turn away from Him. Let us return to Him, to Jesus, with the help of the Holy Spirit, because as the Bible says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Wonderful joy

Inexplicable miracle,

Wonderful joy,

I don't know what to do

Before His Majesty,

I walk, I go in front,

I see Him,

"God with us"

In front of me, 

"The Body of Christ"

I listen,

I answer

"Amen",

I receive Him.

And if I would like to be a saint,

But I know that He loves me like this,

I would like to forget everything

And remember only Him

In the Holy Eucharist.

I wish my thoughts

Just think of Him.

And I don't know how to act,

God,

God is with me,

With all His love

And I would like to be worthy,

But like this, only me,

It's not just me,

Because He joined me

He enters the heart that awaits

His blessing,

And I would like to praise Him forever

And that He not go away. 

God

 

What is God? 

   - Tell me, what is God, oh beautiful lights?.. 

  Order! - The stars have answered me. 

  - Say, what is God, beautiful flowers? 

  - Beauty! - Answer me the roses. 

  - Tell me, what is God, my Mother? And she, looking at the Crucifix: 

  “Love is God,” she told me… Love purer than the light of day.

Father Leonardo Castellani

A Memory

There are memories that often come to us with the help of images, sounds, words, or scents. Experiences that remain etched in our memory, waiting for something to awaken them. 

 Remembering God in the diary of our lives may seem difficult for those who don't initially believe in Him, but for those who do, it's enough to wake up, to open our eyes. God is the creator of all things, and everything we have is thanks to Him, beginning with life itself. Still, sometimes I feel the need to see God, something that reminds me of Him, that makes me feel His presence, and I wish I had some religious image nearby. And then I wonder, what is God the Father like? And I remember Jesus' words when he says that whoever has seen Him has seen the Father. And they are one true God, together with the Holy Spirit. And God in His simplicity is Love, pure, divine Love, as the priest told us this Sunday, Agape: Love of understanding. And then comes my other memory, an image that I have engraved in my memory with everything and the feeling it awakens in me, of feeling cherished and loved by God. It's an illustration from the catechism I studied for my First Communion. In this drawing, we see a large circle like a host, but in gold, yellow, and white. From this circle, a hand extends to a girl who stands in front of Him and who, to me, also seems to be leaning her hands toward this divine hand. Obviously, it represents the hand of God, who is always there to help us, who never leaves us, and to whom we say the now. 

As Saint John Paul II says, we must draw near not only in prayer of petition, but also in praise, in contemplation, in joy and in sorrow. Recalling this image reminds me, in turn, of the presence of Christ in the Consecrated Host, and how He, God, is always there, always.

This is the image:

It says: God is our Creator, knows everything, loves us, makes us his children and can do everything. God is our Father, good and loving, who has no end.

I am not moved, my God - Saint Teresa of Avila

 

 I am not moved, my God, to love Thee 

by the Heaven Thou hast promised me; 

nor am I moved by fear of Hell 

to cease for that reason to offend Thee. 

Thou art what moves me, Lord; 

it moves me to see Thee 

nailed to a cross and scorned; 

it moves me to see Thy body so wounded; 

I am moved by the insults and death 

that Thou undergoest. 

I am moved, in sum, by love for Thee, 

and so greatly, that, 

even if there were no Heaven, 

I would love Thee, 

and even if there were no Hell, 

I would still fear Thee. 

Thou dost not have to give me 

anything to make me love Thee, 

for even if I did not hope 

for what I do hope for, 

I would love Thee just the same.

I have a God

 I have a unique God, nothing and no one compares to Him. I have a God who reveals Himself to me, I have a God who becomes flesh, I have a God who becomes poor. I have a God who forgives me, and always forgives me.

I have a God who loves me "without makeup," and that reassures me. I have a God who gives me Life, because I don't have any. I have a God who doesn't judge me, doesn't overwhelm me, doesn't call me to account, but encourages and comforts me along the way. I have a God who waits for me, as long as it takes. I have a God available, at all times and always. I have a God who always gives himself to me, every day. I have an incomparable God; no one and nothing compares to Him. Amen.

(Jacobo Espinos)

Return to your first love!

 

One of the passages of the Bible that has caught my attention the most while reading it is found in the Book of Revelation. It's the message to the Angel of Ephesus. In it, he's asked to return to his first love, to remember where he has fallen. My life has been full of spiritual ups and downs, and it seems that when I read it, I was a little angry with God. However, through this reading, He reminded me of my first love, Jesus. I remembered my history within the Church, within its doctrine, and little by little I returned to that first love. Although I will never again have the innocence of childhood, a prayer in one of the prefaces of the Mass says that God returns it to whomever He desires. Hopefully, if we stray from that first love, we will return with renewed innocence and not forget why we learned to love God and His Church. Innocence because Jesus already said that we must be like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Revelation 2:1-7

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1 2 "To the angel of the church 3 in Ephesus, write this: " 'The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this:

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"I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and discovered that they are impostors. 4

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Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary.

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Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first.

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Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

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But you have this in your favor: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, 5 which I also hate.

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" '"Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor 6 I will give the right to eat from the tree of life that is in the garden of God."'

A reading from the Book of Wisdom (11:22:26 and 12:1:2)

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⁴ Indeed, before you the whole universe is as a grain from a balance, or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.

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But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook the sins of men that they may repent.

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For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made; for what you hated, you would not have fashioned.

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And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it; or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?

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But you spare all things, because they are yours, O LORD and lover of souls,

Chapter 12

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for your imperishable spirit is in all things!

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Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little, warn them, and remind them of the sins they are committing, that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!

 

My comment:

Today (11/3/2013) I heard this Bible reading at Mass, and I must confess that shortly before Mass began, I read it. And I was amazed. In such beautiful, poetic words, a God is revealed to us who loves us so much that he says here, "He did not hesitate to create us; He loved us from the beginning despite our transgressions, our sins." The reading says that we are but a drop of dew, or a grain of dust in God's eyes. He sees in us what we can be, for He created us in His image, and that is why He only rebukes us as a father does his children, so that we may be converted, repentant, and return to Him, as that image in which He created us, which is perfected in Christ Jesus, true God and true man. Jesus shows us this compassionate God, for He came to "heal" sinners, to give us a new life, a new way of living, of seeing the world, and our fellow human beings. He is the image of God, of a love that takes pity on all and desires the salvation of all, who allows us to fall to help us rise and show us a safer path that will prevent us from stumbling. A path that runs hand in hand with Jesus.

 

Love

 Today the Gospel speaks to us about a new commandment that Jesus leaves us: Love one another as I have loved you. The deacon tells us that with this new commandment, Jesus speaks to us about the first commandment, which asks us to love God. As Saint Augustine tells us, the first Christians loved one another because they saw God in each other. That is, they loved God in their neighbors. This reminds me of a time I witnessed an Easter Vigil from inside the church. On that occasion, I watched as everyone entered with a small candle, all lit from the Paschal Candle that represents Christ. I remember understanding that we must love others because Jesus himself is within them. And He already told us: whatever you do to my least brothers is as if you were doing it to me. As a Sister of Charity of the Order of Saint Teresa of Calcutta says, sometimes the saint had to remind them that they were serving Jesus, so that they would remember that it was Jesus whose wounds they were washing and caring for. It's not for nothing that love in Latin is caritas, that is, charity. Deus caritas est, God is love. And Jesus already told us, "Be perfect as my Father is perfect." In other words, let us love as Jesus loved us, who loved sinners, who loved his enemies so much that he asked God to "forgive them for they know not what they do," who died for all on the cross, who became the servant of all so much that he washed the feet of his disciples. And perhaps we cannot perform miracles, but we can love, help our neighbors, and reach out to them if possible. Sometimes money is not needed; sometimes simply listening is a great help to those who need to be heard.