My Journal on God's Love

Jocelyn Sorianowww.itakeoffthemask.com

CONTENTSI. Why I Wrote This

II. A Personal Encounter-My Spiritual Growth-A Holy Experience-When I Asked For a Rose

III. What God’s Love Is Like

IV.How Do I Know God Loves Me?

V. The Story of Jesus

VI.How God’s Love Fills My Heart With Joy-What Fills My Heart With Joy-God Sees-Where I Fit In

VII. When God Pursued Me-The One Who Pursues Us-In Him Alone-Leading Me Back in Faith-God’s Unique Call

VIII. A Reflection of His Love-What I’ve Learned From Pope Francis-Saint Quotes on God’s Love-Other Quotes on God’s Love

IX. Bible Verses on God’s Love-Old Testament Quotes-New Testament Quotes

X. Closer to Jesus in Suffering-Wounds Lead Us to Jesus-Against Scruples and Despair-The Wounds of Christ

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one andonly Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish,but have eternal life.” John 3:16, WEB–

O guiding night!

O night more lovely than the dawn!

O night that has united

the Lover with his beloved,

transforming the beloved in her Lover...

I abandoned and forgot myself,

laying my face on my Beloved;

all things ceased; I went out from myself,

leaving my cares

forgotten among the lilies.

-St. John of the Cross

WHY I WROTE THIS

There are times when I am fully certain of God’s love. Timeslike that, I just know how real it is, and how nothing could ever bemore real. It’s the source of all things, the force behind everythingthat’s good and beautiful and true, and the one purpose that is everworthy for eternity. Such are the times when I am most happy, whenthe veil between this life and the next seem thinnest, and when myview of heaven seem clearest.

There are times however when I feel as though I don’t evenknow what love is. At such times, I wonder whether I have any faithat all. Nothing seems tangible or clear. Memories seem unreal andthe future clouded with uncertainty.

Maybe this is one reason why I wrote this. So I can remember. So Imay never forget GOD’S LOVE.

“Take God for your spouse and friend and walk with him continually,and you will not sin and will learn to love, and the things you must dowill work out prosperously for you.” - St. John of the Cross

A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER

There are so many things I can write about God’s love, but for thisbook, I would like to limit it to those pertaining to my personalencounter with Him, with His love. God manifests His love uniquely toeach person. His love is not merely an idea or a formula, His love istrue, intimate and very personal for God is a person, a person weknow fully in Jesus Christ.

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. - Augustine

God does not love the crowd,but the personwithin the crowd.He knows my name,and had I been the only personwho needed to be saved,He would still have diedon the crossfor me.

Look up at the sky!Who created the stars you see? The one who leads them out like an army, he knows how many there are and calls each one by name!-Isaiah 40:26, GNT

Can a woman forget her nursing child,that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?Yes, these may forget,yet I will not forget you!Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.-Isaiah 49:15-16, WEB-BE

We have come to believe in God's love: in these words the Christian canexpress the fundamental decision of his life. Being Christian is not theresult of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with anevent, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction. Deus Caritas Est-Encyclical Letter, Benedict XVI–

MY SPIRITUAL GROWTH

CHILDLIKE STAGE

When I was a child, I thought the world was in perfect order. I haddreams, and I know I could achieve them if only I tried hard enough.

I did achieve many things. I was on top of my class and I gainedhonors and the respect of my peers and teachers. I felt that becauseof this, even my future was assured because after success in school,success at work would follow, along with its financial rewards.

I would like to say that I believed in God then, but I also believed thatHe rewards those who help themselves and follow Hiscommandments. I felt I was doing my part – doing my best andfollowing His laws. I felt like a good person, an obedient child, and adiligent student.

Life had a simple formula. Do everything that is required of youand you will receive the fruits of your labors.

With the exception of certain issues, I was satisfied with my life.

DISCOVERING REALITY

Starting with my High School years, I discovered many painful aspectsof reality. One by one, my ideas of a perfect world fell.

It was no longer that easy to maintain high grades. It also becamedifficult to be accepted by others. Even when I succeed in my studies,I felt I had nothing else to offer to others but my intellect. Withoutbeing smart, who I am? Am I still likeable?

During my college years, these insecurities increased. I was able tomaintain my scholarship and even to graduate Summa Cum Laude,but there was an emptiness in my heart I couldn’t fill. I felt out ofplace. I had no close friends.

When I started to work, these troubles lingered. I could not maintain ajob for a long period of time. When I was working at a mall as branchaccountant, I felt inept in carrying out my tasks.

Things got a bit better when I worked at a government office. I wasable to do my job better. I think my audit responsibilities there weremore aligned with my personality. I was not burdened withresponsibilities in operations. Rather, I was able to have more time tothink and render my recommendations. Still, I wasn’t fully satisfied orhappy. I felt I could do something more meaningful.

I was able to enjoy some aspects of out of town assignments though.I was like a child merely beginning to see the world. I saw the beautyof nature. I saw fireflies for the first time! I saw beautiful beaches. Isaw starlit skies and lovely sunsets and sunrises.

Still, I felt unhappy with myself. I felt I lacked something, like a goodsense of humor that could make me likeable.

I continued to try to be a good person, to be a good friend.But I also continued to fail. No matter how hard I tried, I failed. Icouldn’t find the intimacy and friendship I was yearning for. I see nowhow even the best people and the best things in life can fail us. Thisis the start of realizing that only God cannot fail.

TIME OF TRANSITION

I was able to keep my job and my way of life for quite some time(about ten years or so). It has become somewhat manageable.Though there were still troubles, there were also good things there. Ihad a stable job, I was able to travel, and I was able to have somegood friendships. I was even able to put up my own coffee shop,though that business lasted only for a short time. I was also able tohave a boyfriend, but that relationship ended at almost the same timeas my business. I experienced betrayal and heartbreaks.

Time came however when I felt I was slipping once again. I felt muchunfulfilled with my work and I thought it was time to take a risk. Iresigned from my job and thought of doing my internet undertakingsfulltime. I also prepared for a possible life in Australia as immigrantsince my visa had already been approved.

I felt happy and relieved initially for having been able to resign andfinally being able to do what I thought I wanted to do – writing andearning online. I tried my best to make this endeavor work, but abouttwo years have passed and it still wasn’t earning as much as I wantedit to. I felt insecure financially, so I decided to pursue life and careerin Australia.

I felt that I already tried my best in my own country and in my onlinework and there is nothing more to do but to continue trying elsewhere.I felt that this was what God was calling me to do.

INITIAL AWAKENING

In between the time that I resigned and the time that I decided to goto Australia, I have slowly started to be awakened spiritually. Ithought I already understood my religion, what my faith is, but duringthis time, I was able to understand it deeper. I felt as though the HolySpirit is teaching me the Truth. I have asked questions and I havereceived answers. Not in the form of a voice or a vision. I havereceived it in very simple ways, such as being able to read anarticle or a Bible verse that exactly addresses my concern.Still, I just KNEW it was the ANSWER to my questions. It is during thistime that I was able to understand what GRACE meant.

It is like I was being taught the very basic things about my faith,things I should have known but have just started being able tounderstand. It’s as though my beliefs are being AFFIRMED one byone, not only through spiritual understanding, but by concreteREASON.

I believed truly that God exists, that He is Good, and that He is aPersonal God. At the same time, I’ve realized how fallen humannature is and how we fall short of His goodness and perfection. Thatwithout God, all we can do is cause pain to others and ourselves. Forthis reason, God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to save us.Previously, He gave us the Law, but we were incapable of fulfilling it.So He gave us Jesus. He also gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us intoall Truth. If we resist even this Spirit of Truth, what hope is left for us?I’ve also been affirmed about the authenticity of the GOSPELS. It is avery strong evidence that can appeal to our reason.

All these made my soul come alive and I was happy! It’s like Ihave discovered a treasure that has always been waiting there allalong, but I have buried it by giving more importance to earthlymatters. Still, my heart has not been entirely purified. Far from it!For I still desired financial stability, and worldly pride and I still putmore weight on human relationships than I ought. And for this reason,I went to Australia.

A TIME OF LETTING GO

I consider my journey to Australia as the start of one of my majorpurifications. There, I was like a child again, learning everythingagain. I was in a very different culture with very few people I candepend upon. I have been stripped of many things. And because ofthis, I have also started healing in some areas.

I have started to rediscover my self- worth without the security ofmoney or career. I was able to realize and understand some of mychildhood wounds. I was also able to have affirmations on mypossible calling of comforting others. I was able to see myuniqueness. I was accepted and affirmed by others. Finally, I was ableto stand up for what I believe in though it may not count for thepopular opinion.

I was able to understand a bit about God’s message on Abraham’s callto depart his homeland and go the Promised land. I have felt it

related to God’s personal message to me. I did leave my homelandand went to Australia. What I couldn’t reconcile was that while I wasthen there and have entered a journey of personal realization aboutmy true calling in life, it seems I have also received messages to comehome again. I realized that what God was really relaying to mewas not really to go to a certain place, but more importantly,to HEED HIS CALL. It is His CALL that is important, even if iturges us to get out of our comfort zones. My first comfort zonehad been my homeland, which I left. But my comfort zone has turnedto that new foreign land that promises a comfortable and rich life forme. If God is calling me to leave it too, in order to answer His call,then I must do as God desires.

My journey to Australia and back is indeed a time of letting go. WhenI went there, I let go of the presence of my family and the comfort ofhome and native land. When I went back, I let go of a possibleabundant future in Australia. In a way, I also let go of my closecompanionship with a friend, who may choose to stay there for good. Ilet go of the possibility of bringing my family there and giving themmany material things.

A TIME OF HEALING

When I got home, I started a period of healing – from the wounds Ihave just discovered, and from those I have yet to find.

And though I have let go of many things in my previous journey, I stillhave to let go of much. One of which is being successful in my chosenfield of work – in writing and in being an inspirational public speaker.In my frame of thought, I ought to succeed so that I can be a modelfor others to follow, so I can have the right to teach and to inspirethem. But God has not allowed it. No matter how hard I worked, I didnot find the success I was searching for.

Another is a cherished friendship that has been broken. And itseemed broken for good.

I was wounded and this time, there was no one else to turn tobut God. So I asked Him to heal me and help me. And Goddid.

Not only did God heal me. He filled my soul with life and brought mespiritual treasures I never asked nor deserved.

The time of grace and spiritual awakening which had begun before Ileft for Australia continued. Jesus led me to His mother and to herscapular and rosary, powerful armors that gave my soul strength.Such also drew me away from sin, from the dangers of the occult, andfrom various heresies. Mama Mary taught me humility and purity,things that were far from me when I was relying on my intellectualunderstanding alone.

God has also led me closer to His mercy. I was able to attendand receive grace from the feast of His Divine Mercy. I was re-introduced to the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. I was able to avail of thegrace of Confession. I was able to finish the Saturday Devotion for theImmaculate Heart of Mary and the First Friday Devotion for the SacredHeart of Jesus, devotions with great promises of grace, especially atthe hour of death. I have realized more truths. I have found the truevalue of the Eucharist. And I was able to personally experience God’sLove. I felt I had a glimpse of His Presence, and I thought that even ifthis is all that is in store for me for all eternity, I would never growtired nor bored. It would already be heaven! How much more is whatawaits us if we remain faithful in His love.

A TIME OF TRIAL

Time came when I had to put into practice everything I have learnedand received. When my grandmother got sick and close to death, ithad been a time of crisis for my family.

During this time, I discovered more of my sinfulness and how littlepatience I had. I came face to face with my weaknesses andlimitations. I realized more and more the frailty of our human natureand how little faith we have. If only we had more faith, we’d havesuffered less.

I felt guilty many times for failing to do what I ought to do. But God’smercy is greater, and in His mercy I relied upon.

In the end, God has helped my family go through this crisis in grace.The last moments of my grandma is blessed, and is something that Ishall always remember. Further, various affirmations that she wentstraight to heaven is a grace to which I shall always overflow withgratitude.

After my grandma’s death, another trial came to me personally. Thisis the sickness of someone very close to me. Because of this, I felt myheart would break with sorrow. Only hope in God was able to comfortme.

REST AND FORTIFICATION

After my grandmother’s death, God has provided me with both restand little trials that fortify my faith. One of these trials is the problemof whether we are going to relocate or not, with all the documentaryproblems and temptations. In the end, I believe God has brought usto the right solution, which is to rebuild the house grandma has leftus.

Indeed, God provides for all of our needs. All these came at atime I wasn’t striving for it anymore. Had it come at a time whenI was demanding such to be signs of God’s love for me, I wouldn’thave learned what true love and providence really meant.

I remember having asked God to help me know and feel that He reallyloves me.

I thought the solution is to bless me with earthly gifts and riches assigns of that love. But it was not answered that way.

Had it been answered that way, I would have been dependent onthose signs that could easily be taken away. And once taken away, Imight think God no longer loves me.

The answer God gave me was such that even sufferings can be signsof His great love for me, whose very depths and wisdom could only befully revealed in eternity.

There were also little trials here and there. Here I got to know myweaknesses better and how little it took for me to fall back into sin. Itis only God’s grace that supports me and I must be ever vigilant not tolose it nor credit any goodness to myself.

I also got concern for my health. I felt weaker and even felt likegetting old. I felt more of my physical and even emotional limitations.I feared becoming even worse than I was before being awakenedspiritually. But God has helped me by giving me assurance once moreof His wisdom, goodness and mercy. He would never give ustemptations and trials beyond what we can bear.

A TIME FOR PERSEVERANCE

God continues to lead me closer to His love everyday. I often fall.Many times I feel like losing the joy of my first spiritual awakenings.But God is faithful, and He is the One who really watches over me andholds me. I know I am safe in His arms.

A HOLY EXPERIENCE

God is an ocean, a fire, a living fountain...That is the essence ofprayer: this contact with a living God, a God who reacts not like asimple inanimate being but like a living person, with a thrill of joy, withthe gift of Himself. Marie-Eugene of the Child Jesus, OCD (Where the–Spirit Breathes)

I would like to share here an unforgettable experience I had while Iwas attending mass with my sister. Here is how I wrote it at myjournal:

Had a very “blessed” moment while in St. Michael the ArchangelChapel today.

This feeling is “spiritual”. It was not caused by any physical externalstimuli. I have attended mass at this chapel before without feelingthis way. It couldn’t have come from the singing or music of the choirbecause there was nothing unusually peculiar in their singing that

time. They just sang the way they used to sing with simple ordinarysongs. There was also nothing new to the outward architecture ordecor of the chapel. And it also couldn’t have come from an eloquentsermon because the feeling started even before the priest started hishomily.

This feeling could only be heavenly. I felt loved. I understood howGod could really love me as a Father, how Jesus could love me as aHusband, how deep and true and pure His love is that even went sofar as His passion and death at the cross.

PURE LOVE. Only that can make us truly Happy!

This kind of happiness is not like anything we could ever find in thisworld. We may feel comfortable with material things, we may beamused or excited, but we can never find this joy! The closest is thehappiness we find in loving another person, but even this pales incomparison for it is never as pure.

There were a few other instances when I felt a similar level of thisspiritual feeling:

-when I was once praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament-when I was in a mass at our local church-after a confession

It is a feeling of being blessed and loved and cleansed and purified bythat love. It is communing in love without words. It is peace andcontentment and being one with God. It is having the questions inyour heart answered. It is being elevated in spirit. It is having FAITH.It is having a taste of eternity. It is being in the sweetness of God’sholy, gentle and loving presence.

After being enlightened much about God’s love, I have asked Him tohelp me know and feel it in a personal level. And He has answered myprayer!

“You shall seek me, and find me, when you search for me withall your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13, WEB-BE

WHEN I ASKED FOR A ROSE

It was near Valentine’s Day. I was praying to God when I suddenly feltso sad. I felt so lonely. I knew that dreaded day would soon be comingwhen girls would soon be receiving flowers from their specialsomeone, when they would all go about proudly carrying thoseflowers, certain of the sincere love of those that offered them. Ihaven't got any lover though. So no flowers for me, no bouquet, noteven a single red rose.

It was a bit embarrassing, but I knew the Lord knew my heart andthere was no point in hiding anything. I remained true to my feelings,and I asked God for something I've never asked before. I've askedHim to send me a rose, just one. I don't know how it could possiblyhappen, but I prayed, like a daughter asking something from her dearfather. I prayed for a single red rose. I prayed for a small expression oflove, a small sign that I am loved, and that I am special as well.

It was a heartfelt prayer, though I never really thought much of it theday after. I guess it was enough for me that I uttered it, and that theLord heard me. It was already upon God's hands whether to grant theprayer of silly girls like me.

So I went through my activities for the day, attending a seminar in themorning, and meeting my bestfriend afterwards in the afternoon. Myfriend and I strolled at a mall for a while, and then proceeded to pickup our materials for our upcoming training out of town. After pickingthem up, we tried to find a ride back home. We found it difficultthough, and found ourselves trying to find alternative routes.

On our way, we chanced upon a seedling bank, which we had seenmany times before from the outside. A bit curious, we decided to lookinside. We were amazed to see such a variety of plants wherever weproceeded. We certainly didn't expect so much there. But it turned outthere was even an exhibit at that time from many skilled participantsall over the country!

There were plants of all shapes and sizes, of common and rarevarieties. There were beautiful flowers everywhere: gerberas, orchids,sunflowers, yellowbells, roses of all colors! Their scent enthralls thesenses, their soft and vividly colored petals can't help but delight the

eyes. The presentation was just terrific, and it really felt like we've justentered an enchanted garden, far from the harsh activities of men,protected by fairies and elves that guard them night and day.

And suddenly, right in the middle of that garden, Iremembered my prayer. My prayer for a single red rose. And Irealized, right there and then, that that prayer had been granted farbeyond how I expected it to be answered. For right before my eyeslay not just a flower, not just a rose, not just a red rose, notjust a bouquet of roses, but hundreds of flowers flourishing,blooming, glorifying the God that answers all of our prayers.

I've only asked for a small emblem of care, but what I received is amountain of flowers testifying to God's immeasurable love for me. Ifelt so happy. I felt so special and blessed. I believed then that noother girl was able to receive as much that Valentine's Day. No otherman could have given as much. But the One who did was the Onewho loved me, the One who loved me enough to answer that sillyprayer for a single rose.

WHAT GOD’S LOVE IS LIKE

GOD’S LOVE IS:

1. Benevolent

Benevolence is silent goodwill. It is like the sun shining on hardground, softening the earth, melting the ice, but with no design orintention to heal. It is a state of naturalness which is why it worksbecause the ground feels no debt to the sun. In the same way, to beon the receiving end of benevolence is to be receiving something forwhich there is no return. Not even a pressure to respond – which iswhy one does, so easily. – Inner Beauty

God’s love is just like that. GOD’S LOVE just IS. Even without ourappreciation, even without our gaze. God’s love needs no permissionnor recognition in order to shine through and give its warmth to all.Only He has that kind of benevolence.

God is not dependent upon His creatures for His happiness. He lovesus but He is the Giver, not the one who expects from us something inreturn to fill Him back.

The only way we could somehow imitate such benevolence is whenwe’re able to connect to God. When we’re filled with His goodness,we’re able to give the same to others without expecting anything inreturn.

2. Strong

God’s love is so strong that even if we fail Him again and again, Hislove remains steadfast and unaffected by our changing desires.

His love is also strong enough to join us not only in our happiness buteven in our pain. It is not afraid to see us in our weakness and ourfailures. It is strong enough to allow us to make mistakes, to hurt, andto learn from them. How very different indeed from our human lovethat expects perfection from one another. We’re afraid to feel ourloved one’s pain and so we meddle with their decisions and keep them

from being responsible for their own lives. We’d rather that theyremain as babies who never grow up rather than risk falling as theylearn to walk on their own.

3. Trustworthy

We know God has no hidden agenda and only has our highest good inmind. He never lies to us and His words can be counted upon.

How different it is with people who often lie to us and betray us,people who keep us guessing whether they really love us or only careabout themselves.

For those of us who have been hurt so deeply that we find it sodifficult to trust again, only God’s love heals because it may just bethe only love we’d be able to TRUST for a time.

4. Respectful

God respects our freewill and does not force us to do His will even if itbe far better than our desires. God is powerful but He does notmanipulate us. God is everywhere but He doesn’t always reveal Hispresence if such will not be good for us.

God knows far better than we do and could surely accomplish a lot ofthings on His own, but He honors us by acknowledging the strengthwe have and what we can do for ourselves. He doesn’t want puppetswho can do His will but who can’t appreciate and believe in Hiswisdom.

God's love is the kind of love that is able to respect the dignity of theperson, one that is able to touch but not intrude, to help but alsohonor the person’s ability to help himself.

5. Wise

God’s love is filled with wisdom. It knows and does what the belovedneeds, not what she wants, if what she wants wouldn’t be good for herin the long run.

We in turn may be tempted to merely please other people. We thinkthat by always doing everything others wanted us to do, we’re alreadyloving them. True love is never blind. It sees beyond what the personasks to what a person really needs.

6. Gentle

God’s love is so gentle that it could touch us in our frailty withoutcausing us farther harm. Other people’s love seem strong, but unlessgentleness be present also in that strength, we may feel threatened oreven afraid to receive it. In times when we can’t even look up andextend our arms, what we need is a quiet love that merelyshelters us in our moment of need, like a tree that providesjust enough shade to protect us from too much rain or sun.

Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, isnot proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its ownway, is not provoked, takes no account of evil...– 1 Corinthians 13:4-5(WEB)

7. Infinite

God’s love is infinite. There’s always something new to discover,something fresh to surprise us and to keep us waiting for Hispresence. He could never bore us for there is no end to knowing Him.The more we know about His love, the more we yearn to comprehendHis greatness.

8. Unchanging

God’s love comforts us because His love remains the same, He is asreliable now and in the future as He had been in the past.

It is true that there is always something new to discover about Him,but He does not take back what He has already revealed aboutHimself.

For I, Yahweh, don’t change...– Malachi 3:6 (WEB)

9. Beautiful

The beauty of God’s love is so alluring that it gives us joy. Can we everfind something more beautiful than His love?

True love is a love that is given out of the beauty of one’s heart, notout of one’s fears, guilt or emptiness.

10. Eternal

We may not be able to count the number of times we wept becausethe love we thought we’d always have suddenly fades. Separation,abandonment and death broke our hearts and we couldn’t understandwhy something so beautiful had to end.

In truth, the love that we have right now is only a taste of the greaterlove we’d enjoy in eternity. With God’s love, we need never be afraidanymore because His love is eternal and has no end.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, norprincipalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, norheight, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separateus from God’s love, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39(WEB)

Such is the greatness of God’s love that has been made available toall. We may not always be able to reflect that love to others, for weare all but hazy mirrors of His love at best. In times like that, let us notfeel defeated for we know God can always continue His work for thepeople we love in ways we could never imagine for now. Only God’slove is infinite, wise and trustworthy. His LOVE shall never fail.

HOW DO I KNOW GOD LOVES ME?

We crave for love, so much so that we look for it even in theworse of people who only hurt us and fail us constantly.Somewhere at the back of our minds, a voice tells us we can find thatlove in God, that He has loved us ever since, and that He is the Onewho has really loves us most. But we doubt this voice. We feel it isn’treal, nor is the love of God which we cannot see. How can we know Heloves us when we cannot even see Him?

Below are some of the things that made me realize how much I amloved, and how real God’s love really is:

1. He created me with awareness and the ability to love andbe loved.

I am not a stone that does not know the things happening around it. Iam not a shell that gets tossed about by the waves, unaware ofwhatever shore it lands upon, without consciousness of all the beautysurrounding it.

I am aware and alive. I hear the sound of the waves crashing upon theshore and it soothes my soul. I see the sunset and I marvel at God’sfingers painting that beautiful scenery everyday. I smell the flowersand I feel at peace. I walk upon the sand and their warmth comfortsme.

When I hold a baby upon my arms, I feel an ability to love and to give.I feel that I can make other people happy, and their happiness makesme glad in return.

2. He witnesses my life, my life isn’t meaningless

We look for partners in life not only so that someone might love usand take care of us. We look for them because we want them towitness the life we’re living.

How important is it to have a witness to one’s life? For many, it’s thevery difference between a life well lived and a meaningless one.

We all want somebody to see how far we’ve already reached, how farwe’ve already grown. It’s not enough for us to be able to achievesomething. We want our achievements to be remembered, to be seen,to be the cause of inspiration of another person’s life.

With God, I know that Someone’s always watching. Even if men do notunderstand, even if they don’t see the good that I do, Someonealways does.

3. He gives me respect and allows me to be myself

God respects me and allows me to be me. He loves me enough toallow me even to make mistakes. He knows that I could learn fromthem, and that even the hurts I would experience in life would makeme a better person.

Sometimes we think that if we really love a person, we should alwaysinterfere in what they do so that they won’t make any mistakes. Butby not letting them decide on their own and own the consequences oftheir actions, we are also not allowing them to grow. We’re also notexpressing our belief in them, that they can rise up after they fall, thatthey can later on have the wisdom to choose what’s right.

4. He communicates with me, I know I’m not alone

To be able to have someone to communicate with is to not be alone. Itis to know that someone else understands what you’re saying, andthat someone can respond according to His own awareness andunderstanding. It is not commanding an inanimate object to moveaccording to your will. It’s being part of an intelligent and consciousexchange between two consciousness that is aware of each other.

Nobody falls in love with a puppet. A puppet merely says what youwanted him to say and moves where you wanted him to go. We wantsomeone who has a mind of his own, someone who is just like us.

“God is an ocean, a fire, a living fountain…That is the essence ofprayer:this contact with a living God, a God who reacts, not like asimple inanimate being but like a living person, with a thrill of joy, withthe gift of Himself.-Where The Spirit Breathes”

5. He gives me something to look forward to, my life is farfrom boredom

The person who is in love is far away from boredom. To her, everymoment is meaningful, and every next moment is something to lookforward to.

She does not know what her beloved would do next. Will he invite herout to dinner? Will he give her a bouquet of flowers? Will they watch amovie together?

It’s the same with God. We know God loves us because He forms arelationship with us. In that relationship, He gives the gift of Himself.He pours out from a heart of love such surprises we could never havedreamed of!

6. He enlightens my mind and gives me wisdom

Life is a continuous discovery of the mysterious. And when we have arelationship with God, He allows us to discover a part of Him. Hereveals Himself and gives us spiritual wisdom we could never learnelsewhere.

This wisdom enlightens our mind and satisfies our thirst for spiritualfood. We continuously learn new things that benefit us and otherpeople. We are delighted with what we learn and such things cannever be stolen away from us.

7. He heals my wounds and help me love myself more

Only God knows me. Only He can understand my innermost woundsand fears. With His guidance, I am healed, and I am able to lovemyself more.

Other people have their own wounds that may cause them to avoidme when I hurt. They have desires which I cannot satisfy, expectationsthat I may fail to meet. With God, I am loved even if I fail, even if Ican’t always be strong enough or beautiful enough. In truth, it is Hislove that makes me beautiful in time.

8. He receives with gladness everything I offer Him

Other people may not need what I can offer them. Others may be tooproud to accept help from someone like me. But God, even in all Hisgreatness and glory receives with gladness every little offering thatcomes from me.

He knows what I can do. He knows the love with which I’ve made thegift I’m offering Him. And He receives the same with love andgladness, He honors me by receiving and appreciating all that I do forHim.

9. He directs my path and leads me back whenever I go astray

If I were the only one who’s trying to maintain my relationship withGod, I’d be in great trouble. I know my limits and imperfections. Iknow how often I change my mind and lose heart.

But God is so good. He cares for His sheep, and He will not allow anyto be lost or stolen away. Whenever I start to lose my way, He is thereto remind me of His love. He pursues me. He lets me know how muchI matter. He leaves the 99 sheep behind just so He can find me andtake me gently upon His arms.

10. He saved me and gave me eternal life and lasting joy

Is there a greater act of love than to lay down one’s life for Hisbeloved? There is no greater love, and this is just what God hasdone.

He could have just offered me the world and I would have beenoverwhelmed. He could have given me the entire galaxy, or aconstellation of stars, but He did not stop there. I receive joy of themost precious kind, one that lasts unto eternity, one that comes fromthe offering Jesus made upon the cross – the offering of His own Self!

Indeed, nothing can separate us from the love of God. His love for usdoes not only manifest with the material things He provides for us, norin the relationships we have with the people we love. His love isgreater and far surpasses all our needs and expectations.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, norprincipalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, norheight, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able toseparate us from God’s love, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. –Romans 8:38:39 (WEB)

THE STORY OF JESUS

The story of Jesus is a story of love. It is the story of a God leavingbehind his ‘godhood’, becoming man, becoming flesh, going throughthe darkness so he can save those who are lost in the dark and leadthem unto the Light they do not even know. It is a story that calls us todo the same, calling us to leave behind our comforts for a while so wecan rescue the lost right where they are.

It is the story of the utmost kind of sacrifice, sacrificing one's own lifein order to save many.

His story is the culmination of the unceasing love of God who neverstopped seeking his people, who never gives up, who never fails tofind a way to reach out and to make known to us the path of life.

The story of Jesus is a story of healing, both of the soul and of thebody, soothing our pain and mending our wounds and our brokenness.

His is a story of acceptance, of welcoming those the world has madeoutcasts through its many prejudices. It is a story that discouragesjudgment and condemnation, a story that allows each person to beone's best possible self.

The story of Jesus is a story of empathy, of weeping with those whoweep and of mourning with those who mourn. It is a reminder of thewarmth each of us is being called to give to another, far different fromthe coldness and numbness the world has grown into, in its efforts toupheld the self above everything else.

The story of Jesus is a story of faith, of performing miracles andwonders the world could not believe in. For the world sees themountain that stands in our way, but faith sees the power within us tomove all mountains along the way.

The story of Jesus is a story of forgiveness. It is a story of releasing usfrom our burdens, of cleansing us from our troubled minds, ofbreaking free from the past so we could all make a fresh beginning.

The story of Jesus is a story urging as to FEAR NOT. In the midst ofour worries, and of all the concerns that cripple us, Jesus proclaimstrust upon the Father's protection and care, and of living lifeempowered in everything that we do.

The story of Jesus is a story of sincerity. It urges us to take off ourmasks and seek the truth, for it is after all in truth where we can findredemption, wisdom and enlightenment.

The story of Jesus is a story of simplicity. It is where all thecommandments of Moses and the prophets have been merged andsimplified into two. It is where the essence of all things have beensummed up in one simple word - LOVE.

The story of Jesus is a story of boldness. It is a story of standing up forwhat we believe in, of speaking out the truth even if the truth mayhurt, even if it's not the popular choice, even if it means not beingable to please everyone.

The story of Jesus is a story of joy, of celebrating life, of enjoying thecompany of the people we love. It is breaking bread and eatingtogether, of talking and sharing and of walking hand in hand.

The story of Jesus is our own story, if we could dare to make it andbelieve. For the good news did not end with the fourth gospel. Jesusurges us to carry on. The story of Jesus calls to each and everyone ofus, COME FOLLOW ME!

HOW GOD’S LOVE FILLS MY HEART WITH JOY

WHAT FILLS MY HEART WITH JOY

My heart is filled with joy because of God’s wonderful love for me.Weak and small that I am, He takes notice of me and witnesses mylife.He takes me as I am and fashions me after His own glory.He takes away my shame and my brokenness.He heals my wounds.He makes me beautiful and strong.I will always look forward for that morning when He makes everythingnew.Within my heart shall always dwell His voice, and I shall never bealone.Wisdom is His constant gift, and respect, an eternal blessing as love.Who would appreciate my small tokens of love? It is He who does notdisregard my smallest efforts and my meekest prayers.Who has planned the best things for me? It is He who has my welfarein mind for all eternity.My short life is but a vapor that fades, but He grants me a life thatnever ends.I am poor and have nothing, but mansions He has prepared for mewhere He is.I cry and He wipes away my tears.I run in grief, but He pursues me, and He wins me back with His wordsof love.He shows me the value of each heartbreak,the cost of every tear.He shows me how each sorrow can turn to joya joy that never fades.People may hunger now, but they shall be filled.People may mourn, but they shall be comforted.We shall receive far more than what we have lost,and far more than what we could ever dream about.He is just, but He is also merciful.He reigns from on high, yet He is never out of our reach.He is my Father, but He is also like a Mother who loves her childreneach one is valuable, no one is dispensable,each one loved as though she were her only child.

I have my questions but He answers them one by one,I have my doubts, but He fills my soul with faith.Where can I go that He cannot follow?What wrong can I do that He cannot forgive?There is nothing that can ever separate me away from Him,and there is no one who could take away these things that fill myheart with the Joy of Him!

GOD SEES

There are times when I feelas though nobody knowswhat I’m going through –how sad it is, how emptyhow I struggle with painthat almost overpowers me.Yes there are times when I’m temptedto think I’m all alone,but GOD SEES.

There are times whenI really thought I was doing something goodfor someone I lovebut then that loved onemisunderstandsand I feel as though every effortI’ve made were in vain.Yes, it felt so badand it seemed all my works were useless,but GOD SEES.

How often have we wantedothers to see who we truly areor what’s really going ondeep down inside,but try as we mightwe are either rejectedor passed by unnoticedas though we didn’t matter,as though we weren’t there?

For all such timesand for all such hurtsmay we always rememberthat though people may fail to seeand may fail to know,there is One who always knows,who knows us so intimately.Everyone else’s eyes may go blind,but GOD SEES.

WHERE I FIT IN

I can’t help it at times, if I trip when I walkOr I sing some notes out of tune.I am not like ones you’ve seenon movie scenes –Lovely, witty and sweet.I am not the shy underdogwith a heart of gold,or that daring adventurous girlfull of charm.I fall short trying to fit in,where I cannot fit in,trying to be beautiful,trying to be good.

I look at meand I cannot seewhat He sees,how someone could lovethe likes of me.But as I look into His eyesall I knowis that I am loved,every bit of me – loved.

And I fall for Him,fearfully yet joyfully,I fall…

I let myself surrender all –my hurts, my doubts,my anger, my insecurities.And they all vanishat the sight of Him.

I am moved,I am thrilled,I am healed,every bit of me –accepted and made whole.

Without even trying to,He changes me.Into His own likeness,He fashions me.And I sink deeperinto His affections,where I lose myselfwithout truly being lost,where I discover another me,the one I’ve alwaysbeen meant to be!

And it doesn’t matter anymorethat I could never fit inanywhere else,for there I’ve found my place,for there I’ve found myself,the one He sees,the one He truly loves!

WHEN GOD PURSUED ME

There was a time when I thought I was the only one seeking God. Ihave learned however how God has pursued me all along.

Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forthwithout fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has alwaysprotected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God,for having created me.- Saint Clare of Assisi

The One Who Pursues Us

It is God who pursues uswho uplifts usand protects usand provides for everything we needIt is God who loved us firstwho showers us with every good thingwe do not even knowAll that is required of usis the faith to believethat He is therethat He is our Greatest Loverthe source of all that’s wonderfulthere is in our livesIt is our part to be able to receivesuch a loveto rejoicebecause we have been calledbecause we have been foundbecause we learnthat despite the mundaneness of what we seewe are specialwe are cherrisedwe are in truthGod’s beloved ones.

God has protected me ever since I was a child. He provided for all myneeds and became the Father who has always defended me and ledme to the right path. He helped me finish my studies, and when my

earthly father died, He helped me to be the breadwinner of my family.And all along, He has protected me spiritually. He gave me parents,relatives and friends who helped form my faith in God. He enabledme to go to a Catholic school. He allowed me to be born in a countrywhich is predominantly Catholic where I can often attend mass or goto a Blessed Sacrament chapel nearby even when I already startedworking. In addition, He has also allowed me through my job to traveland see the beauty of nature where I felt ever closer to Him and Hismany blessings.

IN HIM ALONE

You know that the foundation of the world is love, so that even whenno human being can or will help you, you may go on, trusting in theOne who loves you. – Joseph Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth

As God pursued me, He sometimes allowed me to be hurt, even to bedisappointed by those closest to me. It is not that He wanted me tobe alone or to not love others. But He wanted to draw me closer toHim and to realize how my eternal happiness is in Him alone. Only byloving Him above all else can I possibly love others more. Only bybeing more like Him can I possibly keep myself from hurting otherpeople.

Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever beenable to satisfy the heart? -Saint Gerard Majella

LEADING ME BACK IN FAITH

Whenever I start to go astray, God has always been able to lead meback to Him. It’s not by force or by any threat, but always by loveand by wisdom.

I can remember two major breakthroughs when God has led me backto the faith:

In the first part, He has led me back to belief in Him and inChristianity.

I can summarize the major things I’ve learned in this phase in thefollowing truths.

1. God exists2. God is personal3. God is good4. The Bible contains the inspired words of God5. Man cannot rise from sin by his own efforts6. We are saved by faith in Jesus‘ death and resurrection.7. Though we are saved by grace, the law had to come first to teachus what is right8. The existence of the Holy Spirit leads us to Truth9. All sins can be forgiven except the sin against the Holy Spirit10. Our present sufferings are nothing compared to the eternal gloryand joy that lies ahead with the New Heaven and New Earth promisedby Jesus

In the second part, He has completely led me back to theCatholic Church.

I can’t thank Him enough for His mercy in leading me back to theCatholic Church and thereby receiving so much grace.-Being able to be strengthened by the sacraments especially by theEucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation-Being able to avail of many graces especially through devotions toMary-Being guided by its teachings that help guard purity and avoid thedangers of the occult

Countless indeed are the graces God has given through HisChurch:-Hope in the afterlife and in God. Hope that conquers despair.-Fullness of joy in the love of God who suffers even death to give uslife-Guidance with doctrines that keep us from slipping slowly and theneventually into a sinful life-Grace in the sacraments and devotions, particularly that of devotionsto Mary

-Consolation even in the most painful sufferings-Meaning and purpose in life-The communion of saints-Truth and wisdom through Jesus Christ-Freedom from anxiety-Healing, both physical and spiritual, including miraculous healings-Confidence and gratitude in God's mercy

GOD’S UNIQUE CALL

When the right time came, He revealed to me His personal call. Onething unfolded after another until everything came together andpaved the path towards the direction my own heart has desired allalong. One blessed day, it has all been summarized simply andclearly in a small page of a book I was reading:

But as I mourned, behold a miracleOf grace Divine. My human love was changedTo Heaven's own, and poured in healing streamsOn other broken hearts, while soft and clearA voice above me whispered, "Child of Mine,With comfort wherewith you are comforted,From this time forth, go comfort others,And you will know blest fellowship with Me,Whose broken heart of love has healed the world.”-Streams in the Desert

Other words and Bible verses eventually came and confirmed the pathtowards which I must go. Others may not understand what theseverses mean or how they fit in God’s plan for my life, but He hasallowed me to see how they all fall into place within His plans for me.

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught,that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary.He wakens morning by morning,he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.-Isaiah 50:4, WEB-BE

“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. – Isaiah 40, WEB-BE

“Therefore behold, I will allure her,and bring her into the wilderness,and speak tenderly to her.I will give her vineyards from there,and the valley of Achor for a door of hope;and she will respond there,as in the days of her youth,and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.It will be in that day,” says the LORD,“that you will call me ‘my husband,’…”-Hosea 2:14-16, WEB-BE

“Sing, barren, you who didn’t give birth;break out into singing, and cry aloud, you who did not travail withchild:for more are the children of the desolate than the children of themarried wife,” says the LORD.-Isaiah 54:1, WEB-BE

“Don’t be afraid; for you will not be ashamed.Don’t be confounded; for you will not be disappointed.For you will forget the shame of your youth;and the reproach of your widowhood you shall remember no more.For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of Armies is his name.-Isaiah 54:4-5, WEB-BE

Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear.Forget your own people, and also your father’s house.So the king will desire your beauty,honour him, for he is your lord.The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift.The rich amongst the people entreat your favour.The princess inside is all glorious.Her clothing is interwoven with gold.She shall be led to the king in embroidered work.The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led.They shall enter into the king’s palace.-Psalm 45:10-15, WEB-BE

And thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royaldiadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be calledForsaken: and thy land shall no more be called Desolate: but thoushalt be called My pleasure in her, and thy land inhabited. Becausethe Lord hath been well pleased with thee… - Isaiah 62:3-4, DRA

But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried isconcerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; buthe who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how hemay please his wife. There is also a difference between a wife and avirgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, thatshe may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is marriedcares about the things of the world—how she may please herhusband. - 1 Corinthians 7:32-34, WEBBE

The LORD, your God, is amongst you, a mighty one who will save. Hewill rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He willrejoice over you with singing. – Zephaniah 3:17, WEB-BE

BelovedMy beloved is white and ruddy.The best amongst ten thousand.His head is like the purest gold.His hair is bushy, black as a raven.His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks,washed with milk, mounted like jewels.His cheeks are like a bed of spices with towers of perfumes.His lips are like lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.His hands are like rings of gold set with beryl.His body is like ivory work overlaid with sapphires.His legs are like pillars of marble set on sockets of fine gold.His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.His mouth is sweetness;yes, he is altogether lovely.This is my beloved, and this is my friend,daughters of Jerusalem. -Song of Solomon 5:10-16, WEBBE

The Lord GOD’s Spirit is on me;because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to thehumble.He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,and release to those who are bound;to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour,and the day of vengeance of our God;to comfort all who mourn;to provide for those who mourn in Zion,to give to them a garland for ashes,the oil of joy for mourning,the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…-Isaiah 61:1-3, WEB-BE

I have grown in Wisdom since first I found her, and I will never bewithout her.Because I was driven by the desire to find her, I have beenrichly rewarded. The Lord gave me a gift for words, and I have used itin his praise...Do your duty at the proper time, and the Lord, at thetime he thinks proper, will give you your reward.-Sirach 51, GNT

But it is different with the person who devotes himself to studying theLaw of the Most High. He examines the wisdom of all the ancientwriters and concerns himself with the prophecies. He memorizes thesayings of famous men and is a skilled interpreter of parables. Hestudies the hidden meaning of proverbs and is able to discuss theobscure points of parables. Great people call on him for his services,and he is seen in the company of rulers. He travels to foreign lands inhis efforts to learn about human good and evil. It is his practice to getup early and pray aloud to the Lord his Creator, asking the Most Highto forgive his sins. Then, if the great Lord is willing, he will be filledwith understanding. He will pour out a stream of wise sayings, andgive thanks to the Lord in prayer. He will have knowledge to shareand good advice to give, as well as insight into the Lord's secrets. Hewill demonstrate his learning in what he teaches, and his pride will bein the Lord's Law and covenant. – Sirach 39:1-8, GNT

Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don’t be afraid, nor bedismayed; for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not failyou, nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of the LORD’shouse is finished. - 1 Chronicles 28:20, WEBBE

And God, who supplies seed for the sower and bread to eat, will alsosupply you with all the seed you need and will make it grow andproduce a rich harvest from your generosity. He will always make yourich enough to be generous at all times, so that many will thank God

for your gifts which they receive from us. For this service you performnot only meets the needs of God's people, but also produces anoutpouring of gratitude to God. And because of the proof which thisservice of yours brings, many will give glory to God for your loyalty tothe gospel of Christ, which you profess, and for your generosity insharing with them and everyone else. And so with deep affection theywill pray for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shownyou. Let us thank God for his priceless gift! - 2 Corinthians 9:10-15,GNT

Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great thingson the condition that you believe much more in His love than in yourown weakness. - Mother Teresa

My daughter, I assure you of a permanent income on which you willlive. Your duty will be to trust completely in my goodness, and myduty will be to give you all you need. I am making Myself dependentupon your trust: if your trust is great, then My generosity will bewithout limit. - Jesus to St. Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul

I also remember one of the first clues I had years before. It camethrough a very simple excerpt from a book written by an author Iadmire.

Only love heals,and My love in you shall heal many. Allow me to useyou in ways at which you yourself shall be astonished. You need notproduce dramatic miracles,for you need only your kindness andcourage. People shall go to you from afar to be spiritually andemotionally restored in the quiet waters of your friendship. - Bo Sanchez, Embraced

A REFLECTION OF HIS LOVE

To have faith is to make space for God’s love, to make space for hispower, for God’s power. Not for the power of a powerful person, butfor the power of one who loves me, who is in love with me and whowants to rejoice with me. This is faith. This is believing: making spacefor the Lord so that he can come and change me. – Pope Francis

What I’ve Learned From Pope Francis

Pope Francis visited the Philippines from January 15 to 19, 2015. Hevisited both Manila and Leyte. During this time, it’s as though timestopped for this country. A holiday was declared, many roads wereclosed. The media coverage was non-stop. All eyes were on the Popeas though God Himself has visited this nation.

I was not able to see him personally, but even from afar, I can attestthat I have been very blessed. The whole nation has been blessed!

Lord, I have seen your salvation. And it belonged to thosewhose hearts are like those of little children!

As I’ve watched on television the motorcades, the encounters and thehomilies of Pope Francis, God has made me understand many things,things I couldn’t grasp even with long hours of study, thinking orimagination.

Through Pope Francis, I was able to understand Jesus more,how He was like when He walked the earth with His disciples.Through His representative on earth, I was able to see Him better, asan image is made clearer if we saw it through a mirror that is cleanand clear.

If the Pope, who is but a mirror of His image, could reflect such a greatintensity of love, how much more if we saw Jesus face to face! If thePope’s sincere gestures could evoke in us a gratitude and an awe atGod’s mercy, how much more the infinite and unfathomable passionand suffering of Jesus Christ at the cross!

Indeed, it’s as though my spiritual eyes have suddenly been openedand I saw how God has saved His people, how He is even nowconstantly saving us.

God’s mercy is so great that He reaches out to the furthestcorners of the earth. His mercy is so great that no darknesscan overcome it! He has brought Light to the world and Heseeks to bring His Light to the darkness where we are.

He is like the Pope who comes to comfort, inspire and console. Hecomes to meet us right where we are, in our emptiness and in ourpoverty, in our sickness and in our pain. Though we are in the midst ofa fierce storm, He goes with us to make us feel that we are neveralone.

God’s salvation is not such that He will immediately bring us out ofthis painful world. It is not that He would answer every question ofours. His Salvation comes through His presence, a presence that goeswith us through our most painful sufferings.

God’s salvation comes through a Person, in the Person ofJesus Christ. In Him is love and beauty. In Him is mercy andcompassion and kindness. In Him is a heart that knows how toweep with those who hurt.

We can argue with many things and fill our minds and our mouths witheloquent words and reasoning. But nothing can compare to thepresence of the One who saves us!

For those who suffer, it is enough to see Christ. Words are sometimessilent. A warm embrace is enough. A glance of love is more thanenough.

And we come to Him. We who are poor. We who are sick. We who arebut beggars of His mercy and love. We come to Him like little children!

How hungry we all are for His love! How hungry we all are forHis light!

And so we flock to Him. We follow Him wherever He goes because weknow now that He is the Bread that can fill the hunger of our souls!

Once we see what we need, Who we need, an intense longing isstirred within our hearts that can never be quenched until we havefound full possession of Him who is our salvation. When we finallyknow who can give us life and meaning and wholeness, we wouldgladly give away everything because everything else counts usnothing compared to the riches of Him who alone can give us joy!

And God so desires to give us Himself that nothing couldprevent Him from saving us but our own pride.

Pride alone hinders us, because even when some see Him, Hisgoodness and His mercy, His light and His truth, they choose to turnaway and prefer their darkness over His light. Instead of rejoicing atHis salvation, they grumble and prefer to exclude themselves fromhappiness. Instead of being enlightened with wisdom and truth, theychoose to believe in their own lies.

And so it is that the humble are blessed. For it is the humble andthe little children, the beggars and the sick, the old and the weak whoardently seek the face of Jesus. We don’t come to God with our self-sufficiency, with expectations of praise for our good works or oureloquent words. We come to Him empty-handed and willing to befilled! We come to Him because we love Him and because weknow that He loves us.

Meanwhile, the rich and the strong think they have no need of Him.The self-righteous also are blinded by their own illusions ofrighteousness that they fail to see what true holiness means.

What do we expect God to do or to show us that we may believe? Wemay hear great words of wisdom. We may see true works of charity.We may witness sincere sacrifice out of pure love and mercy. We maysee the deaf hear and the lame walk and even the dead to rise againto life, yet still not believe because of our pride and hypocrisy.

God seeks us all, but are we willing to be found? God desiresto love us all, but are we willing to be loved?

Are we willing to strip ourselves of our self-centeredness so we canfinally focus our eyes on Him who alone can bring us joy?

“The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify aboutme. But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I toldyou. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and theyfollow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and noone will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given themto me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of myFather’s hand. I and the Father are one… If I don’t do the works of myFather, don’t believe me. But if I do them, though you don’t believeme, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Fatheris in me, and I in the Father.” – John 10:25-30, 37-38, WEB-BE

“Do you feel self-sufficient, and only offer something and think youhave no need of anything? Do you know that you, too, are poor? Doyou know the need to receive? Do you let yourselves be evangelizedby the ones you serve?” – Pope Francis

QUOTES FROM REVELATIONS TO ST. BRIDGET

Although I am now so despised, nevertheless I am still so merciful thatI will forgive the sins of any who ask for my mercy and who humblethemselves, and I shall free them from the evil thief.

If you want to love me with your whole heart and to desire nothing butme, I will draw you to me through charity, just like a magnet orlodestone draws iron to itself. I will lay you on my arm, which is sostrong that no one can stretch it out and so rigid that no one can bendit back once outstretched. It is so sweet that it surpasses everyfragrance and cannot be compared with the delights of this world.

For only a person who loves shall enter the kingdom of heaven.

I did not want humanity to serve me out of fear or be compelled to doso like an irrational animal but out of love for God, because no onewho serves me unwillingly or out of the fear of punishment can seemy face.

My will is still the same as it was when I hung upon the cross.I am the same now as I was then, when I forgave the thief his

sins upon his asking for mercy and opened for him the gatesof heaven.

I protect those who trust in me with my power; I refresh them with mymercy; I hold them with my patience; I visit them with my solace; Ienlighten them with my wisdom; I reward them a hundredfold with mylove.

QUOTES FROM THE DIARY OF DIVINE MERCY

Child, do not run away from your Father; be willing to talk openly withyour God of mercy who wants to speak words of pardon and lavish hisgraces on you.

How dear your soul is to Me! I have inscribed your name upon Myhand; you are engraved as a deep wound in My Heart.

I desire to enter into your heart.

I am not surrounded by a retinue or guards. You can come to me atany moment, at any time ; I want to speak to you and desire to grantyou grace .

For you I descended from heaven to earth; for you I allowed myself tobe nailed to the cross ; for you I let my Sacred Heart be pierced with alance , thus opening wide the source of mercy for you.

Child, speak no more of your misery; it is already forgotten. Listen, Mychild, to what I desire to tell you. Come close to My wounds and drawfrom the Fountain of Life whatever your heart desires.

What joy fills My Heart when you return to me . Because you areweak, I take you in My arm s and carry you to the home of My Father.

Tell me all, My child, hide nothing from Me , because My loving Heart,the Heart of your Best Friend, is listening to you.

Even though your sufferings were very great, do not loseheart or give in to despondency. But tell Me, my child, whohas dared to wound your heart?

Learn from this that no one will understand a soul entirely-that isbeyond human ability. Therefore, I have remained on earth to comfortyour aching heart and to fortify your soul, so that you will not falter onthe way.

A suffering soul is closest to My Heart.

My child, life on earth is a struggle indeed; a great struggle for Mykingdom. But fear not, because you are not alone. I am alwayssupporting you, so lean on Me as you struggle, fearing nothing.

I want to give myself to souls and to fill them with My love,but few there are who want to accept all the graces My lovehas intended for them.

OTHER QUOTES ON GOD’S LOVE

How gently and lovinglyyou wake in my heart,where in secret you dwell alone;and in your sweet breathing,filled with good and glory,how tenderly you swell my heart with love.-St. John of the Cross

The glory of heaven consists in seeing and loving God face-to-face... –St. Alphonsus

How did Jesus love us? He became living bread that you and I mighteat, that we might live. He became so small and so weak in order tomeet our hunger for God. Bread, just bread, the simplest of all food tothe point that even a child can eat it and understand it. – MotherTeresa, Heart of Joy

It’s Jesus’ home and Jesus welcomes [all]. But not only does Hewelcome, He goes out to see people just as He went out to find this

man. And if people are hurt, what does Jesus do? Scold thembecause they are hurt? No, He comes and He carries them onHis shoulders. – Pope Francis

"If all were to know how beautiful Jesus is and how loving He is! Theywould all die of love. And yet, how is it that He is so little loved?" – St.Gemma Galgani

God's passionate love for his people—for humanity—is at the sametime a forgiving love. It is so great that it turns God against himself,his love against his justice. Here Christians can see a dimprefigurement of the mystery of the Cross: so great is God's lovefor man that by becoming man he follows him even into death,and so reconciles justice and love. – Deus Caritas Est-EncyclicalLetter, Benedict XVI

It is not because I have been preserved from mortal sin that I lift upmy heart to God in trust and love. I feel that even had I on myconscience every crime one could commit, I should lose nothing of myconfidence: my heart broken with sorrow, I would throw myself intothe Arms of my Saviour. I know that He loves the Prodigal Son, I haveheard His words to St. Mary Magdalen, to the woman taken inadultery, and to the woman of Samaria. No one could frighten me,for I know what to believe concerning His Mercy and His Love.And I know that all that multitude of sins would disappear in aninstant, even as a drop of water cast into a flaming furnace. – St.Therese of Lisieux

Who do you want to love, if you do not want to love Jesus?" – St.Gemma Galgani

When Jesus speaks in his parables of the shepherd who goes after thelost sheep, of the woman who looks for the lost coin, of the father whogoes to meet and embrace his prodigal son, these are no mere words:they constitute an explanation of his very being and activity. His deathon the Cross is the culmination of that turning of God against himselfin which he gives himself in order to raise man up and save him. Thisis love in its most radical form. – Deus Caritas Est-EncyclicalLetter, Benedict XVI

Let us ... remember Peter: three times he denied Jesus, precisely whenhe should have been closest to him; and when he hits bottom hemeets the gaze of Jesus who patiently, wordlessly, says to him: "Peter,don't be afraid of your weakness, trust in Me." Peter understands, hefeels the loving gaze of Jesus and he weeps. How beautiful is this gazeof Jesus — how much tenderness is there! Brothers and sisters, let usnever lose trust in the patience and mercy of God! – Pope Francis

I am thirsty, said Jesus on the cross... His thirst was not for water butfor love. – Mother Teresa, Heart of Joy

Before His gaze all falsehood melts away. This encounter with Him, asit burns us, transforms and frees us, allowing us to become trulyourselves... His gaze, the touch of His heart heals us through anundeniably painful transformation “as through fire”. But it is a blessedpain, in which the holy power of His love sears through us like a flame,enabling us to become totally ourselves and thus totally of God.- PopeBenedict XVI, Spe Salvi

It is not easy to entrust oneself to God's mercy, because it is an abyssbeyond our comprehension. But we must! ... "Oh, I am a great sinner!""All the better! Go to Jesus: He likes you to tell him these things!" Heforgets, He has a very special capacity for forgetting. He forgets, Hekisses you, He embraces you and He simply says to you: "Neither do Icondemn you; go, and sin no more" (Jn 8:11). – Pope Francis

It seems to me that if everyone were to receive such favoursGod would be feared by none, but loved to excess; that no onewould ever commit the least wilful fault—and this throughlove, not fear. Yet all souls cannot be alike. It is necessary that theyshould differ from one another in order that each Divine Perfectionmay receive its special honour. To me, He has given His Infinite Mercy,and it is in this ineffable mirror that I contemplate his other attributes.Therein all appear to me radiant with Love. His Justice, even moreperhaps than the rest, seems to me to be clothed with Love. What joyto think that Our Lord is just, that is to say, that He takes ourweakness into account, that He knows perfectly the frailty of ournature! Of what, then, need I be afraid? Will not the God of Infinite

Justice, Who deigns so lovingly to pardon the sins of the Prodigal Son,be also just to me "who am always with Him"? - St. Therese of Lisieux

BIBLE VERSES ON GOD’S LOVE

OLD TESTAMENT QUOTES

The Lord GOD’s Spirit is on me;because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the humble.He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted,to proclaim liberty to the captives,and release to those who are bound;to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,and the day of vengeance of our God;to comfort all who mourn;to provide for those who mourn in Zion,to give to them a garland for ashes,the oil of joy for mourning…-Isaiah 61:1-3 (WEB)

For the Lord is sweet, his mercy endureth for ever, and his truth togeneration and generation. – Psalm 100:5

He hath not dealt with us according to our sins: nor rewarded usaccording to our iniquities. For according to the height of the heavenabove the earth: he hath strengthened his mercy towards them thatfear him. – Psalm 103:10-11

But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity and unto eternity uponthem that fear him: And his justice unto children's children… - Psalm103:17

But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow toanger, and abundant in loving kindness, and didn’t forsake them. Yes,when they had made themselves a molten calf, and said, ‘This is yourGod who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed awfulblasphemies; yet you in your manifold mercies didn’t forsake them in

the wilderness. The pillar of cloud didn’t depart from over them byday, to lead them in the way; neither did the pillar of fire by night, toshow them light, and the way in which they should go. You gave alsoyour good Spirit to instruct them, and didn’t withhold your mannafrom their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.

“Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lackednothing. Their clothes didn’t grow old, and their feet didn’t swell.Moreover you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you allottedaccording to their portions. So they possessed the land of Sihon, eventhe land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.You also multiplied their children as the stars of the sky, and broughtthem into the land concerning which you said to their fathers, thatthey should go in to possess it.

“So the children went in and possessed the land, and you subduedbefore them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavethem into their hands, with their kings and the peoples of the land,that they might do with them as they pleased. They took fortifiedcities and a rich land, and possessed houses full of all good things,cisterns dug out, vineyards, and olive groves, and fruit trees inabundance. So they ate, were filled, became fat, and delightedthemselves in your great goodness.”

-NEHEMIAH 9:17-25, WEB-BE

“You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child. If youtake advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surelyhear their cry… - EXODUS 22:22-23, WEB-BE

JONAH

God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the vine?”

He said, “I am right to be angry, even to death.”

The LORD said, “You have been concerned for the vine, for which youhave not laboured, neither made it grow; which came up in a night,and perished in a night. Shouldn’t I be concerned for Nineveh, thatgreat city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand

persons who can’t discern between their right hand and their lefthand; and also much livestock?”

-JONAH 4:9-11, WEB-BE

“Yet even now,” says the LORD, “turn to me with all your heart,and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”Tear your heart, and not your garments,and turn to the LORD, your God;for he is gracious and merciful,slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness,and relents from sending calamity.-JOEL 2:12-13, WEB-BE

Tell them, ‘“As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I have no pleasure inthe death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his wayand live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why will you die, houseof Israel?”’ – EZEKIEL 33:11, WEB-BE

Because God made not death;Neither delights he when the living perish:For he created all things that they might have being:And the generative powers of the world are healthsome,And there is no poison of destruction in them:Nor has Hades royal dominion upon earth,For righteousness is immortal:But ungodly men by their hands and their words called death to them:Deeming him a friend they consumed away,And they made a covenant with him,Because they are worthy to be of his portion.-WISDOM 1:13-16, WEB-BE

Let the wicked forsake his way,and the unrighteous man his thoughts.Let him return to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him;and to our God, for he will freely pardon.“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,and your ways are not my ways,” says the LORD.“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your ways,and my thoughts than your thoughts.

-ISAIAH 55:7-9, WEB-BE

…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves,pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hearfrom heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. – 2Chronicles 7:14, WEB-BE

“Sing, barren, you who didn’t give birth; break out into singing, andcry aloud, you who did not travail with child: for more are thechildren of the desolate than the children of the married wife,”says the LORD. – ISAIAH 54:1, WEB-BE

“Don’t be afraid; for you will not be ashamed.Don’t be confounded; for you will not be disappointed.For you will forget the shame of your youth;and the reproach of your widowhood you shall remember nomore. For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of Armies ishis name.-ISAIAH 54:4-5, WEB-BE

“For a small moment I have forsaken you;but with great mercies will I gather you.In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment;but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you,”says the LORD your Redeemer.“For this is like the waters of Noah to me;for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more go over theearth,so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.For the mountains may depart,and the hills be removed;but my loving kindness will not depart from you,and my covenant of peace will not be removed,”says the LORD who has mercy on you.-ISAIAH 54:7-10, WEB-BE

“Therefore behold, I will allure her,and bring her into the wilderness,and speak tenderly to her.I will give her vineyards from there,and the valley of Achor for a door of hope;

and she will respond there,as in the days of her youth,and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.It will be in that day,” says the LORD,“that you will call me ‘my husband,’and no longer call me ‘my master.’-HOSEA 2:14-16, WEB-BE

I will betroth you to me forever.Yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, in justice, inloving kindness, and in compassion.I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness;and you shall know the LORD.-HOSEA 2:19-20, WEB-BE

I will sow her to me in the earth;and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy;and I will tell those who were not my people, ‘You are mypeople;’and they will say, ‘My God!’”-HOSEA 2:23, WEB-BE

Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all yourheart, daughter of Jerusalem. The LORD has taken away yourjudgements. He has thrown out your enemy. The King of Israel, theLORD, is amongst you. You will not be afraid of evil any more. In thatday, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Don’t be afraid, Zion. Don’t let yourhands be weak.” The LORD, your God, is amongst you, a mightyone who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He willcalm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.-ZEPHANIAH 3:14-17, WEB-BE

Behold, at that time I will deal with all those who afflict you, and I willsave those who are lame, and gather those who were drivenaway. I will give them praise and honour, whose shame has been inall the earth. At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will Igather you; for I will give you honour and praise amongst all thepeoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before youreyes, says the LORD. – ZEPHANIAH 3:19-20, WEB-BE

NEW TESTAMENT QUOTES

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, thatwhoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ForGod didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that theworld should be saved through him. – JOHN 3:16-17, WEB-BE

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they aredoing.” – LUKE 23:34, WEB-BE

But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he lovedus, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alivetogether with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us upwith him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in ChristJesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches ofhis grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus… – Ephesians 2:4-7,WEB

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father ofmercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all ouraffliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in anyaffliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comfortedby God. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, WEB

THE LOST SHEEP

He told them this parable. “Which of you men, if you had onehundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-ninein the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Whenhe comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours,saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheepwhich was lost!’ I tell you that even so there will be more joy inheaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteouspeople who need no repentance. – LUKE 15:3-7, WEB-BE

THE LOST COIN

Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachmacoin, wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until

she found it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends andneighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachmawhich I had lost.’ Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence ofthe angels of God over one sinner repenting.” – LUKE 15:8-10,WEB-BE

THE PRODIGAL SON

He said, “A certain man had two sons. The younger of them said tohis father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided hislivelihood between them. Not many days after, the younger songathered all of this together and travelled into a far country. There hewasted his property with riotous living. When he had spent all of it,there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be inneed. He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of thatcountry, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He wanted to fillhis belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of myfather’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! I willget up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinnedagainst heaven, and in your sight. I am no more worthy to be calledyour son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’

“He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off,his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran,and fell on his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father,I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthyto be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put iton him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. Bring thefattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate; for this, my son,was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ Theybegan to celebrate.

-LUKE 15:11-24, WEB-BE

THE REPENTANT THIEF

One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you arethe Christ, save yourself and us!”

But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fearGod, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeedjustly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man hasdone nothing wrong.” He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when youcome into your Kingdom.”Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be withme in Paradise.”-LUKE 23:39-43, WEB-BE

THE WOMAN AND THE TWO DEBTORS

One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into thePharisee’s house, and sat at the table. Behold, a woman in the citywho was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in thePharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. Standingbehind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears,and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, andanointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who hadinvited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet,would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is whotouches him, that she is a sinner.”

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

He said, “Teacher, say on.”

“A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii,and the other fifty. When they couldn’t pay, he forgave themboth. Which of them therefore will love him most?”

Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave themost.”

He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” Turning to the woman, hesaid to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house,and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet withher tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave me nokiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet.You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet withointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are

forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven,the same loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Whois this who even forgives sins?”

He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

-LUKE 7:36-50, WEB-BE

WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY

Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and allthe people came to him. He sat down, and taught them. The scribesand the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set herin the middle, they told him, “Teacher, we found this woman inadultery, in the very act. Now in our law, Moses commanded us tostone such women. What then do you say about her?” They said thistesting him, that they might have something to accuse him of.

But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. Butwhen they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “Hewho is without sin amongst you, let him throw the first stoneat her.” Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on theground.

They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, wentout one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus wasleft alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. Jesus,standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are youraccusers? Did no one condemn you?”

She said, “No one, Lord.”

Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From nowon, sin no more.”

-JOHN 8:2-11, WEB-BE

ALABASTER JAR

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, awoman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensiveointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. Butwhen his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why thiswaste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given tothe poor.”

However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why do you troublethe woman? She has done a good work for me. For you alwayshave the poor with you; but you don’t always have me. For in pouringthis ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Mostcertainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached inthe whole world, what this woman has done will also bespoken of as a memorial of her.”

-MATTHEW 26:6-13, WEB-BE

MARY AND MARTHA

As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and acertain woman named Martha received him into her house. She had asister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. ButMartha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him,and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone?Ask her therefore to help me.”

Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious andtroubled about many things, but one thing is needed. Maryhas chosen the good part, which will not be taken away fromher.”-LUKE 10:38-42, WEB

LITTLE CHILDREN

Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them,and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become aslittle children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is thegreatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever receives one suchlittle child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one

of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would bebetter for him that a huge millstone should be hung aroundhis neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea. -MATTHEW 18:2-6, WEB-BE

SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he hadsat down, his disciples came to him. He opened his mouth and taughtthem, saying,“Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.Blessed are those who mourn,for they shall be comforted.Blessed are the gentle,for they shall inherit the earth.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,for they shall be filled.Blessed are the merciful,for they shall obtain mercy.Blessed are the pure in heart,for they shall see God.Blessed are the peacemakers,for they shall be called children of God.Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake,for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and sayall kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and beexceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is howthey persecuted the prophets who were before you.-MATTHEW 5:1-11, WEB-BE

SHEEP AND GOATS

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angelswith him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all thenations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another,as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set thesheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King willtell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inheritthe Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the

world; for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I wasthirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you tookme in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and youvisited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’ “Then therighteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry,and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? When did we see youas a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? When didwe see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’ “The King will answerthem, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one ofthe least of these my brothers,‡ you did it to me.’ –MATTHEW25:31-40, WEB-BE

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem toJericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beathim, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priestwas going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on theother side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place,and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, ashe traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was movedwith compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring onoil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn,and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took outtwo denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care ofhim. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’Now which of these three do you think seemed to be aneighbor to him who fell among the robbers?”

He said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

-LUKE 10:30-37, WEB

THE WIDOW’S SON

Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples,along with a great multitude, went with him. Now when he came nearto the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, theonly son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city

were with her. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion onher, and said to her, “Don’t cry.” He came near and touched thecoffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you,arise!” He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gavehim to his mother.-LUKE 7:11-15, WEB

LAZARUS

Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and were consolingher, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out,followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”Therefore when Mary came to where Jesus was, and saw him, she felldown at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you would have been here,my brother wouldn’t have died.”

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weepingwho came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,and said, “Where have you laid him?”

They told him, “Lord, come and see.”

Jesus wept.

…

“Father, I thank you that you listened to me. I know that you alwayslisten to me, but because of the multitude that stands around I saidthis, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this,he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, andhis face was wrapped around with a cloth.

Jesus said to them, “Free him, and let him go.”

JOHN 11:31-35,42-44 WEB

JESUS FEEDS THE MULTITUDE

Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassionon them, and healed their sick. When evening had come, hisdisciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour isalready late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into thevillages, and buy themselves food.”

But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You givethem something to eat.”

They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.”

He said, “Bring them here to me.” He commanded the multitudes tosit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish,and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves tothe disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes. They all ate,and were filled.

-MATTHEW 14:14-20, WEB

JESUS HEALS ON A SABBATH

He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day.Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmityeighteen years, and she was bent over, and could in no waystraighten herself up. When Jesus saw her, he called her, andsaid to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” Helaid his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight, andglorified God.

The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healedon the Sabbath, said to the multitude, “There are six days in whichmen ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, andnot on the Sabbath day!”

Therefore the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each oneof you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath, andlead him away to water? Ought not this woman, being adaughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound eighteen longyears, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”

-LUKE 13:10-16, WEB

THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA

A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give mea drink.” For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, “How is it that you, beinga Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews haveno dealings with Samaritans.)

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it iswho says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him,and he would have given you living water.”-JOHN 4:7-10, WEB

BE PERFECT

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for atooth.’ But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikesyou on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues youto take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoevercompels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asksyou, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love yourneighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love yourenemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those whohate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecuteyou, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, andsends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those wholove you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors dothe same? If you only greet your friends, what more do you do thanothers? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? Therefore you shallbe perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

-MATTHEW 5:38-46, WEB-BE

FORGIVE YOUR BROTHER

He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions ofstumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come! Itwould be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, andhe were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one ofthese little ones to stumble. Be careful. If your brother sins againstyou, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. If he sins againstyou seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘Irepent,’ you shall forgive him.” -LUKE 17:1-4, WEB-BE

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

“But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those whohate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreatyou. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; andfrom him who takes away your cloak, don’t withhold your coat also.Give to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask him who takes awayyour goods to give them back again.

“As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them. If youlove those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinnerslove those who love them. If you do good to those who do good toyou, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If youlend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that toyou? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much. But loveyour enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back;and your reward will be great, and you will be children of theMost High; for he is kind towards the unthankful and evil.

“Therefore be merciful,even as your Father is also merciful.Don’t judge,and you won’t be judged.Don’t condemn,and you won’t be condemned.Set free,and you will be set free.

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down,shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with thesame measure you measure it will be measured back to you.”

LUKE 6:27-38, WEB-BE

FORGIVE

Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything againstanyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive youyour transgressions. – MARK 11:25, WEB-BE

THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT

Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brothersin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?”

Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventytimes seven. Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king,who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants. When he hadbegun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him tenthousand talents. But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commandedhim to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, andpayment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and knelt beforehim, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him,and forgave him the debt.

“But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, whoowed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him bythe throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’

“So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying,‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’ He would not, but wentand cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due.So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they wereexceedingly sorry, and came and told their lord all that was done.Then his lord called him in, and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! Iforgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Shouldn’t you alsohave had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he

should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also doto you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for hismisdeeds.”

-MATTHEW 18:21-35, WEB-BE

REVELATIONS

I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the firstearth have passed away, and the sea is no more. I saw the holy city,New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like abride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice out of heavensaying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell withthem, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with themas their God. He will wipe away from them every tear from theireyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning,nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passedaway.”-REVELATIONS 21:1-4, WEB

CLOSER TO JESUS IN SUFFERING

“A suffering soul is closest to My Heart.” - Jesus to St.Faustina

“Suffering will never be completely absent from our lives. So don’t beafraid of suffering. Your suffering is a great means of love, if you makeuse of it, especially if you offer it for peace in the world. Suffering inand of itself is useless, but suffering that is shared with the passion ofChrist is a wonderful gift and a sign of love. Christ’s suffering provedto be a gift, the greatest gift of love, because through his suffering oursins were atoned for. Suffering, pains sorrow, humiliation, feelings ofloneliness, are nothing but the kiss of Jesus, a sign that you havecome so close that He can kiss you.” – Mother Teresa

“Your tears were collected by the angels and were placed in a goldenchalice, and you will find them when you present yourself beforeGod.” – St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

“Time is but a shadow, a dream; already God sees us in Glory andtakes joy in our eternal beatitude. How this thought helps my soul. Iunderstand then why he lets us suffer.” -St. Therese of Lisieux

WOUNDS LEAD US TO JESUS

The wounds in our hearts are but openings by which the healing loveof God can enter in…

It is not during the times when we were most confident that weexperience the deepest intimacy. It is not when we feel most beautifulthat we feel the most loved.

On the contrary, it is during the times when we are most down that wefeel the warmest embrace. It is during the times when we feel mostrepulsive that we feel most accepted and cared for.

Our wounds are quite often the very keys that open the pathtowards true happiness. It is there when we learn what sincerity is,and what true sacrifice means.

Jesus comes right when we feel we do not deserve His gifts.He carries us in His arms and saves us. In our darkest hour, Heprovides the light and grants us the happiness we have long beensearching for.

Jesus, therefore, when he saw her weeping, and the Jews that werecome with her, weeping, groaned in the spirit, and troubled himself,And said: Where have you laid him? They say to him: Lord, come andsee. And Jesus wept. – John 11:33-35, DRA

Within thy wounds hide me. – Anima Christi

THREE TYPES OF WOUNDS

1. WOUNDS FROM THE WORLD

Being hurt and disappointed from earthly things has taught methat the world could never really satisfy my soul. It could neverprovide for me the happiness I desire. God sometimes allows us

to be hurt so we can at last let go of the things that will onlycontinue to disappoint us, so we could look for Him.

Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever beenable to satisfy the heart? - Saint Gerard Majella

2. WOUNDS FROM THE SELF

“Without God, we can spread only pain and suffering around us.”- Mother Teresa

It is not only the world that disappoint us. We also disappointourselves. And we become the source of pain of other people,especially those closest to us.

Only God can rescue us from ourselves. Only God can change usso that we can finally stop hurting those we love the most. Thisincludes not only people, but Jesus Himself whom we hurt witheach sin, each fall.

“See what I was in myself and by myself. I had destroyed myself,but He who made me remade me.” - St. Augustine

3. WOUNDS FROM THINGS DIVINE

Our expectations are often shattered not only by the world, butespecially from those whom we see as those who shouldrepresent God. This includes the Church and the imperfectpeople within it.

Seeing these fall can cause us to leave even our belief in God.But this can also lead us into a deeper faith. For are we here toplease men or to please God?

No one is perfect. We are all yet to be purified so we can seeGod. One day God will complete the good work He began in us,but until then, we are urged to walk in patience with each otherand not expect from others what we can only expect from God.

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am Istriving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn'tbe a servant of Christ. - Galatians 1:10, WEB

“People do not accept Christ because of love for the Church butthey accept the Church because of love for Christ, even aChurch disfigured by the sin of its many representatives...” -Pope Francis

AGAINST SCRUPLES AND DESPAIR

“We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sumof the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the imageof his Son.” (Pope St. John Paul II, World Youth Day 2002, ClosingHomily)

"Think about it. God thought of you and in the thinking loved you.Because of His love you are. Because of His love you will alwaysexist." - Deacon Michael Bickerstaff

“Christ says: I know you through and through – I know everythingabout you. The very hairs of your head I have numbered. Nothing inyour life is unimportant to me, I have followed you through the years,and I have always loved you – even in your wanderings.

I know every one of your problems. I know your need and yourworries. And yes, I know all your sins. But I tell you again thatI love you – not for what you have or haven’t done – I love you foryou, for the beauty and dignity my Father gave you by creating you inhis own image.”

― Mother Teresa, The Joy in Loving: A Guide to Daily Living

Whenever you feel guilty, even if it is because you have consciouslycommitted a sin, a serious sin, something you have kept doing many,many times, never let the devil deceive you by allowing him todiscourage you. Whenever you feel guilty, offer all your guilt to the

Immaculate, without analyzing it or examining it, as something thatbelongs to her…

My beloved, may every fall, even if it is serious and habitual sin,always become for us a small step toward a higher degree ofperfection.

In fact, the only reason why the Immaculate permits us to fall is tocure us from our self-conceit, from our pride, to make us humble andthus make us docile to the divine graces.

The devil, instead, tries to inject in us discouragement and internaldepression in those circumstances, which is, in fact, nothing else thanour pride surfacing again.

If we knew the depth of our poverty, we would not be at all surprisedby our falls, but rather astonished, and we would thank God, aftersinning, for not allowing us to fall even deeper and still morefrequently.

-ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE

Someone complained to Padre Pio of being excessively distressed bysins he had committed. Padre Pio replied: “That which you feel ispride; it is the demon which inspires you with this sentiment, it is nottrue sorrow.” The penitent replied: “Father, how can you thendistinguish what comes from the heart and is inspired by Our Lord,and that which instead is inspired by the devil?” “You will distinguishit,” replied Padre Pio, “always by this: The spirit of God is a spiritof peace, and also in the case of grave sin, it makes us feeltranquil sorrow, humble, confident, and this is due precisely toHis mercy. The spirit of the demon, on the contrary, excites,exasperates, and makes us in our sorrow feel something like angeragainst ourselves, whereas our first charity must be to ourselves, andso if certain thoughts agitate you, this agitation never comes fromGod, who gives tranquility, being the Spirit of Peace. Such agitationcomes from the devil.” – Padre Pio

“Even if you were to commit all the sins in the world, Jesus wouldrepeat to you: “Many of your sins are forgiven because you have lovedmuch.” – Padre Pio

In the persons who go from mortal sin to mortal sin, the enemy iscommonly used to propose to them apparent pleasures, making themimagine sensual delights and pleasures in order to hold them moreand make them grow in their vices and sins. In these persons the goodspirit uses the opposite method, pricking them and biting theirconsciences through the process of reason. In the persons who aregoing on intensely cleansing their sins and rising from good to betterin the service of God our Lord, it is the method contrary to that in thefirst Rule, for then it is the way of the evil spirit to bite, sadden andput obstacles, disquieting with false reasons, that one may not go on;and it is proper to the good to give courage and strength,consolations, tears, inspirations and quiet, easing, and putting awayall obstacles, that one may go on in well doing. – St. Ignatius

“The confessor must try to get across to the scrupulous person thatGod does not weigh every last detail of our lives. We try as best wecan not to offend God, and then leave the rest to God’s mercy.We admit that we cannot save ourselves without the help of God’sgrace, and so we pray for grace with perseverance, confidence andpeace of mind.” – St. Alphonsus, Guide for Confessors

“Love can only be lost by disregarding it and letting it waste away.This is true about love for God, as well as love for other human beings.Any person who has deliberately chosen to reject God is completelyclear about it: by robbing a bank, planning a murder and engaging inother such serious matters. But love is not wiped out by the littlefaults of everyday life. - Father Farnik, C.Ss.R.

…the scrupulous person for one reason or another, has a negativeimage of God. A negative image of God does not inspire trust butrather fear and dread. In Jesus Christ we are able to glimpse the trueimage of God: a God who loves and heals and saves. It is in that God,the God revealed to us by Jesus, that we can and should place all ofour trust.- Understanding Scrupulosity by Thomas M. Santa, C.Ss.R.

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience withyourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfectionsbut instantly set about remedying them– every day begin the taskanew. – Francis de Sales

“Moreover, imperfections and venial sins cannot destroy our spirituallife, which is only to be lost through mortal sin; consequently we haveonly need to watch well that they do not imperil our courage. Davidcontinually asks the Lord to strengthen his heart against cowardiceand discouragement; and it is our privilege in this war that we arecertain to vanquish so long as we are willing to fight.” - St. Francis deSales, Introduction to the Devout Life

The Mother of fair love will rid your heart of all scruples andinordinate servile fear. She will open and enlarge it to obey thecommandments of her Son with alacrity and with the holy freedom ofthe children of God. She will fill your heart with pure love of which sheis the treasury. You will then cease to act as you did before, out offear of the God who is love, but rather out of pure love. You will lookupon him as a loving Father and endeavour to please him at all times.You will speak trustfully to him as a child does to its father. If youshould have the misfortune to offend him you will abase yourselfbefore him and humbly beg his pardon. You will offer your hand tohim with simplicity and lovingly rise from your sin. Then, peaceful andrelaxed and buoyed up with hope you will continue on your way tohim. -St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary

True, the light shed by Jesus into Judas’ soul was not completelyextinguished. He does take a step toward conversion: “I havesinned”, he says to those who commissioned him. He tries to saveJesus, and he gives the money back (Mt 27:3-5)… His secondtragedy – after the betrayal – is that he can no longer believein forgiveness. His remorse turns to despair. Now he sees onlyhimself and his darkness; he no longer sees the light of Jesus, whichcan illumine and overcome the darkness. He shows us the wrong typeof remorse: the type that is unable to hope, that sees only its owndarkness, the type that is destructive and in no way authentic.

Genuine remorse is marked by the certainty of hope born offaith in the superior power of the light that was made flesh in Jesus. –Joseph Ratzinger

The tyranny of the image of the perfect Christian leads to its own typeof depression, a depression that swirls around the fear that Goddoesn’t love those who don’t live up to “my” – not God’s –expectations. By confusing God’s expectations with our own, we areled to a sense of failure and defeatism. We expect perfection ofourselves (“God, I thank you that I am not greedy, dishonestand unfaithful in marriage, like other people,”cf. Lk 18:11).God, instead, extends the gift of reconciliation. – Kathryn J.Hermes, Surviving Depression

Then the Lord answered: “If I am so merciful, then, that I do not refusepardon to anyone asking for it, ask me humbly for mercy yourself, andI will give it to you.” The devil answered him: “That I shall do by nomeans! At the time of my fall, a punishment was established for everysin, for every worthless thought or word. Every spirit that has fallenwill have his punishment. But rather than bend my knee before you, Iwould rather swallow all the punishments myself, as long as mymouth can open and shut in punishment and be forever renewed to bepunished again.” -St. Bridget, Revelations to St. Bridget

For you know well that many who are involved with many heavy sinsbecome very contrite before their death, whose contrition may be soperfect that not only their sin is forgiven them, but also the pain ofPurgatory, if they die in the same contrition. – Revelations to St.Bridget

Now at the time of death, since she cannot get out of My hands, shebegins to see, and therefore is gnawed with remorse, seeing that herown sin has brought her into so great evil. But if the soul have light toknow and grieve for her fault, not on account of the pain of Hell thatfollows upon it, but on account of pain at her offense against Me, whoam Supreme and Eternal Good, still she can find mercy. But if she passthe Bridge of death without light, and alone, with the worm ofconscience, without the hope of the Blood, and bewailing herself moreon account of her first condemnation than on account of My

displeasure, she arrives at eternal damnation. And then she isreproved cruelly by My Justice of injustice and of false judgment, andnot so much of general injustice and false judgment which she haspracticed generally in all her works, but much more on account of theparticular injustice and false judgment which she practices at the end,in judging her misery greater than My mercy. This is that sinwhich is neither pardoned here nor there, because the soul would notbe pardoned, depreciating My mercy. Therefore is this last sin graverto Me than all the other sins that the soul has committed. Whereforethe despair of Judas displeased Me more, and was more grave to MySon than was his betrayal of Him. -ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA, Dialogue

If the greatest sinner on earth should repent at the moment ofdeath, and draw his last breath in an act of love, neither themany graces he has abused, nor the many sins he hadcommitted would stand in his way. Our Lord would receivehim into His mercy. – St. Therese of Lisieux

You do not have enough trust. You have too much fear before the goodGod. I can assure you that He is grieved over this. You should not fearPurgatory because of the suffering there, but should instead ask thatyou not deserve to go there in order to please God, Who so reluctantlyimposes this punishment. As soon as you try to please Him ineverything and have an unshakable trust He purifies youevery moment in His love and He lets no sin remain. And thenyou can be sure that you will not have to go to Purgatory. – St. Thereseof Lisieux

It is not because I have been preserved from mortal sin that I lift upmy heart to God in trust and love. I feel that even had I on myconscience every crime one could commit, I should lose nothing of myconfidence: my heart broken with sorrow, I would throw myself intothe Arms of my Saviour. I know that He loves the Prodigal Son, I haveheard His words to St. Mary Magdalen, to the woman taken inadultery, and to the woman of Samaria. No one could frighten me, forI know what to believe concerning His Mercy and His Love. And I know

that all that multitude of sins would disappear in an instant, even as adrop of water cast into a flaming furnace. – St. Therese of Lisieux

If I saw the gates of Hell open and I stood on the brink of theabyss, I should not despair, I should not lose hope of mercy,because I should trust in Thee, my God. – St. Gemma Galgani

Men may deprive me of property and honour; sickness may take awaymy strength and other means of serving You; I may even lose Yourgrace by sin; but never, never will I lose my hope in You. I will cherishit unto that dreadful moment when all hell will be unchained to snatchmy soul away. "No one has hoped in the Lord and has beenconfounded” - St. Claude de la Colombiere

God is so good and merciful, that to obtain Heaven it is sufficient toask it of Him from our hearts. – St Benedict Joseph Labre

However wicked I may be, however great a sinner, I must hope that Ishould go to heaven. You forbid me to despair. – Venerable Charlesde Foucauld

“The man who is not afraid to admit everything that he sees to bewrong with himself, and yet recognizes that he may be the object ofGod’s love precisely because of his shortcomings, can be sincere. Hissincerity is based on confidence, not in his illusions abouthimself, but in the endless, unfailing mercy of God.” – ThomasMerton

“The wise man has struggled to find You in his wisdom, and he hasfailed. The just man has striven to grasp You in his own justice, and hehas gone astray. But the sinner, suddenly struck by the lightning ofmercy that ought to have been justice, falls down in adoration of Yourholiness: for he had seen what kings desired to see and never saw,what prophets foretold and never gazed upon, what the men ofancient times grew weary of expecting when they died. He has seenthat Your love is so infinitely good that it cannot be the object of ahuman bargain.” ― Thomas Merton, No Man Is an Island

It is not easy to entrust oneself to God's mercy, because it is an abyssbeyond our comprehension. But we must! ... "Oh, I am a great sinner!""All the better! Go to Jesus: He likes you to tell him these things!" Heforgets, He has a very special capacity for forgetting. He forgets, Hekisses you, He embraces you and He simply says to you: "Neither doI condemn you; go, and sin no more" (Jn 8:11). – Pope Francis

Let us ... remember Peter: three times he denied Jesus, precisely whenhe should have been closest to him; and when he hits bottom hemeets the gaze of Jesus who patiently, wordlessly, says to him: "Peter,don't be afraid of your weakness, trust in Me." Peter understands, hefeels the loving gaze of Jesus and he weeps. How beautiful is this gazeof Jesus — how much tenderness is there! Brothers and sisters, let usnever lose trust in the patience and mercy of God! – Pope Francis

I am always struck when I reread the parable of the merciful Father. ...The Father, with patience, love, hope and mercy, had never for asecond stopped thinking about [his wayward son], and as soon as hesees him still far off, he runs out to meet him and embraces him withtenderness, the tenderness of God, without a word of reproach... Godis always waiting for us, He never grows tired. Jesus shows us thismerciful patience of God so that we can regain confidence and hope —always! – Pope Francis

Let us never forget, whether as penitents or as confessors:there is no sin that God cannot forgive; not one. – PopeFrancis

It’s Jesus’ home and Jesus welcomes [all]. But not only does Hewelcome, He goes out to see people just as He went out to find thisman. And if people are hurt, what does Jesus do? Scold thembecause they are hurt? No, He comes and He carries them onHis shoulders. – Pope Francis

"We are all sinners. But God heals us with an abundance of grace,mercy and tenderness." - Pope Francis

However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christmight display all his patience, for an example of those who were goingto believe in him for eternal life. – 1 Timothy 1:16, WEB

God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what youare able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape,that you may be able to endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13, WEB-BE

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not havecompassion on the son of her womb? Yes, these may forget, yet I willnot forget you! -Isaiah 49:15, WEB-BE

Conversation of God with a Depressed Soul

Jesus: O soul steeped in darkness, do not despair. All is not yet lost.Come and confide in your God, who is love and mercy.

-But the soul, deaf even to this appeal, wraps itself in darkness.

Jesus calls out again: My child, listen to the voice of your mercifulFather.

-In the soul arises this reply: “For me there is no mercy,” and it fallsinto greater darkness, a despair which is a foretaste of hell and makesit unable to draw near to God.

Jesus calls to the soul a third time, but the soul remains deaf andblind, hardened and despairing. Then the mercy of God begins toexert itself, and, without any co-operation from the soul, God grants itfinal grace. If this too is spurned, God will leave the soul in this self-chosen disposition for eternity. This grace emerges from the mercifulHeart of Jesus and gives the soul a special light by means of which thesoul begins to understand God’s effort; but conversion depends on itsown will. The soul knows that this, for her, is final grace and, should itshow even a flicker of good will, the mercy of God will accomplish therest.

-Diary of Divine Mercy

…I received a deeper understanding of divine mercy. Only thatsoul who wants it will be damned, for God condemns no one. –St. Faustina (Diary, 1452)

Damnation is for the soul who wants to be damned; but for the onewho desires salvation, there is the inexhaustible ocean of the Lord’smercy to draw from. – St. Faustina (Diary, 631)

Love casts out fear. Since I came to love God with my whole beingand with all the strength of my heart, fear has left me. Even if I wereto hear the most terrifying things about God's justice, I would not fearHim at all, because I have come to know Him well. God is love, and HisSpirit is peace. I see now that my deeds which have flowed from loveare more perfect than those which I have done out of fear. – St.Faustina (Diary, 589)

[Let] the greatest sinners place their trust in My mercy. They have theright before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy. My daughter,write about My mercy towards tormented souls. Souls that make anappeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even moregraces than they ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if hemakes an appeal to My compassion, but on the contrary, I justify himin My unfathomable and inscrutable mercy. Write: before I come as ajust Judge, I first open wide the door of My mercy. He who refuses topass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of Myjustice… - Jesus (Diary, 1146)

And even if the sins of soul are as dark as night, when thesinner turns to My mercy he gives Me the greatest praise andis the glory of My Passion. – Jesus (Diary, 378)

Write this for the benefit of distressed souls: when a soul sees andrealizes the gravity of its sins, when the whole abyss of the miseryinto which it immersed itself is displayed before its eyes, let it notdespair, but with trust let it throw itself into the arms of My mercy, asa child into the arms of its beloved mother. These souls have a right ofpriority to My compassionate Heart, they have first access to Mymercy. Tell them that no soul that has called upon My mercy has been

disappointed or brought to shame. I delight particularly in a soul whichhas placed its trust in My goodness. – Jesus (Diary, 1541)

My child, all your sins have not wounded My Heart as painfully as yourpresent lack of trust does that after so many efforts of My love andmercy, you should still doubt My goodness. – Jesus (Diary of DivineMercy)

Do not lose heart in coming for pardon, for I am always ready toforgive you. As often as you beg for it, you glorify My mercy. – Jesus(Diary of Divine Mercy)

THE WOUNDS OF CHRIST

The heart of Christ can be seen through the openings of his wounds.For what can prove to me so clearly as your wounds that you, O LordJesus, are sweet & mild & plenteous in mercy. – St. Bernard

But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for ouriniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and byhis wounds we are healed. – Isaiah 53:5, WEB

The path to our encounter with Jesus… are his wounds. Thereis no other. – Pope Francis

It is the wounds of Jesus that shows us most the greatness of Hislove. Through His wounds, we get a glimpse of His infinite mercy, amercy we could never fully fathom for all eternity!

He was wounded for us, He suffered and died for us. With Jesus, weare never alone, even in our most painful sufferings.

Whenever we get hurt, we learn more about the love of Jesus, how Healso experienced hurt for love of us.

Whenever we feel judged, we remember how Jesus was also judged.

Whenever we are abandoned by those we loved the most, weremember how Jesus had been abandoned and betrayed by Hisclosest friends.

Whenever someone close to us doubts our best intentions, weremember in turn how we doubt Jesus' love and hurt Him many timesfor doing so.

And yet, despite all the hurts we caused Him, Jesus is alwayswilling to forgive us and reconcile us with Himself.

He knows our misery, our darkness. And what He offers in return isHis mercy and His Light.

It is through our misery that we learn most the depths of His mercy forus, a mercy that has no end.

Suffering is a gift—–though, like all gifts, it depends on how we receiveit. And that is why we need a pure heart—to see the hand of God, tofeel the hand of God, to recognize the gift of God in our suffering. –Mother Teresa

The value of suffering is quite often invisible to us untilsuffering has passed and done its work. While we are suffering,all we can feel is the pain, and all that we can see is its darkness. Insuffering, we feel so alone, even abandoned. We are like lost soulsthat do not know how to find its way back.

After suffering has done its work however, we learn how it is able todo for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We can finally see how ithas changed us, purified us and even strengthened us. We learn howit has opened our spiritual eyes, how it has taught us much wisdom.

God could have saved the world without suffering, but Hechose to save it by undergoing even death itself. He hassucceeded not merely in defeating pain but in overcoming it. He hasgiven dignity to those who suffer and He is able to give all those whoweep far more happiness than they have lost.

Love is the light and in the end, the only light that can— —always illuminate a world grown dim and give us the courageneeded to keep living and working. Deus Caritas Est-Encyclical Letter, Benedict XVI–

O, how I am moved to prayerin the presence of the Lord.My tongue knows no word,my lips no song,yet I am aching to worship Himand Him alone.O, when will His hand take mine?When will His eyes gaze upon my eyesthat tears may find no roomfor sadness, but only foroverflowing joy?I am here, my Lord,helpless as a tree trapped upon the earth,yet I feel as light as air and as emptyas the clear blue sky.This vessel has found its purpose;the essence it was meant to contain.Yet rescue me for I am fragile and wounded. If I should break beforeYour touch, heal me and renew me Lord with Your Gracious Love!