| Age | Sources and Pages | Code Number | Quotations | Relevant Key Words, Phrases and Their Code Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3? | SS 24 -25. |
16-3-1 | …With a nature such as my own, had I been reared by parents without virtue or even if I had been spoiled by the maid, Louise as Celine was, I would have become very bad and perhaps have even been lost. But Jesus was watching over His little fiancee; He had willed that all turn out for her good even her faults which, corrected very early, stood her in good stead to make her grow in perfection. As I had an excessive self-love and also a love of the good, as soon as I began to think seriously (which I did when still very little), it was enough for one to say a thing wasn't good and I had no desire to repeat it twice. |
1-3-1 (Self-love, Nature), 7-3-1 (Renunciation, Forget Self) |
| 8~9 | SS 72. |
16-8-1 | When reading the accounts of the patriotic deeds of French heroines, especially the Venerable JOAN OF ARC, I had a great desire to imitate them; and it seemed I felt within me the same burning zeal with which they were animated, the same heavenly inspiration. Then I received a grace which I have always looked upon as one of the greatest in my life because at that age I wasn't receiving the lights I'm now receiving when I am flooded with them. I considered that I was born for glory and when I searched out the means of attaining it, God inspired in me the sentiments I have just described. He made me understand my own glory would not be evident to the eyes of mortals, that it would consist in becoming a great saint! This desire could certainly appear daring if one were to consider how weak and imperfect I was, and how, after seven years in the religious life, I still am weak and imperfect. I always feel, however, the bold confidence of becoming a great saint because I don't count on my merits since I have none, but I trust in Him who is Virtue and Holiness. God alone, content with my weak efforts, will raise me to Himself and make me a saint, clothing me in His infinite merits. I didn't think then that one had to suffer very much to reach sanctity, but God was not long in showing me this was so and in sending me the trials I have already mentioned. |
2-8-3 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 4-8-1 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment), 8-8-1 (Weakness, Frailty), 14-8-1 (The Little Way), 21-8-1 (A Saint), 24-8-1 (Mercy of God, Grace), 25-8-2 (Glory) |
| 10 | SS 62. |
16-10-1 |
…Alas! my trial was only commencing! The next day I had another
attack similar to the first,
and the sickness became so grave that, according to human calculations, I wasn't
to recover from it. I can't describe this strange sickness, but I'm
now convinced
it was the work of the devil. For a long time after my cure, however, I believed
I had become ill on purpose and this was
a real martyrdom for my soul. I told Marie this and with her usual kindness she reassured me. I told it too in confession and my confessor tried to calm me, saying it was not possible to pretend illness to the extent that I had been ill. God, willing no doubt to purify and especially to humble me, left me this interior martyrdom until my entrance into Carmel, where the Father of our souls, as with the wave of his hand, removed all my doubts. Since then I am perfectly calm. |
2-10-1 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 12-10-1 (Humility, Humbleness) |
| 11~ 12? |
SS 27. |
16-11-1 | This little incident of my childhood is a summary of my whole life; later on when perfection was set before me, I understood that to become a saint one had to suffer much, seek out always the most perfect thing to do and forget self. I understood, too, there were many degree of perfection and each soul was free to respond to the advances of Our Lord, to do little or much for Him, in a word, to choose among the sacrifices He was asking. Then, as in the days of my childhood, I cried out: “My God ‘I choose all!’ I don't want to be a saint by halves, I'm not afraid to suffer for You, I fear only one thing: to keep my own will; so take it, for ‘I choose all’ that You will!” |
2-11-1 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 7-11-1 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 14-11-1 (The Little Way), 21-11-1 (A Saint) |
| 11 | SS 83 -84. |
16-11-2 |
…Without having drunk the empoisoned cup of a too ardent love of
creatures, I feel I cannot be mistaken. I have seen so many souls,
seduced by this false light, fly like poor moths and burn their
wings, and then return to the real and gentle light of Love that
gives them new wings which are more brilliant and delicate, so that
they can fly towards Jesus, that Divine Fire “which burns without
consuming.” Ah! I feel it! Jesus knew I was too feeble to be exposed
to temptation; perhaps I would have allowed myself to be burned
entirely by the misleading light had I seen it shining in my eyes.
It was not so for me, for I encountered only bitterness where
stronger souls met with joy, and they detached themselves from it
through fidelity.
I have no merit at all, then, in not having given
myself up to the love of creatures. I was preserved from it only
through God's mercy! I know that without Him, I could have fallen as low as St. Mary Magdalene, and the profound words of Our Lord to Simon resound with a great sweetness in my soul. I know that “ he to whom less is forgiven, LOVES less,” (Luke 7:47.) but I also know that Jesus has forgiven me more than St. Mary Magdalene since He forgave me in advance of preventing me from falling. Ah! I wish I could explain what I feel…. |
8-11-2 (Weakness, Frailty), 15-11-2 (Union with Jesus), 17-11-3 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 24-11-2 (Mercy of God, Grace), 45-11-1 (Magdalene) |
| 11 | SS 84. |
16-11-3 | …He wants me to love Him because He has forgiven me not much but ALL. He has not expected me to love Him much like Mary Magdalene, but He has willed that I KNOW how He has loved me with a love of unspeakable foresight in order that now I may Love Him unto folly! I have heard it said that one cannot meet a pure soul who loves more than a repentant soul; ah! how I would wish to give the lie to this statement! |
17-11-4 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 34-11-1 (Repentance, Contrition) |
| 11 | GCI 201, May 6, 1884, LC 32: from Fr. P. Pichon |
16-11-4 | …Your dear little letter pleased me very much. I was very happy to find in it the promise of a very childlike remembrance on this beautiful day when He, who will be the God of your heart, will be unable to refuse you anything. Ask for yourself, along with me, the grace of loving Him as much as He wills to be loved by your heart, and for myself a great number of souls to save. |
17-11-7 (Love Jesus, The Love of God,Charity), 22-11-1 (Salvation of Souls), 24-11-4 (Mercy of God, Graces) |
| 14 | SS 105. |
16-14-1 | …It was with such an intention that Jesus showered His graces so lavishly upon His little flower, he, who cried out in His mortal life: “I thank thee, Father, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and the prudent and revealed them to babes,” (Matthew 11:25.) willed to have His mercy shine out in me. Because I was little and weak He lowered himself to me, and He instructed me secretly in the things of His love. Ah! had the learned who spent their life in study come to me, undoubtedly they would have been astonished to see a child of fourteen understand perfection's secrets, secrets all their knowledge cannot reveal because to possess them one has to be poor in spirit! |
8-14-1 (Weakness, Frailty), 9-14-1 (Poor in Spirit), 10-14-1 (Littleness), 14-14-3 (The Little Way), 17-14-5 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 24-14-5 (Mercy of God, Graces), 44-14-1 (Reveals to the Little Ones), 48-14-1 (The Wise and the Prudent) |
| 14 | SS 118. |
16-14-2 | …Ah! how painful it was!It seemed my future was ruined forever. The more I approached the goal, the more I saw my affairs all mixed up. My soul was plunged into bitterness but into peace too, for I was seeking God's will. |
2-14-9 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 28-14-1 (Peace) |
| 14 | GCI 289, Oct. 8, 1887, LT 27: to Sr. Agnes of Jesus. |
16-14-3 | …In spite of everything, I feel that I am filled with courage; I am sure that God is not going to abandon me. Now, as Uncle told me, my time of trial is about to begin. Oh! pray for me; pray for your Theresita. You know how much she loves you; you are her confidante. I would really have to see you, but this is still a sacrifice to offer Jesus. Oh, I want to refuse Him nothing, and even though I feel sad and alone on this earth, He still remains with me. And has not St. Teresa said: “God alone suffices.”… |
2-14-16 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 4-14-4 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment), |
| 14 | GCI 329, Nov. 11, 1887, L C62: from Mother Marie de Gon- zague. |
16-14-4 | …Yes, confidence, dear child of my heart; everything that Jesus wills is marked with the seal of the Cross, and we must not drag this Cross but carry it! The longer you live, my treasure, the more you will understand all the sacrifices for his love that the grace of the vocation Jesus has given you merits…. |
2-14-19 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 4-14-6 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment), 24-14-7 (Mercy of God, Graces) |
| 14 | GCI 347, Nov. 20, 1887, LC 64: from Sr. Agnes of Jesus. |
16-14-5 | …Think that sanctity is synonymous with suffering; think that the little heart torn by thorns is a thousand times closer to the Heart of the Child Jesus than the heart filled with joy, even holy joy. It is not our satisfaction that pleases our Jesus but our readiness to deprive ourselves of all satisfaction to please Him… |
2-14-21 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 7-14-5 (Renunciation, Forget Self), |
| 14 | GCI 353, Nov. 20, 1887, LT 36: from Sr. Agnes of Jesus. |
16-14-6 |
…Oh!Pauline, if you could only have read my heart, you would have seen
there a great confidence…. …Oh! Pauline, I cannot tell you what I felt. I was crushed. I felt I was abandoned, and, then, I am so far, so far…. I was crying a lot when writing this letter; my heart is heavy. However, God cannot give me trials that are above my strength. He has given me the courage to bear this trial. Oh! it is very great…. But, Pauline, I am the Child Jesus' little ball; if He wishes to break His toy, He is free. Yes, I will all that He wills. |
2-14-22 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 4-14-8 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment), 39-14-10 (Pauline) |
| 14 | GCI 358, Nov. 23, 1887, LC 66: from Sr. Agnes of Jesus. |
16-14-7 | …I learned that My little ball was filled only with My love. I learned that it really wants to suffer for Me. I learned that it wants only Me…This kiss will be the seal of My Heart; no one will be able to break it, no one…. Oh!how happy I am! How I love My little ball! I can pierce it! I can do all I want with it and always it repeats:‘Jesus, I love You! Jesus, I love You! To rejoice, to suffer, to suffer again! All that You will, my dear little Jesus.’”. |
2-14-23 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 17-14-14 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 39-14-11 (Pauline), |
| 14 | GCI 359, Nov. 23, 1887, from Sr. Agnes of Jesus. |
16-14-8 | …It is an act of abandonment that you must make, that is God's will for you! | 4-14-9 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment), 39-14-13 (Pauline) |
| 14 | GCI 358 -359, Nov. 23, 1887, LC 66: from Sr. Agnes of Jesus. |
16-14-9 | …So young, at fifteen, He finds you already worthy to carry His Cross; He finds you worthy to suffer! What an honor for you! If you only knew what these trials do to advance the trials which have come to you. If you only knew how I see in all this the hand of God. His Providence is guiding you, be sure of it, and be very trusting. You are doing all that you can, and you're doing it to please God, and this God is pleased to try His little child. Don't be surprised at what has happened to you;your good uncle finds this very natural, and he finds it even extraordinary that you were so disturbed by this. |
2-14-25 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials) |
| 15 | GCI 398, Around Mar. 10, 1888, from Sr. Agnes of Jesus. |
16-15-1 | … Sanctity is the only beautiful thing on earth. Let us ask for it, let us work to acquire it, our eyes fixed upon the model: Jesus! |
39-15-2 (Pauline) |
| 15 | GCI 400, Mar. 18 (?), 1888. |
16-15-2 | … Here below, nothing can satisfy us. We cannot enjoy a little rest except in being ready to do God's will…. | |
| 15 | GCI 403, March 18- 19, 1888, from Sr. Agnes of Jesus |
16-15-3 |
…Don't you see at last the mountain of Carmel. It is there, for intimacy
with Jesus
you will live hidden in His Heart…. Oh! yes,
HIDDEN! I desire
that Jesus' little toy be not admired by anyone in this world. If Jesus
wills to play with a grain of sand, He is free, the whole earth is His.
Why does He not always take the most beautiful souls for His spouses? Why,
instead of a grain of sand, does He not play with a diamond?
But Jesus
loves humility. Jesus loves what does not appear before the eyes of men,
what they trample underfoot, what they despise. Oh! humility, how beautiful
it is! Jesus loves it so much that He seeks for it everywhere on
the earth in order to make His heaven out of it. But it is rare. All
the beautiful, the truly beautiful is almost not to be found here below. I am sure that the little grain of sand understands me and that it will not ever wish to become a mountain, but, on the contrary, always little, lighter, in order to be lifted more easily by the breeze of love. |
3-15-2 (Silence, Hidden), 7-15-3 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 10-15-1 (Littleness), 12-15-1 (Humility, Humbleness), 39-15-5 (Pauline) |
| 15 | GCI 436, Jun. 18, 1888, LC 82: from Fr. P. Pichon. |
16-15-4 | You will always carry out those ardent desires for sanctity, for the apostolate, by aiming at nothingness out of love for God. In your little nothingness, you will find the great ALL… And with Him what can you not do? |
2-15-10 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials) 11-15-2 (Nothingness), |
| 15 | GCI 488 -489, Dec. 27, 1888, L C97: from Fr. P. Pichon. |
16-15-5 | Entirely surrounded by thorns, your vocation appears to me more beautiful and more radiant. Oh! I envy your privileged lot; suffering for Jesus and what sufferings! This is the engagement gift. God is molding your heart, even its most delicate fibers. Let Him do with you and with your holy patriarch all He wills to do. There is nothing in divine Providence that is not inspired by the love of a Father. |
2-15-19 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 17-15-5 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity) |
| 16? | SS 157. |
16-16-1 | …O dear Mother! How sweet our great trial was since from our hearts came only sighs of love and gratitude! We were no longer walking in the way of perfection, we were flying, all five of us…. |
2-16-5 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials) |
| 16 | GCI 500, Jan. 6, 1889, LT74: to Sr. Agnes of Jesus. |
16-16-2 |
If you only knew how much I want to be indifferent to
the things of this earth. What do all created beauties mean
to me, I would be unhappy possessing them, my heart would
be so empty!… It is incredible how big my heart appears to
me when I consider all earth's treasures. But when I consider
Jesus, how little it appears to me!!
I would so much like
to love Him!… Love Him more than He has ever been loved!…
My only desire is to do the will of Jesus always! To dry away
the little tears that sinners make Him shed…. Oh! I do not
WANT Jesus to have any sorrow. On the day of my espousals,
I would like to convert all the sinners of this earth and
to save all the souls in purgatory!… The Lamb of Jesus is going to laugh when it sees this desire of the little grain of sand!… I know that it's folly, but, nevertheless, I would like it to be this way so that Jesus have not one single tear to shed. |
7-16-4 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 14-16-4 (The Little Way), 17-16-1 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 22-16-1 (Salvation of Souls), 27-16-1 (Sinners, Sins), 39-16-2 (Pauline), 50-16-1 (Jesus's Wounds, Pains and Tears) |
| 16 | GCI 508 -509, Jan. 6-9, 1889, (?), LC 104: from Sr. Marie of the Angels. |
16-16-3 | …Bless him for the ardent desires He is giving you to love Him and gain souls for Him. What does it matter if your heart is little, provided your desires are very great! Desire, desire again and always to love Him whom you will never love enough. Your aridities, your sufferings, these are something to offer Jesus both for Himself and for souls! You know very well, there are little flowers which don't always have to be touched by the rays of the sun; for them to develop to their plenitude, they need more shade than sun. Well, then, if Jesus wills that you be one of these flowers, what does it matter, as long as in the eyes of heaven you were blooming with all the splendor that the divine Gardner had given your soul in treating it in the way that He knows is suitable for it! |
2-16-13 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 17-16-3 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity) |
| 16 | GCI 511, Jan.8, 1889, LT 78: to Sr. Agnes of Jesus. |
16-16-4 |
…The lamb is mistaken in believing that Jesus' toy is not in
darkness! it
is immersed in darkness. Perhaps, and the little lamb agrees with this, this
darkness is light, but in spite of everything it is darkness….
Its only
consolation is a strength and a very great
peace, and, then, it wants to be
as Jesus wills it to be; that is its joy,
otherwise, all is sadness…. If you only knew how great my joy is not to have anything with which to please Jesus!… It is a refined joy (but in no way felt). |
2-16-14 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 23-16-6 (The Joy of Sufferings), 28-16-2 (Peace), 29-16-4 (Consolation), 39-16-5 (Pauline), 41-16-1 (Unfelt Love), 43-16-2 (Darkness) |
| 16 | GCI 514, Jan.8, 1889, LT79: to Sr. Marie of the Sacred Heart. |
16-16-5 | Oh! the homeland…the homeland! How I thirst for heaven, there where I shall love Jesus without reserve! But we must suffer and cry in order to arrive there…well, then, I want to suffer all that will please Jesus; let Him do whatever He wills with His little ball. |
2-16-15 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 14-16-5 (The Little Way), 17-16-4 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity) |
| 16 | GCI 529, Jan. 23 -25 (?), 1889, LT 81: to Celine. |
16-16-6 |
Yes, darling of my heart, Jesus is there with His
Cross! Privileged one
of His love, He wills to make you like Him!
Why be frightened at not
being able to carry this Cross without weakening?
Jesus on the road to
Calvary fell three times, and, you, poor little child, you would not be
like your Spouse, you would not be willing to fall a hundred times if
necessary to prove your love for Him, rising with greater strength than
before your fall!… Celine…Jesus must love you with a special love to be trying you in this way. Do you know that I am almost jealous of you? To those who love more He gives more, and to those who love less He gives less!… |
2-16-17 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 17-16-6 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity) |
| 16 | GCI 537, Feb. 28, 1889, LT 82: to Celine. |
16-16-7 |
Oh! how it costs to give Jesus what He asks!…What joy that it
costs…
What an unspeakable
joy to carry our Crosses
FEEBLY… Has
the Lily-immortelle understood the poor grain of sand?….Your novitiate
is one of sorrow; what and inexplicable privilege…. Ah! dear little sister, far from complaining to Jesus about the Cross he is sending us, I cannot understand the infinite love that has drawn Him to treat us in this way…. Our dear Father must be much loved by Jesus to have to suffer this way, but don't you find that the misfortune that is striking him is really the complement of his beautiful life?… I feel, little Lily-Immortelle, that I am speaking real follies to you, but it does not matter. I still think very many others things about the love of Jesus which are perhaps much stronger than what I am saying to you….What a joy to be humbled; it is the only thing that makes saints!… Can we doubt now the will of Jesus concerning our souls?… Life is only a dream, and soon we shall wake up, and what joy… the greater our sufferings are the more infinite will be our glory… Oh, let us not lose the trial that Jesus is sending us, it is a gold mine to be exploited. Are we going to miss the chance?… The grain of sand wants to get to work, without joy, without courage, without strength, and it is all these titles which will facilitate the enterprise for it; it wants to work through love. |
2-16-19 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 12-16-1 (Humility, Humbleness), 14-16-7 (The Little Way), 17-16-8 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 21-16-1 (A Saint), 23-16-7 (The Joy of Sufferings), 37-16-4 (Time) |
| 16 | GCI 541- 542, March 5, 1889, LT 83: to Celine. |
16-16-8 |
Each new suffering, each new agony of her
heart is like a light breeze
which will carry to Jesus the perfume of His lily; then He will smile
lovingly, and He will immediately prepare a new sorrow. He is filling
the chalice to the brim, thinking that the more His lily grows in love
the more, too, must it grow in suffering!… What a privilege Jesus grants us in sending such a great sorrow. Ah! ETERNITY will not be too long to thank Him. He is giving us His favors just as He gave them to the greatest saints. Why this great predilection?… However, what she does not know perhaps is the love that Jesus has for her, a love that demands ALL. There is nothing that is impossible for Him. He does not want to set any limit to His Lily's SANCTITY; His limit is that there is no limit!… Why should there be any? We are greater than the whole universe, and one day we ourselves shall have a divine existence…. Oh! I thank Jesus for having placed a lily near our dear Father, a lily that fears nothing, a lily that wishes rather to die than to abandon the glorious field in which the love of Jesus has placed it!… Now we have no longer anything to hope for on earth, no longer anything but suffering and again suffering. When we have finished, suffering will still be there, extending its arms to us. Oh! what a lot worthy of envy…. The Cherubim in heaven envy our joy…. |
2-16-20 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 14-16-8 (The Little Way), 21-16-2 (A Saint), 23-16-8 (The Joy of Sufferings), 37-16-5 (Time) |
| 16 | GCI 546- 547, March 12, 1889, LT 85: to Celine. |
16-16-9 |
Jesus' love for Celine can be understood only by Jesus!… Jesus
had
done foolish things for Celine…. Let Celine do foolish things for
Jesus…. Love is repaid by love alone, and the
wounds of love are
healed only by love. Let us really offer our sufferings to Jesus to save souls, poor souls!… They have less grace than we have, and still all the Blood of a God was shed to save them…. And yet Jesus wills to make their salvation depend on one sigh from our heart….What a mystery! If one sigh can save a soul, what can sufferings like ours not do?… Let us refuse Jesus nothing!… |
2-16-22 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 7-16-8 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 14-16-9 (The Little Way), 17-16-10 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 22-16-3 (Salvation of Souls), 24-16-4 (Mercy of God, Graces), 40-16-1 (Participation to Salvation), 50-16-2 (Jesus's Wounds, Pains and Tears) |
| 16 | GCI 552 -553, Apr. 4, 1889, LT 87: to Celine |
16-16-10 |
Your letter gave great sadness to my soul! Poor little Papa!…
No, the
thoughts of Jesus are not our thoughts, and His ways are not
our ways…. (Isaias 55:8.) He is offering us a chalice as bitter as our feeble nature can bear!… Let us not withdraw our lips from this chalice prepared by the hand of Jesus…. Let us see life as it really is …. It is a moment between two eternities…. Let us suffer in peace! I admit that this word peace seemed a little strong to me, but the other day, when reflecting on it, I found the secret of suffering in peace…. The one who says peace is not saying joy, or at least, felt joy…. To suffer in peace it is enough to will all that Jesus wills…. To be the spouse of Jesus we must resemble Jesus, and Jesus is all bloody, He is crowned with thorns!… “A thousand years in your eyes, Lord, are as yesterday, which has PASSED”!… (Psalm 90:4.) “On the banks of the river of Babylon, we sat and wept when we remembered Sion…. We hung our harps on the willows in the fields…. Those who led us into captivity said to us: ‘Sing for us one of the pleasant songs from Sion.’ How could we sing the song of the Lord in a foreign land!” …Psalm of David… (Psalm 136:1-4.). No, let us not sing the canticles of heaven to creatures…. But, like Cecilia, let us sing a melodious canticle in our heart to our Beloved!… The canticle of suffering united to His sufferings is what delights His Heart the most!… Jesus is on fire with love for us… look at His adorable Face!… Look at His eyes lifeless and lowered! Look at His wounds…. Look at Jesus in His Face…. There you will see how He loves us. |
1-16-3 (Self Love, Nature), 2-16-24 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 7-16-10 (Renunciation, Forget self), 14-16-10 (The Little Way), 17-16-9 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 28-16-3 (Peace), 37-16-7 (Time), 41-16-3 (Unfelt Love), 50-16-3 (Jesus's Wounds, Pains and Tears) |
| 16 | GCI 563- 564, End of May (?), 1889, LT 91: to Sr. Marie of the Sacred Heart. |
16-16-11 |
Time has passed since those blessed moments that slipped away in our
sweet nest…. Jesus has come to visit us…
He has found us worthy
to pass through the crucible of suffering…. Before my entrance into Carmel, our incomparable Father said when giving me to God: “I would like to have something better to offer to God.” Jesus has listened to his prayer… that other better thing was himself!… What a joy for a moment of suffering …. It is the Lord who has done this…. And the Lord loves Papa incomparably better than we love Papa; he is God's little child. And God, in order to spare him great sufferings, wills that we suffer for him!… |
2-16-26 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 5-16-1 (Prayer, Meditation, Contemplation), 23-16-10 (The Joy of Sufferings), 37-16-9 (Time) |
| 16 | GCI 577, July 14, 1889, LT 94: to Celine. |
16-16-12 | My soul doesn't leave you … it suffers exile with you!… Oh! how hard it is to live, to remain on this earth of bitterness and anguish…. But, tomorrow … in an hour, we shall be at port, what joy! Ah, what a good it will be to contemplate Jesus face to face all through the whole of eternity! Always, always more love, always more intoxicating joys… a happiness without clouds…. What has Jesus done, then, to detach our souls from all that is created? Ah, He has struck a big blow… but it is a blow of love. God is admirable, but He is especially lovable; let us love Him, then … let us love Him enough to suffer for Him all that He wills, even spiritual pains, aridities, anxieties, apparent coldness …. Ah, here is great love, to love Jesus without feeling the sweetness of this love … this is martyrdom…. Well, then, let us die as martyrs. Oh! Celine… sweet echo of my soul, do you understand? … Unknown martyrdom, known to God alone, which the eye of the creature cannot discover, a martyrdom without honor, without triumph…. That is love pushed to the point of heroism.… But, one day, a grateful God will cry out: “Now, my turn. ” Oh, what will we see then?… What is this life which will no more have an end?… God will be the soul of our soul… unfathomable mystery.… The eye of man has not seen the uncreated light, his ear has not heard the incomparable harmonies, and his heart cannot have any idea of what God reserves for those whom He loves. And all this will come soon, yes, soon. |
2-16-28 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 3-16-3 (Silence, Hidden), 7-16-11 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 8-16-1 (Weakness, Frailty), 14-16-12 (The Little Way), 15-16-2 (Union with Jesus), 17-16-13 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 23-16-11 (The Joy of Sufferings), 37-16-10 (Time), 41-16-4 (Unfelt Love) |
| 16 | GCI 587- 588, Oct. 15, 1889, LT 96: to Celine. |
16-16-13 | Yes, life is a treasure…each moment is an eternity, an eternity of joy in heaven, an eternity of seeing God face to face, of being one with Him!… There is only Jesus who is; all the rest is not…. Let us love Him, then, unto folly; let us save souls for Him. Ah! Celine, I feel that Jesus is asking both us to quench His thirst by giving Him souls, the souls of priests especially. I feel that Jesus wills that I say this to you, for our mission is to forget ourselves and to reduce ourselves to nothing…. We are so insignificant …and yet Jesus wills that the salvation of souls depends on the sacrifices of our love. He is begging souls from us…. Ah, let us understand His look! There are so few who understand it. Jesus is giving us a hidden light!… Celine… life will be short, eternity is without end…. Let us make our life a continual sacrifice, a martyrdom of love, in order to console Jesus. He wants only a look, a sigh, but a look and a sigh that are for Him alone!… Let all the moments of our life be for Him alone!; let creatures touch us only in passing. There is only one thing to do during the night, the one night of life which will come only once, and this is to love, to love Jesus with all the strength of our heart and to save souls for Him so that He may be loved.… Oh, make Jesus loved!… | 2-16-33 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 3-16-4 (Silence, Hidden), 7-16-13 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 11-16-5 (Nothingness), 14-16-13 (The Little Way), 17-16-15 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 22-16-7 (Salvation of Souls), 37-16-12 (Time), 40-16-2 (Participation to Salvation) |
| 16 | GCI 595, Nov. 21, 1889, LC 119: from Sr. Marie of the Angels. |
16-16-14 |
…Attached yourself to the Cross
like
the ivy in order to die there if
Jesus so wills. May divine suffering be the center of your life; plunge
into this bottomless ocean, and may it engulf you as it did Jesus, for
there alone are life and happiness.
Always love to be little, so little
that the eyes of Jesus only may find you! Little grain of dust,
be unseen
by all in order to be seen by God alone. Be filled with confidence that good Jesus will do everything; rejoice at being poor, at feeling yourself so poor in order that, little beggar, you may have everything from the infinite charity and love of Jesus! Take flight to the All of your heart with wings of humility, simplicity, and love. Jesus loves you with a tender predilection, so pay Him in return, and be happy to love Jesus in suffering for Jesus! |
2-16-34 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 4-16-2 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment), 8-16-2 (Weakness, Frailty), 9-16-1 (Poor in Spirit), 10-16-2 (Humility, Humbleness), 12-16-3 (Humility, Humbleness), 14-16-14 (The Little Way), 17-16-16 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 23-16-12 (The Joy of Sufferings), 31-16-2 (Simplicity of the Soul), 44-16-2 (Reveals to the Little Ones) |
| 17 | SS 158. |
16-17-1 | …I was to wait for another eight months. I found it difficult, at first, to accept this great sacrifice, but soon light shone in my soul. I was meditating on the Foundations of the Spiritual Life by Father Surin at the time…. One day, during my prayer, I understood that my intense desire to make Profession was mixed with a great self-love. Since I had given myself to Jesus to please and console Him, I had no right to oblige Him to do my will instead of His own…. |
1-17-1 (Self Love, Nature), 2-17-1 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials) |
| 17 | SS 166. |
16-17-2 | …And still I wanted to do God's will and return to the world rather than remain in Carmel and do my own will. | |
| 17 | SS 166. |
16-17-3 | … I offered myself to Jesus in order to accomplish His will perfectly in me without creatures ever being able to place any obstacle in the way. | |
| 17 | SS 169. |
16-17-4 | …but I haven't said anything to you as yet concerning my good fortune at knowing our holy Mother Genevieve. This certainly was a priceless gift; God, who had given me so many graces, willed that I should live with a saint. Not one that was inimitable, but one who was made holy by the practice of the hidden virtues, the ordinary virtues…. |
3-17-1 (Silence, Hidden), 14-17-1 (The Little Way), 21-17-1 (A Saint), 24-17-2 (The Mercy of God, Graces), 30-17-1 (Ordinary) |
| 17 | SS 169 -170. |
16-17-5 | …The following Sunday, I wanted to know what revelation Mother Genevieve had received; she assured me she had received none at all, and then my admiration was greater still when I saw the degree to which Jesus was living within her and making her act and speak. Ah! that type of sanctity seems the truest and the most holy to me, and it is the type that I desire because in it one meets with no deceptions. | |
| 17 | GCI 621, May 19 -20, 1890, LT 107: to Celine. |
16-17-6 | …Dear Celine, I am happy for having been given this charge, for I have to tell you how much I think that God loves you and is treating you as one of His privileged souls…. Ah! you can well say that the reward is great in heaven since it is said: “Blessed are you when they persecute you and say falsely all kinds of evil against you.” (Matthew 5:11.) So rejoice and leap for joy!… Celine, what a privilege to be unknown on this earth!… Ah, God's thoughts are not our thoughts. If they were, our life would be only a hymn of thanksgiving!… |
3-17-4 (Silence, Hidden) |
| 17 | GCI 630, July 18, 1890, LT 109: to Celine. |
16-17-7 | Celine, since Jesus was (alone in treading the wine) which He is giving us to drink, let us not refuse in our turn to wear clothing stained in blood… let us tread for Jesus a new wine which may quench His thirst, which will return Him love for love. Ah, let us not keep back one drop of wine that we can offer Him … and, then, looking about, He will see that we are coming to help Him!… His face was as though hidden!… Celine, it is still hidden today, for who understands the tears of Jesus? Dear Celine, let us make a little tabernacle in our heart where Jesus may take refuge, and then He will be consoled, and He will forget what we cannot forget: (the ingratitude of souls that abandon Him in a deserted tabernacle!…) |
2-17-9 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 3-17-5 (Silence, Hidden), 17-17-4 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 22-17-1 (Salvation of Souls), |
| 17 | GCI 641, July 27 -29, 1890, LT 109: to Marie Guerin. |
16-17-8 |
…You are mistaken, my darling, if you believe that your little
Therese walks always with fervor on the road of virtue.
She is
weak and very weak, and every day she has a new experience of
this weakness, but, Marie, Jesus is pleased to teach her, as He
did St. Paul, the science of rejoicing in her infirmities. This
is a great grace, and I beg Jesus to teach it to you, for peace
and quiet of heart are to be found there only. When we see
ourselves as so miserable, then we no longer wish to consider
ourselves, and we look only on the unique Beloved!… Dear little Marie, as for myself, I know no other means of reaching perfection but (love)…. |
8-17-1 (Weakness, Frailty), 14-17-4 (The Little Way), 24-17-4 (Mercy of God, Grace), 28-17-1 (Peace) |
| 17 | GCI 684, Sep. 23, 1890, LT 120: to Celine. |
16-17-9 |
…It is Jesus alone who is conducting this affair, it is He, and I
recognized His touch of love…. You know the extent to which I wanted to see our dear Father again this morning; and now I see very clearly that it's God;s will that he not be here. God has permitted this simply to test my love…. Jesus wants me as an orphan. He wants me to be alone with Him alone in order to unite Himself more intimately with me, and He wills to give me in the homeland the very legitimate joys that He has refused me in the exile!… Celine, be consoled, for our Spouse is a spouse of tears and not smiles. Let us give Him our tears in order to console Him, and one day these tears will be changed into smiles of an ineffable sweetness!… |
2-17-12 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 16-17-9 (His Will, Perfection, Sanctity), 17-17-9 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity) |
| 18 | GCII 725, April 26, 1891, LT 127: to Celine. |
16-18-1 | …He wills that His little flower save souls for Him; for this He wills only one thing: that His flower look at Him while suffering her martyrdom…. |
2-18-3 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 22-18-1 (Salvation of Souls) |
| 19 | GCII 752 -753, Aug. 15, 1892, LT 135: to Celine. |
16-19-1 |
…And this Beloved instructs my soul, he speaks to it in silence, in
darkness…. Recently, there came a thought to me which I have to tell
my Celine. It was one day when I was thinking of what I could do
to save souls, a word of the gospel gave me a real light. In days
gone by, Jesus said to His disciples when showing them the fields of
ripe corn: “
Lift up your
eyes and see how
the fields are already white
enough to be harvested,” (John 4:35.) and a little later: “
In truth, the harvest
is abundant but the number of laborers is small, ask then the master
of the harvest to send laborers.” (Matthew 9:37-38.) What a
mystery!… Is not Jesus
all-powerful? Are not creatures His who made them? Why, then, does
Jesus say: “Ask the Lord of the harvest that he send some
workers?” Why?… Ah!
it is because Jesus has so incomprehensible a love for us
that He wills that we have a share with Him in the salvation of souls.
He wills to do nothing without us. The Creator of the universe awaits
the prayer of a poor little soul to save other souls redeemed like it
at the price of all His Blood. Our own vocation is not to go out
to harvest the fields of ripe corn. Jesus does not say to us: “Lower
your eyes, look at the fields and go harvest them.” Our mission is
still more sublime. These are the words of Jesus: “
Lift your eyes and
see.” See how in my heaven there are empty places; it is up to you
to fill them, you are my Moses praying on the mountain, ask me for
workers and I shall send them, I await only a prayer, a sigh from
your heart! Is not the apostolate of prayer, so to speak, more elevated than that of the word? Our mission as Carmelites is to form evangelical workers who will save thousands of souls whose mothers we shall be…. |
3-19-1 (Silence, Hidden), 5-19-1 (Prayer, Meditation, Contemplation), 14-19-1 (The Little Way), 22-19-1 (Salvation of Souls), 40-19-1 (Participation to Salvation), 43-19-1 (Darkness) |
| 20 | GCII 794 -795, Jul. 6, 1893, LT 142: to Celine. |
16-20-1 | …Now here we are, all five of us, on our way. What joy to be able to say: “I am sure of doing God's will.” This holy will is clearly manifested with regard to Celine. She is the one whom Jesus has chosen among us all to be the crown, the reward of the holy patriarch who has delighted heaven by his fidelity. How dare you say you have been forgotten, less loved than the others? I say you have been CHOSEN by privilege, your mission is all the more beautiful because, while remaining our dear Father's visible angel, you are at the same time the spouse of Jesus. This is true, perhaps Celine thinks, but I am not doing less than the others for God. I have more consolations and consequently less merits. “ My thoughts are not your thoughts,” says the Lord. Merit does not consist in doing or in giving much, but rather in receiving, in loving much…. It is said, it is much sweeter to give than to receive, and it is true. But when Jesus wills to take for Himself the sweetness of giving, it would not be gracious to refuse. Let us allow Him to take and give all He wills. Perfection consists in doing His will, and the soul that surrenders itself totally to Him is called by Jesus Himself “ His mother, His sister,” and His whole family. And elsewhere: “ If anyone loves me, he will keep my word (that is, he will do my will) and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23.) Oh, Celine how easy it is to please Jesus, to delight His Heart, one has only to love Him, without looking at one's self, without examining one's faults too much…. |
14-20-2 (The Little Way), 17-20-2 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 29-20-1 (Consolation) |
| 20 | GCII 795 - 796, July 6, 1893, LT 142: to Celine. |
16-20-2 | …Now here we are, all five of us, on our way. What joy to be able to say: “I am sure of doing God's will.” This holy will is clearly manifested with regard to Celine. She is the one whom Jesus has chosen among us all to be the crown, the reward of the holy patriarch who has delighted heaven by his fidelity. How dare you say you have been forgotten, less loved than the others? I say you have been CHOSEN by privilege, your mission is all the more beautiful because, while remaining our dear Father's visible angel, you are at the same time the spouse of Jesus. This is true, perhaps Celine thinks, but I am not doing less than the others for God. I have more consolations and consequently less merits. “ My thoughts are not your thoughts,” says the Lord. Merit does not consist in doing or in giving much, but rather in receiving, in loving much…. It is said, it is much sweeter to give than to receive, and it is true. But when Jesus wills to take for Himself the sweetness of giving, it would not be gracious to refuse. Let us allow Him to take and give all He wills. Perfection consists in doing His will, and the soul that surrenders itself totally to Him is called by Jesus Himself “His mother, His sister,” and His whole family. And elsewhere: “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word (that is, he will do my will) and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23.) Oh, Celine how easy it is to please Jesus, to delight His Heart, one has only to love Him, without looking at one's self, without examining one's faults too much…. |
2-20-1 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 3-20-1 (Silence, Hidden), 4-20-1 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment), 7-20-1 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 14-20-3 (The Little Way), 17-20-3 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 23-20-1 (The Joy of Sufferings), 28-20-1 (Peace), 42-20-1 (Works, Actions, Great Actions) |
| 20 | GCII 808- 809, Aug. 2, 1893, LT 145: to Celine. |
16-20-3 |
…Jesus does not will that we find His adorable presence in repose;
He hides
Himself; He wraps Himself in darkness. It was not thus that He acted with
the
crowd of Jews, for we see in the
gospel that the people were CARRIED AWAY
when He was speaking.
Jesus used to charm weak souls with His divine words,
He was trying to make them strong for the day of trial…. But how
small was
the number of Our Lord's friends when He was SILENT before his
judges!…
Oh! what a melody for my heart is this silence of Jesus…. He made Himself
poor that we might be able to give Him love.
He holds out His hand to us like a
beggar so that on the radiant
day of judgment when He will appear
in His glory, He may have us hear those sweet words: “
Come, blessed of
my Father, for I was hungry and you gave to eat; I was thirsty, and you
gave me to drink; I did not know where to lodge, and you gave me a home.
I was in prison, sick, and you helped me.” (Matthew 25:34-36.) It
is Jesus Himself who spoke
these words;
it is He who wants our love, who begs for
it.… He places
Himself, so to speak, at our mercy, He does not want to take anything
unless we give it to Him, and the smallest thing is precious in His
divine eyes…. Jesus is a hidden treasure, an inestimable good which few souls can find, for it is hidden, and the world loves what sparkles. Ah! if Jesus had willed to show Himself to all souls with His ineffable gifts, no doubt there is not one of them that would have despised Him. However, He does not will that we love Him for His gifts, He Himself must be our reward. To find a hidden thing one must hide oneself; our life must then be a mystery. We must be like Jesus, Jesus whose face was hidden…. “Do you want to learn something that may be of use to you?” says the Imitation. “Love to be unknown and accounted for nothing…. And elsewhere; “After you have left everything, you must above all leave yourself; let one man boast of one thing, another of something else; as for you, place your joy only in contempt of yourself.” What peace these words give to the soul, Celine. |
2-20-3 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 3-20-2 (Silence, Hidden), 14-20-5 (The Little Way), 19-20-1 (The Words of God), 25-20-1 (Glory), 28-20-3 (Peace), 40-20-1 (Participation to Salvation), 43-20-2 (Darkness) |
| 20 | GCII 816, Aug. 13, 1893, LT 148: to Leonie. |
16-20-4 | Dear little Sister, you see the share I am taking in your joy. I know that it is great but also that sacrifices do not fail to accompany it; without them, would the religious life be meritorious? No, certainly not. On the contrary, it is the little crosses that are our whole joy; they are more common than big ones and prepare the heart to receive the latter when this is the will of our good Master. |
2-20-4 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 14-20-7 (The Little Way), 23-20-2 (The Joy of Suffering) |
20 | GCII 826, Oct. 20(?), 1893, LT 149: to Celine. |
16-20-5 | … He alone understands when nothing answers us…. He alone arranges the events of our life of exile. It is He who offers us at times the bitter chalice. But we do not see Him, He is hiding. He veils His divine hand, and we can see only creatures. Then we suffer since the voice of our Beloved does not make itself heard and that of creatures seems to misunderstand us…. Yes, the most bitter sorrow is that of not being understood…. |
2-20-5 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 14-20-8 (The Little Way), 23-20-3 (The Joy of Sufferings) |
| 20 | GCII 826- 827, Oct. 20(?), 1893, LT 149: to Celine. |
16-20-6 | Oh, Celine! my dear Celine…it is not the precipices we must avoid, we are in the arms of Jesus. And if the voices of friends advise us to fear, it is our Beloved who wills it so, and why?… Ah! in His love He chooses for His spouses the same road He chose for Himself…. He wills that the purest joys be changed into sufferings so that not having, so to speak, even the time to breathe at ease, our heart may turn to Him who alone is our Sun and our joy…. |
2-20-6 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), |
| 21 | GCII 862, Jul. 7, 1894, LT 165: to Celine. |
16-21-1 | …But how sweet it will be to hear one day this very sweet word coming from the mouth of Jesus:“ You are the ones who have always remained with me in all the trials I have had, so I have prepared my kingdom for you, just as my Father has prepared it for me.” (Luke 22:28-29.) The trials of Jesus, what a mystery! He has trials then, He too?… Yes, He has them, and often He is alone in treading the wine in the wine press; He looks for consolers and can find none…. (Isaias 63:3 and 5.)Many serve Jesus when he is consoling them, but few consent to keep company with Jesus sleeping on the waves or suffering in the garden of agony!…Who, then, will be willing to serve Jesus for Himself?… Ah! we shall be the ones… Celine and Therese will unite always more and more; in them, will be accomplished this prayer of Jesus: “ Father, that they may be one as we are one. ” (John 17:21.) Yes, Jesus is already preparing His kingdom for us, just as His Father prepared it for Him. He prepares it for us by leaving us in the trial. He wills that our face be seen by creatures, but that it be as though hidden so that no one recognize us but Himself alone!… | 2-21-6 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 3-21-1 (Silence, Hidden) |
22 | SS 14. |
16-22-1 |
…
Perfection consists in doing His will,
in being what He wills us to be. I understood, too, that Our Lord's love is revealed as perfectly in the most simple soul that resists His grace in nothing as in the most excellent soul; in fact, since the nature of love is to humble oneself,… |
2-22-1 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 12-22-1 (Humility, Humbleness), 14-22-1 (The Little Way), 17-22-1 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 24-22-1 (Mercy of God, Graces) |
| 22 | SS 14 -15. |
16-22-2 | … Just as the sun shines simultaneously on the tall cedars and on each little flower as though it were alone on the earth, so Our Lord is occupied particularly with each soul as though there were no others like it. And just as in nature all the seasons are arranged in such a way as to make the humblest daisy bloom on a set day, in the same way, everything works out for the good of each soul. |
12-22-2 (Humility, Humbleness), 24-22-2 (Mercy of God, Graces) |
| 22 | SS 158. |
16-22-3 | … At the beginning of my spiritual life when I was thirteen or fourteen, I used to ask myself what I would have to strive for later on because I believed it was quite impossible for me to understand perfection better. I learned very quickly since then that the more one advances, the more one sees the goal is still far off. And now I am simply resigned to see myself always imperfect and in this I find my joy. | |
| 22 | SS 174 -175. |
16-22-4 | Yes, for the past two years I have understood very well the mysteries hidden from me until then. God showed me the same mercy he showed to King Solomon. He has not willed that I have one single desire which is not fulfilled, not only my desires for perfection but those too whose vanity I have understood without having experienced it. As I have always looked upon you, dear Mother, as my ideal, I desired to be like you in everything; when I saw you do beautiful paintings and delightful poems, I said to myself: How happy I would be if I were able to paint and to know how to express my thoughts in verse and thus do good to souls. I would not have wanted to ask for these natural gifts and my desires remained hidden away at the bottom of my heart. Jesus hidden also in this poor little heart was pleased to show it that everything is vanity and affliction of spirit under the sun. (Ecclesiates 2:11.) |
24-22-3 (Mercy of God, Graces) |
| 22 | SS 178. |
16-22-5 |
And now I have no other desire except to
love Jesus unto folly…the
Flower I desired, my
dear Celine, I desire no other; she
is the one that I offer Him as my most delightful bouquet.… Neither do I desire any longer suffering or death, and still I love them both; it is love alone that attracts me, however. I desired them for a long time; I possessed suffering and believed I had touched the shores of heaven, that the little flower would be gathered in the springtime of her life. Now, abandonment alone guides me. I have no other compass! I can no longer ask for anything with fervor except the accomplishment of God's will in my soul without any creature being able to set obstacles in the way. |
2-22-3 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 4-22-1 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment), 7-22-1 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 17-22-3 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity) |
| 22 | SS 180. |
16-22-6 | …I understand, however, that all souls cannot be the same, that it is necessary there be different types in order to honor each of Go's perfections in a particular way. To me He has granted His infinite Mercy, and through it I contemplate and adore the other divine perfections! All of these perfections appear to be resplendent with love; even His Justice (and perhaps this even more so than the others) seems to me clothed in love. What a sweet joy it is to think that God is Just, i.e., that He takes into account our weakness, that He is perfectly aware of our fragile nature. What should I fear then? Ah! must not the infinitely just God, who deigns to pardon the faults of the prodigal son with so much kindness, be just also towards me who “am with Him always”? (Luke15:31.) | 8-22-1 (Weakness, Frailty), 17-22-6 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 24-22-5 (Mercy of God, Grace) |
| 22 | SS 181. |
16-22-7 | …Ah! since that happy day, it seems to me that Love penetrates and surrounds me, that at each moment this Merciful Love renews me, purifying my soul and leaving no trace of sin within it, and I need have no fear of purgatory. I know that of myself I would not merit even to enter there, but I also know that the Fire of Love is more sanctifying than is the fire of purgatory. I know that Jesus cannot desire useless sufferings for us, and He would not inspire the longings I feel unless He wanted to grant them. Oh! how sweet is the way of Love! How I want to apply myself to doing the will of God always with the greatest self-surrender! |
2-22-4 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 7-22-2 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 14-22-4 (The Little Way), 17-22-8 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 27-22-2 (Sinners, Sins) |
| 22 | GCII 896, Jan. 1895, LT 173: to Sr. The- rese -Dosi- thee (Leo- nie). |
16-22-8 | Dear little Sister, do you not find, as I do, that our Father's departure had brought us close to heaven? More than half the family now enjoys the vision of God, and the five exiled on earth will not be long in flying away to their homeland. This thought of the brevity of life gives me courage, it helps me bear with the weariness of the road. What does a little work on earth matter (say the Imitation)… we pass away and we have not here a lasting dwelling! Jesus has gone before us to prepare a place in the home of His Father, and then He will come and He will take us with Him so that where He is we also may be…. Let us wait, let us suffer in peace, the hour of rest is approaching, the light tribulations of this life of a moment are preparing us for an eternal weight of glory…. |
2-22-8 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 25-22-1 (Glory), 28-22-2 (Peace), 37-22-2 (Time), 42-22-4 (Works, Actions, Great Actions) |
| 22 | GCII 902 -903, April 28, LT 176: to Sr. The- rese- Dosi- thee |
16-22-9 |
…I assured you, I was very sad, but, one day, God
gave me to understand
that there was a great self-seeking
in this desire to pronounce my holy
vows. Then I said to myself: For my reception of the Habit, I was robed
in a beautiful white dress adorned with lace and flowers, and who was
thinking, now, of giving me any dress for my wedding? … This dress I
must prepare all alone; Jesus wills that no
one help me except Himself,
so with His aid I was going to set myself to the task,
to work with
fervor…. Creatures will not see my efforts which will be
hidden in my
heart. Taking care to forget myself, I shall
want no other look but that
of Jesus…. What does it matter if I appear poor and destitute of mind
and talents?… I want to put into practice this counsel from the
Imitation: “Let this one take glory in one thing, another in
something
else, but as for you, set your joy only in contempt of self, in My will
and My glory.” Or : “Do you want to learn something that will help
you; Love to be unknown and counted as nothing!…”
When thinking
this over,
I felt a great peace in my soul, I felt that
here was truth and peace! I
was no longer disturbed about the date of my Profession, thinking that
on the day when my wedding dress was finished, Jesus would come seeking
His poor little spouse…. (Note: This letter was written when she was 22 years old, recalling the final Profession days at the age of 17.) |
1-22-1 (Self-love, Nature), 3-22-3 (Silence, Hidden), 7-17-4 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 14-17-5 (The Little Way), 20-22-1 (Truth), 28-22-3 (Peace) |
| 23 | GCII 935, Feb. 24, 1896, LT 184: to Sr. Gene- vieve (Celine). |
16-23-1 The- rese played the role of Mother Gene- vieve |
To you, dear child, I give as wedding present the last tear I shed on this earth of exile. Carry it on your heart and remember that it is through suffering that a Sister Genevieve of Saint Teresa can reach sanctity. You will have not trouble in loving the Cross and the tears of Jesus if you think often of this saying: “He loved me and He gave Himself up for me!” Mother Genevieve |
2-23-4 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials) |
| 23 | GCII 965 -966, Jul. 12, 1896, LT 191: to Leonie. |
16-23-2 | …As for me, I find perfection very easy to practice because I have understood it is a matter of taking hold of Jesus by His Heart…. | |
| 23 | GCII 1014, Nov. 1, 1896, LT 201: to P. Rou- lland. |
16-23-3 | …I understand that this prospect is not pleasing to you; with my whole heart I am begging Jesus that He see fit to allow you to carry out the laborious apostolate such as your soul always dreamed about. However, I add with you: “May God's will be done.” In it alone is rest to be found; outside this lovable will we would do nothing either for Jesus or for souls. | |
| 23 | GCII 1015, Nov. 1, 1896, LT 201: to P. Rou- lland. |
16-23-4 | More than ever, I understood that the smallest events of our life are conducted by God; He is the One who makes us desire and who grants our desires…. | |
| 23 | GCII 1041 -1042, Dec. 26, 1896, LT 213: to l'abbe Bell- iere. |
16-23-5 |
I assure you, Monsieur l'Abbe, I am doing all that is within my power
to obtain the graces necessary for you; these graces certainly will
be granted to you
since Our Lord never asks sacrifices from us above
our strength. At times, it is true, this divine Saviour makes us feel
all the bitterness of the chalice that He is offering our soul. When
He asks the sacrifice of all that is dearest in this world, it is
impossible, without a very special grace, not to cry out like Him in
the garden of agony: “
Father, let this chalice pass from me…however,
may your will be done and not mine.” (Matthew 26:39.) It is very consoling to think that Jesus, the Strong God, knew our weaknesses, that He trembled at the sight of the bitter chalice, this chalice that He had in the past so ardently desired to drink. Monsieur l'Abbe, your lot is really beautiful since Our Lord chose it for Himself and since He first wet His lips with the cup He is offering you. A Saint has said: “The greatest honor God can give a soul is not to give it much but to ask much from it!” Jesus is treating you then as a privileged one. He wills that you already begin your mission and that through suffering you may save souls. Is it not in suffering, in dying that He Himself redeemed the world?… Monsieur l'Abbe, you come seeking consolations from her whom Jesus has given you as a sister, and you have the right. Since Reverend Mother allows me to write you, I would like to respond to the sweet mission entrusted to me, but I feel the surest means of reaching my goal is to pray and to suffer…. Let us work together for the salvation of souls; we have only the one day of this life to save them and thus to give the Lord proofs of our love. |
2-23-14 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 5-23-1 (Prayer, Meditation, Contemplation), 8-23-7 (Weakness, Frailty), 14-23-8 (The Little Way), 17-23-15 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 22-23-5 (Salvation of Souls), 24-23-4 (Mercy of God, Graces), 29-23-1 (Consolations), 37-23-2 (Time) |
| 24 | SS 207. |
16-24-1 |
…Yes, all is well when one seeks only
the will of Jesus,… You know, Mother, I have always wanted to be a saint. Alas! I have always noticed that when I compared myself to the saints, there is between them and me the same difference that exists between a mountain whose summit is lost in the clouds and the obscure grain of sand trampled underfoot by the passers-by. Instead of becoming discouraged, I said to myself: God cannot inspire unrealizable desires. I can, then, in spite of my littleness, aspire to holiness. It is impossible for me to grow up, and so I must bear with myself such as I am with all my imperfections. But I want to seek out a means of going to heaven by a little way, a way that is very straight, very short, and totally new. |
8-24-3 (Weakness, Frailty), 10-24-2 (Littleness), 14-24-1 (The Little Way), 21-24-1 (A Saint) |
| 24 | SS 218. |
16-24-2 | …My one purpose, then, would be to accomplish the will of God, to sacrifice myself for Him in the way that would please Him. I really feel that I would have no disappointment, for when one expects pure and unmixed suffering, the smallest joy becomes an unhoped-for surprise. And you know, Mother, that suffering itself becomes the greatest of joy when one seeks it as the most precious of treasures. |
2-24-8 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 23-24-4 (The Joy of Sufferings) |
| 24 | SS 218 -219. |
16-24-3 |
O Mother, what anxieties the Vow of Obedience frees us from! How happy are simple
religious! Their only compass being their Superiors' will,
they are always sure
of being on the right road; they have nothing to fear from being mistaken even
when it seems that their Superiors are wrong. But when they cease to look upon
the infallible compass, when under the pretext of doing God's will, unclear at
times even to His representatives, then they wander into arid paths where
the water of grace is soon lacking. Dear Mother, you are the compass Jesus has given me as a sure guide to the eternal shore. How sweet it is to fix my eyes upon you and thus accomplish the will of the Lord! Since the time He permitted me to suffer temptations against the faith, He has greatly increased the spirit of faith in my heart, which helps me to see in you not only a loving Mother but also Jesus living in your soul and communicating His will to me through you…. |
24-24-2 (Mercy of God, Graces) |
| 24 | SS 220 -221. |
16-24-4 |
When the Lord commanded His people to love their
neighbor as themselves, (Leviticus 19:18.) He had not as yet come upon
the earth. Knowing the extent to which each one loved himself, He was
not able to ask of His creatures a greater love than this for one's
neighbor. But when Jesus gave His Apostles a new commandment, HIS
OWN COMMANDMENT (John 15:12.), as He calls it later on,
it is no longer a question
of loving one's neighbor as oneself but of loving him as He, Jesus,
has loved him, and will love him to the consummation of the ages.
Ah! Lord, I know you don't command the impossible.
You know better
than I do my weakness and imperfection; You know very well that never
would I be able to love my Sisters as You love them, unless You, O my
Jesus, loved them in me. It is because You wanted to give me this grace
that You made Your new commandment. Oh! how I love this new commandment
since it gives me the assurance that Your Will is to love in me all
those You command me to love! Yes, I feel it, when I am charitable, it is Jesus alone who is acting in me, and the more united I am to Him, the more also do I love my Sisters. |
8-24-6 (Weakness, Frailty), 14-24-4 (The Little Way), 15-24-1 (Union with Jesus), 17-24-4 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 24-24-3 (Mercy of God, Graces) |
| 24 | SS 234. |
16-24-5 | I do not hold in contempt beautiful thoughts which nourish the souls and unite it with God; but for a long time I have understood that we must not depend on them and even make perfection consist in receiving many spiritual lights. The most beautiful thoughts are nothing without good works. | 22-24-1 (Salvation of Souls), 42-24-2 (Works, Actions, Great Actions), 46-24-1 (Revelations) |
| 24 | GCII 1060, Feb. 24, 1897, LT 220: to l'abbe Bell- iere. |
16-24-6 |
…If the Lord takes me soon with Him, I ask you to continue each day the same
prayer, for
I shall desire in heaven the same thing as I do on earth: To love
Jesus and to make him loved. Monsieur l'Abbe, you must think I am very strange; perhaps you are sorry to have a sister who seems to want to go and enjoy eternal repose and leave you working alone…. But rest assured, the only thing I desire is God's will, and I admit that if in heaven I were no longer able to work for His glory, I would prefer exile to the homeland. |
17-24-10 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 25-24-3 (Glory) |
| 24 | GCII 1072, Mar. 19, 1897, LT 221: to P. Rou- lland. |
16-24-7 | I am not at all worried about the future; I am sure God will do His will, it is the only grace I desire. One must not be more kingly than the king… Jesus has no need of anyone to do His work, and if He were to accept me, this would be out of pure kindness; but to tell you the truth, Brother, I rather believe Jesus will treat me like a little lazy thing. I do not want this, for I would be happy to work and suffer a long time for Him. So I am asking Him to be content with me, that is, to pay no attention to my desires of loving Him in suffering or of going to enjoy Him in heaven. I hope, Brother, that if I were to leave this exile, you would not forget your promise of praying for me. You have always welcomed my requests with such great kindness that I am daring to make one more request from you. I do not want you to ask God to deliver me from the flames of purgatory; Saint Teresa said to her daughters when they wanted to pray for her: “What does it matter to me to remain until the end of the world in purgatory if through my prayers I save a single soul?” These words find an echo in my heart. I would like to save souls and forget myself for them; I would like to save them even after my death. So I would be happy if you were to say then, instead of the little prayer you are saying and which will be always realized: “My God, allow my sister to make you still loved.” |
2-24-19 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 5-24-4 (Prayer, Meditation, Contemplation), 7-24-8 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 17-24-12 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 22-24-4 (Salvation of Souls), 24-24-6 (Mercy of God, Graces), 37-24-2 (Time) |
| 24 | GCII 1092, May 9, 1897, LT 226: to P. Rou- lland. |
16-24-8 |
…On this earth, where all changes, one single thing remains, and this
is the conduct of the King of heaven regarding his friends. Ever since
He has lifted up the standard of the Cross, it is under its shadow that
all must fight and carry off the victory. Theophane Venard
said : “The
whole of a missionary's life is fruitful in the Cross”, and again:
“To be truly happy we must suffer, and to live
we must die.” Brother, the beginnings of your apostolate are marked with the seal of the Cross; the Lord is treating you as a privileged one. It is more by persecution and suffering than by brilliant preaching that He wills to make His kingdom firm in souls. You say: “I am still a child who cannot speak.” Pere Mazel, who was ordained the same day as you, did not know how to speak either; however, he has already taken up the palm. … Oh! how the divine thoughts are above ours!… |
2-24-20 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 22-24-5 (Salvation of Souls), 23-24-7 (The Joy of Sufferings) |
| 24 | GCII 1093- 1094, May 9, 1897, LT 226: to P. Roulland. |
16-24-9 | This is, Brother, what I think of God's justice; my way is all confidence and love. I do not understand souls who fear a Friend so tender. At times, when I am reading certain spiritual treatises in which perfection is shown through a thousand obstacles, surrounded by a crowd of illusions, my poor little mind quickly tires; I close the learned book that is breaking my head and drying up my heart, and I take up Holy Scripture. Then all seems luminous to me; a single word uncovers for my soul infinite horizons, perfection seems simple to me, I see it is sufficient to recognize one's nothingness and to abandon oneself as a child into God's arms. Leaving to great souls, to great minds the beautiful books I cannot understand, much less put into practice, I rejoice at being little since children alone and those who resemble them will be admitted to the heavenly banquet.(Matthew 19:14.) |
4-24-4 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment), 10-24-8 (Littleness), 11-24-2 (Nothingness), 14-24-7 (The Little Way), 24-24-9 (Mercy of God, Graces), 35-24-1 (Books) |
| 24 | GCII 1117, June, 1897, (?), LT 241: to Sr. Martha of Jesus. |
16-24-10 |
Dear little Sister, yes, I understood all…. I am begging Jesus to make the sun
of His grace shine in your soul. Ah! do not fear to tell Him
you love Him, even
without feeling it. This is the way to force Jesus to help you, to carry you like
a little child too feeble to walk. It is a great trial to look on the black side, but this does not depend on you completely. Do what you can; detach your heart from the worries of this earth, and above all from creatures, and then be sure Jesus will do the rest. He will be unable to allow you to fall into the dreaded mire…. Be consoled, dear little Sister, in heaven you will no longer take a dark view of everything but a very bright view…. Yes, everything will be decked out in the divine brightness of our Spouse, the Lily of the valleys. Together we shall follow Him everywhere He goes…. Ah! let us profit from the short moment of life… together let us please Jesus, let us save souls for Him by our sacrifices…. Above all, let us be little, so little that everybody may trample us underfoot, without our even having the appearance of feeling it and suffering from it…. |
2-24-21 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 10-24-9 (Littleness), 14-24-8 (The Little Way), 17-24-14 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 22-24-6 (Salvation of Souls), 24-24-10 (Mercy of God, Graces), 37-24-3 (Time), 41-24-1 (Unfelt Love) |
| 24 | GCII 1121 -1122, Jun. 7, 1897, LT 243: to Sr. Gene- vieve. |
16-24-11 |
…Beloved little Sister, let us never speak what appears great in the eyes
of creatures. Solomon, the wisest king whoever was on earth, having
considered the different works that occupy men under the sun, painting,
sculpture, all the arts, understood that all these things were subject
to envy; he cried out that
they were only vanity and affliction of spirit!…
The only thing that is not envied is the last place; there is, then,
only this last place which is not vanity and affliction of spirit…. However, “the way of man is not within his power,” (Jeremias 10:23.) and we surprise ourselves at times by desiring what sparkles. So let us line up humbly among the imperfect, let us esteem ourselves as little souls whom God must sustain at each moment. When He sees we are very much convinced of our nothingness, he extends His hand to us. If we still wish to attempt doing something great even under the pretext of zeal, Good Jesus leaves us all alone. “But when I said: ‘My foot has stumbled,’ your mercy, Lord, strengthened me! … Ps. XCIII.” (Psalm 93:18.) Yes, it suffices to humble oneself, to bear with one's imperfections. That is real sanctity! Let us take each other by the hand, dear little sister, and let us run to the last place … no one will come to dispute with us over it … |
8-24-10 (Weakness, Frailty), 10-24-10 (Littleness), 11-24-4 (Nothingness), 12-24-4 (Humility, Humbleness), 14-24-9 (The Little Way), 42-24-5 (Works, Actions, Great Actions) |
| 24 | GCII 1127, Jun. 9, 1897, LT 244: to l'abbe Bell- iere. This letter was never sent. |
16-24-12 |
Oh, dear little Brother, how happy I am to die!…Yes, I am happy not
because I shall be delivered from sufferings here below (sufferings, on
the contrary, is the only thing that seems desirable to me in this
valley of tears), but because I really feel that
such is God's will. Our good Mother would like to keep me on earth; at this moment they are making a novena of Masses for me to Our Lady of Victories. She has already cured me in my childhood, but I believe the miracle she will work will be none other than that of consoling the Mother who loves me so tenderly. Dear little Brother, at the moment of appearing before God, I understand more than ever that there is only one thing necessary, that is, to work soley for Him and to do nothing for self or for creatures. |
2-24-22 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 7-24-9 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 14-24-10 (The Little Way), |
| 24 | GCII 1140, Jul. 13, 1897, LT 253: to l'abbe Bell- iere. |
16-24-13 | All these promises, Brother, may perhaps appear to you a little bit chimerical; however, you must begin to realize that God has always treated me like a spoiled child. It is true that His Cross has followed me from the cradle, but this Cross Jesus has made me love with a passion. He has always made me desire what He wanted to give me. Will He begin, then, in heaven to carry out my desires no longer? Truly, I cannot believe it, and I say: “Soon, little Brother, I shall be near you.” | 2-24-23 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials) |
| 24 | GCII 1152 -1153, Jul. 18, 1897, LT 258: to l'abbe Bell- iere |
16-24-14 | Yes, I am certain of it, after my entrance into life, my dear little Brother's sadness will be changed into a peaceful joy that no creature will be able to take from him. I feel it, we must go to heaven by the same way, that of suffering united to love. When I shall be in port, I shall teach you, dear little Brother of my soul, how you must sail the stormy sea of the world with the abandonment and the love of a child who knows his Father loves him and would be unable to leave him in the hour of danger. Ah! how I would like to make you understand the tenderness of the Heart of Jesus, what He expects from you. In your letter of the 14th, you made my heart thrill sweetly; I understood more than ever the degree to which your soul is sister to my own, since it is called to raise itself to God by the ELEVATOR of love and not to climb the rough stairway of fear…. I am not surprised in any way that the practice of familiarity with Jesus seems to you a little difficult to realize; we cannot reach it in one day, but I am sure that I shall help you much more to walk by this delightful way when I shall have been delivered from my mortal envelpe, and soon, like St. Augustine, you will say: “Love is the weight that draws me.” | 2-24-25 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 4-24-6 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment), 7-24-12 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 14-24-13 (The Little Way), 17-24-18 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity) |
| 24 | LC 37 -38, Apr. 18. |
16-24-15 |
1. She had just confided to me
some painful humiliations some Sisters
had given her: “It is in this way that God gives me the means of remaining very little; however, this is exactly what is needed. I'm always happy, for I always manage in the midst of the tempest to preserve interior peace. If one tells me about her fights with the Sisters, I am careful not to work myself up against this or that Sister. I must, for example, while listening to her, be able to look out the window and enjoy interiorly the sight of sky, the trees, etc. Understand? Just now, during my struggle with regard to Sister X, I was watching with pleasure two beautiful magpies playing in the field, and I was as much at peace as if I were at prayer. I really fought with Sister, and I am very tired, but I don't fear the struggle. It is God's will that I fight right up until death. Oh! little Mother, pray for me!” |
2-24-26 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 10-24-11 (Littleness), 12-24-7 (Humility, Humbleness), 14-24-14 (The Little Way), 28-24-6 (Peace) |
| 24 | LC 46, May 18. |
16-24-16 | 4 “I begged God to permit me to follow the community acts right up to my death, but He did not will it! I really could have attended them all, and I would not have died a moment sooner. I'm certain of this. Sometimes, it seems to me, that if I had said nothing, no one would have discovered that I was sick.” |
3-24-3 (Silence, Hidden) |
| 24 | LC 50 -51, May 27, Ascen sion. |
16-24-17 | 4 “I don't want to die more than to live; that is, if I had the choice, I would prefer to die. But since it's God who makes the choice for me, I prefer what He wills. It's what He does that I love.” | |
| 24 | LC 259, Jun. from a note of Celine. |
16-24-18 |
During her illness, she had painfully accompanied the community to the
hermitage of the Sacred Heart, and she was seated during the singing of
a hymn. A sister made a sign for her to join the choir; she was exhausted
and could not stand up, but she stood up nevertheless. When I reproached
her for it after the reunion, she answered simply: “ I formed the habit of obeying each one as though it were God who was manifesting His will to me.” |
|
| 24 | LC 62 -63, Jun. 10. |
16-24-19 |
She was getting well and this surprised her; she was forced to get
hold of herself in order not to become sad: “The Blessed virgin really carried out my messages well; I'll give her some once more! “I tell her very often: ‘Tell Him never to put Himself out on my account.’ “He has heard this, and this is exactly what He's doing. I no longer understand anything about my sickness. Here I am getting better! However, I abandon myself to Him and I'm happy just the same. What would become of me if I did not nourish the hope of soon dying? What disappointments! But I don't have a single one, because I am totally content with what God does; I desire only His will.” |
4-24-9 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment) |
| 24 | LC 87, Jul. 10. |
16-24-20 |
13 (During Matins) It came into her head that she wasn't seriously ill, that the doctor was mistaken about her state of health. She told me about these trials and added: “If my soul had not been filled in advance with abandonment to God's will, if it had been necessary that it let itself be submerged by these feelings of joy and sadness that succeed each other so quickly on this earth, this would have been a bitter pain, and I could not have borne it. But these changes only touch the surface of my soul…. Ah! nevertheless, they are great trials!” |
2-24-38 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 4-24-12 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment), 7-24-14 (Renunciation, Forget Self) |
| 24 | LC 89, Jul. 11. |
16-24-21 | 8. “…There's great peace in my soul….My little boat is sailing once again. I know I shall not return, but I am resigned to remain sick for several months, as long as God wills it.” |
28-24-8 (Peace) |
| 24 | LC 91, Jul. 12. |
16-24-22 | 2. “God will have to carry out my will in heaven because I have never done my own will here on earth.” | 14-24-15 (The Little Way) |
| 24 | LC 97 -98, Jul. 14. |
16-24-23 | 9. “ My heart is filled with God's will, and when someone pours something on it, this doesn't penetrate its interior; it's a nothing which glides off easily, just like oil which can't mix with water. I remain always at profound peace in the depths of my heart; nothing can disturb it.” | 28-24-9 (Peace) |
| 24 | LC 99, Jul. 15. |
16-24-24 |
3. We had made preparations for her to receive Holy Communion the next day
from Sister M. Philomena's nephew who was coming to celebrate his first
Mass at the Carmel and to bring her Communion afterwards. Seeing that she
was sicker than usual, we feared she would cough up blood after midnight,
and so we asked her to pray that no such unfortunate incident take place
to interfere with our plans. She answered: “You know well that I cannot ask this myself, but you ask it for me …. This evening, in spite of my feelings, I was asking God for this favor in order to please my little sisters and so that the community might not be disappointed; but in my heart I told Him just the contrary; I told Him to do just what he wanted.” |
|
| 24 | LC 99 -100, Jul. 15. |
16-24-25 |
5. She told me about the following incident, the memory of which
was the source of a great grace to her: “Sister Marie of the Eucharist wanted to light the candles for a procession; she had no matches; however, seeing the little lamp which was burning in the front of the relics, she approached it. Alas, it was half out; there remained only a feeble glimmer on its blackened wick. She succeeded in lighting her candle from it, and with this candle, she lighted those of the whole community. It was, therefore, the half-extinguished little lamp which had produced all these beautiful flames which, in their turn, could produce an infinity of others and even light whole universe. Nevertheless, it would always be the little lamp which would be first cause of all this light. How could the beautiful flames boast of having produced this fire, when they themselves were lighted with such a small spark? “It is the same with the Communion of Saints. Very often, without our knowing it, the graces and lights that we receive are due to a hidden soul, for God wills that the saints communicate grace to each other through prayer with great love, with a love much greater than that of a family, and even the most perfect family on earth. How often have I thought that I may owe all the graces I've received to the prayers of a person who begged them from God for me, and whom I shall know only in heaven…. |
5-24-6 (Prayer, Meditation, Contemplation), 14-24-18 (The Little Way), 17-24-24 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 21-24-4 (A Saint), 24-24-17 (Mercy of God, Graces) |
| 24 | LC 107, Jul. 23. |
16-24-26 | 6. “I was obliged to ask for Papa's cure on the day of my Profession; however, it was impossible for me to say anything else but this: My God, I beg You, let it be Your will that Papa be cured!” | |
| 24 | LC 115, Jul. 27. |
16-24-27 | 14. “I've never asked God for the favor of dying young; I'm sure then, that at this moment He's accomplishing His own will.” | |
| 24 | LC 115, Jul. 27. |
16-24-28 |
15. She was having difficulty breathing, and I showed my sympathy
and sorrow for her: “Don't be disturbed; if I can't breathe, God will give me the strength to bear it. I love Him! He'll never abandon me.” |
14-24-22 (The Little Way), 24-24-19 (Mercy of God, Graces) |
| 24 | LC 129, Aug. 3. |
16-24-29 |
2. I was telling her that she must have had to struggle a lot in
order to become perfect: “Oh, it's not that!” Novissima Verba adds (The authenticity of this text is questionable): And a little later she said: “Sanctity does not consist in this or that practice; it consists in a disposition of heart which makes us humble and little in the arms of God, conscious of our weakness, and confident to the point of audacity in the goodness of our Father.” |
8-24-17 (Weakness, Frailty), 10-24-14 (Littleness), 12-24-10 (Humility, Humbleness), 38-24-2 (Disposition) |
| 24 | LC 131, Aug. 4. |
16-24-30 | 2. “No, I don't believe I'm a great saint; I believe I'm a very little saint; but I think God has been pleased to place things in me which will do good to me and to others.” |
21-24-7 (A Saint) |
| 24 | LC 137, Aug. 6. |
16-24-31 |
4. “
I can depend on nothing, on no good works
of my own in order
to have confidence. For example, I'd like to be able to say
that I've carried out all my obligations of reciting my prayers
for the dead. This poverty, however, was a real light and a grace
for me. I was thinking that never in my life would I be able
to pay my debts to God; this was real riches, real strength for me,
if I wanted to take it in this way. “Then I made this prayer to God: O my God, I beg You, pay the debt that I have acquired with regard to the souls in purgatory, but do it as God, so that it be infinitely better than if I had said my Offices for the Dead. And then I remembered with great consolation these words of St. John of the Cross' canticle: ‘Pay all debts.’ I had always applied this to Love. I felt this grace can't be expressed in words; it's far too sweet! We experience such great peace when we're totally poor, when we depend upon no one except God.” |
4-24-17 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment), 5-24-8 (Prayer, Meditation, Contemplation), 8-24-18 (Weakness, Frailty), 9-24-3 (Poor in Spirit), 14-24-24 (The Little Way), 17-24-27 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 24-24-22 (Mercy of God, Graces), 28-24-12 (Peace), 29-24-4 (Consolation), 42-24-9 (Works, Actions, Great Actions) |
| 24 | LC 138 -139, Aug. 6. |
16-24-33 |
8 I asked her to explain what she
meant by “remaining a little child
before God.” She said: “It is to recognize our nothingness, to expect everything from God as a little child expects everything from its father; it is to be disquieted about nothing, and not to be set on gaining our living. Even among the poor, they give the child what is necessary, but as soon as he grows up, his father no longer wants to feed him and says: ‘Work now, you can take care of yourself.’ “It was so as not to hear this that I never wanted to grow up, feeling that I was incapable of making my living, the eternal life of heaven. I've always remained little, therefore, having no other occupation but to gather flowers, the flowers of love and sacrifice, and of offering them to God in order to please Him. “To be little is not attributing to oneself the virtues that one practices, believing oneself capable of anything, but to recognize that God places this treasure in the hands of His little child to be used when necessary; but it remains always God's treasure. Finally, it is not to become discouraged over one's faults, for children fall often, but they are too little to hurt themselves very much.” |
2-24-55 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 8-24-19 (Weakness, Frailty), 10-24-15 (Littleness), 11-24-5 (Nothingness), 14-24-25 (The Little Way), |
| 24 | LC 175, Aug. 30. |
16-24-33 |
2. “Would you be happy if you were told you would die in a few days at the
latest? You would prefer this to being told that you will suffer more and
more for months and years?” “Oh! no, I wouldn't be at all happier. What makes me happy is only to do the will of God.” |
|
| 24 | LC 183, Sep. 4. |
16-24-34 |
7. I asked: “You prefer to die rather than to live?” “O little Mother, I don't love one thing more than another; I could not say like our holy Mother St. Teresa: ‘I die because I cannot die.’ What God prefers and chooses for me, that is what pleases me more.” |
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| 24 | LC 278, July 12, from a note of Sr. Marie of Eucha -rist. |
16-24-35 |
…There was, at this time, no question of her death, her condition was not yet known;
she said to me all of a sudden, looking at me with such a profound gaze that I'll
never forget it:“Oh! little sister, promise me you'll become a saint, a great
saint.” When I looked at her in amazement, she continued: “Yes, and if I say this to you, it's because I find in you all that is necessary for this; and if you don't become one, believe me, you'll be unfaithful to grace. Oh! I beg you, become a saint, God is begging this from you. When I'm no longer on earth, you'll have to be a saint for two, in order that God lose nothing; I feel that your soul is being called to the same type of perfection as my own, and you must replace me when I'm gone.” |
21-24-12 (A Saint), 24-24-27 (Mercy of God, Graces) |
| 24 | LC 281, Jul. 20 a note of Sr. Marie of the Eucha -rist. |
16-24-37 | …. I asked her the other day: “Did you sometimes refuse God anything?” She said: “No, I don't remember refusing Him anything. Even when I was very little, at the age of three, I began to refuse God nothing He was asking from me.” |
7-24-26 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 14-24-31 (The Little Way) |
| 24 | LC 290, Aug. 27, with Sr. Marie of Euch -arist. |
16-24-37 | … There is much change in her condition since the feast of the Assumption. And we have even come to the desire of her deliverance, for she's suffering a martyrdom. She was saying yesterday: “Fortunately, I didn't ask for suffering. If I had asked for it, I fear I wouldn't have the patience to bear it. Whereas, if it is coming directly from God's will, He cannot refuse to give me the patience and the grace necessary to bear it.” |
2-24-68 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Cross, Trials), 6-24-5 (Perseverance, Patience), 24-24-28 (Mercy of God, Graces) |
Proceed to the next List 17:Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity.