| Age | Sources and Pages | Code Number | Quotations | Relevant Key Words, Phrases and Their Code Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | GCI 400 -401, Mar. 18 (?), 1888, LT 43B to Sr. Agnes of Jesus. |
37-15-1 |
…Oh, Pauline, when Jesus will have placed me on the blessed shore of Carmel,
I want to give myself totally to Him, I want to live no longer but for Him. Oh,
no, I shall not fear His strikes, for, even
in the most bitter sufferings, I
always feel that it is His gentle hand that is striking. I really felt this at
Rome at the very moment when I would have believed the earth could have given
way beneath my steps. I desire only one thing when I shall be in Carmel, and it is to suffer always for Jesus. Life passes so quickly that really it must be better to have a very beautiful crown and a little trouble than to have an ordinary one without any trouble. And then for a suffering borne with joy, when I think that during the whole of eternity I will love God better. Then in suffering we can save souls. Ah! Pauline, if at the moment of my death I could have a soul to offer to Jesus, how happy I would be; it would be a soul that would have been snatched from the fire of hell and would bless God for all eternity. |
2-15-5 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 7-15-2 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 14-15-2 (The Little Way), 17-15-1 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 22-15-2 (Salvation of Souls), 23-15-1 (The Joy of Sufferings), 39-15-3 (Pauline) |
| 15 | GCI 408, Mar. 27, 1888, LC78: from Sr. Agnes of Jesus. |
37-15-2 | …Let us not be frightened by the sorrows of this earth, for it is they that merit for us the joys of heaven! Let us welcome, then, suffering as a future joy. Life! It is so short; it's a point in space. “A thousand years are in the Lord's eyes just like yesterday which has passed!” (Psalm 90:4.) we sing in one of the Psalms. Let us raise our hearts and fight the good fight in order to carry off the victory and merit the crown. |
2-15-6 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 23-15-2 (The Joy of Sufferings), 39-15-7 (Pauline) |
| 15 | GCI 439, Jul. 3(?), 1888, LC 83: from Sr. Agnes of Jesus. |
37-15-3 | Ah! blessed Eternity, it is worth suffering a little and even very much in order to attain it. |
2-15-11 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 39-15-9 (Pauline) |
| 16 | SS157. | 37-16-1 | …As formerly in the belvedere, they dreamed about things of eternity. To enjoy this endless happiness as soon as possible, they chose as their lot here on earth both suffering and contempt. |
2-16-6 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials) |
| 16~17 | SS 248 -249. |
37-16-2 | …Instead of the beautiful strains of music I heard only her occasional complaints, and instead of the rich gildings I saw only the bricks of our austere cloister, hardly visible in the faintly glimmering light. I cannot express in words what happened in my soul; what I know is that the Lord illumined it with rays of truth which so surpassed the dark brilliance of earthly feasts that I could not believe my happiness. Ah! I would not have exchanged the ten minutes employed in carrying out my humble office of charity to enjoy a thousand years of worldly feasts. If already in suffering and in combat one can enjoy a moment of happiness that surpasses all the joys of this earth, and this when simply considering that God has withdrawn us from this world, what will this happiness be in heaven when one shall see in the midst of eternal joy and everlasting repose the incomparable grace the Lord gave us when He chose us to dwell in His house, heaven's real portal? |
2-16-9 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 14-16-3 (The Little Way), 20-16-1 (Truth), 23-16-3 (The Joy of Sufferings), 24-16-2 (Mercy of God, Grace) |
| 16 | GCI 529 -530, Jan. 23- 25(?), 1889, LT81, to Celine. |
37-16-3 |
You give me an impression, at this moment, of a person who is surrounded with
immense riches… the sight of them is lost over the horizon…. This person wants
to turn her back because, she says, too many riches embarrass her, she does not know
what to do with them; it is better to lose them, or that another take them!… That
other will not come, for these riches are prepared for the fiancee of Jesus… and
for her alone!… God would turn the world upside down to find
suffering in order
to give it to a soul upon whom His DIVINE glance has rested with an indescribable
love!… The things of this earth…what do they mean to us?… Should this be our homeland, this slime, so unworthy of an immortal soul… and what does it matter to us that cowardly men harvest the mustiness that grows on this slime? The more our heart is in heaven, the less we feel these pinpricks…. But believe that this is a grace and a great grace to feel these pinpricks, for, then, our life is a martyrdom, and one day Jesus will give us the palm. To suffer and to be despised!…what bitterness but what glory…. Suffer both again and always…. But all passes. |
2-16-18 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Cross, Trials)
14-16-6 (The Little Way), 17-16-5 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 24-16-3 (Mercy of God, Graces), 25-16-2 (Glory) |
| 16 | GCI 537, Feb. 28, 1889, LT 82: to Celine. |
37-16-4 |
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, Crosess, Trials), 12-16-1 (Humility, Humbleness), 14-16-7 (The Little Way), 16-16-7 (His Will, Perfection, Sanctity), 17-16-8 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 21-16-1 (A Saint), 23-16-7 (The Joy of Sufferings) |
| 16 | GCI 541- 542, Mar. 5, 1889, LT 83: to Celine. |
37-16-5 |
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), 16-16-8 (His Will, Perfection, Sanctity), 21-16-2 (A Saint), 23-16-8 (The Joy of Sufferings) |
| 16 | GCI 546, Mar. 12, 1889, LT 85: to Celine. |
37-16-6 |
I have a need this evening to come with my Celine in order to plunge
myself into infinity…. I have to forget this earth….Here below,
everything tires me, everything is a burden to me….
I find only one
joy, that of suffering for Jesus, but this
unfelt joy is
above every
other joy!… Life is passing away…. Eternity is advancing in great strides…. Soon we shall live the very life of Jesus…. After having drunk at the fountain of all sorrows, we shall be deified at the very fountain of all joys, all delights…. Soon, little sister, with one look, we shall be able to understand what is taking place within the inner depths of our being!… |
2-16-21 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 7-16-7 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 23-16-9 (The Joy of Sufferings), 41-16-2 (Unfelt Joy) |
| 16 | GCI 552 -553, Apr. 4, 1889, LT 87: to Celine |
37-16-7 |
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), 16-16-10 (His Will, Perfection, Sanctity), 17-16-9 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 28-16-3 (Peace), 41-16-3 (Unfelt Love), 50-16-3 (Jesus's Wounds, Pains and Tears) |
| 16 | GCI 561, Apr. 27, 1889, LT 90: to Celine. |
37-16-8 | The great peace which you are enjoying is a treasure par excellence which Our Lord has bequeathed to us in His divine testament. Be very grateful and guard this gift from God. May Jesus be ever free to sever us from our consolations and from all the most seductive Thabors. Your Calvary is worth more, dark as it is |
28-16-5 (Peace) |
| 16 | GCI 563- 564, End of May (?), 1889, LT 91: to Sr. Marie of the Sacred Heart. |
37-16-9 |
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), 16-16-11 (His Will, Perfection, Sanctity), 23-16-10 (The Joy of Sufferings), |
| 16 | GCI 577, July 14, 1889, LT 94: to Celine. |
37-16-10 | 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), 16-16-12 (His Will, Perfection, Sanctity), 17-16-13 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 23-16-11 (The Joy of Sufferings), 41-16-4 (Unfelt Love) |
| 16 | GCI 587- 588, Oct. 15, 1889, LT 96: to Celine. |
37-16-11 | …And if we love much, if we love Jesus with a passion, He will not be so cruel as to leave us for a long time on this earth of exile….Celine, during the SHORT MOMENTS that remain to us, let us not lose our time… let us SAVE SOULS…souls are being lost like flakes of snow, and Jesus weeps, and we…we are thinking of our sorrow without consoling our Fiance….Oh, Celine, let us live for souls…let us be apostles…let us save especially the souls of priests; these souls should be more transparent than crystal… Alas, how many bad priests, priests who are not holy enough… |
17-16-14 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 22-16-5 (Salvation of Souls) |
| 16 | GCI 587- 588, Oct. 15, 1889, LT 96: to Celine. |
37-16-12 | 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), 16-16-13 (His Will, Perfection, Sanctity), 17-16-15 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 22-16-7 (Salvation of Souls), 40-16-2 (Participation to Salvation) |
| 17 | SS 165. |
37-17-1 | …God showed me clearly, however, without my perceiving it, the way to please Him and to practice the most sublime virtues. I have frequently noticed that Jesus doesn't want me to lay up provisions; He nourishes me at each moment with a totally new food; I find it within me without my knowing how it is there. I believe it is Jesus Himself hidden in the depths of my poor little heart: He is giving me the grace of acting within me, making me think of all He desires me to do at the present moment. |
15-17-1 (Union with Jesus), 24-17-1 (Mercy of God, Graces) |
| 17 | GCI 630- 631, Jul. 18, 1890, LT 109: to Celine. |
37-17-2 |
(Open to me, my sister, my beloved, for my
face is covered with dew, my
locks with the drops of night) (Cant. of Cant. 5:2.). That is what Jesus says
to our soul when He is abandoned and forgotten!…
Celine, forgetfulness,
it seems to me that it's this which causes Him the greatest
sorrow!… Papa!… Ah, Celine, I cannot tell you all I am thinking, it would take too long, and how say things that the mind itself can hardly express, deep things that are in the innermost recesses of the soul…. Jesus has sent us the best chosen Cross that He was able to find in His immense love…how can we complain when He Himself was looked upon as a man struck by God and humbled!… The divine charm delights my soul and consoles it in a marvelous way, at each moment of the day!… Ah, the tears of Jesus, what smiles!… |
2-17-10 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 12-17-1 (Humility, Humbleness), 17-17-5 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 29-17-5 (Consolation), 50-17-1 (Jesus's Wounds, Pains and Tears), |
| 20 | GCII 801, Jul. 18, 1893, LT 143: to Celine. |
37-20-1 |
…I had to go along quietly in peace and love, doing only what He was asking
me…. But I had a light. St. Teresa says we must maintain love.
The wood is
not within our reach when we are in darkness, in aridities, but at least
are we not obliged to throw little pieces of straw on it? Jesus is really
powerful enough to keep the fire going by Himself. However, He is satisfied
when He sees us put a little fuel on it. This
attentiveness pleases Jesus,
and then He throws on the fire a lot of wood. We do not see it, but we do
feel the
strength of love's warmth. I have
experienced it; when I
am feeling
nothing, when I am INCAPABLE of praying, of practicing virtue, then is the
moment for seeking opportunities,
nothings, which please Jesus more than
mastery of the world or even martyrdom suffered with generosity. For example,
a smile, a friendly word, when I would want to say
nothing, or put on a look
of annoyance, etc., etc. Celine, do you understand? It is not for the purpose of weaving my crown, gaining merits, it is in order to please Jesus…. When I do not have any opportunities, I want at least to tell Him frequently that I love Him; this is not difficult, and it keeps the fire going. Even though this fire of love would seem to me to have gone out, I would like to throw something on it, and Jesus could then relight it. Celine, I am afraid I have not said what I should; perhaps you will think I always do what I am saying. Oh, no! I am not always faithful, but I never get discouraged; I abandon myself into the arms of Jesus. |
4-20-2 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment), 11-20-1 (Nothingness), 14-20-4 (The Little Way), 17-20-4 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 28-20-2 (Peace), 43-20-1 (Darkness) |
| 21 | GCII 838- 839, Jan. 21, 1894, LT 156: to Mother Agnes of Jesus. |
37-21-1 | Soon, He sees in the distance strange objects bearing no resemblance to the springtime flowers. A cross!… a lance!… a crown of thorns! And yet the divine Child does not tremble; this is what He chooses to show His spouse how much He loves her!… But it is still not enough; His infant face is so beautiful. He sees it disfigured, covered with blood!… unrecognizable!… Jesus knows that His spouse will always recognize Him, that she will be at His side when all others abandon Him, so the divine Child smiles at this bloodstained image, He smiles at the chalice filled with the wine giving birth to virgins. He knows that, in His Eucharist, the ungrateful will desert Him; but Jesus is thinking of His spouse's love, her attention. He sees the flowers of her virtues as they scent the sanctuary, and the Child Jesus continues to sleep on peacefully… He awaits the shadows to lengthen… the night of life to give way to the bright day of eternity!…. |
2-21-1 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 17-21-1 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 39-21-1 (Pauline) |
| 21 | GCII 841, Mar. or May, 1894, LT 157: to Celine. |
37-21-2 | Let the little exile be sad without being sad, for if tenderness of creatures is not concentrated on her, the tenderness of Jesus is totally CONCENTRATED on her. Now that Celine is without a home, Jesus Himself is well obliged. He is content to see His dear spouse wandering, this pleases Him! Why?… I myself know nothing about it…. This is Jesus' secret, but I believe He is preparing very beautiful things in His little house. … He has to work so much that He seems to forget His dear Celine…but, no, without being seen by her, he is looking at her through the window. … He is pleased to see her in the desert, having no other duty but to love while suffering, without even feeling that she loves!… Jesus knows that life is only a dream, so He is taking delight in seeing His spouse weeping on the banks of the river of Babylon! Soon the day will come when Jesus will take His Celine by the hand and will have her enter her little house which will have become an eternal palace…. Then He will say: “‘Now, my turn.’ You have given me on earth the only home that every human heart is unwilling to renounce, that is, yourself, and now I am giving you as a dwelling my eternal substance, that is, “Myself.” This is your house for all eternity. During the night of life, you have been homeless and solitary, now you will have a companion, and it is I, Jesus, your Spouse, your Friend, for whom you sacrificed all, who will be this Companion, who must fill you with joy from age to age!…” |
2-21-2 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 7-21-1 (Renunciation, Forget Self), 14-21-1 (The Little Way), 17-21-2 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity) |
| 21 | GCII 882, Aug. 19, 1894, LT 169: to Celine. |
37-21-3 | …We have only the short moment of this life to give to God… and He is already preparing to say: “ Now, my turn…” What a joy to suffer for Him who loves us unto folly and to pass as fools in the eyes of the world. We judge other as we judge ourselves, and since the world is senseless!… It naturally thinks we are the ones who are senseless!… But after all, we are not the first; the only crime with which Jesus was reproached by Herod was that of being foolish, and I think like him!… Yes, it was folly to seek out the poor little hearts of mortals to make them His thrones, He, the King of Glory, who is seated above the Cherubim…. He, whom the heavens cannot contain…. He was foolish, our Beloved, to come to earth in search of sinners in order to make them His friends, His intimates, His equals, He who was perfectly happy with the two adorable Persons of the Trinity!… |
2-21-10 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 14-21-4 (The Little Way), 17-21-5 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 23-21-1 (The Joy of Sufferings), 27-21-1 (Sinners, Sins), 49-21-2 (Trinity) |
| 22 | SS 179. |
37-22-1 | I understand and I know from experience that : “The kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke17:21.) Jesus has no need of books or teachers to instruct souls; He teaches without the noise of words. Never have I heard Him speak, but I feel that He is within me at each moment; He is guiding and inspiring me with what I must say and do. I find just when I need them certain lights which I had not seen until then, and it isn't most frequently during my hours of prayer that these are most abundant but rather in the midst of my daily occupations. |
5-22-1 (Prayer, Meditation, Contemplation), 15-22-1 (Union with Jesus), 35-22-2 (Books) |
| 22 | GCII 896, Jan. 1895, LT 173: to Sr. The- rese -Dosi- thee (Leo- nie). |
37-22-2 | 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), 16-22-8 (His Will, Perfection, Sanctity), 25-22-1 (Glory), 28-22-2 (Peace), 42-22-4 (Works, Actions, Great Actions) |
| 23 | GCII 961, Jun. 20 or 29(?), 1896, LT 190: to Mother Marie de Gon- zague. |
37-23-1 |
“I understand You, Jesus, but there is still a mystery I would like
to fathom: Tell me, I beg You, why have You chosen the dear sheep of
my shepherdess to try her?… If You had chosen strangers, the trial
would have been sweeter….”
Then showing the lamb His feet, His hands,
and His heart, adorned with luminous wounds, the Good Shepherd answered:
“Look at these wounds;they are the ones I
received in the house of those
who loved Me!… This is the reason why they are so beautiful,
so glorious,
and why for all eternity their brilliance will revive the joy of
the angels and saints…” “Your shepherdess wonders what she has done to estrange her sheep, and I, what had I done to My people? … In what had I made them sad? Your dear Mother, then, must rejoice in having a share in My sorrows. If I am removing from her human support, it is only to fill her very loving heart!… |
2-23-8 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials) |
| 23 | GCII 1041 -1042, Dec. 26, 1896, LT 213: to l'abbe Bell- iere. |
37-23-2 |
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), 16-23-5 (His Will, Perfection, Sanctity), 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), |
| 24 | SS 208 |
37-24-1 | …What will this old age be for me? It seems this could be right now, for two thousand years are not more in the Lord's eyes than are twenty years, than even a single day. (Psalm 90:4) | |
| 24 | GCII 1072, Mar. 19, 1897, LT 221: to P. Rou- lland. |
37-24-2 | 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), 16-24-7 (His Will, Perfection, Sanctity), 17-24-12 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 22-24-4 (Salvation of Souls), 24-24-6 (Mercy of God, Graces) |
| 24 | GCII 1117, June, 1897, (?), LT 241: to Sr. Martha of Jesus. |
37-24-3 |
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), 16-24-10 (His Will, Perfection, Sanctity), 17-24-14 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 22-24-6 (Salvation of Souls), 24-24-10 (Mercy of God, Graces), 41-24-1 (Unfelt Love) |
| 24 | LC 106, Jul. 23. |
37-24-4 |
3. I was always telling her of my
fear that she'd have to suffer much more: “We who run in the way of love shouldn't be thinking of sufferings that can take place in the future; it's a lack of confidence, it's like meddling in the work of creation.” |
2-24-45 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials), 4-24-15 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment), 14-24-21 (The Little Way) |
| 24 | LC 155, Aug. 19. |
37-24-5 | 10. “I'm suffering only for an instant. It's because we think of the past and the future that we become discouraged and fall into despair.” |
2-24-60 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials) |
| 24 | LC 241, Aug. 20, from a note of Sr. Marie of the Sacred Heart |
37-24-6 | “This isn't like persons who suffer from the past or the future; I myself suffer only at each present moment. So it's not any great thing.” |
2-24-62 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials) |
| 24 | LC 168, Aug. 25. |
37-24-7 |
2. “How you are suffering! Oh!
it's hard! Are you
sad?” I said: “Oh, no, I'm not unhappy in the least; God gives me exactly what I can bear.” |
2-24-64 (Sufferings, Sacrifices, Crosses, Trials) |
| 24 | LC 253, Sep. 11, from a note of Marie Guerrin. |
37-24-8 |
One day, she made me promise that I would be a saint; she was asking me if I
were making any progress, and I answered: “I promise you that I'll be a saint
when you have left for heaven; at that moment, I'll put my whole heart
into it.” “Oh! don't wait for that. Begin now. The month which preceded my entrance into Carmel has remained for me a very sweet memory. At first, I said to myself: I'll be a saint when I'm in Carmel; while waiting, I won't put myself out. But God showed me the value of time; I did just the opposite of what I was thinking. I wanted to prepare myself for my entrance by being very faithful, and it's one of the most beautiful months of my life. “Believe me, don't wait until tomorrow to begin becoming a saint.” |
21-24-11 (A Saint) |