| Age | Sources and Pages | Code Number | Quotations | Relevant Key Words, Phrases and Their Code Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | SS 83 -84. |
45-11-1 |
…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), 16-11-2 (His Will, Perfection, Sanctity), 17-11-3 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 24-11-2 (Mercy of God, Grace) |
21 | GCII 882 -883, Aug. 19, 1894, LT 169: to Celine. |
45-21-1 | We are not idlers, squanderers, either. Jesus has defended us in the person of the Magdalene. He was at table, Martha was serving, Lasarus was eating with Him and His disciples. As for Mary, she was not thinking of taking any food but of pleasing Him whom she loved, so she took a jar filled with an ointment of great price and poured it on the head of Jesus, after breaking the jar, and the whole house was scented with the ointment, but the APOSTLES complained against Magdalene …. It is really the same for us, the most fervent Christians, priests, find that we are exaggerated, that we should serve with Martha instead of consecrating to Jesus the vessels of our lives, with the ointments enclosed within them …. And nevertheless what does it matter if our vessels be broken since Jesus is consoled and since, in spite of itself, the world is obliged to smell the perfumes that are exhaled and serve to purify the empoisoned air the world never ceases to breathe in. |
14-21-5 (The Little Way), 17-21-6 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity) |
| 24 | SS 257 -258. |
45-24-1 | … I ask Jesus to draw me into the flames of His love, to unite me so closely to Him that He live and act in me. I feel that the more the fire of love burns within my heart, the more I shall say: “Draw me,” the more also the souls who will approach me (poor little piece of iron, unless if I withdraw from the divine furnace), the more these souls will run swiftly in the odor of the ointment of their Beloved for a soul that is burning with love cannot remain inactive. No doubt, she will remain at Jesus' feet as did Mary Magdalene, and she will listen to His sweet and burning words. Appearing to do nothing, she will give much more than Martha who torments herself with many things (Luke10:41.) and wants her sister to imitate her. It is not Martha's works that Jesus finds fault with; His divine Mother submitted humbly to these works all through her life since she had to prepare the meals of the Holy Family. It is only the restlessness of His ardent hostess that He willed to correct. |
15-24-6 (Union with Jesus), 17-24-7 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity) |
| 24 | SS 258 -259. |
45-24-2 |
…Most of all I imitate the conduct of Magdalene; her astonishing or
rather her loving audacity which charms the Heart of Jesus also attracts
my own. Yes, I feel it; even though I had on my conscience all the sins that can be committed, I would go, my heart broken with sorrow, and throw myself into Jesus' arms, for I know how much He loves the prodigal child who returns to Him. It is not because God, in His anticipating Mercy, has preserved my soul from mortal sin that I go to Him with confidence and love…. |
4-24-2 (Trust, Confidence, Abandonment), 17-24-8 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 24-24-5 (Mercy of God, Graces), 27-24-3 (Sinners, Sins) |
| 24 | GCII 1133, Jun. 21, 1897, LT 247: to l'abbe Bell- iere. |
45-24-3 |
…I love them too, I love their repentance, and especially…
their loving audacity! When I see Magdalene walking up before
the many guests, washing with her tears the feet of her adored
Master, whom she is touching for the first time, I feel that
her heart has understood the abysses
of love and mercy of the
Heart of Jesus, and, sinner though she is, this Heart of love
was not only disposed to pardon her but to lavish on her the
blessings of His divine intimacy, to lift her to the highest
summits of contemplation. Ah! dear little Brother, ever since I have been given the grace to understand also the love of the Heart of Jesus, I admit that it has expelled all fear from my heart. The remembrance of my faults humbles me, draws me never to depend on my strength which is only weakness, but this remembrance speaks to me of mercy and love even more. |
5-24-5 (Prayer, Meditation, Contemplation), 8-24-11 (Weakness, Frailty), 12-24-5 (Humility, Humbleness), 14-24-11 (The Little Way), 17-24-15 (Love Jesus, The Love of God, Charity), 24-24-11 (Mercy of God, Graces), 27-24-4 (Sinners, Sins), 34-24-2 (Repentence, Contrition) |
| 24 | LC 36, Apr. 6, 1897. |
45-24-4 | 1. “ When we're misunderstood and judged unfavorably, what good does it do to defend or explain ourselves? Let the matter drop and say nothing. It's so much better to say nothing and allow others to judge us as they please. We don't see in the Gospel where Mary explained herself when her sister accused her of remaining at Jesus' feet, doing nothing! (Luke 10:39-40.) She didn't say: ‘Oh, Martha, if you only knew the joy I am experiencing, if you only heard the words I hear! And besides, it's Jesus who told me to remain here.’ No, she preferred to remain silent. O blessed silence that gives so much peace to souls!” |
3-24-2 (Silence, Hidden), 28-24-5 (Peace) |