Trust and love

March 14



 Trust and love, my little one, trust and love in the goodness of our God. You suffer, but come on, that your suffering is with Jesus and Jesus, and not a punishment but a test for your salvation.
Believe, then, I can assure you from the Lord, in your pain is Jesus, and also in the center of your heart, you are not separate or away from love of this God as good. You experience the delight in the thought of God, but still suffer being away from fully owning and offended him ungrateful creatures. But it can not be otherwise, my little one, who loves, suffers, is the standard constant for the pilgrim soul on this earth, love does not fully satisfied is a torment, but sweet torment. You experience it.
Continue without fear, my little one, enveloping you in this mystery of love and pain at the same time, until it pleases Jesus. This state is always temporary come the divine consolation, complete, irresistible. In this state of affliction, he continues, my good little girl, praying for everyone, especially for sinners, to repair as many offenses as are made to the Sacred Heart.
I think one day you offered you a victim for sinners, Jesus heard your prayer, accepted your gift. Jesus has given you the grace to endure the sacrifice. Well, yet another step forward!, The reward is not far.
(April 9, 1918, Mary Gargani - Letters. III, p. 312)

Let yourself be guided

March 13



 Be guided by divine providence lovingly, just make you want to walk down to earth and deserts, which the waters of the sensitive and spiritual consolation. Please hand your perfume, but if you have some other delicious aroma, be sure to smell it, giving thanks, because the perfume is used to not stay for long without some comfort and spiritual joy.
Stand firm in any state in which Jesus wanted to get your heart be totally for it, because there is nothing better than that. Shed, then, based on continuous resignations, your earthly affections, all the things you have imprisoned, and be certain that the king of heaven will give their gifts to draw you to His holy love.
I see in your heart a deep resolve to serve God, and this guarantees that I will be faithful in the exercises of piety and the practice of leading to the acquisition of virtues. But I warn you one thing, that you certainly do not ignore it. When failures occur because of illness, we need not marvel why, but after the offense detest God receives them, it is necessary to find a joyful humility, to discover and realize our misery.
(January 12, 1917, Herminia Gargani - Letters. III, p. 669)

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We want to live spiritually

March 12



 The apostle warns: "If we live by the Spirit, walk by the Spirit", almost as if to tell us for our mutual edification: Do we want to live spiritually, that is, moved and guided by the Holy Spirit? Concerned with the spirit mortify itself, which inflates us, makes us reckless, we dry out, in other words, give ourselves to repress the pride, anger and envy: three evil spirits that are slaves to most men. These three evil spirits are absolutely contrary to the Spirit of the Lord.
(October 23, 1914, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 197)

Cross that is not going well is yours

"If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8.34).
GOES WELL IF YOU DO NOT CROSS IS PRECISELY THE YOURS!
Cross that is not going well is precisely yours.The Cross is not a dress or a pair of shoes, you should come to order.The cross is never going to suit your tastes, your desires, your particular requirements.Cross tears, bruises, spider skin boots, crushes, bends, breaks, leads to suffering ...And yet, no doubt. To be truly yours, Cross must not go well.On either side of the Cross will never look good.Neither Christ his Cross was doing well.Did not do well the treachery of Judas, the dream of the Apostles in the Garden of Getzemaní, the conspiracy of the enemies, escape from friends, the denials of Peter, the taunts of the soldiers, the fierce cry of the people: Crucify him, crucify him.You see: The Cross so that it is, do not go well. Never will be fine.That Cross that comes up in the wrong moment:A disease that comes as you have so much to do, and that throws you to the ground all those projects you have. It's yours.That Cross would never have expected:He hit a coward and a traitor who has come from a friend, the phrase that had the snap and the pain of a whip, that slander has left you breathless - it's your Cross.That seems unfair Cruz you: - "This should not ever let me me" - is the cross just for you.That cross you seems excessive, absurd, disproportionate to your weak forces - "too: I can not go!" - Does not belong to others, is yours.-Do not flatter yourself. There is no cross to the measure. To be Cross has to be out of action. Trying to find. Register everywhere. It looks so good.
Rate everything with care and, finally find a cross that you do well Throw it! That certainly is not yours, not yours.Signs to know if yours is a cross are puzzling:Unpredictability, disgust, upset impossibility, irrelevance, a sense of weakness, sense of failure, lack of courage, disappointment ...If you are presented with a cross and disagreeable, unpleasant, too, too harsh, unbearable, do not hesitate to carry it, you own it.Moreover, no matter that is not yours-when you leave and that the upload will be on the way, through a certain familiarity to be established between you and her.Maybe at first you present as if it were strange. Then find that is truly yours.Just taking it you will realize that this Cross is yours.This does not mean, well understood, your relationships between you and the Cross are idyllic, that everything is going well.With the Cross there is apparently nothing that is going well. Deep grooves mark the cross on his back and breaks the heart.But despite everything, will establish a certain familiarity. A familiarity suffered, sustained and cheerful but justified by the sense that it discovers little by little, walking with her towards the Resurrection.And even when the meaning appears clear, there is always the faith that invites you to let you lead by the hand of someone who knows ...You who do not have to know that He knows, even when you're in the dark. "Pray have faith and do not worry."Forward, then with the cross which is not going well.With the cross is not made for you.What counts is that the Cross is made for you.It is essential that you be tailored to Christ.

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I love Santa Cruz put on Mount Calvary
In you my dear Jesus died,
To give me eternal light
And get rid of otherwise.

We adore you O Christ
And we bless
Because by your holy cross
Redeemed the world and to me a sinner. Amen.

Holy Cross
Digna Cruz
Divine Cross
For Jesus who died on You
Away all evil from my

The Holy Cross of Heaven down
And spread over me
And from all harm and danger
The Holy Cross defend me

 

LENT 2012.
 Capuchin Friar Pablo

Keep absolute calm

March 10



 It's good to aspire to the highest Christian perfection, but do not philosophize about her but about our conversion and our progress in the same in daily events, leaving the success of our desire for God's providence and leaving us in their arms father, as does a child, that to grow, eat every day what he prepares his father, hoping that you will not miss the food to the extent of his appetite and his need. [...].
Beware of unscrupulous and concerns of conscience, and have absolute calm in what I said in words, because I told you in our Lord. Stay in God's presence in the media indicated and that you know.
Beware of sadness and concerns, because there is nothing to prevent both walk towards perfection. My son, gently put your heart into the wounds of our Lord, but not by force of arms. Have a great trust in his mercy and goodness, he will never leave you, but do not forget to hug so tightly his holy cross.
(January 20, 1918, Fray Manuel de San Marco La Carola - Letters. IV, p. 419)

Throw off ...

March 9



 Cheer up, my dear son, if you do not have enough gold or incense to offer Jesus, myrrh have at least suffering, and it comforts me to know that he accepts with pleasure, as if this fruit of life he wanted to join the myrrh of their suffering, both at birth and in death. Glorified Jesus is beautiful, but I think it is even more crucified.
Therefore, my child, prefers to be on the cross to stand by it; prefer dying with Jesus in the garden than pity, because what you closer to the divine prototype. In what circumstances can do acts of unbreakable union of your heart and your spirit to the holy will of God, mortification of self and love in your crucifixion, if not in the bland and rigorous assaults that come from our enemies ?
But, my dear son, have not I taught you despojes often all that is not God to clothe our Lord crucified? Now it is God who allows your heart is in the dry and in darkness is thus not a punishment but a gift. Do not be discouraged on the road you're traveling, because everything is pleasing to God, and because your heart wants to be of ever-faithful, he will not put more weight on your shoulders than you can bear, and you take the load until you see gladly bend your back. [...].
Make exercise a particular sweetness and submission to the will of God, not only in the extraordinary things, but in those small daily. These acts make them not only in the morning, during the day and evening, with a calm and joyous spirit, and if you do not happen to you, humble yourself and move on. Rest assured that here is your ruling passion.
(January 20, 1918, Fray Manuel de San Marco La Catola - Letters. IV, p. 419)

A condemned man

March 8

 God, God, I do not, no despair, no love, no, insulting your infinite goodness, but, despite all efforts to rely on, feel me, vivid and clear, the dark picture of your neglect and your rejection.
My God, I trust, but this confidence is full of fears, and it is this that makes me bitter grief.
Oh my God, if I could convince me, though minimally, that this state is not a rejection of you and I did not offend you, be prepared to suffer, and a hundredfold this martyrdom.
My God, my God ... have mercy on me!
Father, help me with your prayers and those of others.How would not feel this bitter grief! I left everything to please God, a thousand times would have given my life to seal my love for him, and now, oh God, what I find bitter experience in the depths of the heart that he is angry with me, and I can not, , find peace in my misfortune. My heart tends irresistibly and with a vengeance to his Lord, but an iron hand always rejects me ... Imagine a poor castaway, clinging to a lifeline, to whom every wave and every gust of wind threatens to drown it.
Or, imagine my state of mind like that of a condemned man, who feels continually beating heart because waiting to be led to death from one moment to another. And this state makes me suffer in the darkest night, when I try harder than ever to find my God.
(20 February 1922, Father Benedict of San Marcos in Lamis Letters. I, p.1263)

Transfiguration

Transfiguration:

Bring your mind and think and contemplate the scene of the Transfiguration. Look to Christ in all his glory and majesty of his divinity, transfigured on Mount Tabor; humbly ask Him to grant you the grace to see and to enjoy supreme and in heaven, but feeling in your soul the consolation of eternal life right now.If anyone would come after me and take up his cross and follow meChrist was transfigured before your disciples to give testimony to the glory that was within him and that he owned before the creation of the world, but also to let what was actually a glimpse of the reality of his personality, divinity. His divinity is that which authenticates as the Son of God, beloved, beloved. The reason for his transfiguration was also to convince the disciples that if they remained faithful to Jesus Christ and his passion, would be filled with the same glory and divinity of the Master.It was somehow the guarantee that Jesus was at the time of bearing the cross, Jesus knew that by leaving between-see the glory of the Father, and was encouraging them to carry the cross, and also encourages us to us. Jesus also wanted them to understand that this life is not all pain, all is not sadness, not all evil, but this life and this world is also steeped in the glory of God and each carry within us the glory and project and we disclose it according to the depth of the relationship we have with God.This leads us to confirm that the life to which God invites us through Jesus Christ tells us: "Whosoever will come after me and take up his cross and follow me" (cf. Lk 9.22 to 25) is a cross not at all bitter or heavy, unbearable, but a sweet cross, marked by gifts of the spirit, this makes soft the yoke and burden light. This enables us to carry it to the summit of Calvary, to the complete surrender of ourselves and to give his life for others.On the other hand, we must meditate on the time when our Saviour made known to the disciples his glory. The weather was just six days after having preached and invited all to carry the cross, making the promise that some would see it in his glory, in his kingdom. This promise being fulfilled almost immediately. Now Peter, James and John are watching the glory of God and wanting to stay there.As to the place we can point out the mountain, a high mountain section, away from distractions. That is a very appropriate and timely for prayer. It was necessary to save in the most intimate secrets of the heart, loved pearls. God usually does not grant these favors to people living in the hustle and bustle of the world but in the solitude of seclusion and separation of the manicured grounds and lifted up to God's grace, taking care to lead a life of evangelical perfection living a full life in the Spirit. Feel like? Up the high hill and see the glory of the Father.

Missionary Capuchin Friar Paul.

The enemy always wants to put its tail, to ruin everything

March 7



 It is true that everything is devoted to Jesus and everything I try to suffer for it. But I can not convince me of this. In fact I am deprived of that light, and this is enough to fill me with fear and terror and believe that I am under the rigors of divine justice. And, in my view, what I confirmed this truth is to see God every day is more exalted in the eyes of my spirit, ever more distant view, and even see that God is going around more and more of dense clouds.
My mind is always fixed on this object, which never leaves my mind, and the more my eyes fixed on him, the more I realize to be hiding in this cloud, which is similar to those vapors that rise from wet when the sun rises.
Moreover, the heavenly Father never stops me share the pain of his only Son, also physically. These pains are so acute that it is not possible or describe or imagine. Also, do not know if it's lack of strength or if there is blame it when, as in this situation, unwittingly, I cry like a child.
It is a tough test for me not knowing if, in that I do, please God or offend him. Many claims have been given me in this connection, but what you want!, Do not have eyes to see. And besides, the enemy always wants to put its tail, to ruin everything. Implying that such claims will not cover all my actions are much less forever.
(March 6, 1917, Fr Benedict of San Marcos in Lamis - Letters. I, p. 872)

Walking to the sky

March 5

 I would like to say many beautiful things, all of Jesus, but I realize that this must be a pious wish, because the forces, which for some days I feel weaken, not let me. But Jesus be blessed! In love I am content with the bare necessities.
Moderate, dear father, I beg, their anxieties in regard to its spirit, because I think it's a waste of time in our journey toward heaven, and what is worse, many of these anxieties, which themselves may be holy, and our fragility and the insistent whip the devil, all of our beautiful actions, allow me the expression, are marred by some lack of confidence in the goodness of God.
It's just a very fine thread that has caught the spirit, but that prevents you from, and significantly, to soar in the ways of perfection and act with holy freedom. It is a serious injury that the soul does to our heavenly Bridegroom, and, therefore, woe is me, the sweet Lord deprives us of many graces just because the door of our heart is not open with holy confidence. The soul, if not decided to leave this state, brings upon himself many punishments.
Not seem exaggerated, dear father, this assertion of mine. Let's bring to mind that huge people of God in the desert for lack of trust very few came to set foot in the promised land. His own boss, I mean Moses, for doubting that hitting rock from which water had to leave to quench thirst of those thirsty people, was severely punished and never set foot in the promised land.
(August 17, 1913, Father Agustin de San Marcos in Lamis - Letters. I, p. 405)

Woe is me, my heart is made for love!

March 4

Listen, my father, the just complaints of our sweet Jesus, "With what ingratitude is paid my love for men! Would be less offended by them if they had loved less. My Father does not want to endure more. I would love to stop but ... (and here Jesus is silent and sighs, and then continues) but, alas!, My heart is made for love! The vile and lazy men make no effort to overcome the temptations or, more seriously, delight in their wickedness. The souls favorite for me, put in the test, I fail; the weak are driven by despair and desperation are strong slowly improving.I leave the church alone at night, only during the day. You do not care about the sacrament of the altar is never spoken of this sacrament of love, and even those who speak of this, alas!, How indifferent, how cold do.My heart is forgotten, no one cares because of my love, I am always distressed. My house has become for many a place of fun, but also for my ministers, I have always looked upon with fondness, that I loved as the apple of my eyes, they should comfort my heart full of bitterness, they should help in the redemption of souls. However, who would believe it?, Of which I received ingratitude and forgetfulness. I see my son, many of them that ... (here was silent, sobs cut off his voice and wept in secret) that, under hypocritical appearances betray me by sacrilegious communions, ignoring the lights and the forces that are continually present ... '.Jesus continued still grieving. Father, how I suffer mourn see Jesus! Have you also seen you?"My son - Jesus continued - I have need of victims to appease God's righteous anger and of my Father, renew me the gift of your whole being, and do not book you nothing."The sacrifice of my life, my father, I have renewed it, and if I feel in me a feeling of sadness, it occurs when contemplating the God of the pain.If possible, try to find souls that are offered to the Lord as victims for sinners. Jesus will help.(March 12, 1913, Father Agustin de San Marcos in Lamis - Letters. I, p. 341)

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Fire that burns, consumes and does not end ...

March 3

 Sometimes I wonder if souls do not feel chest burn with fire divine, especially when facing him in the sacrament. This seems impossible, especially if it is a priest, a monk. Perhaps the souls who claim they do not feel this fire, do not feel it because maybe his heart is bigger. Only with this benign interpretation I can not apply the shameful label of liars.
There are times that I presented to the mind the severity of Jesus, and that's when I suffer bitterly, I start to consider their jokes and this fills me with joy. I can not not leave me this sweetness, this happiness ... What is, my father, what I feel? I have so much trust in Jesus, even if he saw hell open before me and find me on the edge of the abyss, not become suspicious, I do not despair, trust him.
Such is the confidence that inspires me his meekness. When I get to see the great battles against the devil, with God's help, I passed, so many that you can not count them.
Who knows how many times my faith would have hesitated and my hope and charity would have been weakened, if he had reached out to me and my intellect would have been obscured, if Jesus, eternal sunshine, I had not lit!
I also acknowledge that I am entirely the work of his infinite love. Nothing has denied, indeed, I have to say that has given me more than I asked.
(December 3, 1912, Father Agustin de San Marcos in Lamis - Ep. I, p. 316)

Fruits of the meditation of the passion of the Lord

Fruits of meditation on the Passion of Christ

1 °. Contrition for our sinsThere is absolutely nothing more to tell us about the infinite gravity of our sins, the pain they cause to God, of eternal punishment they deserve that, and therefore nothing should move us to mourn with tears of contrition, as contemplation of Christ crucified. The ultimate test of the seriousness of our sins is that God first loved us and gave himself for us to redeem us, to save us, bring us to His Kingdom. Must be very serious, therefore, the sin to cost so dear to our rescue.Immerse yourself frequently in his loving heart and even if yours is hard as a diamond, allow Jesus Christ to soften it with his love and give you the grace of the total abhorrence of all sin.You need to think, reflect and take that "I" and only "I" am the cause of the crucifixion and death passion of my God and Lord. I am who I have killed my Father God, my King, my Redeemer, my best friend. What else do I need to feel sorry for him?I gaze at Mount of Olives, trembling with fear, dread, sadness, anguish, suffering infinite pains and frightful soul and deep agony behold him sweating blood throughout your body, then behold him completely naked, bound to the column and whipped by cruel torturers and those that tear mercilessly virgin and delicate flesh of his most sacred body. We contemplate at last, on Calvary, the cross slope, between two thieves, as if it were a criminal, giving his spirit in the midst of excruciating tortures. After these musings, I ask:Oh My Lord and my God! Who has made these wounds that after passing your hands? Jesus showing his wounds, he answers: Thou art the way I mistreated you, you whom I love and for whom I give my life you correspondes not my love.I believe now and I realize as no reason, and only by ingratitude I have done my Savior all these outrages. My God! How do you deal? If only you loved me until the end. I acknowledge my Lord and my God I only have loved with a love eternal and infinite, I have opened their hearts and arms to hold you lovingly in them, and all the treasures and delights of Heaven and Earth are for you, you belong; I have given all the gifts of nature, grace and virtue getting ready for glory. With all this, "I" My Lord, instead of thanking such sublime favors, whip you, you crown of thorns and nail you on a cross! My God! I do not know what to say, I can only sigh and turn to tears of contrition. Stir until deep in my gut and my heart all that is sinful to let up on your pain.Oh love of my soul! Do not allow yourself again crucify my sin. Let me mourn my sin! Let not find any comfort in this world, my only desire is always to relieve your sufferings, being close to you and be like the cup which is being shed your precious blood. Blood pure, holy I clean, I washed, purified me and deliver me from falling back into the sin of indifference and ingratitude.
2 °. Confidence in the Blood of ChristThe second fruit of meditating on the Passion of our Divine Savior is trust in Him and in His redeeming blood.Lord Jesus, sweet love of my life. Love that sustains me. Now I understand and I assume that I am unable to repay debtor my account as a result of all the sins I have committed and that you oh my God! have forgiven me by your generosity alone. No way will I ever pay you my God I can only offer the most pure blood of the Lamb without spot or wrinkle Immaculate. In my not saying anything other than sin as an infinite offense I have committed against You can not be satisfied but by an infinite person, it was necessary that Jesus Christ was presented as my endorsement and he was the one to pay the debt for me and at what price he has paid! Jesus the Righteous has put up security for me to shed his precious blood and so reach me grace and glory which thou art Father together with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.That is why Jesus Christ has paid my debt in absolute and infinite, beyond all my sins because greater is his mercy and love for me is infinitely more vast than my own sin and of all men. Because I know the Lord Jesus Christ that a single drop of your precious blood has plenty of virtue to erase all my sins. Although justly have deserved hell, a drop of your blood is sufficient to get rid of such torment and recatarme for the glory of the Heavenly Father.Many times the Devil whispers in my ear that my sins, my weaknesses, my infidelity and frequent relapses, as well as my warmth and numbness may have caused you to forget me and leave the fate of eternal punishment. More how can you forget me when you gave your life for my salvation? I've struggled a heavy price: The shedding of your Precious Blood! So the Father can not stop looking at me and love me, because I see through the wounds of your hands, your feet and your side.My God! do not stop looking at me through the wounds of your Son, my Redeemer and Savior, I take refuge in them and I trust in your infinite mercy. May the Precious Blood of your Son Pure look after me, protect me and defend me from the snares of the enemy so I can stand before you, clean, purified by the Holy Blood.3 ° - Imitation of ChristA third result of meditation on the Passion of Christ, is without doubt the imitation. Every soul that truly meditate on the Passion of Christ, he springs from his heart added to your lifestyle to be like HimLord Jesus Christ, Way, Truth and Life have suffered for me and for all humanity to give us an example. So today my Father God before me at the scene of Calvary and the crucifixion, and showing in my mind's eye and heart and says, Look at my dear son whom I love forever, look at the model I propose on this mountain and tries to imitate. Try to always behold at all times. Look at him well and you played in your image.I realize my Father only imitating Him I may be "free", I can enjoy the freedom of the Sons of God, otherwise it is impossible. We need to "Cristificarme" transform "another Christ", like him, because I am part of it. I know I have to complete what is lacking in his Passion.Now I realize that the Passion of Christ can save me if I assume that salvation. One has to accept his love and mercy to truly be saved. It is essential that I dip into the infinite ocean of your Passion. So You Lord Jesus remember me again you do radical invitation to all Christians and all persons, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. That you yourself tell me, my Savior, my Lord and Redeemer, with this invitation that I want to show there is no other way but to follow the road of Santa Cruz.But Lord Jesus how long I have to carry my cross and walk the way of your passion? Every day of my life, I answer. I understand as Lord and my God I'm invited to walk the same path that you've gone for the salvation of mankind. So I know that if I die With you, With you raise. If I Contigo Contigo will be king, for you my Master and my Savior and I have promised.My God! only grant me the grace to love and imitate my Lord Jesus Christ from the Cross Gallows where he has been placed for the love of my love and the salvation of mankind. Amen.

Found a lover

March 2

 My dear father, I would like for a moment to open my heart to show him the wound that has opened lovingly sweet Jesus in my heart. He finally found a lover who has fallen for him so he does not know how to enhance that love.
In this lover you already know. He loves that never gets angry with whom he offends. No number is the number of his goodness, my heart goes with it. This heart acknowledges having absolutely nothing to boast before him. He loved me, wanted preferirme for many creatures.
And when I ask what have I done to deserve so much consolation, he smiles at me and I will repeat that such a great advocate nothing is denied. In return I ask only love, but I owe no gratitude?
Oh if I could, my father, brighten a little, just as he pleases me me! He was so in love with my heart that makes me burn with your fire divine fire of love. What is this fire that completely overwhelms me? My Father, if Jesus makes us so happy on earth, what will be in heaven?
(December 3, 1912, Father Augustine of San Marco in Lamis - Letters. I, p. 316)