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Dec. 11
The longing to be in eternal peace is good, is holy, but must temper it with complete resignation to the will of God. It is best to do the will of God on earth to enjoy in heaven. Suffering and death, was the desire of Saint Theresa. Purgatory is sweet when suffering for love of God.
The tests, to which God subjects and I submit, are all signs of divine favor and jewelry for the soul. Will, my dears, winter and spring come the endless, the richer the more harsh beauties have been storms. The darkness that you are experiencing is a sign of the nearness of God to your souls.
(December 11, 1916, the sisters Ventrella - Letters. III, p. 548)
Dec. 10
Continue, my good sisters and daughters, reminding me the treasure of your prayers, especially at this time when I'm going through a tough test, and be assured that I will continue to want strongly and spiritual health to the body, in addition to that grace you already know.In my poor, yes, but also repeated prayers, I will not forget you or how many I make it I do love you. Jesus and the Blessed Virgin will be worthy to grant eternal glory. With this faith and hope, I wish you all the goods of heaven.Now go to your spiritual needs. These perplexities of mind that are going to experience malignant wiles of the tempter, and God allows them, not because they hate you, but because he loves you. It is reprehensible feeling, but consent. And I encourage you in the sweet Lord to be quiet, as neither offend you in the Lord and that the Lord hides to punish your infidelities, which I declare in the name and in virtue of holy obedience, you are not given in at least made with full knowledge and strong will.
(December 11, 1916, the sisters Ventrella - Letters. III, p. 548)Persons engaged in the "things of God" and the establishment of His Kingdom, co often suffer from the attacks of the enemy for the good they do in God's Name. The frustrations, pain, suffering, misunderstanding and loneliness are eaten every day for the chosen souls. How valuable is the soul that aspires to perfection and that force of the blow of the hammer on the sincel is being left increasingly to sculpt the likeness of the Master, Lord and Sovereign God. He himself is the architect and sculptor of his magnificent work that we are each and every one of those who are left modeling, mold, pet and love for Him, even at the cost of pain and suffering with the full assurance that He will be our joy and fulfillment. So always pray and not lose heart for whom He has chosen as heralds, prophets, peacemakers and sanctifying his people. We all need your prayers.
Dec. 7
Remember, my brave daughter, that God can reject everything in a creature conceived in sin and bearing the indelible imprint inherited from Adam, but in no way can reject the sincere desire to love. So if for other reasons can not be sure of heavenly mercy to you, and do not want to believe me that I speak in the Lord, you should at least be safe for that reason.
In conclusion, you can and should be calm and happy. Believe me that I speak on behalf of God. Take away those fears, those shadows away with the demon is obscuring your soul to haunt you in and out, if possible, of frequent communion and the way of perfection.
I know the Lord allows these assaults the enemy, because his mercy makes you welcome him and wish him asemejes you in the throes of the desert, the garden and the cross, but you must defend yourself away and neglecting their malignant insinuations. Have I explained? Courage, then, and always forward. Fight as brave and have the prize of strong souls.
(December 6, 1916, Herminia Gargani - Letters. III, p. 659)
December 6Go ahead and convince yourself that God is pleased with you and that you found in your peaceful abode. Do not expect to Tabor to see God as you contemplate, without you noticing, in Sinai. I think yours is not disturbed and unable inner like the good, cause they can desire no more than the highest good in itself and not in their gifts. The reflections of the mind, involuntary distractions, temptations, etc.., Are products offered by the enemy, but, because they are rejected by you, in them there is nothing wrong. When the devil gets noise is good sign, is a sign that he wants your will and therefore that it is outside. What should frighten you, my dear sister and daughter, is their peace and harmony with the human soul.In periods of aridity of spirit, be humble, patient and resigned to the divine will, and do not neglect anything you used to do in times of spiritual joy, because true love is not experience many comforts to serve God, but a will always ready to do whatever God wants to send us to our spiritual growth and His glory.Always create all this, and do not mind the effort and believe with suffering of the soul, without you see the reasons for it. Also believed suffering martyrs. The more beautiful the Creed pronounced making the sacrifice and violence.
(December 6, 1916, Herminia Gargani - Letters. III, p. 659)
December 5
Not abandoned but love that shows you the sweetest Jesus. In no way is it true that you, in this state of dryness and desolation of spirit that made you the most loving Savior, offend God, because his grace guard you very well preserved for such offenses.
Therefore, if, as is true not offend God and, conversely, what you love in this situation dear to him, what made you to distress?, Why do you have to grieve? Resumes, then you rise to the cross, lie about it and be patient with yourself, because your patience - he says the divine Teacher - save your soul. And this situation will be more durable is the less mixed with worries and concerns.
(December 6, 1916, Herminia Gargani - Letters. III, p. 659)
December 4
With repeated blows of sharp chisel and work diligently to polish them, usually the divine artist preparing the stones must enter the building eternal. So the Church sings the anthem of the office of the dedication of a church, and so indeed. In the long and varied test yours by choosing your state of life, the Lord, in his infinite goodness, adds the spiritual fear and trembling, with a complement of desolation.
Thank him, then, to treat you like a choice to follow Jesus closely in the ascent to Calvary. I contemplate with joy and excitement of spirit thus act of grace on thee, dearest daughter of my heart. If you do not look so shaken, not be so happy because you would see that the Lord gives less jewelry. That is why I, who strongly desire holy charity with your progress and joy and I am increasingly thinking of this situation.
(December 6, 1916, Herminia Gargani - Letters. III, p. 659)
December 3
St. Augustine said it well: "May our heart is restless until it rests on the object of his love."
But you know very well that perfect love is reached when you own the object of this love, but the object of this love only possess when, not through veils, but face to face, as St. Paul says, the soul see how it is, when you know how we know ourselves, and this can not be achieved but when opening the doors of our prison.
From this you can deduce the great suffering which should mean the soul that God has found some of its treasures in heaven, be still on the road, in the land of exile.
(April 4, 1915, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 403)
Nov. 30
Remember that peace of mind can be maintained in the midst of the many storms of this life, you know very well that is essentially in harmony with our neighbors, wishing you all well, which is also in friendship with God through sanctifying grace , and the test of being united to God is the moral certainty that we do not have mortal sin that weighs upon your soul. In short, peace is to have gotten the victory over the world, and the devil's own passions.
So, tell me, is it not true that this peace brought by Jesus can keep well, not only when our spirit is in abundance of consolations, but when the heart is immersed in bitterness because of the grunts and screams of enemy?
(October 10, 1914, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 185)
Nov. 29
Avivemos above all our faith and we present the resounding victory that speak the sacred letters, which got the people of Israel on the Midianites. At the heart of the night, it reads, while the immense throng enemy, leaving the trenches, and encamped in the plain, without suspecting it, was quietly surrounded by only three hundred warriors of Gideon, all with the trumpet in one hand and in the other a pitcher containing inside a burning torch. The signal from the captain, loudly break the pitchers, is sounded the trumpets and, after each touch, hear the battle cry: "The Lord and Gideon."Given the tremendous shouts, the sound of trumpets, the immense glare of torches, a huge horror invaded the enemy camp, and everyone began to run rashly, still half asleep, while the trumpets kept its mournful sound, and enemies, in the indescribable confusion of the hurried flight, many killed each other, leaving corpses in the field in droves.This victory secured the Israelite people, as we have seen, not with arms, but with a particular war strategy.Well, we too, while we live, we must sustain a pretty tough fight. Overpowering this war with that singular strategy used by Gideon. Let's make this fight go ahead in light of good works, the virtue of the knowledge of God, the burning desire of the word of God. Then we also fight them to the sound of hymns, psalms and spiritual songs, singing and raising strong voice to the Lord, and so we will achieve victory worthy of our Lord Jesus, to whom is the glory and the power for ever.
(October 14, 1915, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 514)
Nov. 27
I say that because of your spirit drowsy, distracted, fickle, miserabilísimo, which often bind physical discomfort, you do not get to stay in the church more than an hour and a half. Do not worry about this, just give them the opportunity to avoid them, striving to overcome any discomfort and boredom all, and not tire your spirit proudly with very long and continuous prayers, when the spirit and not the head for it.
Meanwhile, attempts throughout the day to be alone, as you can and, in the silence of your heart and loneliness, offers praise your Father in heaven, your blessings, your contrite heart and your whole person . And so, while most of the creatures, creatures made in his image, forget the kindness of the divine Spouse, we, with such withdrawals and such practices, we have always near.
(September 19, 1914, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 174)
Nov. 26
Not all are called by God to save souls and spread his glory through the high apostolate of preaching, and you must know that this is not the one and only means to achieve these two great ideals. The soul can spread the glory of God and work for the salvation of souls by a truly Christian life, constantly praying to the Lord that "His kingdom come," his most holy name "be holy," that "we do not drop into the temptation "that" deliver us from evil. "
This is what you should do well, fully and continuously offering to the Lord for this purpose. Pray for the wicked, pray for the lukewarm, pray also for the earnest, and pray in a special way by the Supreme Pontiff, by all spiritual and temporal needs of the Holy Church, our very loving mother, and raises a special prayer for all those who work for the salvation of souls and for the glory of God in missions, so many people unfaithful and incredulous.
(April 11, 1914, to Raffaelina Cerase - Ep. II, p 68.)
Nov. 17
I know you will not be convinced that you will not see clear, you will not experience the comfort of this great truth, during this test, but due to indications of who God loves your soul like yours and just loves. "I wish - I repeat the words God said one day to the holy virgin Gertrude - want to be convinced my chosen this truth: that I like much your prayers and good works when I serve at the expense of their own suffering. Serve at the expense of own means suffering, not feeling any joy delicious satisfaction, are faithfully performing their prayers and devotions in the best way, and hope that I willingly accept all of my goodness. "Then the Lord added these significant words: "Know, Gertrude, that most pious people are such that, if I gave satisfaction and spiritual consolation, they do not serve for salvation and, far from increasing its merits, the lost. "
And this, unfortunately, yes, I can prove it by the long experience of a soul very close to me. So, my daughter, live in peace, that there will come a day when the Lord, you, too, you will know the truth of what you are told, or rather, it will give you convince yourself, because you manage to know that tells you the truth, because nobody wants to deceive, but you fail to convince.
(March 30, 1917, to Mary Gargani - Epistolary. III, p. 269)
Nov. 16
Be assured that your present situation is not imposed by God as punishment but for purification of your spirit, to prepare for higher communication. Believe me when I tell you that your situation is not at all deplorable, but worthy of envy. Leave act freely to this divine physician, and estate will sure everything for the glory of God and for your sanctification. As for fears of offending God and not knowing what to do to please him, I pray and I beg you moderate your anxieties. Create the assertions of authority, that tells you that by God, in whatever way you act, if not with full clarity discover that your actions are contrary to God's law and the mandates of legitimate authority, Jesus is always happy with you, provided that such acts be directed to the glory of God.
With this safe standard of conduct must act without question, must continue to act without hearing the voices of your fears. Look, my good daughter, I use the word listen, that is, to ignore, attention, etc.. I'm not saying feel them, because it is impossible not to feel them, but they should not be ignoring. Go ahead with this course of action, as if to ignore the barking of a dog that lies along the street. These small, empty and untimely certainly heard barking, but far from giving importance, one laughs at them and just.
(March 30, 1917, to Mary Gargani - Letters. III, p. 269)
Nov. 14
What you should do now that Jesus for His goodness wants to test your loyalty is always solicitous to show compliance with your homework and do not neglect anything you usually practice in times of comfort and prosperity, without stopping to think sensitive taste do not feel, as this is something accidental, which often can also be harmful to the soul. Serving God without testing it on some comfort sensitive part is what constitutes substantial and true devotion. This is what it means to serve God and love for love itself.
Until the soul comes to acquire this substantial devotion, your situation is very dangerous and needs to proceed with great discretion and foresight.
(July 14, 1914, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 126)
Nov. 13
Always keep the eyes of the mind, as a prototype and model, the modesty of the divine Master; modesty of Jesus Christ that the apostle, in words to the Corinthians, placed flush with meekness, that was one of his most cherished virtues and almost his characteristic virtue: "I, Paul, I urge you by the meekness and modesty of Christ," and, in light of a model so perfect, reform all your external actions, which are manifesting faithful mirror inclinations within.
Never forget, oh Anita, this divine model, imagine you contemplate some kind majesty in his presence; certain pleasant authority in his talk, some nice composure in his walk, in his look, in speech, in his talk, some sweet serenity in the face, imagine the face of that face so calm and so sweet that drew the crowds to him, took them out of the cities and towns, taking them to the mountains, forests, into the wilderness, and deserted beaches sea, forgetting even to eat, drink and domestic obligations.
Yes, let us try to copy us, as we can, such modest actions, as decent, and endeavor, as far as possible, to become like him at the time, later to be more perfect and more like Him for all eternity in the heavenly Jerusalem.
(July 25, 1915, to Anita Rodote - Ep. III, p. 86)
Nov. 12
In order to reach our ultimate goal must follow the divine Head, who does not usually lead to soul chosen by different way he walked, for the one, I say, self-denial and the cross: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. "Are not you lucky to call you and see you treated by Jesus? Fool who can not penetrate the secret of the cross.
To reach the port of salvation, the Holy Spirit tells us, the souls of the elect must pass and purified in the fire of painful humiliations, such as gold and silver in the pot, and thus saves the atonement of the afterlife: "in suffering stand firm, and setbacks of your humiliation be patient. Because the fire purifies gold and silver, and men acceptable to God, in the way of humiliation. "
Jesus wants us holy at all costs, but most of all wants to sanctify you. He'll continually being manifested, seems to have no other concern at hand to sanctify your soul.Oh, how good is Jesus! The crosses continued to submit you, giving you the strength not only necessary but abundantly, to support them with merit, are very certain and particularísimos signs of his deep love for you. The strength that he gives you, believe me, is not barren of you, I assure you from God and you must listen humbly aside any feelings you otherwise.
(August 15, 1914, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 153)
Nov. 9
It's a terrible crisis they go through, and do not know what you're booked. The crisis we go through is more spiritual than physical, but it is also true that all physical and participates feels extraordinary of all suffering from that, and that both documents together to make me wither in pain.
Woe is me, who will save me from this dark prison?, Who will deliver me from this body of death? But living God in the highest heaven! He is my strength, he is the salvation of my soul, he is my portion forever. In it I hope and trust it will fear no evil.
(July 14, 1915, to Raffaelina Cerase - Ep. II, p. 462)
November 6
Ponte frequently in the presence of God and give him all your actions, not just your sufferings. I'm not opposed to that, in the sufferings, you refrain from whining, but I wish you did with the Lord, with filial spirit, as would a tender child with his mother and, provided it is done lovingly, not ill regret or ask to be released from suffering. Do it with love and resignation in the arms of God. Do not worry if you can not do the acts of virtue as you would, because, as I said, they are still good and pleasing to the Divine Majesty, even if they are made, not your fault, coldly, heavily and almost by force.
(June 3, 1917, at an unknown target - Letters. III, p. 918)
November 5
What is distressing to think that one must give account to God for the sins that others have committed because of a spiritual direction and watchful of good practice that have stopped by my ignorance and - God forbid - for my negligence! ... It is true that I have always entrusted to God in this important ministry, but who assures me that I have done all I had to do? My God, this, my daughter, is a thorn still stuck always being there, in the depths of my soul, I am continually punctured!Ah, daughter, pray much for the successful performance of my ministry and if the good Lord allows it, tell me a word that I guarantee.
(April 9, 1918, to Mary Gargani - Letters. III, p. 312)
November 2
Let us go, my dear children, never tiring to go up the celestial vision of the Savior; let us leave stepper earthly ties, throw off the old man and put on the new man, and aspire to happiness, we are ready.
Before ending this letter, I ask you to pray to Jesus for me much, to grant me submit to his will, expressed by my superior, and serve faithfully and honestly.
I want, and you do not not know, dying and loving God or death or love, because life without this love is worse than death. My daughters, help me! I die and agonize at every moment. Everything seems like a dream and do not know where I move.My God! When it came time for me to sing, "This, O God, is my rest for ever."
(October 31, 1916, at Assumption di Tomaso and other - Ep. III, p. 404)
