SHELTERED BY THE CROSS,
the Lily grows in peace towards Heaven.
Bouasse Lebel, Paris Pl. 1472

9/9/04 – Vol. 6

Continuing in my usual state, I felt disturbed because of the absence of my adorable Jesus. Then, after I struggled very much, He came and told me: “My daughter, as soon as the soul goes out of the depths of peace, she goes out of the divine sphere and finds herself either in the diabolical or in the human sphere. It is peace alone that reveals whether the soul seeks God for God or for herself, whether she operates for God or for creatures. In fact, if she does it for God, the soul is not disturbed; it can be said that the peace of God and the peace of the soul combine together, and the boundaries of peace expand around the soul, in such a way that everything converts into peace, even wars themselves. But if the soul is disturbed, be it even in the holiest things, it shows after all that it was not for God, but for her own self or for some human purpose. Therefore, when you do not feel calm, call yourself a little to see what actually is in there; destroy it, and you will find peace.”

PSALTER OF THE LOVERS OF JESUS
I myself am book for you!
Have confidence; my death gives you life.
…O Mary, teach us to meditate,
to taste this Book Divine. Letaille

***

Today’s Gospel Reading for the Fifth Sunday of Lent is from Hebrews 5:7-9

“Though He (Jesus) was the Son of God, He learned obedience by the things which He suffered” Hebrews 5:8

8/9/04 – Vol. 6
It is not the works that constitute the merit of man, but obedience alone, as a birth from the Divine Will.

After delaying, He (Jesus) came for just a little like a bolt of light, and I was left filled with this light inside and out. I am unable to say what my soul comprehended and experienced within this light; I will only say that, afterwards, blessed Jesus told me: “My daughter, it is not the works that constitute the merit of man, but it is obedience alone that constitutes all merits as a birth from the Divine Will; so much so, that everything I did and suffered in the course of My life – everything was a birth from the Will of the Father. This is why My merits are innumerable – because they are constituted by Divine Obedience. Therefore, I do not look so much at the multiplicity and greatness of the works, but at the connection they have, either directly with Divine Obedience, or indirectly with obedience to one who represents Me.”

…Gives His Life for His Sheep

8/30/28 – Vol. 24

…in Redemption …I spoke to them now as Doctor, offering them the medicines to heal them; now as Father, who awaited their return even if they were unruly children; now as Shepherd, who went in search of the lost sheep; now as Judge who, unable to attract them by means of love, tried to attract them at least by threats and by fear; and many other similes…”

11/6/27 – Vol. 23

…And Jesus added: “My daughter, the cross matured the Kingdom of Redemption, it completed It, and placed itself as the custodian of all the redeemed ones, in such a way that if one lets herself be kept by the cross, she receives within herself the effects that a mature fruit contains, that contains taste, sweetness and vital humor, and makes her feel all the good of Redemption, in such a way that she matures together with the fruit of the cross, and disposes herself to return into the Kingdom of My Will.

“In fact, who has disposed you to live in It? Has it perhaps not been the cross of so many years that matured you like a beautiful fruit, took away from you all the bitter tastes that the earth contains, all the attachments of creatures, and converted them for you into Divine sweetnesses, placing itself as guard, so that nothing might enter into you that would not be holy, that would not give of Heaven? The cross, making all the vital humors flow within you, has done nothing other than form your Jesus in you; and your Jesus, finding you mature, formed the Kingdom of His Divine Will in the depth of your soul. And taking the attitude of Teacher, with all love, I spoke to you about It, and still do; I have taught you Its ways, the life you must conduct in It, the prodigies, the power and the beauty of My Kingdom…”

Today’s Gospel is from Luke 11:14-28
(Jesus Casts out a devil)

From the Hours of the Passion, Our Lord Jesus Christ is suffering on the Cross:

…O my dying Crucified, clinging to the Cross, I feel the Fire that Burns all of Your Most Holy Person. Your Heart beats so strongly that, pushing out Your ribs, it torments You in such a harrowing and horrible way, that all Your Most Holy Humanity undergoes a transformation that renders You unrecognizable. The Love that Enflames Your Heart withers You and Burns You completely; and You, unable to contain it, feel the intense torment, not only of the corporal thirst, but of the shedding of all Your Blood—and even more, of the ardent thirst for the salvation of our souls. You would want to drink us like water, in order to place us all in safety within Yourself; therefore, gathering Your weakened strengths, You cry out, “I thirst.” Ah, You repeat this voice to every heart, “I thirst for your will, for your affections, for your desires, for your love. A water fresher and sweeter than your soul you could not give Me. O please, do not let Me Burn. My thirst is ardent, such that I not only feel My tongue and My throat Burn, to the point that I can no longer utter a Word, but I also feel My Heart and bowels wither. Have pity on My thirst—have pity!” And as though delirious from the great thirst, You abandon Yourself to the Will of the Father.

December 1907 – Vol. 8

As I was in my usual state, I found myself with the thought of when blessed Jesus met His blessed Mother on the way to Calvary; and while I was compassionating both one and the other, sweet Jesus told me: “My daughter, my Mother went out on the day of my Passion only to be able meet and relieve Her Son. In the same way, for a true loving soul, her intention in all of her actions is only that of encountering her beloved, and of relieving Him from the weight of His cross. And since human life is a continuous attitude of actions, both external and internal, the soul does nothing but meet her beloved continuously. And will she just meet Him? No, no; she will greet Him, she will embrace Him. She kisses Him, she consoles Him, she loves Him, be it even with a little word said in passing; and He will be satisfied and content. And since the action always contains a sacrifice, if the action is done to encounter the sacrifice contained in it, it will serve to relieve Me from the weight of my cross. What will be the happiness of this soul who, in her actions, is always in contact with Me? How my Love will grow ever more at each additional encounter she has by means of her acting with Me! But, how few are those who make use of it to find the shortest way in their actions to come to Me, cling to Me, and relieve Me from the many afflictions that creatures give Me!”