Our Lady of America Newsletter, March 3, 2014

Feast of Saint Katharine Drexel (Last Newsletter)

Thank you for your continued prayers!

The Trial in McCarthy -vs- Fuller continues, although the Defendant has completed her presentation. (See the last newsletter) It is urgent that daily prayers continue, at least for the next few days(first January newsletter). Today, Larry Young, a Counterclaim Defendant, is expected to present his case, followed by a short rebuttal by the Plaintiffs. By the Grace of The Trinity, the case could proceed to Closing Arguments tomorrow or the next day and then be given to Jury for consideration of final verdicts. Please continue to pray that Jesus Who is Truth Himself present in the human nature of all involved will reign and that the Jury will see clearly the Light of Christ in making judgments on each verdict.

Please continue to pray the prayer program (original January 3rd) at least until March 8, 2014,

“By Your Holy and Immaculate Conception, O Mary, deliver us from evil.”

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The Anniversary of Luisa Piccarreta’s Passage into Heaven

click here for more on Luisa’s Passage into Heaven

March 4, 1947

Luisa in the serenity of sister death

click image for a Collection of Memories of the Servant of God, Luisa Piccarreta

by Padre Bernardino Bucci

The Holy Death of Luisa Piccarreta

At the news of Luisa’s death which occurred on March 4,1947, it seemed that the people of Corato paused to live a unique and extraordinary event. Their Luisa, their Saint, was no more. And like a river in full spate they poured into Luisa’s house to look at her and express their affection to her, for so many years esteemed and beloved by all. On the day of her funeral official mourning was declared in the town. Luisa’s body remained exposed for public veneration (with the permission of the health service’s doctor) to satisfy the thousands of people of Corato and the surrounding area who poured into the house day and night. It was necessary to have recourse to the police to control the flow of people. Everyone was under the impression that Luisa had fallen asleep and was not dead. In fact, her body, laid on the bed, did not undergo rigor mortis. It was possible to raise her hands, move her head in all directions, bend her fingers without forcing them, and raise and bend her arms. Her eyelids could be lifted and one could see her shining eyes, undimmed by death: everyone – strangers, priests, ecclesiastical and civil figures – wanted to see this unique and marvelous case. A great many skeptics left the mortuary chamber shocked, crying and renewed. Luisa seemed alive, as if a placid and serene sleep had stopped her for an instant. Everyone was convinced that she wasn’t dead, and some said: “Call the bishop and you will see that by making the sign of the cross he will awaken her; isn’t Luisa a daughter of obedience?“. This hope expressed the love they all felt for the Servant of God. But a council of doctors, summoned by the religious, civil and health authorities, declared after a careful examination that beloved Luisa really was dead. As long as she remained exposed for public veneration, she gave no sign of corruption nor did her body emanate any odors of putrefaction. Like a queen, she remained sitting on her bed. It proved impossible to lay her out, so that a special “p” shaped coffin had to be built for her, the front and sides of glass so that everyone could see her for the last time. Luisa the Saint, who for about 70 years had always remained sitting up in bed without ever leaving her room, passed among the immense lines of people, borne on the shoulders of a numerous group of sisters of all orders and surrounded by an unspecified number of priests and religious. Her funeral was celebrated by the entire chapter in the main church, with the participation of all the confraternities of Corato…I visited Luisa’s body several times during the four days that she remained exposed, touching her several times and taking some of the flowers that were constantly placed upon her feet and legs, which I have guarded jealously for many years among my books. Many were given to the sick who were healed when they touched them and were able to attend her funeral. As the coffin passed, the bed-ridden were carried to the doors of their houses and many, it was said, received special graces. Luisa was buried in the Calvi family chapel. On July 3, 1963, her mortal remains were returned to Corato, to rest permanently in the parish Church of Santa Maria Greca.

The special coffin, designed with front and side windows

All the townspeople of Corato bid their last farewell to Luisa “the Saint”. The Sisters of the Divine Zeal surround the coffin

LAST WORDS OF LUISA PICCARRETA

March 4, 1947

“Now I die with greater contentment, because the Divine Will has consoled me more than usual with Its presence in these last few moments of my life.

“Now I see a long, beautiful and spacious road, all illuminated by an infinite number of resplendent suns – Oh, yes, I recognize them! They are all my acts done in the Divine Will!

“This is the road that I must now take; it is the road that the Divine Will has prepared for me. It’s the road of my victory: it’s the way of my glory, which will unite me with the immense happiness of the Divine Will.

“It’s my road; it’s the road that I have prepared for you. It’s the road that I will keep reserved for all the souls who will ever want to live in the Divine Will.”

PRAYERS OF THE BISHOPS OF UKRAINE

PATRIARCH SVIATOSLAV: “The role of the church is consistent. During the last
three months, the church, especially the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church,
was with its people. And it will continue to remain with its people. If, God
forbid, we will have to stand together on the battlefield with our soldiers,
with our army, the Ukrainian Church, especially the UGCC, is ready to
provide pastoral support.

Every citizen of Ukraine must be prepared to defend his or her independent
and sovereign state. The church has always sought to defend peace. The
church at all costs tried to prevent bloodshed. Unfortunately, there are
already victims in Ukraine, and bloodshed was not prevented. We will
continue to use every opportunity to relieve tension in society and avoid
casualties”.

THE GUARDIAN: Ukrainian and Russian troops in standoff at Crimean military
base – live updates

STATEMENT: COUNCIL OF BISHOPS OF THE UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA

WILL HISTORY BE REPEATED IN UKRAINE? THE PRAYERS OF ALL ARE NECESSARY

As the world was being lured by years of careful calculation, preparation
and machination, all leading up to the Winter Olympics In Sochi, Russia,
into a comfortable belief – or perhaps a desired belief – that the great
bear had finally been domesticated, the people of Ukraine sat outdoors on
cold cobble-stoned streets in Kyiv’s Independence Square – the Maidan –
ready to give their lives in order to be rid of yet another corrupt leader
and to finally breathe the ever fresh air of freedom and of a lifestyle that
enables them to grow and be productive citizens of their nation. For a brief
few days it seemed to be a dream come true when that leader suddenly packed
up and left town and those who had supported him abandoned him. Those who
remained and who had supported the Maidan were suddenly the majority in the
Verkovna Rada – The Ukrainian Parliament – acting with solidarity in the
name of Ukraine first.

Then suddenly, the mask was dropped. Without the slightest provocation or
act of aggression against any Russian speaking citizen of the Crimean
Peninsula or of any other region of the independent nation of Ukraine, the
bear’s claws and fangs were no longer restrained and its military troops
invaded Ukraine. No longer was there any attempt to “improve the image” of
the bear. It would no longer remain in its domesticated realm. Is it once
again setting out to recreate the lost empire? Will this doctrine of
protecting its citizens in Ukraine expand to other nations – even those
never part of the former empire? Regardless of the answers to these
questions, once again our beloved ancestral homeland – Ukraine – is under
threat of suppression and repression.

The world watches. The world says “Stop!” The world says “Go home!” The
world says “Ukraine has the right to self-determination”! In reality,
however, what can simple words accomplish? Will the world find the courage
to do more than pronounce warnings? Will the world, this time, ensure that
Ukraine and her people will not again be subject to a new form of genocide?
Or will the world once again ultimately abandon what it considers a futile
effort to force the bear back into its own domain and simply turn a blind
eye and a deaf ear to the situation? Words are simply words, with no
inherent authority or power. It is what stands behind – and before – those
words that matters. No one envisions a military force entering Ukraine from
the West. This would only inflict more unnecessary damage upon the people of
Ukraine – remember the last armies that came from the West who the poor
Ukrainian people at first thought to be liberators? No, military force will
not accomplish the necessary end. The words of modern diplomacy must be
backed up with effective economic, political and social actions and
sanctions, which will convince the invaders that its efforts are futile and
counterproductive for its own welfare and the welfare of the people subject
to it.

All our lives we have studied the history of our Ukrainian nation and
throughout our ministry we have held in our arms the victims of the bear’s
aggression, the survivors of the suppression, repression, family separation,
gulags, torture, Holodomor – death by starvation – looking into their eyes
as they remember the millions of their own family members lost “for the good
of the empire”. We witnessed the joy in their faces as they thanked God for
the freedom of their nation – their whole, united nation – before
independence and over the past 24 years since the referendum on independence
passed overwhelmingly throughout all the nation. As the result of this, in
the face of threats to that independence, that we must make demands of our
political leaders, here in the United States of America and throughout the
world for immediate strong, effective and honorable action before it is too
late – once again. We urge all our clergy, faithful and parish communities
to be in contact with our President, Congressional Representatives and
Senators, our state Governors and Legislators to stand firm in support of
Ukraine and her beloved people!

We remain in solidarity with our Orthodox, Catholic and other Faith leaders
in Ukraine who have proved their devotion to their flocks in their steadfast
prayer and ministry to those who sat on the cold cobble-stoned Maidan. We
have personally delivered material support to the hospitals caring for the
injured and the families of those murdered. Today, however, we call upon all
our brother Hierarchs of Orthodox Churches throughout the world to utilize
their God-give authority, including those in Russia itself, to call for the
cessation of the attack of Orthodox brothers against their own in the Faith!
We call upon Christians of other denominations and adherents of all
religious Faiths around the world to urge their followers to speak up and
help to avoid a cataclysm for a nation that has endured far more such
cataclysms than it should have been able to endure. But, endure it did! Only
by the Grace of God was Ukraine reborn over these 24 years – in spite of
weak and fractured leadership at all levels – political social,
ecclesiastical and more. The time has come to allow her to blossom, as she
has begun to – without being a threat to any of her neighbors and without
abandoning millennium old international relationships.

Ukraine and her people were for a significant and vital period of time, the
very epicenter of world Orthodoxy. She and her people have proven themselves
by their incredible faith in our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ. She
has submitted herself to hope in Holy Trinity and to the Protection of the
Mother of God. We, as the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the
United States of America, beg for the sincere and endless prayers of all who
read these words or hear them spoken. We especially appeal to those monastic
communities around the world, who pray continuously for mankind to place
Ukraine and her people in their hearts and minds during all their prayers.

May God in the Holy Trinity and the beloved Mother of God, the Ever-Virgin
Mary, and all the Saints and Martyrs of Ukraine hear our prayers and protect
our God-loving Nation of Ukraine and grant her peace and the knowledge of
Truth and Love at all times.

PRAYER FOR UKRAINE:

Let us Pray to the Lord – Lord, Have Mercy! Господу помолимось – Господи,
помилуй!

Almighty Father, You said that when two or three are gathered in your name –
you would be among them. Remembering Your words and having received the land
of Ukraine for our heritage; We ask you today to prove us mindful of this
great blessing. Bless our ancestral homeland Ukraine and these United States
with honorable works, sound learning, and good manners. Save us from
violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance. Defend liberty
which is an expression of your Divine Will. During this time of difficulty
throughout our ancestral homeland Ukraine fill our hearts with gratitude,
and grant the people of Ukraine, and all of us the grace to continue to
trust in You and Your mercy as we did in previous days of trouble. We ask
this for we know that you are a gracious and loving God in whom we are
blessed through the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, always now and
ever and to the ages of ages. AMEN.

BOOK OF HEAVEN

3/4/18 – Vol. 12

Firmness Produces Heroism.

Continuing in my usual state, I was lamenting to Jesus about my poor state, and He told me: “My daughter (Luisa), Courage, do not move in anything. Firmness is the Greatest Virtue. Firmness Produces Heroism, and it is almost impossible for one not to be a great saint. Rather, as she keeps repeating her acts, she forms two bars – one to the right, and the other to the left – which serve her as support and defense; and as she reiterates her acts, a Fount forms in her, of New and Increasing Love. Firmness Strengthens Grace, placing on it the Seal of Final Perseverance. Your Jesus does not fear that His Graces may remain without Effects, and therefore I pour them in torrents over a constant soul. There is not very much to expect from a soul who works today, and tomorrow does not – who now does some Good, and now some other. She will not have any support, and will be bounced now to one point, now to another. She will die of starvation, because she will not have the Fount of Firmness, which makes Love Arise. Grace fears to pour Itself, because she will abuse it, and use it to offend Me.”

http://bookofheaven.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Sublimeness-of-the-State-of-Adam.pdf

FROM THE BOOK OF HEAVEN

3/2/31 – Vol. 29

How offering the sacrifice of the Saints doubles the Glory.  The Divine Will has the Resurrective Virtue.  One who does the Divine Will Acquires the Rights to the Divine Goods.

I was continuing my acts in the Divine Will, and I kept offering the sacrifices that the Saints of the Old Testament did, those of my Celestial Mama, all the sacrifices of my Beloved Jesus, and so on with all the rest.  The Divine Will placed them all in order for me, before my mind, and I kept offering them as the most beautiful Homage to my Creator.  But while I was doing this, my sweet Jesus, moving in my interior, told me:  “My daughter (Luisa), there is not one thing suffered and done by all the Saints of the history of the world, in which My Will has not had Its Part, making Itself Actor and Concurrent with Strength, with Help, with Support for that sacrifice or work that they did.  Now, the soul, by offering them to God as Homage of Glory, calls back the memory of that sacrifice and work, and My Divine Will recognizes what, from Its Own, It placed in those acts, and It gives the Virtue of doubling the Glory of that sacrifice, for God and for the one who had the Good of sacrificing and operating in order to Fulfill My Divine Will.  True Good never ceases, either in Heaven or on earth; it is enough for a creature to remember it and offer it, that the Glory in Heaven is Renewed and the Effects of that Good descend upon earth for the Good of creatures.  Therefore, the Life of True Good is not subject to dying.  In fact, who is the Life of My Church?  Who nourishes Her and Acts as Her Teacher, if not the brief course of My Life down here?  I can say that they are My Pains that sustain Her, they are My Doctrines that instruct Her, they are the Sacraments that Nourish Her.  So, all the Good that I did did not die, but remained with the Fullness of Life—and Life that Vivifies, Preserves, Nourishes and Grows continuously, and gives Itself to whoever wants it.  And as the creature remembers, she already places herself in relationship with My Goods; and as she keeps offering them, they redouble, to give themselves to her; and I feel the Glory of what I did for Love of creatures being redoubled.  More so, since one who Operates in My Divine Will acquires the Resurrective Virtue.  As the soul keeps doing her acts, her offerings in It, My Fiat runs to place in them the Seed of Light; and Its Light Possesses the Virtue of Rising in each instant and act.  It seems like the sun, that rises for each little plant, for each flower.  In fact, it does not give the same thing to all; as if it were rising for each one, it gives one effect to the little plant, one color to the flower—and colors distinct one from the other.  Such are the Acts done in My Divine Will; they expose themselves to the Rays of My Divine Sun, and receive from It the Seed of Light, that makes Rise in each act of creature such Varieties of Beauties and Distinct Colors—and one act calls for another to rise.  So, (Luisa) one who Lives in My Will, with the Resurrective Seed of My Light, gives Me always New Things, and she is always in act of rising again continuously in the Love, in the Glory and in the very Life of her Creator.”

Then, I continued my acts in the Divine Will; I wanted to embrace everything in order to place in each created thing my adoration, my love, my gratitude to He who had loved me so much and had created so many things for love of me.  And my sweet Jesus added:  “Good daughter (Luisa), for (Luisa) one who Lives in My Divine Will and Operates in It, the Love of My Fiat is so great in seeing the littleness of the creature going around in all Created things to place in them her little acts, to say that she not only loves this Divine Will, but wants to recognize all Its Acts as many Pledges of Love.  Love makes more Love Arise, and My Will gives the Rights to the soul in the Divine Goods.  So, each act that the creature does is a Right that she Acquires in the Properties of her Creator.  It happens that, by Right, she feels herself being Loved by the Supreme Being, because she has placed her love in the Eternal Love and has Acquired the Right to be Loved.  The love of the creature and the Divine Love have fused together and, on both sides, they feel the Right to Love each other.  By Right she enjoys the light of the sun; by Right she breathes the air, drinks the water, feeds herself with the fruits of the earth; and so with all the rest.  And, oh! the great difference of one who takes, with Rights, the Divine Goods.  This one can be called daughter, while the others can be called servants; and the creature with these Rights gives Us the Love of Our child, Love of disinterest, Love that says True Love.  Therefore, Live always in My Will, that you may feel within yourself, and enjoy, all the Love of the Divine Paternity.”

FROM THE BOOK OF HEAVEN

3/1/22 – Vol. 14

Jesus is Chained by the soul who does His Will, and the soul by Him.

I was very afflicted because of the privation of my sweet Jesus. Then, after much hardship, He came, and from His wounds He made His Blood flow over my breast and around my neck. As those drops of Blood fell upon me, many brightest Rubies were formed, which formed the Most Beautiful Ornament. Jesus looked at me and told me: “My daughter (Luisa), how well does the necklace of My Blood suit you – how it Embellishes you! Look – you yourself, look how Beautiful It makes you appear!”

And I, a little huffy because He had made me wait for so long before coming, told Him: ‘My Love and my Life – oh, how I would Love one of Your Arms clasped around my neck as necklace. This, yes, would delight me, because I would feel Life and I would cling to it so tightly that I would let You escape no more. Your things are Beautiful, it is true, but as You detach them from Yourself, I do not find You – I do not find the Life; and in spite of Your Things, my heart raves, agonizes, bleeds with pain, because You are not with me. Ah! If You knew in what torture You put me when You do not come, You would be very careful not to keep me waiting for so long.’

And Jesus, all moved, surrounded my neck with His Arm, and taking my hand in His, added: “I know, I know how much you (Luisa) suffer; and to make you content – here is My Arm around your neck as necklace. Aren’t you Happy now? Know that I cannot do without making content one who does My Will, because as she breathes, she forms the air of My Volition around Me, in such a way that she not only surrounds My Neck, but My whole Life. I remain as though chained and hampered by the soul within the very Strength of My Will. But this is far from displeasing to Me; on the contrary, because of the Great Contentment I feel, I hamper and chain her. If you (Luisa) cannot be without Me, it is because of My Chains, My Shackles, which hold you so tightly that one moment without Me is enough to give you a Martyrdom of the most painful – there is nothing that equals it. Poor daughter, poor daughter (Luisa), you are right. I will take everything into account, but I do not leave you; rather, I enclose Myself in you in order to enjoy the Air of My Volition, which you yourself form for Me. In fact, the Air of My Divine Will is your heartbeat, your thought, your desire, your motion; and in this Air I will find My Support, My Defense, and the Most Beautiful Rest upon your breast.”

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF ALL NATIONS

Our Lady Mediatrix of All Graces

From:  https://www.motherofallpeoples.com/mediatrix-of-all-graces

On Calvary, Mary is given as the Spiritual Mother to all “beloved disciples,” represented by John, and to all humanity. As John Paul II explained, “Mediatrix” is implicit in the title Mother:

We recall that Mary’s mediation is essentially defined by her divine motherhood. Recognition of her role as mediatrix is moreover implicit in the expression “our Mother,” which presents the doctrine of Marian mediation by putting the accent on her motherhood. Lastly, the title “Mother in the order of grace” explains that the Blessed Virgin co-operates with Christ in humanity’s spiritual rebirth. (3)

Intrinsic to her role as Spiritual Mother is her function as Mediatrix of graces, in which she nurtures and nourishes her spiritual children in the order of grace.

This role of Mary as “Mediatrix,” or secondary and subordinate mediator with Jesus, also has a strong foundation in the apostolic tradition as manifested, for example, in this fourth century profession by St. Ephraem (d.373): “After the Mediator, you (Mary) are the Mediatrix of the whole world.” (4)

FROM THE BOOK OF HEAVEN

2/28/99 – Vol. 2

By order of the confessor I begin to write what passes between me and Our Lord, day by day. Year 1899, month of February, day 28.

I confess the truth, I feel great repugnance; the effort I have to make in order to conquer myself is so great that the Lord alone can know the torture of my soul. But, oh holy obedience, what a powerful bond you are! You alone could win over me, and surpassing all my repugnance, almost impassable mountains, you bind me to the Will of God and of the confessor. But, please, O Holy Spouse, as great as my sacrifice is, so much help do I need; I want nothing but that You hold me in your arms and sustain me. In this way, assisted by You, I will be able to say only the truth, only for your glory, and to my confusion.

This morning, since the confessor celebrated Mass, I also received Communion. My mind was in a sea of confusion because of this obedience that the confessor gave me, to write everything that passes in my interior. As I received Jesus, I began to tell Him of my pains, especially my insufficiency, and many other things. But Jesus did not seem to care about this thing of mine, and did not answer to anything. A Light came to my mind, and I said: ‘Who knows whether I myself am the cause for which Jesus is not showing Himself as usual.’ So, with all my heart, I said to Him: ‘O please! My Good and my All, don’t show Yourself so indifferent with me – You make my heart split with pain. If it is because of the writing – let it be, let it be, even if it cost me the sacrifice of my life, I promise I will do it!’ Then Jesus changed appearance and, all benign, He told me: “What do you fear? Have I not assisted you the other times? My Light will surround you (Luisa) everywhere, and so you will be able to manifest it.”

 Purity of intention.

While He was saying this, I don’t know how, I saw the confessor near Jesus; and the Lord told him: “See, everything you do passes into Heaven. Therefore, see with what Purity you must operate, thinking that all of your steps, words and works come before My Presence, and if they are Pure – that is, if they are done for Me – I take greatest Delight in them and I feel them around Me like many messengers that remind Me continuously of you. But if they are done for low and earthly purposes, I feel bothered by them.” And as He was saying this, He seemed to grab his hands, and raising them up to Heaven, He said to him: “Your eyes always on high; you are of Heaven – work for Heaven!”

While I was seeing the confessor, and Jesus saying this to him, in my mind it seemed to me that if one operated in that way, it would happen as to a person who has to leave one house to move to another. What does he do? First he sends all of his things and everything he possesses, and then he goes himself. In the same way, we first send our works to take a place for us in Heaven, and then, when our time comes, we go ourselves. Oh, what a beautiful cortege they will make for us!

 Faith.

Now, while seeing the confessor, I remembered he had told me that I was to write about Faith in the way in which the Lord had spoken to me about this virtue. While I was thinking of this, in one instant the Lord drew me so much to Himself, that I felt I was outside of myself, in the the Vault of the Heavens together with Jesus, and He told me these exact words: “Faith is God.”

But these two words contained an immense Light, such that it is impossible to explain them – but I will do what I can. In the word “Faith”, I comprehended that Faith is God Himself. Just as material food gives life to the body so that it may not die, Faith gives Life to the soul – without Faith, the soul is dead. Faith Vivifies, Faith Sanctifies, Faith Spiritualizes man, and makes him keep his eyes fixed on a Supreme Being, in such a way that he learns nothing of the things of down here; and if he learns them, he learns them in God. Oh, the Happiness of a soul who Lives of Faith! – her flight is always toward Heaven. In everything that happens to her she always looks at herself in God; and so, just as in tribulation, Faith raises her in God and she does not afflict herself, not even with a lament, knowing that she is not to form her contentment here, but in Heaven; in the same way, if joy, riches and pleasures surround her, Faith raises her in God, and she says to herself: “Oh, how much more Content and Rich I will be in Heaven!” So, she feels bothered by these earthly things, she despises them, and tramples them underfoot. It seems to me that to a soul who Lives of Faith, it happens as to a person who possessed millions upon millions of coins, and even entire kingdoms, and someone else wanted to offer him a cent. What would he say? Would he not disdain it? Would he not throw it in his face? I add: and what if that cent were all muddy, just as earthly things are? Even more: what if that cent were only lent to him? This person would say: “I enjoy and possess immense riches, and you dared to offer me this miserable cent, so muddy, and only for a short time?” I believe he would quickly remove his gaze from it, and would not accept the gift. So does the soul who Lives of Faith with regard to earthy things.

Now, let us go back again to the idea of food: by taking food, the body is not only sustained, but shares in the substance of the food, which transforms into the body itself. The same for the soul who Lives of Faith: since Faith is God Himself, the soul comes to live of God Himself; and by nourishing herself with God, she comes to share in the substance of God; and by sharing in Him, she comes to resemble Him and to be transformed with God Himself. Therefore, it happens to the soul who Lives of Faith, that, just as God is Holy, the soul is Holy; Powerful God – Powerful the soul; Wise, Strong and Just God – Wise, Strong and Just the soul; and so with all the other Attributes of God. In sum, the soul becomes a little god. Oh, the Blessedness of this soul on earth, to then be more Blessed in Heaven!

I also understood that the words that the Lord says to His beloved souls – “I will Espouse you in the Faith” – mean nothing less but that the Lord, in this Mystical Marriage, comes to Endow the souls with His Own Virtues. It seems to me that it happens as to two spouses: as they join their properties together, the belongings of one can no longer be distinguished from those of the other, but both of them become their owners. However, in our case, the soul is poor – all the good comes from the Lord, who lets her share in His possessions.

The Life of the soul is God – Faith is God, and the soul, by possessing Faith, comes to graft all the other Virtues into herself, in such a way that Faith is like a King in her heart, and the other Virtues remain around It, as the subjects that serve Faith. So, without Faith, Virtues themselves are Virtues that have no Life.

It seems to me that God Communicates Faith to man in two ways: the first is Holy Baptism; the second is when Blessed God, by unleashing a Particle of His Substance into the soul, Communicates to her the Virtue of making Miracles, like raising the dead, healing the sick, stopping the sun, and the like. Oh, if the world had Faith, it would change into a terrestrial paradise!

Oh, how High and Sublime is the Flight of the soul who exercises herself in Faith. It seems to me that by exercising herself in Faith, the soul acts like those timid little birds which, for fear of being caught by hunters, or of some other snare, establish their dwelling at the top of the trees, or in high places. Then, when they are forced to take food, they descend, take the food, and immediately fly back into their dwelling. And some of them, more cautious, take the food and don’t even eat it on the ground, but in order to be safer, they carry it up to the top of the trees, and there they swallow it.

In the same way, the soul who Lives of Faith is so timid with earthly things, that for fear of being snared, she doesn’t so much as glance at them. Her Dwelling is up High – that is, above all the things of the earth, but especially in the Wounds of Jesus Christ; and from within those Blessed Rooms she moans, cries, prays and suffers together with her Spouse Jesus over the condition and the misery in which mankind lies. While she Lives inside those Holes of the Wounds of Jesus, the Lord gives her a Particle of His Virtues, and the soul feels those Virtues within herself as if they were her own. However, she realizes that even though she sees them as her own, the possession of them is given to her, for they have been Communicated by the Lord.

It happens to her as to a person who has received a gift which he did not have. What does he do? He takes it and makes himself the owner of it; however, every time he looks at it, he says to himself: “This is mine, but it was given to me by so and so.” So also does the soul whom the Lord transforms in Himself, by unleashing a Particle of His Divine Being from Himself. Now, just as this soul abhors sin, she also feels compassion for others, and prays for those whom she sees walking on the path of the precipice. She Unites herself with Jesus Christ, and offers herself as victim in order to placate Divine Justice, and to spare creatures the deserved chastisements. And if the sacrifice of her life were necessary – oh, how gladly she would make it for the salvation of one soul alone!

 How she sees the Divinity of Jesus.

After the confessor told me to explain to him how I sometimes see the Divinity of Our Lord, I answered that it was impossible for me to be able to tell him anything. But, at night, Blessed Jesus appeared to me and almost reproached me because of this refusal of mine, and then He flashed through me with two most Luminous Rays. With the First One I understood in my intellect, that Faith is God and God is Faith. I tried to say a few things about Faith; now I will try to say how I see God – and this was the Second Ray.

While I am outside of myself, and I find myself in the Height of the Heavens, I seem to see God within a Light. He Himself seems to be Light, and within this Light there is Beauty, Strength, Wisdom, Immensity, Height, Depth – endless and boundless. Even in the air we breathe is God present, and we breathe Him; so, each one can make Him his own Life, as indeed He is. Nothing escapes Him, and nothing can escape Him. This Light seems to be all Voice, though It does not speak; and all operating, though It always rests. It is present everywhere, though It occupies no space; and while it is present everywhere, it also has Its Own Center. Oh, God, how incomprehensible You are! I see You, I feel You, You are my Life, You restrict Yourself within me, but You remain always immense and lose nothing of Yourself. Yet, I feel I am stammering, and it seems I can say nothing.

In order to explain myself better, according to our human language, I will say that I see a shadow of God in the whole Creation, because in the whole Creation – someplace He has cast the shadow of His Beauty, someplace His Fragrances, someplace His Light, as in sun, in which I see a special shadow of God. I see Him as though concealed within this sphere, as the king of all other spheres. What is the sun? It nothing but a globe of fire. One is the globe, but its rays are many; from this we can easily understand how the globe is God, and the rays are the Immense Attributes of God.

Second. The sun is fire, but It is also light and heat. Here is the Most Holy Trinity veiled in the Sun: the fire is the Father, the light is the Son, the heat is the Holy Spirit. However, the Sun is one, and just as one cannot separate fire from light and heat, so one is the Power of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who in reality cannot be separated from one another. And just as fire produces light and heat at the same time, in such a way that fire cannot be conceived without light and heat; in the same way, the Father cannot be conceived before the Son and the Holy Spirit, and vice versa, but all Three of the Them have the same Eternal Beginning.

I add that the light of the sun diffuses everywhere; in the same way, God penetrates everywhere with His Immensity. However, let us remember that this is but a shadow, because the sun cannot reach where It cannot penetrate with Its Light, while God penetrates everywhere. God is Most Pure Spirit, and we can represent Him with the sun, which makes Its rays penetrate everywhere, and no one can grab them with their hands. Moreover, God looks at everything – the iniquities and the evils of men – but He remains always as He is, Pure, Holy and Immaculate. A shadow of God is the sun, which sends its light over rubbish, but remains immaculate; it spreads its light in the fire, but is not burned; in the sea and in the rivers, but is not drowned. It gives light to all, it fecundates everything, it gives life to all with its heat, but does not become poor in light, nor does It lose any of its heat. Even more, while it does so much good to all, it needs no one, and remains always as it is – majestic, shining, ever immutable. Oh, how well one can see the Divine Qualities in the sun! With His Immensity, God is present in the fire, but is not burned; in the sea, but is not drowned; under our steps, but is not trampled. He gives to all, but does not become poor, and needs no one; He looks at everything – even more, He is all Eyes, and there is nothing He does not hear. He is aware of each fiber of our hearts, of each thought of our minds, but, being Most Pure Spirit, He has neither ears nor eyes, and no matter what happens, He never changes. The sun invests the world with its light, and it does not tire; in the same way, God gives Life to all, helps and rules the world, and He does not tire.

A man can hide or place shelters so as not to enjoy the light of the sun and its beneficial effects, but he does nothing to the sun – the sun remains as it is, while all the evil will fall upon man. In the same way, by sin, the sinner can move away from God and no longer enjoy His Beneficial Effects, but he does nothing to God – the evil is all his own.

The roundness of the sun also symbolizes the Eternity of God, which has no beginning and no end. The penetrating light of the sun itself is such that no one can restrict it in his eye; and if one wanted to stare at it in its midday fullness, he would remain dazzled; and if the sun wanted to draw near man, man would be reduced to ashes. The same for the Divine Sun: no created mind can restrict It in its little mind so as to comprehend It in all that It is; and if it wanted to try, it would remain dazzled and confused; and if this Divine Sun wanted to display all Its Love, allowing man to feel It while he is in his mortal flesh, he would be reduced to ashes.

So, God has cast a shadow of Himself and of His Perfections over the whole Creation; it seems that we see Him and touch Him, and we are touched by Him continuously.

In addition to this, after the Lord said those words – “Faith is God” – I said to Him: ‘Jesus, do You Love me?’ And He added: “And you, do you love Me?” Immediately I said: ‘Yes Lord, and You know that without You I feel that Life is missing in me.’

“Well then”, Jesus continued, “you love Me, I Love you – so, let us Love each other, and remain always together.” This is how He ended for this morning. Now, who can say how much my mind has comprehended of this Divine Sun? I seem to see It and touch It everywhere. Even more, I feel invested by It, inside and out, but my capacity is so very little – while it seems it comprehends something about God, the moment I see Him, it seems I have comprehended nothing; even more, it seems I have spoken nonsense. I hope that Jesus will forgive my nonsense.

FROM THE BOOK OF HEAVEN

2/27/19 – Vol. 12

In the Divine Will there is no hindrance to the Love of God.

Continuing in my usual state, as blessed Jesus comes, He almost always calls me into His Will to repair or to substitute for the acts of the creatures in a Divine Manner. Now, in coming, He told me: “My daughter (Luisa), what a stench emanates from the earth! I can find no place for Myself; and because of the stench, I AM forced to run away from the earth. However, you (Luisa) can make for Me some sweet-smelling air, suitable for Me. Do you know how? By doing what you (Luisa) do in My Will. As you do your Acts, you will form for Me a Divine Air; and I will come to breathe It, finding a place for Me on earth. And since My Will circulates everywhere, everywhere will I feel the air which you (Luisa) will form for Me, and it will blow away the bad air which the earth sends Me.”

After a little while, He came back and added: “My daughter (Luisa), how much darkness! It is such that the earth seems to be covered with a black mantle, to the extent that the creatures can no longer see. Either they have remained blind, or they have no Light to be able to see; and I want not only Divine Air for Me, but also Light. Therefore, let your Acts be continuous in My Will, so that you may not only form Air for your Jesus, but also Light. You (Luisa) will be My Reflector, the Reflection of My Love and of My very Light. Even more, I tell you that as you (Luisa) do your Acts in My Volition, you will raise Tabernacles. Not only this, but as you keep forming your thoughts, desires, words, reparations and Acts of Love, many Hosts will be unleashed from you (Luisa), because they are Consecrated by My Will.

Oh, what a free outpouring My Love will have! I will have free field in everything – no more obstruction. I will have as many Tabernacles as I want. The Hosts will be innumerable; we will Communicate each other in every instant, and I too will cry out: ‘Freedom! Freedom! Come all into My Will, and you will enjoy True Freedom!’ Outside of My Will, how many obstructions does the soul not find! But in My Will she is Free. I leave her free to Love Me as she wants; even more, I tell her: ‘Lay down your human remains – take what is Divine. I AM not mean and jealous with My Goods; I want you to take everything. Love Me immensely – take, take all My Love; make My Power your own; make My Beauty your own. The more you take, the Happier your Jesus will be.’ The earth forms few Tabernacles for Me; the Hosts are almost numbered. And then, the sacrileges, the irreverences that they do to Me – oh, how offended and hindered My Love is! But in My Will – no hindrance; not a shadow of offense. The creature gives Me Love, Divine Reparations and Complete Correspondence; she substitutes together with Me for all the evils of the human family. Be attentive, and do not move from the Point at which I Call you and want you.”