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What grieves me most in my past offenses, O my loving God, is not so much the punishment I have deserved, as the displeasure I have given You, Who are worthy of infinite love. But You never reject a repentant and humble heart. 'A contrite and humbled heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.' (Ps. 50:19).
'For what have I in Heaven? and besides Thee what do I desire upon earth?. . . Thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion forever.' (Ps. 72:25-26).
There can be no surer pledge of His love for you than His past mercies toward
"He that spared not even His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how hath He not also, with Him, given us all things?" (Rom. 8:32).
Acquire the habit of speaking to God as if you were alone with Him, familiarly and with confidence and love, as to the dearest and most loving of friends.
You are not asked to apply your mind continually to the thought of God and lay aside the fulfillment of your duties and your recreations. Nothing else is required than to act toward God, in the midst of your occupations, as you do, even when busy, toward those who love you and whom you love.
Speak to Him often of your business, your plans, your troubles, your fears—of everything that concerns you. But above all, converse with Him confidently and frankly; for God is not wont to speak to a soul that does not speak to Him.
God wishes to be feared as a mighty and terrible Lord by those who despise His grace; but on the other hand, He wishes to be treated like a most affectionate
friend by those who love Him. Hence, He desires that we speak to Him often with familiarity and without any restriction.
"If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet . . . For the Lord will be at thy side." (Prov. 3:24, 26).
And again in the morning, He is there waiting to hear some acts of love and confidence from you and to treasure your waking thoughts and the work you promise to do for Him during the day, as well as the sufferings you will patiently bear for His glory and love.
Tell Him whatever comes to your mind about yourself and your affairs, as you would tell an intimate friend. Do not look upon Him as a high and mighty lord who desires to speak only to great ones—and then, only of great things. Our God delights in stooping down to converse with us,
and He rejoices when we make known to Him our most trivial everyday affairs.
Then freely open your heart to Him and ask Him to lead you to do His Divine Will in a perfect manner.
"O my God, all my hopes are in You. I offer You this affliction and conform myself to Your Will. But have pity on me, and either deliver me from it or give me strength to suffer it."
"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?" (Ps. 26:1).
CONSIDER that your God loves you more than you can possibly love Him. What do you fear? David found comfort in these words: "The Lord hath been mindful of us . . ." (Ps. 113:12). Then you should say to Him: "Into Your arms I cast myself, O my God.
The wise man exhorts us by these words to have greater confidence in the divine mercy than fear of the divine justice, since God is far more inclined to do good than to chastise. So says St. James: "Mercy exalteth itself above judgment." (Jas. 2:13).
These texts of Scripture I set before you, O Devout Soul, in order that, when you are troubled by the thought whether you will be saved or lost, whether you are predestined or not, you may relieve your mind by considering the desire God has to save you, as is proved by His promises, if only you stand firm in your resolution to serve and love Him as He demands.
So whenever you fall into some sin, raise your eyes at once to God, make an act of love and, while acknowledging your sin, confidently hope for pardon and say to Him: " 'Lord, he whom Thou lovest is sick' (John 11:3); the heart which You love is sick and covered with sores: 'O Lord . . . heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.' " (Ps. 40:5). Say: 'You go about seeking repentant sinners: behold one of them at Your feet, seeking You. The evil is done: what am I to do? You will not have me lose heart. Even though I have sinned, You wish me well, and I am sorry for the displeasure I have
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WHEN you are troubled by any sort of doubt, whether it be caused by yourself or by others, act as do faithful friends who take counsel from each other about any matter that presents itself: Never fail to give God a proof of your confidence by asking His advice and praying to Him to enlighten you to resolve on what will be to His good pleasure.
"Tell me, O Lord, what You wish me to do or to answer, and that will I do.
Often say to Him: "As long, O Lord, as I live on this earth, I always run the risk of wandering away from You and of losing Your love. When will the day come on which I shall depart from this life where I always offend You? When shall I begin to love You with all my soul and be united to You without fear of losing You any more?" Such was the continual desire of St. Teresa of Avila,
When you awake in the morning, your first thought should be to raise your mind to God and offer Him all the actions of that day, asking Him to help you by His grace.
There are three devotions which you must treasure above all the others if you want to grow in holiness: devotion to the Passion, to the Most Blessed Sacrament, and to the Blessed Virgin.
whatever you do, do it with God and for God.
"In peace in the selfsame I will sleep, and I will rest: For Thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope." (Ps. 4:9-10).
St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi, when she held in her hand a fruit or flower, felt herself wounded by divine love. "Behold," she would say, "how my God has thought for all eternity of creating this fruit and this flower as a token of His love for me."
"The sins of my youth and my ignorance do not remember." (Ps. 24:7-8).
During the day make frequent offerings of yourself to God, as St. Teresa of Avila was wont to do, by saying: "Here I am, O Lord; do with me what You please. Tell me what You wish me to do for You, and I will do it all." Repeat acts of love for God as often as you can. St. Teresa used to say that acts of love are like wood maintaining the fire of divine love kindled in our hearts.
When something you do not want happens to you, offer it to God immediately by an act of conformity with His holy Will, and acquire the habit of always repeating in all adverse situations the words: "Such is God's Will and such also is mine." Acts of resignation are acts of love most dear and pleasing to the Heart of God.
O merciful Lord, You are never weary of speaking to my poor heart; grant me the grace that, if today I hear Your voice, my heart may not be hardened. CARDINAL MERRY DEL VAL
O Lord Jesus, Through Your infant cries when You were born for me in the manger, Through Your tears when You died for me on the Cross, Through Your love as You live for me in the tabernacle, Have mercy on me and save me!
My dearest Jesus, teach me to be patient when all the day long my heart is troubled by little but vexatious crosses. Amen.
O Heart of love, I put all my trust in Thee; for I fear all things from my own weakness, but I hope for all things from Thy goodness. ST. MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE
