Littlest Souls Archive (2012 – 2020)

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On this page you will find links to all past articles on Littlest Souls.

Of your charity, please consider saying a prayer for the author/compiler, who has decided to retire from writing indefinitely, so as to focus on more pressing matters. God willing, I will return some day to writing a book that I started working on many years ago.

I will try to check the site every now and then for possible comments.
To all readers/followers/supporters, thank you, and God bless!

‘Amplectere Mariam’!

[ps. The formatting needs serious work…]

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******* 2020 *******

“How shall we become more like Him except by doing His Divine Will?”
– St. Teresa of the Andes (d. April 12, 1920)

AUGUST

A Scriptural Hymn in Honour Of Mary

What The World Needs Now…

Christian = Temple, Priest, Victim

An Extremely Powerful Prayer of Thanksgiving For Holy Communion

The Key To Rebuilding Christian Culture: The Prophetic Words of St. Peter Julian Eymard (d. Aug 1, 1868; Feast: Aug 2)

JULY

The Value of Love: St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Describes the Reward of St. Aloysius

The Meaning of “The Miracle of the Sun” at Fatima (Oct 13, 1917)

MAY

How to Pass the Days in Peace and Joy: Advice from a Saintly Cardinal

APRIL

Jesus Lives On In The Church (Pt. 3): The Mystical Tradition (cont.)

Jesus Lives On In The Church (Pt. 2): The Mystical Tradition

Easter, 2020: The Centenary of Death of St. Teresa of the Andes

Jesus Lives On in the Church (Pt. 1): The Theological Tradition

JANUARY

The Saints are Eager to Share Their Spiritual Goods

The Devil’s Greatest Enemy (Pt. 3): Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces

******* 2019 *******

“I am the Mother of fair love, of fear, of knowledge, and of hope; I will always remain your Mother.”
– Our Lady to St. Crescentia von Kaufbeuren (d. April 5, 1744)

DECEMBER

The Devil’s Greatest Enemy (Pt. 2): Mary, the New Judith

The Devil’s Greatest Enemy (Pt. 1): Mary, the New Queen Esther

A Miracle of St. Therese: The Conversion of Fr. Hyacinthe Loyson

NOVEMBER

A Saint Tells Us How to Become “a great Saint”

What is the Ultimate Reason for the Incarnation?

OCTOBER

Ven. Louis de Blois: Thoughts on Paradise

SEPTEMBER

The Power of Praise: A Sublime Revelation Given to St. Mechtilde

Mary: Mother of the Eucharist

AUGUST

‘Man Ate The Bread of Angels’ (Ps. 77:25): The Eucharist as Milk

JULY

Some Consoling Biblical Titles for Christ

JUNE

The Most Essential Christian Prayer Book

MAY

The Value of a Fervent Communion

******* 2018 *******

“I reserve copious treasures in My Heart for these last times,
in order to revive the half-dead faith
of the Christians of these days.”
– Our Lord to Ven. Philomena of St. Columba
(d. August 13, 1868)

SEPTEMBER

A 19th century Benedictine Mystic: Some Anecdotes and Sayings (Pt. 2)

A 19th Century Benedictine Mystic: Some Anecdotes and Sayings (Pt. 1)

AUGUST

7 Years a Slave

FEBRUARY

St. Therese’s Hungarian Sister (d. May 13, 1933)

JANUARY

A Calendar of the Littlest Souls

******* 2017 *******

“[On aspirations:] How many victories I could win by this easy and powerful weapon!”
– Fr. Willie Doyle (d. August 16, 1917)

NOVEMBER

Meet the Littlest Souls…

AUGUST

33 Reasons to Consecrate Yourself to Mary

FEBRUARY

A Eucharistic Vision of Vénérable Mère Marie-Thérèse du Cœur de Jésus

JANUARY

Words from Jesus for the New Year

******* 2016 *******

“… I make the most beautiful masterpieces precisely from souls that I have drawn from the lowest things, from the mud, because I have more material to work upon.”
– Our Lord to Sr. Benigna Consolata Ferrero (d. September 1, 1916)

NOVEMBER

6 Easy Ways to Grow in Divine Love (Pt. 2)

OCTOBER

6 Easy Ways to Grow in Divine Love

SEPTEMBER

Wisdom from the Writings of Saintly Souls (on a Range of Topics)

An Offering of Oneself to Merciful Love

The Most Efficacious Remedy for the Evils of Today

JULY

Hidden Treasures of the Spiritual Life

Our Friends, the Saints

An Image of the Faithful Soul

Man’s Only Good

JUNE

Liberty of Spirit: The End of Scrupulosity

Consoling Revelations

“Virtue consists above all in…”

Some Saintly Insights into the “Little Way”

MAY

A Rose from St. Therese

Infinite Wealth? At What Cost?

Humility Feeds Love…

APRIL

Offer Your Indulgences for the Poor Souls in Purgatory!

The Fruit of Good Intentions: A Vision Given to St. Mechtilde

If There Were No Misery, There Would Be No Mercy

MARCH

The Life and Revelations of Sister Jeanne Bénigne Gojos

Why You Should Love St. Joseph

The Eucharist and a Conversation Between Christ and a Demon

If You Want to Save Souls…

14 Rules for Christian Living

Aspirations: An Easy Way to Attain Holiness and Joy

FEBRUARY

Loving God = True Freedom

Catching Foxes, and Eternal Salvation

10 Inspiring Sayings from the Saints

17 Lessons/Revelations on How to Love

Devotion to the Holy Face: A Key to Happiness and Final Perseverance!

Anniversary of an Extraordinary Soul: Yvonne-Aimée de Jésus

A “Challenge for Lent” from God Himself!

JANUARY

Some Scriptures and Corresponding Revelations

The Secret to Happiness

Prayer and Suffering

‘Devotion for the Dying’: The Most Pleasing Devotion to Jesus and Mary

God’s Providence: Fascinating Connections between 10 Mystics

Patron Saint Selections, 2016

******* 2015 *******

“Benigne must not be surprised to see some faults in herself after receiving so many mercies, and even to feel imperfect emotions, provided she does not dwell on them.”
– Our Lord to Sr. Jeanne Benigne Gojos (b. July 20, 1615)

DECEMBER

“Little Soul” Patron Saint for 2016 (“Jubilee of Mercy”)

NOVEMBER

Last post until the New Year…
(evidently not)

St. Mechtilde: Some Anecdotes

Our Lady Comforts Her Children at the Moment of Death

OCTOBER

God’s Goodness Surpasses All Understanding

Don’t Measure God’s Mercy

Daily Revelation and Reflection: The Love of God (#9)

Daily Revelation and Reflection: The Love of God (#8)

Daily Revelation and Reflection: The Love of God (#7)

Daily Revelation and Reflection: The Love of God (#6)

Daily Revelation and Reflection: The Love of God (#5)

Daily Revelation and Reflection: The Love of God (#4)

Daily Revelation and Reflection: The Love of God (#3)

Daily Revelation and Reflection: The Love of God (#2)

Daily Revelation and Reflection: The Love of God (#1)

Superstitious Fears are Not from God

Merciful Revelations to Sr. Yvonne-Aimée (d. 1951)

SEPTEMBER

Why did God make us, knowing that we would sin? (And Various Other Revelations Given to St. Hildegard)

33 Safe-to-Read Mystics

A Simple Way to “Pray Always”

Some Revelations about the Catholic Faith

AUGUST

In Christ We Can Do All Things

How to Best Please God

APRIL

JOY in the Spiritual Life: Q + A

A Revelation That Most Catholics Are Saved (Pt. 2)

What Wounds Jesus Most?

A Defence of God’s Justice (A Catholic Perspective)

MARCH

Custody of the Eyes: A Commentary on St. Alphonsus

FEBRUARY

An Updated Post on Scrupulosity

Blessed Angela’s Visions of the Mass

Divine Grace and Beauty of Soul

A Beautiful Revelation for Every Christian (Pt. 3)

JANUARY

Some Remarkable Revelations About Heaven

6 Eucharistic Books That May Change Your Life (Excerpts included)

Jesus Asks His Spouses to Pray for Priests

Some Powerful Motives to Love God

******* 2014 *******

“[Addressing Judas:] O dear and beloved son, what a return thou makest to One who weeps the loss of thee more than His own Passion and Death, because for this He came into this world.”
– Our Lord to St. Camilla Battista da Varano (d. May 31, 1524)

NOVEMBER

A Revelation on Divine Mercy (to St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi)

“I am your God… I Myself want to live in your heart.”

Mary’s Appeal to the Worst of Sinners

Why Pray for the Souls in Purgatory?

OCTOBER

A Prayer EVERY Christian Should Know and Love…

Consolation for Scrupulous Souls (Some Advice from St. Alphonsus)

SEPTEMBER

Something to Consider When You Suffer…

My Favourite Scripture Verse.

How to Attain Lasting Peace

A Helpful Tip for Overcoming Temptation.

JULY

The Eucharist (part 2): The Eucharist in the Lives of 101 Mystics!

The Eucharist (part 1).

How to Remain Forever United to Jesus.

JUNE

Words from the Saints and Mystics on Humility

“Be like a child with Me,” says Jesus.

God is Patient and Rich in Mercy.

MAY

Trust in God’s Providence!

An Amazing Story of God’s Mercy Towards a Blasphemer!

Be Happy? Be SAVED? …Be ye perfect!

APRIL

Why Holiness Brings Unspeakable Joy to the Soul!

Our Lord’s Tender Love, as Revealed to Sr. Gertrude Mary.

Powerful Reflections on Eternity.

MARCH

Jesus: “If you knew how I love you…”

17 Quotes/Revelations to Inspire Confidence in God’s Love.

“God Alone!”: A Simple, Consoling and Blessed Rule for Living.

FEBRUARY

Excellent Online Resources for Scrupulosity! (**Including an Excerpt from Blosius**)

Do We Value God’s Love As Our Only Good?

God, In His Love, Would Close Hell If It Were Possible!

A Sure Way to Convert Sinners, Even in their Final Moments!

Amend Your Life and You Will Be Saved!

7 Signs of The Holy Spirit: A Revelation to St. Bridget

JANUARY

Encouragement For Those Tried By Unwanted Thoughts.

15 Reasons To Suffer With LOVE.

Some More Help For Overcoming Scruples.

Our Lord Weeps More for Sinners Than for His Own Passion and Death.

Those We Will Be Surprised To See In Heaven…

Something For Christians To Meditate Upon Daily.

Encouragement For Those Tempted To Despair…

A Beautiful Revelation For Every Christian (Pt. 2)

******* 2013 *******

“We of ourselves, it is true, could not by the offering of our whole lives make satisfaction to God for even one of the venial sins we think so lightly of when we commit them, but God views our good actions as the fruit of the Passion of His Beloved Son; and thus it is that a good action is more pleasing, necessarily so, to Him than a bad action is displeasing.”
– Ven. Mother Mary Potter (d. April 9, 1913)

DECEMBER

Divine Love Drives Out Scruples.

A Revelation That Most Catholics Are Saved.

Some Beautiful Words About HEAVEN.

Jesus Loves Your Company.

Consoling Thoughts On Salvation.

NOVEMBER

A Beautiful Revelation For Every Christian

A Powerful Meditation: The Thirty-Three Years of Jesus’ Life

How Jesus Intercedes for us at Holy Mass!

A Touching Prayer for a Sinner

The Conversion of Four Hardened Sinners

Distrustful soul, “Confide in the mercy of God.”

DIVINE MERCY: A Revelation To Bl. Angela

Merciful Revelations Given To St. Bridget

God’s Great Love For Judas

The Infinite Dignity of the Holy Eucharist!

God Abandons No One.

OCTOBER

A SURE Way to Be Happy.

Confession: Sins Forgotten Are Forgiven

“I wait for you…”

Worried About the Future?

Sr. Benigna Consolata: Friend of “little souls”

The Joy of Pain.

A Remedy For Sadness!

“Why do you fear death?” – Jesus to Sr. Mary

An Amazing Conversion Story: From Apostate to Saint

“My Future to Thy Providence”

SEPTEMBER

Seek Consolation In The Sacred Heart Of Jesus!

Keep falling into the same sins? Pray!

Jesus Is Most Deserving Of Compassion!

Love Of God: “the only true love”…

A Remedy For Anxiety (Revelations to a privileged nun)

Union With God: “An Anticipated Paradise”!

Fear Of Hell? … Consolation For The Doubtful

What Gives God “Infinite Pleasure”?

Three Reasons To Have GREAT Confidence In God!

Devotion To Mary: A Promise Given To St. Bridget

A Beautiful (And Extremely Encouraging) Revelation From Our Lord, Jesus, To Sr. Benigna!

Lacking Confidence In God?

To Inspire You With Love: “For THEE I was made man…” (Jesus to St. Mechtilde)

The Mercy of God “seeks even the obstinate.”

AUGUST

Jesus: “My child, you canst do nothing more gratifying to Me than to…”

A Cause For Hope: God’s Unchanging Goodness!

MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY: Refuge For Even The Hardest, Most Despairing Sinners! (part 6)

Clarity for Scrupulous Souls: Simple Explanations of “Grey” Sins

JULY

The Blessed Virgin Mary Reveals The Meaning Of LUKE 2:7 To St. Gertrude

Spiritual Wisdom From A Saintly Priest: Words On Suffering, Heaven, Prayer, The Infinite Love Of God.

SUFFERING: How to Make the Greatest Evil in Our Lives Our Greatest Happiness

Visions Of Heaven: The Perfect Joy Of The Blessed

MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY: Refuge For Even The Hardest, Most Despairing Sinners! (part 5)

MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY: Refuge For Even The Hardest, Most Despairing Sinners! (part 4)

MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY: Refuge For Even The Hardest, Most Despairing Sinners! (part 3)

The SUPREME Duty And Privilege Of Every Christian: To “… set fire to the world…”

A Revelation From God To All: Atheists, Christians…

God’s Unfathomable Mercy: Deathbed Conversions

JUNE

God Loves Us Because Of What HE Is, Not What WE Are!

Christian Mysticism: The Fire of Divine Love

The “First Nine Fridays” Devotion

Perfect Contrition: “The Golden Key of Paradise”

The Power Of St. Therese’s “little way”

“Do you know, daughter, for what reason I send crosses to souls dear to me?”

Incredible Revelations On ‘The Way Of The Cross’

Why Are Some Prayers Not Answered? (Revelation to St. Gertrude)

MAY

9 Powerful and Miraculous Prayers

Nine Reasons To Love God

Why is “The denial of sin… worse than sin”? (Archbishop Fulton Sheen)

What We Can Learn From Victim Souls

How To Attain Peace Of Soul

Consoling Words of Jesus to St. Gemma

There Is Nothing Greater On Earth Than Holy Mass!

Consoling Revelations About Suffering

APRIL

“God wills only our good…”

50 ‘Counsels’ To Ease Our Worries, And Bring Us Joy!

MARCH

“If thou lovest Me… thou wilt console Me.”

MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY: Refuge For Even The Hardest, Most Despairing Sinners! (part 2)

MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY: Refuge For Even The Hardest, Most Despairing Sinners! (part 1)

Our Lady’s Crown of 12 Stars/Privileges

FEBRUARY

Inspiring Stories of The Rosary!

“He is there!”

The Rosary: The Greatest Prayer After The Mass!
(… and the Divine Office)

A Great Promise Revealed to St. Gertrude

Lukewarmness: A Barrier to Joy

******* 2012 *******

“Let us not forget her [Mary’s] anguish, and at the hour of death, the Madonna will console and assist us: yea, if expedient for our soul, she will show herself to us then, and she will manage that we will not feel the pains of death.”
– St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (d. February 27, 1862)

DECEMBER

Devotion to Mary, “Mother of All The Living”

The Catholic Church: God’s Gift to Mankind

NOVEMBER

Life And Revelations of Sr. Benigna Consolata Ferrero

Humility Will Set You Free!

OCTOBER

“Many Souls Exhaust Themselves…”

The Key To Spiritual Joy

Prayer: “A Key Opening GOD’S HEART”

Beautiful Words of Our Lord to Sr. Josefa Menendez

Three ESSENTIAL Spiritual Principles!

Overcoming Discouragement and Despondency (part 2)

SEPTEMBER

Overcoming Despondency and Discouragement (part 1)

“Confidence is Fortified by Faith”

How To Be Holy.

“How foolish is your fear of being damned!”

AUGUST

More Beautiful Revelations from St. Mechtilde.

An Infallible Cure for Scrupulosity

Tender Words of Our Lord to St. Mechtilde.

Tender Words of Our Lord to St. Gertrude.

Whenever You Gaze Upon A Crucifix…

Treatise on the Seven Spiritual Weapons.

JULY

An Arsenal for Overcoming Temptation (Part 2)

An Arsenal for Overcoming Temptation (Part 1)

A Powerful Shield Against Discouragement

JUNE

Jesus Would Die For You Alone.

To “Sinful Souls Drowned in Despair”

Prayer Before Holy Confession (spoken by Jesus).

Confidence Obtains Everything.

MAY

Humility: More Precious than Gold.

God’s Nature is to Give.

21 Mercies of God.

Jesus: “In Mass I come with…”

A Beautiful Story of God’s Merciful Providence!

A Book You Shouldn’t be Without…

Decalogue of Mercy.

Decalogue of Confidence.

Decalogue of Love.

2 ‘Golden Arrow’ Prayers.

“…your soul is My Heaven…”

A Prayer Before Bed…

“Come to Me… Do Not Be Afraid!”

‘Persona Christi’

A “Love Letter” from God to YOU!

More helpful tips for the scrupulous.

Are you scrupulous?… Some helpful tips for confession.

INFINITE MERCY

God’s Mercy: Always “Open” to us!

The SEEMINGLY unforgivable sin.

God desires YOUR love!

Hope Does Not Deceive.

Divine Mercy: Hope for the despairing.

The Immense Value of an Act of Love!

A beautiful meditation from the Heart of Jesus

“The Secret of Sanctity!”

God does not “get angry”

St. Faustina’s prayer of repentance/trust

10 Inspiring spiritual books!

Perseverance in Prayer.

“Prayer to Obtain the Grace of Boundless Confidence”

Dear scrupulous souls… relax… this is for you!

 

 

A Scriptural Hymn in Honour Of Mary

Mary: Mother of Divine Grace and the Throne of Grace

A Scriptural Hymn to the Mother of God
The following hymn is composed entirely of Scripture verses from the Douay Rheims (with some very minor adjustments). Not a single text has been chosen arbitrarily; on the contrary, I have drawn only upon Catholic liturgical texts (Mass propers, principally), the Church Fathers, and the writings of the Saints.

At the bottom of the page you will find the lyrics set to a particular version of the ‘Te Deum’ (for private use only), with Scriptural references to the side. To hear the melody, try this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypZEKyjQSK0

THE KING’S DAUGHTER
King’s Daughter, Queen all fair, Mother of the Sun of Justice.
Woman clothed with the Sun, most beautiful among women.
In thy light we shall see Light: fair as the moon, bright as the sun, unspotted mirror.
Mother of my Lord, Emmanuel: Mother of our Everlasting Saviour.
Virgin. Mother. Mary, glorious things are said of thee.
Blessed art thou by the Most High, perfect handmaid above all women.
Thou hast surpassed them, Mother of All the Living.
Full of Grace, thou art the honour of our people:
House of God, a garden enclosed, most blessed Tree of Life.
Wonderful tabernacle: the Gate of Heaven and the Throne of Grace.
Thou art the Mother of Holy Hope.
Thou hast prevented our ruin, brought our enemies to nought.
By thee, Mary, He hath fulfilled His mercy.
Let thy voice sound in my ears!

Little ones, blessed are they that keep my ways.
Come to me, I am an infinite treasure to men: children, my spirit is sweet above honey.
I am the firstborn before all creatures: in me is all grace and all good things; be filled with my fruits.
Come, drink the Wine which I have mingled, Wine springing forth virgins.
He that shall find me shall find the True Light.
I love them that love me; with me are riches and glory: give me thy heart and magnify the Lord with me!
Where thou shalt dwell I also will dwell: at the breasts you shall be carried.
If thou wilt follow the words of thy handmaid, the Lord God will do with thee a perfect thing.
Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye; let us extol His Name.
For the dwelling in me is of all rejoicing.
I will keep thee; my bands are a healthful binding: I will draw thee with bands of love.
Forget not the groanings of thy Mother: O put me as a seal upon thy heart!

My Mother, speak to the King for us: deliver us from death.
The King said: My Mother, ask: for I must not turn away thy face;
what wilt thou? it shall be given to thee.
Thou art the Mother of Fair Love; draw me: we will see Him with thee!

Some Scriptural References to Mary (i.e. Marian types, symbols) from the Latin Vulgate

Some Pertinent Quotations from ‘The Glories of Mary’ by St. Alphonsus
+ She was seen by St. John clothed with the sun: ‘And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun.’ She is said to be clothed with the sun, because, as ‘There is no one that can hide himself from His heat,’ so there is no one living on the earth who is deprived of the love of Mary.”

+ “There were anciently, in Judea, cities of refuge; and criminals, who sought protection in them, were free from the penalty of their offences. Now, there are not so many cities of refuge, but instead of these there is one only, Mary; of whom it was spoken: ‘Glorious things are said of thee, oh city of God: Gloriosa dicta sunt de te, civitas Dei.’ But with this difference, that not all criminals could find refuge in those ancient cities, nor for all sorts of crime; but under the mantle of Mary all offenders may find protection, whatsoever crimes they have committed. It is sufficient for anyone to have recourse to her for protection. “I am the city of refuge for all those who flee to me,” as St. John of Damascus says, speaking in her name.”

+ “Many daughters have gathered together riches; thou hast surpassed them all. If Mary has surpassed all in the riches of grace, she then possessed original justice, as Adam and the angels had it.”

+ ‘In me is all grace of the way and of the truth: In me gratia omnis vise et veritatis.’ In me are all the graces of true blessings that you men can desire in your life. Yes, our mother and our hope, well do we know, to use the words of St. Peter Damian, that all the treasures of the divine mercies are in thy hands.”

+ “St. Lawrence Justinian applies to Mary that other text of Ecclesiasticus: ‘Her bands are a healthful binding: Vincula illius alligatura salutaris’: and then adds: “Wherefore bands? unless to bind her servants, that they may not go astray into unlawful fields.” Mary binds her servants that they may not take too much liberty, and thus cause their ruin. Oh, mother of God, in thee l place all my hopes: thou must save me from falling again into sin. Oh my Lady, do not abandon me; obtain for me the grace to die rather than to lose the grace of God.”

The King’s Daughter (with notation and Scriptural references)

 

What The World Needs Now…

… is SAINTS! ‘Save me, O Lord, for there is now no saint: truths are decayed from among the children of men’ (Ps. 11:2).

It is said of St. Teresa of Avila that, by a single burning prayer, she – or rather, God acting in her – converted 10,000 criminals! Bl. John Massias obtained the release of 1.2 million souls from Purgatory. On the day St. Mechtilde died it was revealed to St. Gertrude, her intimate confidante, that no soul was lost (Rev. Auguste Saudreau notes this; another work says that “not one Christian soul” was lost. I defer to the experts; I have not read the Latin original.) Such anecdotes could be multiplied.

The question is: how do we account for this? Blosius provides the answer:

“Those, indeed, who are united to God without any medium, and allow Him freely to work in them, are the most dear friends of God, and in one little hour are of more advantage to the Church than others who have not attained to this union can be in many years.”
– Ven. Louis de Blois (Blosius), O.S.B. (‘A Book of Spiritual Instruction’)

Christian = Temple, Priest, Victim

Bl. Mother Mary of the Divine Heart

In the latter part of the 19^th century, a humble religious in Germany was accustomed to receiving visits from Our Lord. Like St. Lydwine of Schiedam (d. 1433), St. Marie of the Incarnation (d. 1672), Bl. Elizabeth Canori-Mora (d. 1925) and Ven. Philomena of St. Columba (d. 1868) before her – to name only a few privileged souls – Our Lord would speak with her ‘face to face, as a man is wont to speak with his friend’ (Ex. 33:11).

Ven. Philomena of St. Columba (d. Aug 13, 1868)

The vocation of this noble soul, Bl. Mother Mary of the Divine Heart (d. 1899), was simple: she was, in imitation of Our Lord, to offer herself as a host for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. “Why”, Our Lord would say to her (I am paraphrasing different parts of her writings), “do you not leave the path of fear? Why will you not follow the path of love, which is shorter and easier?… It is My Will to be all for you… Your heart is an altar upon which everything must be consumed by Divine Love.” (As an aside, it is worth noting that St. Marie of the Incarnation, mentioned above, was never led by the path of fear; rather, she made giant strides along the path of Love).

Let me repeat those final words: “Your heart is an altar upon which everything must be consumed by Divine Love.” Are these words directed to a privileged few? Absolutely not. This is the sublime vocation of all souls, and it is to this that we must all aspire with all our being. We must, in a word, offer to God that sacrifice most pleasing to Him, without which all our other sacrifices are a mere farce. And what sacrifice is this? The sacrifice of our will.

It is only when God – Who is spirit (Jn. 4:24) – possess our wills, that can He act freely, thereby glorifying Himself in us: ‘For obedience is better than sacrifices: and to hearken rather than to offer the fat of rams’ (1 Kg. 15:22). Obedience, the Saints tell us, pleases God more than great sacrifices “because obedience has no self-will” (Our Lord to St. Bridget of Sweden).

The next time you are tempted to murmur, remember that Jesus is offering Himself to the Father upon the Altars of our churches for your salvation; your vocation is to unite yourself, as did Mother Adele Garnier* (d. 1924), to this mystical immolation of Christ on the Altar of your heart; “by Him,” writes Dom Gueranger, “the Holy Ghost, Who sacred Fount He is (cf. Jn. 4:14; 7:37, 39), pours Himself out upon man, whereby to adapt him to his sublime vocation, and to consummate, in infinite love (which is Himself), that union of every creature with the divine Word.”

*An article on Mother Adele Garnier:
https://www.clairval.com/lettres/en/2015/04/12/2080415.htm

Concretely, you can unite yourself to Christ by receiving Him in Holy Communion, giving Him the key of your will. Always remember that this is the ‘one oblation’ by which ‘He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified’ (Heb. 10:14). There is no greater aid to holiness. Pray to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament and you will see that this is true.

Mother Cécile Bruyerè‘s Masterful Explanation of the Christian Vocation

Mother Cécile Bruyerè, 1895

‘But this, for that He continueth for ever, hath an everlasting priesthood, whereby He is able also to save for ever them that come to God by Him, always living to make intercession for us.’ (Heb. 7:24-25)

“Thus the sovereign pontificate is eternal, and it is exercised for ever; not only in the adorable Person of the Son of God, but in that priestly tribe of which He is the Head, ‘a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood’ (1 Pt. 2:9), wherein all are priests, although in different degrees, and all are called to concelebrate with the supreme Pontiff (p. 409).

A temple, a sanctuary, an altar, a victim, the very presence of the living and true God – all these are not sufficient for liturgical worship; there must moreover be a pontiff. Now man is truly a priest, truly a pontiff in the august function which is celebrated in the sanctuary of his own soul: ‘Thou hast made us to our God a kingdom and priests’ (Apoc. 5:10). Every baptised Christian is priest and king in the secret temple of his own soul, although he is but a single living stone of the edifice built by the hand of God, of which edifice our Lord Jesus Christ is the corner-stone. Such, in his first epistle, is the teaching of the Prince of the Apostles: ‘Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ’ (1 Pt. 2:5).

But to realise all the perfection of this priesthood, man must, freely and voluntarily, offer his sacrifice, after the example of the eternal Pontiff whom we hear insisting on the absolutely free character of His oblation: ‘No man taketh my life away from Me; but I lay it down of Myself, and I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again’ (Jn. 10:18). This liberty, which shows him truly to be a priest, was understood by Isaias, when he said: ‘He was offered because it was His own will’ (Is. 53:7) (‘The Spiritual Life and Prayer’, p. 423-424).

“In order to live in one single act of perfect Love, I OFFER MYSELF AS A VICTIM OF HOLOCAUST TO YOUR MERCIFUL LOVE, asking You to consume me incessantly…”
– From St. Therese’s Act of Oblation to Merciful Love

An Extremely Powerful Prayer of Thanksgiving For Holy Communion

Some time within the last year or so, I began to pray Mary’s Magnificat as part of my thanksgiving for Holy Communion, in imitation of Bl. Mary d’Oignies and other holy souls who have profited immensely thereby. What profit there is in clinging to the Mother of God, the sole Spouse of Christ! We cannot separate Jesus and Mary: in Christ, we are sons in the Son; in Mary, we are spouses in the Spouse. To be all hers is to the best way to be all His.

In addition to the Magnificat, I also like to add various Scriptural passages, including the first verse of Psalm 102: ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul: and let ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME bless His Holy Name.’

I was very pleased, then, to discover the prayer of St. John Eudes at the time of receiving Holy Communion:

My soul doth magnify the Lord.
Bless the Lord, O my Soul: and let all that is within me bless His holy Name.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Bless the Lord, O my Soul: and let all that is within me bless His holy Name.
Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Bless the Lord, O my Soul: and let all that is within me bless His holy Name.
Because He that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is His Name.
Bless the Lord, O my Soul: and let all that is within me bless His holy Name.
And His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him.
Bless the Lord, O my Soul: and let all that is within me bless His holy Name.
He hath shewed might in His Arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
Bless the Lord, O my Soul: and let all that is within me bless His holy Name.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
Bless the Lord, O my Soul: and let all that is within me bless His holy Name.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away.
Bless the Lord, O my Soul: and let all that is within me bless His holy Name.
He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy:
Bless the Lord, O my Soul: and let all that is within me bless His holy Name.
As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
Bless the Lord, O my Soul: and let all that is within me bless His holy Name.
(Lk. 1:46-55; Ps. 102:1)

Why did I write ‘Soul’, rather than ‘soul’? Listen to Our Lord’s words to Ven. Anne-Marguerite Clement (‘Divine Communications’, Vol. II, p. 156, Saudreau, OP):

“Since I have indeed given you My heart, why can I not give you My Soul as well? Yes: I will that It shall be yours, in order that, even as we have but one Heart, so may we also have but one Soul; and so you shall be able to say continually in Me and by Me: Benedic, anima mea, Domino: bless the Lord, O my soul.”

Read also Our Lord’s words to Mother Deleloe (which I have shared before):

“What more can you desire than to have within you the true source of all good, My Divine Heart?… All these great things are yours, all these treasures and riches are for the heart that I have chosen… Draw as much as you desire of these infinite delights and riches.”

The Key To Rebuilding Christian Culture: The Prophetic Words of St. Peter Julian Eymard (d. Aug 1, 1868; Feast: Aug 2)

“The Eucharistic Jesus is not known even by those who should make Him known. How little He is loved even by His own! It is both frightening and terrifying. So unenlightened and badly guided is the piety of devout people! They are entertained with pious little nothings.”
(p. 182)

Jesus will reign; whether by justice or by love, He will reign. If we take heed of the following writings, His reign of love will be hastened and many more souls will be saved. Please consider sharing them “for God and for souls” (St. Faustina), bearing in mind the words of Our Lord to Ven. Esprite of Jesus: “Am I not greater than all My gifts? And when you receive Me in the holy Eucharist, do you not receive all good things?” (cf. Rom. 8:32; Wis. 7:11)

The Sacrament of Unity
“The spread of the Eucharistic Christ is necessary for the salvation of society. The Eucharist is the life not only of the individual Christian, but of nations as well. We know well that an age flourishes or degenerates in accordance with its worship of the divine Eucharist. It is the life and measure of its faith, charity, and virtue. The Eucharist is not only for personal piety; It is essential to social life, for It is the very life of the world.” (p. 5)

His Will is Our Perfection
“The greatest proof of our love of God is the virtue of conformity to His holy Will. Nothing is more reasonable or more just. Nothing is more pleasing to God or more advantageous to us.” (p. 71)

The Mystery of Love Par Excellence
“Devotion that has not a tent on Calvary and one near the Tabernacle, will not result in solid piety and will never accomplish anything great. I find that we do not bring the Eucharist close enough to the faithful, that we do not preach enough on this Mystery of Love par excellence. As a result, souls suffer, become sensual and material in their piety, and are inordinately attached to creatures because they fail to find their consolation and strength in Our Lord.” (p. 92)

A Divine Seed
“Bear in mind that when you place a Eucharistic spark in a soul, you have implanted therein a divine seed of life and of all the virtues, which is, so to speak, self-sufficient.” (p. 92)

Mary: The First Adorer
“In that Cenacle she lived solely for her Eucharistic Jesus. That is your calling.” (p. 151)

Unum Est Necessarium: One Thing is Necessary
“Do away with the widespread prejudice that the active life excels all others. Is it not right that we should first serve the Master? What subjects would venture to complain about our waiting on the King before bothering about them? Our age is sick because people do not adore. Jesus Christ will ascend His throne only by the Eucharist… Therefore, be ardent adorers of the Holy Eucharist.” (p. 177)

The Life and End of All Devotions
“Find the Sacred Heart where it is, living, all-good, and all-merciful, in the Eucharist. Unfortunately that divine and loving Heart is not known and loved, even by many devout people, who play at any number of little devotions, good in themselves, but neglect the one devotion which ought to be the life and the end of all the others: the Heart of Jesus that gave us Calvary and the Eucharist.” (p. 182)

The Best Centre
“Divine Love in man needs a centre of life if it is to become something habitual. The best centre is Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. This is a centre with a life of its own, not a centre effected in us by simply meditating on the mysteries of our Saviour’s mortal life.” (p. 183)

The Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
“Do not picture the Heart of Jesus as just an emblem or a statue, but see It in the Tabernacle; it is the Heart of the Eucharistic Jesus that belongs to you, that nourishes you, that consoles you, that loves you.” (p. 184)

The Most Excellent of All Works: To Lead Priests to Adoration
“The priests! I would leave everything for priests… It is the most excellent of all works… If we have the priests, we have the parishes; indeed, we have the whole country.” (p. 193) “Sanctify the priests; that takes in everything.” (p. 196)

Mary: Spouse of the Holy Spirit
“Without doubt, the perfecting of Jesus in us is a work proper to the Holy Ghost; but just as this Spirit of Love willed to effect His masterpiece, the Sacred Humanity of Jesus, with Mary, so again, to make us into Christs, He requires the cooperation of Mary; and the more of Mary he finds in a soul, the more powerfully He acts therein.” (p. 257)

A Prophecy of St. Peter Julian Regarding Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament (1868)
“Devotion to Mary runs parallel to devotion to Jesus and follows its phases and its growth. Well, devotion to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament [Feast: May 13] will grow with the worship of the Eucharist.” (p. 258)

Jesus: Our “Eucharistic Emmanuel” (St. Peter Julian)
“To believe in love is everything. It is not enough to believe in the truth. We must believe in love, and love is Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. This is the faith that makes Our Lord loved. Ask for this pure and simple faith in the Eucharist. Men will teach you; but only Jesus will give you the grace to believe in Him. Come and receive Communion in order to have the strength of faith, not merely the satisfaction, the feeling of faith. You have the Eucharist: what more do you want?” (p. 261)

A final word from St. Peter Julian: “The age of the Eucharist is beginning. Ask for the spread of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament; pray to Him that He may raise up servants and apostles of His Kingdom of Love.” (p. 218)

*All quotations are from the following work: ‘Saint Peter Julian Eymard: Champion of the Blessed Sacrament,’ by Rev. Martin Dempsey (italics are mine)

A final word from Our Lord (to St. Peter Julian Eymard):
“What are you afraid of? Cast yourself into My Arms.”
(p. 51)

The Value of Love: St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi Describes the Reward of St. Aloysius

“A SINGLE ACT OF LOVE is more pleasing to God and of more value than the whole material universe, as a diamond is more precious than a huge rock.”
– Fr. Lukas Etlin, OSB

“Oh! how much glory Louis [Aloysius], the son of Ignatius, possesses! I would never have believed it, unless Thou, O my Jesus, had shown him to me… It seems to me in a certain manner that there could scarcely be so much glory in Heaven as that which Louis enjoys… I say that Louis is a great Saint… I would like to be able to go through the whole world, and say that Louis, son of Ignatius, is a great Saint; and I would like to be able to show his glory to everyone, that God might be glorified… He possesses so much glory
because of his interior work… Who could ever relate the value and the merit of interior works? There is no comparison between the interior and the exterior. . . . Louis, whilst on earth, kept his mouth open to the Word (she meant to say that this Saint loved the interior inspirations of the Word and tried to fulfill them)… Louis was a hidden martyr; because he who loves Thee, my God, knows that Thou art so great and infinitely amiable, that it is a great martyrdom to him to see that he does not love Thee as much as he wishes to love Thee; and that Thou art not loved, but rather offended by creatures… He made himself a martyr also… Oh! how much he loved Thee on earth! hence he now rejoices in Heaven in great fullness of love!” (‘The Life of St. Mary Magdalen De-Pazzi,’ Fabrini)

“Ah! God does not account of things as men do; of very slight weight are their appreciations, in His Judgment! Even in the case of the Saints themselves, the mere fractional number of years, or brilliant deeds, goes far less to the filling up of a life-time, in His view, than does LOVE. The usefulness of a human existence ought surely to be measured, as a matter of fact, by the amount produced in it, of WHAT IS LASTING.”
– Dom Gueranger

The Meaning of “The Miracle of the Sun” at Fatima (Oct 13, 1917)

Part 1: The Theological Backdrop
Part 2: The Meaning of the Event

PART I: THE THEOLOGICAL BACKDROP

Mother of All the Living
“It would be easier,” writes St. Louis de Montfort, “to separate light from the sun than Mary from Jesus.” This is no hyperbole. Mary, according to the Fathers, is, in the spiritual order, the ‘Mother of All the Living’ (Gen. 3:20); she is the true ‘Tree of Life’ (Prov. 3:18), that is, the ‘Mother of Jesus’ (Jn. 2:1), who nourishes us with the Blessed Fruit of her womb (Lk. 1:42).

No Tree, No Fruit
We have need of our holy Mother, Mary, just as we have need of our holy Mother the Church. No Mother, no Son; no Tree, no Fruit. Do not all graces descend upon us, without exception, in and through the Church, of which Christ is the Head? And is Mary not Mother of the Church: Mater Ecclesiae [Feast: Whit Monday]? “Jesus and Mary,” writes Dom Gueranger, “cannot be separated, for Isaias tells us [Is. 11:1] that She is the Branch, and He the Flower.”

Mediatrix of All Graces
A corollary of these important teachings is that Mary is necessarily the Mediatrix of All Graces: Mediatrix Omnium Gratiarum [Feast: May 31, 1962 Missal]; if she were not, how else would the Church have access to ‘the unsearchable riches of Christ’ (Eph. 3:8)? ‘IN ME,’ says the Mother of All the Living, ‘is all grace of the WAY and of the TRUTH, in me is all hope of LIFE and of virtue’ (Ecclus. 24:25). Let us, then, imitate St. John the Beloved Disciple, the firstborn of Mary’s adopted sons, who seems to invite us in these words: ‘there is great delight in her friendship, and inexhaustible riches in the works of her hands… I went about seeking, that I might take her to myself’ (Wis. 8:18; cf. Jn. 19:27).

‘Fair as the Moon, Bright as the Sun’ (Cant. 6:9)
Mary is so ‘full of grace’ (Lk. 1:28), that her treasury, ‘like a round bowl never wanting cups’ (Cant. 7:2), “overflows onto all mankind” (St. Thomas). She is ‘fair as the moon’ (Cant. 6:9), tempering for us the brightness of the Divine Light: ‘For with thee is the fountain of Life; and in thy light we shall see Light’ (Ps. 33:10). She is ‘bright as the sun’ (Cant. 6:9) in so far as she, the ‘Woman clothed with the sun’ (Rev. 12:1), “bears within herself the Author of light” (cf. ‘The City of God’ by Ven. Mary of Agreda).

The Queen of Saints
To be deprived of Mary’s intercession is far worse than to be deprived of the intercession of all the other Saints combined. In fact, St. Alphonsus Liguori, St. Bernard, and others go further; they say that, without Mary’s mediation, our prayers are not presented to Christ, thus explaining the words of Scripture: ‘all the rich [i.e. the Church Triumphant] among the people, shall entreat thy countenance’ (Ps. 44:13). Thankfully, as the same Saints attest, it is not difficult to win the favour of this all-merciful Queen!

Spouse of the Holy Spirit
Mary is the sole Mother of Christ (Head and members), the sole Mother of Divine Grace: Mater Divinae Gratiae [Feast: July 23]; she alone brought Him forth, and she alone, in union with the Holy Spirit, “her inseparable Spouse” (St. Louis de Montfort), brings Him forth in souls.

Not for nothing did Our Lady reveal herself to St. Bernadette as “the Immaculate Conception,” that is, the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Who is the Uncreated Immaculate Conception, the Gift of God (“Gift” being a title for the Holy Spirit, according to St. Augustine, St. Thomas, etc.), the Life-giver. The Holy Spirit always works through His Spouse, the Mother of the Church. Again, she it is who gives us Life: ‘He that shall find me,’ she says, speaking through the Holy Liturgy, ‘shall find Life, and shall have Salvation from the Lord’ (Prov. 8:35).

A profound consequence of Mary’s mediation – which, like the Sacraments, is entirely dependent upon her Divine Son, Who is the sole Mediator with the Father (Mary is our “Mediator with the Mediator”) –  is that every grace received is a kind of Visitation [Feast: July 2, 1962 Missal]! A most consoling thought!

PART II: THE MEANING OF THE EVENT

Let us now turn to the miracle of the sun at Fatima. I will take for granted that you are familiar with this miracle. If not, you might want to look it up.

Without presuming to know the precise meaning of this multi-faceted miracle, and without having read all of Sr. Lucia’s writings, I would like to at least propose a reflection. 

We Cannot Hide From His Heat
Jesus Christ, the ‘Sun of Justice’ (Mal. 4:2), came that we ‘may have Life, and may have it more abundantly’ (Jn. 10:10): that is, He came ‘that we may live BY HIM’ (1 Jn. 4:9). This ardent love extends to us all, for He did ‘not appoint, or make any thing hating it’ (Wis. 11:25). On the contrary, ‘the mercy of God is upon all flesh’ (Ecclus. 18:12); God, being all good, ‘maketh His sun to rise upon the good, and bad’ (Mt. 5:45), ‘and there is no one that can hide himself from His heat’ (Ps. 18:7).

Nevertheless, not all receive His light and love alike; it depends on our dispositions. Consider that “the sun, by one and the same power of its heat, melts wax indeed, but dries up and hardens mud” (Origen). And so it is in the world of souls. “For God,” writes St. Thomas, “so far as is in Him, is ready to give grace to all… but they alone are deprived of grace who set up an impediment to grace in themselves.”

This is where Mary comes in.

Recall that the Mother of God, ‘fair as the moon, bright as the sun’ (Cant. 6:9), is the Mediatrix of all graces (we cannot approach God without her assistance). She is not the mediatrix of justice; Jesus will be our Judge. But He has given us His Mother that we might have the upmost confidence in His Merciful Love (according to St. Guerric of Igny, for those who serve Jesus and Mary faithfully, Mary will be the seat/throne from which Christ judges us).

Following all the Saints and mystics, we may confidently assert that none need fear being rejected by Mary, the Mother of Mercy; being entirely empty of self, she has only Love to give; she can no more refuse grace to those who implore her intercession than can a mother refuse her milk to her little one: ‘Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me. And to the unwise she said: Come, eat my Bread, and drink the Wine which I have mingled for you’ (Prov. 9:4-5).

Without Mary, we may well – weak and inconstant creatures that we are – be scorched by the rays of Divine Justice. But with Mary, what have we to fear! Her Immaculate Heart, as she has said so often in recent times, is a haven of refuge (I allude here only to the writings of credible mystics, like Bl. Elena Aiello, Bl. Alexandrina da Costa, etc., or approved Marian apparitions, like Fatima and Akita, the latter of which is highly pertinent to this article – especially the revelation given to Sr. Agnes on October 13, 1973).

Go, then, with haste to the Mother of All the Living; she will console you; she will nurture, enlighten, love and protect you, especially if you say her Rosary devoutly and consecrate yourself to Jesus through her. ‘For to him that is little [i.e. humble], mercy is granted: but the mighty [i.e. proud] shall be mightily tormented’ (Wis. 6:7).

To that end, you might find the following articles helpful:
– 33 Reasons to Consecrate Yourself to Jesus Through Mary:
https://littlestsouls.wordpress.com/2017/08/15/33-reasons-to-consecrate-yourself-to-mary/
– A Prayer Every Christian Should Know and Love:

A Prayer EVERY Christian Should Know and Love…

A Prophecy of St. Louis de Montfort
“Mary must shine forth more than ever in mercy, in might and grace, in these latter times: in mercy, to bring back and lovingly receive the poor strayed sinners who shall be converted and shall return to the Catholic Church; in might, against the enemies of God, idolaters, schismatics, Mahometans, Jews and souls hardened in impiety, who shall rise in terrible revolt against God to seduce all those who shall oppose them and to make them fall by promises and threats; and finally, she must shine forth in grace, in order to animate and sustain the valiant soldiers and faithful servants of Jesus Christ, who shall battle for His interests.”

Mary’s Little Ones
Those who take Mary for their Mother will, in time, grow in humility, without which none are saved. They will, in imitation of her who appeared at Fatima as the true Queen Esther (something worth researching), serve their King as they would the most loving of Fathers, relating to him as a ‘little one’ (Est. 2:20), as Esther always did. And like Esther, the King’s most favoured daughter (Est. 2:17), they will win the favour of God, Who cannot refuse grace to ‘her young ones’ (Ps. 83:4), her little ones (Prov. 9:4). Such as these will be protected in the days and years ahead:

‘… And they [the just] cried to God: and as they were crying, a little fountain grew into a very great river, and abounded into many waters [i.e. Esther; cf. Est. 10:6]. The light and the sun rose up, and THE HUMBLE [the little ones] WERE EXALTED, and they devoured the glorious [the proud]‘ (Est. 11:10-11).
‘I [the Lord of Hosts] will turn my hand to the LITTLE ONES. And there shall be in all the earth, saith the Lord, two parts in it shall be scattered, and shall perish: but the third part shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined: and I will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on my name, and I will hear them. I will say: Thou art my people: and they shall say: The Lord is my God’ (Zach. 13:7 – 9).
Thou [Lord] shalt protect them in Thy tabernacle [Mary, ‘His tabernacle in the sun’ – Ps. 18:6] from the contradiction of tongues’ (Ps. 30:21).
[They] SHALL BE PROTECTED UNDER HER COVERING FROM THE HEAT, AND SHALL REST IN HER GLORY’ (Ecclus. 14:27).

+
‘FATIMA’ by Tennyson: A Prophetic Poem?
(completed in 1842)

O LOVE, Love, Love! O withering might!
O sun, that from thy noonday height
Shudderest when I strain my sight,
Throbbing thro’ all thy heat and light,
Lo, falling from my constant mind,
Lo, parch’d and wither’d, deaf and blind,
I whirl like leaves in roaring wind.

Last night I wasted hateful hours
Below the city’s eastern towers:
I thirsted for the brooks, the showers:
I roll’d among the tender flowers:
I crush’d them on my breast, my mouth;
I look’d athwart the burning drouth
Of that long desert to the south.

Last night, when some one spoke his name,
From my swift blood that went and came
A thousand little shafts of flame
Were shiver’d in my narrow frame.
O Love, O fire! once he drew
With one long kiss my whole soul thro’
My lips, as sunlight drinketh dew.

Before he mounts the hill, I know
He cometh quickly: from below
Sweet gales, as from deep gardens, blow
Before him, striking on my brow.
In my dry brain my spirit soon,
Down-deepening from swoon to swoon,
Faints like a daled morning moon.

The wind sounds like a silver wire,
And from beyond the noon a fire
Is pour’d upon the hills, and nigher
The skies stoop down in their desire;
And, isled in sudden seas of light,
My heart, pierced thro’ with fierce delight,
Bursts into blossom in his sight.

My whole soul waiting silently,
All naked in a sultry sky,
Droops blinded with his shining eye:
I will possess him or will die.
I will grow round him in his place,
Grow, live, die looking on his face,
Die, dying clasp’d in his embrace.

Recommended reading:
– ‘Mariology: A Guide for Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, and Consecrated Persons’ (the title is somewhat misleading)

How to Pass the Days in Peace and Joy: Advice from a Saintly Cardinal

Mary Magdalene at Christ’s Feet (Tissot)

[Various quotations interspersed]

“The grace of prayer is one of the highest favours that God imparts to the human soul. Prayer is indeed the atmosphere in which holiness develops and flourishes; it enables the Holy Ghost to communicate Himself with the bonds of love.

+ ‘With me is prayer to the God of my life.’ (Ps. 41:9)

The whole essence of asceticism is contained in this one word: “prayer.” We first pray in order to obtain the help of God’s grace in our struggles in the path of purification; and, when we are engaged in the path of meditation, again we have recourse to prayer.

+ “Only a mortified heart is free.” (Bl. Edward Poppe)

In Heaven itself we shall do nothing else but pray, so we may consider prayer as the beginning of our future state of blessedness.

+ ‘Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to the Lord in the heavens’ (Lam. 3:41)

… We can always remain present in spirit before the Eucharistic Tabernacle, even when the material duties of our state necessitate our being absent in the body. Such was the practice of the saintly mother [St. Monica] of him [St. Augustine] who wrote in the ninth book of his “Confessions”: Ad pretii nostri sacramentum ligavit ancilla tua animam suam vinculo fidei (“To this Sacrament of our redemption Thy handmaid had bound her soul by the bond of faith.” – Sheed translation).

+ ‘But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection.’ (Col. 3:14)

… in the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus gives us His own Spirit, so that the multitude of those who receive Him may, through His grace, Who is their life, truly form cor unum et anima (‘one heart and one soul’ – Acts 4:32).

+ ‘They shall be converted that sit under His shadow.’ (Os. 14:8)

… In Heaven, besides the realization of the Beatific Vision, we shall derive special joy from the companionship of the Saints. The reason for this is that, as all the blessed are united among themselves by the most perfect bond of love, the happiness of each one will be infinitely multiplied by the happiness of the entire court of Heaven.”
– Bl. Cardinal Schuster (‘The Sacramentary’)

“Child, life and death consist in loving God.”
– A revelation to Bl. Ossana of Mantua (aged 5)
‘to live is Christ; and to die is gain’
– Phil. 1:21

Jesus Lives On In The Church (Pt. 3): The Mystical Tradition (cont.)

SOME REVELATIONS ON THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS AND THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT (cont.)

(4) A Vision of Bl. Marie d’Oignies
“In the life of Bl. Marie d’Oignies it is related that Our Lord was accustomed, on the occasion of different Feasts, to show Himself to her in the Blessed Sacrament under a form in harmony with the mystery being celebrated.” (‘Christ in His Mysteries’)

(5) A Revelation to Mother Jeanne Deleloë* (d. 1660)
“At Christmastide,” she writes, “during all those solemnities of our Saviour’s Birth, I received great favours; His Majesty often gave me a vivid light so that I knew these divine mysteries as if they were then really taking place.” (‘Christ, the Ideal of the Monk,’ Bl. Columba Marmion)

*“Often, during her ecstasies, she was heard reciting the Divine Office; but a curious thing was that she pronounced the verses alternatively, as if the inhabitants of Heaven were repeating the psalms with her; she recited the whole without omitting a single syllable, whatever was the Office of the day…
We likewise see St. Catherine of Siena asking Our Lord to teach her to read in order to be able to chant the Psalms and praises of God during the Canonical Hours. Often, too, Our Lord walked up and down with her in her cell and recited the Office with the Saint. It was as two religious might have done.” (ibid.)

(6) A Vision of St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi
“God also granted her to see Jesus in the heart of the sisters after they had received Holy Communion; and sometimes she manifested in what form she saw Him in each of them,
He showing Himself to her in some as a child, in others at the age of twelve, and in others still at the age of thirty-three years, in others as suffering and crucified, and in others as risen and glorious; and this diversity occurred according to the various meditations the sisters were engaged in, or according to the capacity and the merits of each of them.” (‘The Life of St. Mary Magdalen De-Pazzi,’ Fabrini)

St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi in ecstasy

(7) Another Vision of St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi
“One morning, it being Easter Sunday, whilst she was mistress of novices, and sitting at the table with unwonted joy and gladness, a novice waitress could not keep herself from asking her the cause of so great a joy. To whom Magdalen made answer: “Because I see Jesus resting in the breast of all the sisters, glorious and risen, as Holy Church to-day represents Him to us; and His presence is the cause of my being so joyful.” (ibid.)