Meditation:The Mystery of the Grace of Suffering
Divine Mercy In My Soul Diary by
Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska
The Wisdom of Saint Faustina is
evident in these Words she said:
“Suffering is
the greatest treasure on earth; it purifies the soul. In
suffering, we learn who is our true friend.”
(Diary 342)
The Words of Our Lord Jesus
Christ
"Suffering is a great grace; through suffering the soul
becomes like the Savior; in suffering love becomes
crystallized; the greater the suffering, the purer the
love." (Diary 57)
"I
suffer even greater pain than that which you see. Look
and see the human race in its present condition. You
see, this is a torture greater than My death." (Diary 445)
"Those who are like Me in
the pain and contempt they suffer will be like Me also in
glory. And those who resemble Me less in pain and contempt
will also bear less resemblance to Me in glory."
(Diary
446)
"O
soul steeped in darkness, do not despair. All is not
yet lost. Come and confide in your God, who is love
and mercy."
"What joy fills My heart when you return to Me.
Because you are weak , I take you in My arms and carry you
to the home of My Father."
"My
child you have a special claim on My mercy. Let it act
in your poor soul; let the rays of grace enter your soul;
they bring with them light, warmth, and life."
"My child, all your sins have not
wounded My heart as painfully as your present lack of trust
does – that after so many efforts of My love and mercy, you
should still doubt My goodness."
"Tell me all, My child, hide nothing from Me, because My
loving Heart, the Heart of your Best Friend, is listening to
you." (Diary
1486)
"Poor soul, I see that you suffer much and that you do not
have even the strength to converse with me. So I will
speak to you. Even though your sufferings were very
great, do not lose heart or give in to despondency. But
tell Me, my child, who has dared to wound your heart?
Tell me about everything, be sincere in dealing with Me,
reveal all the wounds of your heart. I will heal them,
and your suffering will become a source of your
sanctification." (Diary 1487)
"True,
My child , all that is painful. But there is no way to
heaven except the way of the cross. I followed it first. You
must learn that it is the shortest and surest way." (Diary
1487)
"It is
because you are not of this world that the world hates you.
First it persecuted Me. Persecution is a sign that you are
following in My footsteps faithfully." (Diary1487)
"Learn from this that no
one will understand a soul entirely –that is beyond human
ability. Therefore, I have remained on earth to
comfort your aching heart and to fortify your soul, so that
you will not falter on the way. You say that a dense
darkness is obscuring your mind. But why, at such
times do you not come to Me, the light who can in an instant
pour into your soul more understanding about holiness than
can be found in any books?"
"Know, too, that the
darkness about which you complain I first endured in the
garden of olives when my soul was crushed in mortal anguish.
I am giving you a share in those sufferings because of My
special love for you and in view of the high degree of
holiness I am intending for you in heaven. A suffering soul
is closest to My Heart."
"My child, make the
resolution never to rely on people. Entrust yourself
completely to My will saying “Not as I want, but according
to Your will, O God, let it be done unto me.” These words,
spoken from the depths of one’s heart, can raise a soul to
the summit of sanctity in a short time. In such a soul
I delight. Such a soul gives Me Glory. Such a
soul fills heaven with the fragrance of her virtue.
But understand that the strength by which you bear
sufferings comes from frequent Communions. So approach
this fountain of mercy often, to draw with the vessel of
trust whatever you need."
"You see, My child, what
you are of yourself. The cause of your falls is that
you rely too much upon yourself and too little on Me.
But let this not sadden you so much. You’re dealing
with the God of mercy, which your misery cannot exhaust .
Remember, I did not allot only a certain number of pardons."
(Diary
1488)
"My child, know that the
greatest obstacles to holiness are discouragement and an
exaggerated anxiety. These will deprive you of the
ability to practice virtue. All temptations united
together ought not disturb your interior peace , not even
momentarily. Sensitiveness and discouragement are the
fruits of self-love. You should not become discouraged
, but strive to make My love reign in place of your
self-love. Have confidence, My child. Do not
lose heart in coming for pardon, for I am always ready to
forgive you. As often as you beg for it, you glorify
My mercy." (Diary
1488)
"My child, life on earth is
a struggle indeed; a great struggle for My kingdom.
But fear not, because you’re not alone. I am always
supporting you, so lean on Me as you struggle, fear nothing.
Take the vessel of trust and draw from the fountain of life
– for yourself, but also for other souls, especially such as
are distrustful of My goodness." (Diary
1488)
"In a
soul that lives on My love alone, I reign as in heaven.
I watch over it day and night. In it I find My
happiness. My ear is attentive to each request of its
heart; often I anticipate its requests." (Diary
1489)
"But child , you are not
yet in your homeland: So go, fortified by my grace, and
fight for My kingdom in human souls; fight as a King’s child
would ; and remember that the days of your exile will pass
quickly , and with them the possibility of earning merit for
heaven." (Diary
1489)
If God Is
Merciful, Then Why Is There Suffering?
Fr. Chris Alar,
The Marian Fathers of the
Immaculate Conception of The Most Blessed Virgin Mary
(Marian Seminarians, Holy Priests, Apostles of Divine Mercy)
The National Shrine of The Divine
Mercy in Stockbridge, MA.
"These things I command you, that you love one another. If
the world hate you, know ye, that it hath hated Me before
you. If you had been of the world, the world would
love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I
have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth
you. Remember my word that I said to you: The servant is not
greater than his master. If they have persecuted Me, they
will also persecute you: if they have kept My word, they
will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to
you for My name's sake: because they know not Him who sent
Me. If I had not come, and spoken to them, they would not
have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. He that
hateth Me, hateth my Father also. If I had not done among
them the works that no other man hath done, they would not
have sin; but now they have both seen and hated both Me and
My Father. But that the word may be fulfilled which is
written in their law: They hated Me without cause." - John
15:18-25
The Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki,
Poland
Chapel of
the miraculous image of the Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St.
Faustina
