Apr 08

4/8 – Easter Wednesday – Volume 6; April 11, 1905

April 8, 2015

4/8 – Easter Wednesday – Volume 6; April 11, 1905

On Wall In Chapel at St. Anthony’s Orphanage in Corato, Italy
(“Soul, Help Me”)

Book of Heaven
Volume 6; April 11, 1905

How perseverance is seal of eternal life and development of divine life.

Being very afflicted because of the privation of my adorable Jesus, I was saying to myself: “How cruel He has become with me – I myself cannot understand how His good Heart can reach the point of doing this. And then, if persevering pleases Him so much, yet, my persevering does not move His good Heart.”

While I was saying this and other nonsense, all of a sudden He came and told me: “Indeed, that of the soul which pleases Me (Jesus) the most is perseverance, because perseverance is seal of Eternal Life and development of Divine Life. In fact, just as God is ever old and ever new and immutable, in the same way, through perseverance, by having exercised it always, the soul is old, and by her attitude of exercising it, she is ever new; and each time she exercises it she is renewed in God, remaining immutable, and without realizing it. Since through perseverance she continuously acquires Divine Life within herself, by acquiring God she is sealed with Eternal Life. Can there be a seal safer than God Himself?”

Divine Mercy Novena

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Apr 07

4/7 – Easter Tuesday – Volume 9 ; April 10, 1910

April 7, 2015

4/7 – Easter Tuesday – Volume 9; April 10, 1910

Book of Heaven
Volume 9; April 10, 1910

Preparation and thanksgiving at Communion.

I write to obey, but I feel my heart crack from the effort I am making. But, Viva Obedience – Viva the Will of God! I write, but I tremble, and I myself don’t know what I am saying. Obedience wants me (Luisa) to write something about how I prepare myself and thank blessed Jesus at Communion. I don’t know how to say anything about it, because my sweet Jesus, in seeing my incapacity and that I am good at nothing, does everything Himself: He prepares my soul, and He Himself administers the thanksgiving to me; and I follow Him.

Now, the way of Jesus is always immense, and together with Jesus, I too feel immense, and as if I were able to do something. Then Jesus withdraws, and I remain always the stupid one that I am, the little ignorant one, the little bad one. And it is exactly because of this that Jesus loves me – because I am ignorant, and I am no one, and I can do nothing. Knowing that I want to receive Him at any cost, so as not to receive dishonor in coming into me, but rather, highest honor, He Himself prepares my poor soul. He gives me His own things, His merits, His clothing, His works, His desires – in sum, all of Himself. If necessary, also that which the Saints did, because everything is His own; if necessary, also that which the Most Holy Mama did. And I too say to all: “Jesus, give honor to Yourself in coming into me. My Queen Mama, Saints, all Angels, I am so very poor; everything that is yours – put it in my heart, not for me, but for the honor of Jesus.” And I feel that all of Heaven contributes to preparing me.

And after Jesus has descended within me, I seem to see Him all pleased, seeing Himself honored by His own things; and sometimes He tells me: “Brava, brava, my daughter, how happy I am – how pleased I am. Everywhere I look within you, I find things worthy of Me. Everything that is Mine, is yours; how many beautiful things you made Me find!”

Knowing that I am so very poor, that I have done nothing, and that nothing is mine, I laugh at the contentment of Jesus, and I say: “Thank goodness Jesus thinks like this! It is enough that He came – this is enough for me. It doesn’t matter that I have used His own things – the poor must receive from the rich.” Now, it is true that a few glimmers here and there remain in me about the way Jesus has at Communion, but I am unable to reunite these glimmers together, and form a preparation and a thanksgiving. I lack the capacity; it seems to me that I prepare Myself in Jesus Himself, and that I thank Him with Jesus Himself.

Divine Mercy Novena

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Apr 06

4/6 Monday within the Octave of Easter

April 6, 2015

4/6 Monday within the Octave of Easter

The Octave of Easter, during which formerly no servile work was done, was one continual Feast. Each day the neophytes (those novices in the Catholic Faith who were fully accepted into the Church during the Easter Service) attended Mass at a Station (a specifically designated Church), at which they received Holy Communion. In the evening they went to St. John Lateran for the office of Vespers (Evening Prayer of the Church).

Sts. Peter (foreground) and John
at the Empty Tomb of Our Lord Jesus Christ

On the first day of the week the Station was at St. Peter’s, which contains the tomb of the head of the Church. We hear St. Peter’s voice in the first reading (Acts 2:14-14,22-32). He proclaims to the world the Resurrection of Christ, of which he was witness.

Day Twenty-Eight from The Virgin Mary in the Kingdom of the Divine Will

Now, listen to Me, daughter of My Sorrows: as My Dear Son Breathed His last, He descended into Limbo, as Triumpher and Bearer of Glory and Happiness to that prison in which were all the Patriarchs and Prophets, the first father Adam, dear Saint Joseph, My holy parents, and all those who had been saved by virtue of the foreseen Merits of the future Redeemer. I was Inseparable from My Son, and not even death could take Him away from Me. So, in the Ardor of My Sorrows I followed Him into Limbo and was Spectator of the Feast, of the Thanksgivings, which that whole great crowd of people gave to My Son, who had suffered so much, and whose first step had been toward them, to Beatify them and to bring them with Himself to Celestial Glory. So, as He died, Conquests and Glory began for Jesus and for all those who loved Him. This, dear daughter, is symbol of how, as the creature makes her will die through Union with the Divine Will, Conquests of Divine Order, Glory and Joy begin, even in the midst of the greatest sorrows. Even though the eyes of My Soul followed My Son and I never lost sight of Him, at the same time, during those three days in which He was buried, I felt such Yearnings to see Him Risen, that in My Ardor of Love I kept repeating: “Rise, My Glory! Rise, My Life!” My Desires were Ardent, My Sighs, of Fire—to the point of feeling consumed.

Now, in these yearnings, I saw that My Dear Son, accompanied by that great crowd of people, went out of Limbo in Act of Triumph, and brought Himself to the sepulcher. It was the dawn of the third day, and just as all nature had cried over Him, now it rejoiced; so much so, that the sun anticipated its course to be present at the Act in which My Son was Rising Again. But—O marvel—before Rising Again, He showed that crowd of people His Most Holy Humanity— Bleeding, Wounded, Disfigured; the way it had been reduced for Love of them and of all. All were moved, and admired the Excesses of Love and the Great Portent of Redemption.

Now, My daughter, O, how I wish you to be present in the Act in which My Son Rose Again. He was all Majesty; His Divinity, United to His Soul, unleashed Seas of Light and of Enchanting Beauty, such as to Fill Heaven and earth; and, as Triumpher, making use of His Power, He Commanded His dead Humanity to receive His Soul again, and to Rise, Triumphant and Glorious, to Immortal Life. What a Solemn Act! My Dear Jesus Triumphed over death, saying: “Death, you will no longer be death—but Life.”

With this Act of Triumph, He placed the Seal that He was Man and God; and with His Resurrection, He confirmed His Doctrine, His Miracles, the Life of the Sacraments, and the whole Life of the Church. Not only this, but He obtained Triumph over the human wills, weakened and almost extinguished to True Good, to make Triumph over them the Life of that Divine Will which was to bring to creatures the Fullness of Sanctity and of all Goods. And at the same time, by virtue of His Resurrection, He cast into the bodies the Seed of Resurrection to Everlasting Glory. My daughter, the Resurrection of My Son encloses everything, says everything, confirms everything, and is the Most Solemn Act that He did for Love of creatures.

Divine Mercy Novena

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Apr 05

4/5 – A Very Blessed and Holy Easter in the Most Holy Divine Will!

April 5, 2015

4/5 – A Very Blessed and Holy Easter in the Most Holy Divine Will!

Letters of Luisa Piccarreta
Letter #72. To Mother Cecilia

In Voluntate Dei!

My good and reverend Mother,

(…) Now I (Luisa) feel the need to send you my Easter wishes. My Mother, what wish can I send you? I know that crosses surround you; how many times you have to swallow bitter pills, that make your heart bleed. It seems to me that dear Jesus surrounds you with these pains in order to give you strength, and with tender and loving voice, He says to you: “My daughter, give these pains to Me, that they may form my arms, my heart, my steps – my whole Life, to be able to live within you.” My Mother, it is the crosses, the sufferings united to the Divine Volition, that form the raw material in order to receive in us the life of Jesus, Who calls our littleness to live in Him and to rise in Him.

Here is my wish, my Mother: to rise not only on Easter, but continually in Jesus; so that every pain and each one of our acts, may be the means in order to rise in the One Who loves us so much. I believe I could not send you a more beautiful wish; and I believe you will appreciate it, more so, under the rain of unheard-of crosses and of profound humiliations. The storms give no sign of ceasing. Pray that He will make peace rise again from the storms, otherwise one cannot live.

My sister tells you many things and sends you her affectionate wishes. In a special way, I send my wishes to Sister Remigia (and our website sends this wish to you, dear reader), that she may form her perfect resurrection in the Divine Will, and use every act she does in order to grow in sanctity. We must be convinced that not the great things make us saints, but the little ones, which we have in our power and which serve as the nourishment of sanctity. I commend myself to your prayers, and leaving you rising together with Jesus, I kiss your right hand and with a thousand regards, united to my sister, I say,

The little daughter of the Divine Will.

Corato, April 5, 1939

Divine Mercy Novena

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Apr 04

4/4 Holy Saturday

April 4, 2015

4/4 – Holy Saturday

Holy Shroud

In former times the Church held no special service on this day, but a meeting was held in the course of the afternoon for the last scrutiny of the catechumens, which almost immediately preceded the baptism; several ceremonies that precede the conferring of baptism were performed at this gathering.

At night was held the Watch or solemn Vigil of Easter, towards the end of which, before daybreak, the Catechumens plunged in the water of the baptistry were so to speak buried with Jesus; and at the very hour at which Christ rose triumphantly from the sepulcher they were born to the life of grace.

Later the great ceremonies were anticipated, being held in the evening.

The Blessing of the New Fire

The Church, blessing as she does all elements of which she makes use for Divine worship, formerly made a practice of blessing every evening the new fire that was to provide the light for the office of Vespers. The liturgy of Holy Saturday maintains this custom. She also introduced later on the blessing of the five grains of incense which are to be fixed in the Paschal candle.

The altars are covered with linen cloths, but the candles are not lighted until the beginning of Mass. Meanwhile a spark is ignited outside, and the fire is kindled. The priest, accompanied by his ministers with processional cross, holy water and incense, goes outside the church door, if it can be conveniently done, or stands in the entrance of the church and blesses the new fire.

***

The Virgin Mary in the Kingdom of the Divine Will
Day Twenty-eight

Lesson of the Desolate Queen and Mother:

… Now, listen to Me (the Blessed Mother), daughter of My Sorrows: as My Dear Son (Jesus) Breathed His last, He descended into Limbo, as Triumpher and Bearer of Glory and Happiness to that prison in which were all the Patriarchs and Prophets, the first father Adam, dear Saint Joseph, My holy parents, and all those who had been saved by virtue of the foreseen Merits of the future Redeemer. I was Inseparable from My Son, and not even death could take Him away from Me. So, in the Ardor of My Sorrows I followed Him into Limbo and was Spectator of the Feast, of the Thanksgivings, which that whole great crowd of people gave to My Son, who had suffered so much, and whose first step had been toward them, to Beatify them and to bring them with Himself to Celestial Glory. So, as He died, Conquests and Glory began for Jesus and for all those who loved Him. This, dear daughter, is symbol of how, as the creature makes her will die through Union with the Divine Will, Conquests of Divine Order, Glory and Joy begin, even in the midst of the greatest sorrows. Even though the eyes of My Soul followed My Son (Jesus) and I (the Blessed Mother) never lost sight of Him, at the same time, during those three days in which He was buried, I felt such Yearnings to see Him Risen, that in My Ardor of Love I kept repeating: “Rise, My Glory! Rise, My Life!” My Desires were Ardent, My Sighs, of Fire—to the point of feeling consumed.

Divine Mercy Novena

4/4 Feast of St. Isidore, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

St. Isidore

When St. Isidore was almost fourscore years old, though age and fatigues had undermined and broken into his health, he never interrupted his usual exercises and labours. During the last six months of his life he increased his charities with such profusion that the poor of the whole country crowded his house from morning till night. Perceiving his end to draw near, he entreated two bishops to come to see him. With them he went to church, where one of them covered him with sackcloth, the other put ashes on his head. Clothed with the habit of penance, he stretched his hands towards heaven, prayed with great eagerness, and begged aloud the pardon of his sins. He then received from the hands of the bishops the Body and Blood of our Lord, recommended himself to the prayers of all that were present, remitted the bonds of all his debtors, exhorted the people to charity, and caused all the money which he had not as yet disposed of to be distributed among the poor. This done, he returned to his own house, and calmly departed this life on the fourth day after, which was the 4th of April, in the year 636, as is expressly testified by Aedemptus, his disciple, who was present at his death. His body was interred in his cathedral between those of his brother, St. Leander, and his sister, St. Florentina. Ferdinand, King of Castile and Leon, recovered his relics from the Moors and placed them in the church of St. John Baptist at Leon, where they still remain.

***

Excerpt from Day Twenty-Six of the Virgin Mary in the Kingdom of the Divine Will

But in seeing Himself (Our Lord Jesus Chirst rejected by the great, the learned, My (Blessed Mother) Beloved Son did not stop, nor could He stop—His Love ran, because He wanted souls. So He surrounded Himself with the poor, the afflicted, the sick, the lame, the blind, the mute, and with many other maladies by which the poor creatures were oppressed—all of them images of the many evils which the human will had produced in them. And Dear Jesus Healed everyone; He Consoled and Instructed everyone. So He became the Friend, the Father, the Doctor, the Teacher of the Poor.

My daughter, it can be said that the poor shepherds were the ones who received Him with their visits at His Birth, and the poor are those who follow Him in the last years of His Life down here, unto His Death. In fact, the poor, the ignorant, are more simple, less attached to their own judgment, and therefore they are more favored, more blessed, and preferred by My Dear Son; so much so, that He chose poor fishermen as Apostles, as Pillars of the future Church.

Now, dearest daughter, if I wanted to tell you what My Son and I did and suffered during these three years of His Public Life, I would be too long. In the Fiat I separated from My Son, and the Fiat gave Me the Strength to make the Sacrifice. What I recommend to you is that in everything you may do and suffer, your first and last act be the Divine Fiat. In this way, if you enclose everything in the Eternal Fiat, you will find Strength for everything, even in the pains that cost you your life. Therefore, give your word to your Mama, that you will let yourself be found always in the Divine Will. In this way, you too will feel the Inseparability from Me and from our Highest Good, Jesus.

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