Ijournal entry 112717 # 46. November, Month of The Holy Souls. The Rule of St. Benedict. Quotes by G.K. Chesterton, Msgr. Charles Pope, and Anne Catherine Emmerich. "What Is Eternal Life?, by Msgr. Charles Pope. "25 Secrets of spiritual struggle that Jesus revealed to St. Faustina", by Kathleen Beckman. YouTube video: "Sr. Marie, evangelizing at 103", Part II.
"St. John Massias, known as the "Helper of the Poor Souls", offered three rosaries every night for the souls in Purgatory, praying for them on his knees despite bodily fatigue. Saint John also sprinkled holy water on the ground several times a day for their relief. He also offered hundreds of short ejaculations ("sudden short exclamations, especially brief pious utterances or prayers") as he went around his regular work, applying the merit of these little prayers to the Holy Souls. Not a day passed that St. John didn't unite himself with the priest at the altar begging the Heavenly Father to grant all the souls eternal rest through the merits of Christ's death on Calvary. The Holy Souls often appeared to him begging his powerful intercession, "Give us prayers", they cried with one voice. "Oh brother John, you are the friend of the poor and sick! Be our friend too! Help make us worthy to be with God and His Blessed ones".
Info from book: "St. John Massias", by Mary Fabyan Windeatt,
Info from book: "St. John Massias", by Mary Fabyan Windeatt,
The Rule of St. Benedict
"If anyone make a mistake in the recitation of psalm, responsory, antiphon, or lesson, and do not make humble satisfaction there before all, let him undergo greater punishment, because he would not repair by humility the fault that he committed through carelessness. But boys for such faults shall be whipped"
(MC= Two scriptures are coming to mind upon reading this, and it seems a basic principle that God can use with us. Mercy proceeds justice, so the offending party gets to choose what door to enter. It is wise to not play hardball
"If anyone make a mistake in the recitation of psalm, responsory, antiphon, or lesson, and do not make humble satisfaction there before all, let him undergo greater punishment, because he would not repair by humility the fault that he committed through carelessness. But boys for such faults shall be whipped"
(MC= Two scriptures are coming to mind upon reading this, and it seems a basic principle that God can use with us. Mercy proceeds justice, so the offending party gets to choose what door to enter. It is wise to not play hardball
This next scripture fits in to reinforce the message:
⭕️"The point of the story of Satan is not that he revolted against being in hell, but that he revolted against being in heaven. The point about Adam is not that he was discontented with the conditions of this earth, but that he was discontented with the conditions of paradise". By G.K. Chesterton
🔵 "Heaven is something we must learn to love. In this it is like many of the finer things in life. Its appeal may not be immediately obvious, but having been trained in its ways, we learn to love it very deeply. If we think that it is only natural to love Heaven, we must become more sober.The fact is, we have obtuse spirits. We live in a fallen world, governed by a fallen angel, and we have fallen natures. We tend to love that which is destructive and harmful, and even knowing that, we are still attracted to it. We tend to esteem that which is foolish and passing, while glamorizing evil. We tend to call “good” or “no big deal” what God calls sinful". By Msgr. Charles Pope
🌕 "I saw deplorable things: gambling, drinking, and talking in church. They were courting women. All sorts of abominations were perpetrated there. Priests allowed everything and said Mass with much irreverence.” By Anne Catherine Emmerich
🔵 "Heaven is something we must learn to love. In this it is like many of the finer things in life. Its appeal may not be immediately obvious, but having been trained in its ways, we learn to love it very deeply. If we think that it is only natural to love Heaven, we must become more sober.The fact is, we have obtuse spirits. We live in a fallen world, governed by a fallen angel, and we have fallen natures. We tend to love that which is destructive and harmful, and even knowing that, we are still attracted to it. We tend to esteem that which is foolish and passing, while glamorizing evil. We tend to call “good” or “no big deal” what God calls sinful". By Msgr. Charles Pope
🌕 "I saw deplorable things: gambling, drinking, and talking in church. They were courting women. All sorts of abominations were perpetrated there. Priests allowed everything and said Mass with much irreverence.” By Anne Catherine Emmerich
The wait is over, but the question is was anyone waiting? My soul is being saturated, so it is all worth it. Here is Part II, the remix of the "Trust Him When Thy Wants Are Many" lyrics by Lucy A. Bennett.
~ "Trust Him When Thy Wants are Many ~ Advice For The Wise and For The Zany" ~
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him when thy wants are many;
tmm=Trust Him when you are down to your last penny
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him when thy friends are few;
👡Lucy A. Bennett=And the time of swift temptation Is the time to trust Him too.
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him when thy soul is burdened With the sense of all its sin;
❄️tmm=Trust in Him and you'll always be positioning yourself to win
👡Lucy A. Bennett=He will speak the word of pardon,
❄️tmm=Cause the price have already been paid, the battle at Calvary was won
👡Lucy A. Bennett=He will make thee clean within.
❄️tmm=No more difficult through the thick or the thin
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him for the grace sufficient, Ever equal to thy need;
❄️tmm= A special blessing to drink His Precious Blood and on His Precious Body in Eucharist to graciously feed
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him always for the answer,
❄️tmm=Trust Him in any and whatever circumstances coming your way that may occur
👢Lucy A. Bennett=When in His dear name you plead.
❄️tmm=An answer for sure, you can expect indeed
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him for the grace to conquer, He is able to subdue;
❄️tmm=Put to the test, He'll pass each and everyone tried and true
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him for the power for service;
❄️tmm=Trust Him that the day is coming when you'll get to experience His Divine bliss
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him for the blessing too.
❄️tmm=The blessing of blessings, greatest of all, God's unconditional love for me and for you
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,
❄️tmm=Cause His promise is that with us He'll forever be
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him when thy strength is small,
❄️tmm=For He says "I Am the Good Shepherd",the one who harkens to His sheep when ever they call
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him when to simply trust Him
❄️tmm=Holding on in the darkest of dark times, when even not a shadow is visible, whether strong or dim
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Seems the hardest thing of all.
❄️tmm=To trust when it seems like everything is in a free fall
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him; He is ever faithful;
tmm=Gracious kind and so very merciful
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him, for His will is best;
❄️tmm=Come unto me and in my Sacred Heart find a place where all can take refuge and rest
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus, dear child
tmm=Is yours for all time and not just for a little earthly while
👡Lucy A. Bennett= Is the only place of rest.
tmm=The heart of Jesus, for me and for a place we each is always a most welcome guest
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him, then,
❄️tmm=A invitation extended to the least and the greatest of men
👡Lucy A. Bennett=through cloud or sunshine,
❄️tmm=His love will always yours, it will always be mine
👡Lucy A. Bennett=All thy cares upon Him cast,
❄️tmm=Cause His mercy is forever, demanding we be patient, persevere and that we hold fast
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Till the storm of life is over, And the trusting days are past.
❄️tmm=Then we can rejoice and say: free at last, free at last, Great God Almighty, we're free at last
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him when thy wants are many;
tmm=Trust Him when you are down to your last penny
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him when thy friends are few;
👡Lucy A. Bennett=And the time of swift temptation Is the time to trust Him too.
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him when thy soul is burdened With the sense of all its sin;
❄️tmm=Trust in Him and you'll always be positioning yourself to win
👡Lucy A. Bennett=He will speak the word of pardon,
❄️tmm=Cause the price have already been paid, the battle at Calvary was won
👡Lucy A. Bennett=He will make thee clean within.
❄️tmm=No more difficult through the thick or the thin
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him for the grace sufficient, Ever equal to thy need;
❄️tmm= A special blessing to drink His Precious Blood and on His Precious Body in Eucharist to graciously feed
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him always for the answer,
❄️tmm=Trust Him in any and whatever circumstances coming your way that may occur
👢Lucy A. Bennett=When in His dear name you plead.
❄️tmm=An answer for sure, you can expect indeed
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him for the grace to conquer, He is able to subdue;
❄️tmm=Put to the test, He'll pass each and everyone tried and true
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him for the power for service;
❄️tmm=Trust Him that the day is coming when you'll get to experience His Divine bliss
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him for the blessing too.
❄️tmm=The blessing of blessings, greatest of all, God's unconditional love for me and for you
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,
❄️tmm=Cause His promise is that with us He'll forever be
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him when thy strength is small,
❄️tmm=For He says "I Am the Good Shepherd",the one who harkens to His sheep when ever they call
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him when to simply trust Him
❄️tmm=Holding on in the darkest of dark times, when even not a shadow is visible, whether strong or dim
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Seems the hardest thing of all.
❄️tmm=To trust when it seems like everything is in a free fall
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him; He is ever faithful;
tmm=Gracious kind and so very merciful
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him, for His will is best;
❄️tmm=Come unto me and in my Sacred Heart find a place where all can take refuge and rest
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus, dear child
tmm=Is yours for all time and not just for a little earthly while
👡Lucy A. Bennett= Is the only place of rest.
tmm=The heart of Jesus, for me and for a place we each is always a most welcome guest
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Trust Him, then,
❄️tmm=A invitation extended to the least and the greatest of men
👡Lucy A. Bennett=through cloud or sunshine,
❄️tmm=His love will always yours, it will always be mine
👡Lucy A. Bennett=All thy cares upon Him cast,
❄️tmm=Cause His mercy is forever, demanding we be patient, persevere and that we hold fast
👡Lucy A. Bennett=Till the storm of life is over, And the trusting days are past.
❄️tmm=Then we can rejoice and say: free at last, free at last, Great God Almighty, we're free at last
Article: "What Is Eternal Life?, by Msgr. Charles Pope
Info from this site:
http://blog.adw.org/2017/11/what-is-eternal-life-3/
"I often think that we haven’t done a very good job of setting forth the doctrine of eternal life. For most people, the concept seems a rather shallow one: that we will live forever. Frankly, many may not consider it all that appealing if the place where we live forever is Heaven. Too often, Heaven is reduced to merely this: a place where I’ll be happy. I’ll have a mansion, I’ll see my mother again, and I won’t ever have to suffer. The description never gets around to mentioning God. If He is mentioned at all, He’s way down on the list somewhere rather than at the top where He belongs. This is sad, for the heart of Heaven is to be with God!
🏈Pope Benedict XVI, in his encyclical “Spe Salvi,” pondered the problem of the generally poor understanding of eternal life:
Perhaps many people reject the faith today simply because they do not find the prospect of eternal life attractive. What they desire is not eternal life at all, but this present life, for which faith in eternal life seems something of an impediment. To continue living for ever—endlessly—appears more like a curse than a gift. Death, admittedly, one would wish to postpone for as long as possible. But to live always, without end—this, all things considered, can only be monotonous and ultimately unbearable. … The term “eternal life” is intended to give a name to this known “unknown.” Inevitably it is an inadequate term that creates confusion. “Eternal,” in fact, suggests to us the idea of something interminable, and this frightens us; “life” makes us think of the life that we know and love and do not want to lose, even though very often it brings more toil than satisfaction, so that while on the one hand we desire it, on the other hand we do not want it (Spe Salvi, 10, 12).
🏈My own pondering and experience has led me to conclude that ultimately eternal life is not about the length of life, but its fullness. To enter eternal life means to become fully alive. Here on this earth we are not fully alive. We experience much of death in these lowly bodies of ours. However, most of us do get glimpses of eternal life and can experience some aspects of it. For example, have you ever had a day when you felt you had all the energy in the world? Not only did you feel energetic but your mind was sharp and you were efficient and effective. Everything seemed to click; there was joy and contentment. Days like that and feelings like that don’t last, but they provide a glimpse of what eternal life might be like—except that eternal life will be immeasurably better!
🏈Another experience I have of eternal life is one that I hope you share. At the age of 56, my body is no longer in prime condition. It is aging and death will one day come to it, but my soul is more alive than ever. I am more joyful, serene, confident, prayerful, and content than ever. Many sins that used to plague me are gone or at least greatly diminished. In effect, I am more alive now than I was when I was in my twenties. Just wait until you see me at 75 or 90! As I get older I become more alive. What I am saying is that eternal life doesn’t just begin after we die. It begins now and should grow in us more and more. Its fulfillment will only be in Heaven but I am a witness (and I hope that you are too) that eternal life has already set deep roots in me.
This experience of being fully alive is to be contrasted with one of the descriptions of Hell in the Scriptures which refers to it as the “second death” (e.g., Rev 21:8). This means that the dammed, having died in the corporal sense, now descend to what is not really life. Yes, they have existence and experience, but their lives are dead because they are not living for what God made them for: His very self. Theirs is a “life” of frustration and emptiness because the whole key to happiness is missing. Having rejected God, His Kingdom, and His values, they have nothing left with which to fill the God-sized hole in their hearts. It is a life so far from eternal life that it is barely a life at all; thus Scripture calls it the “second death.”
Again, the main point is that “eternal” in “eternal life” refers not so much to the length of life as to its fullness. To enter eternal life is to become fully alive with God forever; to experience untold joy, serenity, and peace in an eternal embrace with Him forever. Having our communion with God perfected, we will also have our communion with one another perfected. We will be caught up in the great movement of love that is the life of the Trinity. Who really needs a mansion when you can live in the heart of God? That is our true dwelling place that the Father is preparing. It’s not about houses and seats of honor; it’s about a place in the heart of the God who made us and loves us. It is to become fully alive and perfect as the Father is perfect.
🏈Pope Benedict presents this beautiful image of eternal life:
To imagine ourselves outside the temporality that imprisons us and in some way to sense that eternity is not an unending succession of days in the calendar, but something more like the supreme moment of satisfaction, in which totality embraces us and we embrace totality—this we can only attempt. It would be like plunging into the ocean of infinite love, a moment in which time—the before and after—no longer exists. We can only attempt to grasp the idea that such a moment is life in the full sense, a plunging ever anew into the vastness of being, in which we are simply overwhelmed with joy. This is how Jesus expresses it in Saint John’s Gospel: “I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (16:22) (Spe Salvi, 12).
🏈In the following video from a few years back, Bishop Robert Barron makes an interesting point, one that I have made in other posts as well: when the Church fails to teach her doctrine well or casts aside her traditions, the world often picks them up but distorts them. In this video, Bishop Barron discusses the current obsession with vampires. He notes that as we have struggled to present well the concept of eternal life, the world has taken up the notion of those “who can never die” in the vampire craze. The fact that they live forever is a horrible curse to them and any biblical notion of eternal life is absent; they are merely the “un-dead.” Yes, when the Church drops the ball, the world picks it up—but flattens and distorts it. I often think that we haven’t done a very good job of setting forth the doctrine of eternal life. For most people, the concept seems a rather shallow one: that we will live forever. Frankly, many may not consider it all that appealing if the place where we live forever is Heaven. Too often, Heaven is reduced to merely this: a place where I’ll be happy. I’ll have a mansion, I’ll see my mother again, and I won’t ever have to suffer. The description never gets around to mentioning God. If He is mentioned at all, He’s way down on the list somewhere rather than at the top where He belongs. This is sad, for the heart of Heaven is to be with God!"
Info from this site:
http://blog.adw.org/2017/11/what-is-eternal-life-3/
"I often think that we haven’t done a very good job of setting forth the doctrine of eternal life. For most people, the concept seems a rather shallow one: that we will live forever. Frankly, many may not consider it all that appealing if the place where we live forever is Heaven. Too often, Heaven is reduced to merely this: a place where I’ll be happy. I’ll have a mansion, I’ll see my mother again, and I won’t ever have to suffer. The description never gets around to mentioning God. If He is mentioned at all, He’s way down on the list somewhere rather than at the top where He belongs. This is sad, for the heart of Heaven is to be with God!
🏈Pope Benedict XVI, in his encyclical “Spe Salvi,” pondered the problem of the generally poor understanding of eternal life:
Perhaps many people reject the faith today simply because they do not find the prospect of eternal life attractive. What they desire is not eternal life at all, but this present life, for which faith in eternal life seems something of an impediment. To continue living for ever—endlessly—appears more like a curse than a gift. Death, admittedly, one would wish to postpone for as long as possible. But to live always, without end—this, all things considered, can only be monotonous and ultimately unbearable. … The term “eternal life” is intended to give a name to this known “unknown.” Inevitably it is an inadequate term that creates confusion. “Eternal,” in fact, suggests to us the idea of something interminable, and this frightens us; “life” makes us think of the life that we know and love and do not want to lose, even though very often it brings more toil than satisfaction, so that while on the one hand we desire it, on the other hand we do not want it (Spe Salvi, 10, 12).
🏈My own pondering and experience has led me to conclude that ultimately eternal life is not about the length of life, but its fullness. To enter eternal life means to become fully alive. Here on this earth we are not fully alive. We experience much of death in these lowly bodies of ours. However, most of us do get glimpses of eternal life and can experience some aspects of it. For example, have you ever had a day when you felt you had all the energy in the world? Not only did you feel energetic but your mind was sharp and you were efficient and effective. Everything seemed to click; there was joy and contentment. Days like that and feelings like that don’t last, but they provide a glimpse of what eternal life might be like—except that eternal life will be immeasurably better!
🏈Another experience I have of eternal life is one that I hope you share. At the age of 56, my body is no longer in prime condition. It is aging and death will one day come to it, but my soul is more alive than ever. I am more joyful, serene, confident, prayerful, and content than ever. Many sins that used to plague me are gone or at least greatly diminished. In effect, I am more alive now than I was when I was in my twenties. Just wait until you see me at 75 or 90! As I get older I become more alive. What I am saying is that eternal life doesn’t just begin after we die. It begins now and should grow in us more and more. Its fulfillment will only be in Heaven but I am a witness (and I hope that you are too) that eternal life has already set deep roots in me.
This experience of being fully alive is to be contrasted with one of the descriptions of Hell in the Scriptures which refers to it as the “second death” (e.g., Rev 21:8). This means that the dammed, having died in the corporal sense, now descend to what is not really life. Yes, they have existence and experience, but their lives are dead because they are not living for what God made them for: His very self. Theirs is a “life” of frustration and emptiness because the whole key to happiness is missing. Having rejected God, His Kingdom, and His values, they have nothing left with which to fill the God-sized hole in their hearts. It is a life so far from eternal life that it is barely a life at all; thus Scripture calls it the “second death.”
Again, the main point is that “eternal” in “eternal life” refers not so much to the length of life as to its fullness. To enter eternal life is to become fully alive with God forever; to experience untold joy, serenity, and peace in an eternal embrace with Him forever. Having our communion with God perfected, we will also have our communion with one another perfected. We will be caught up in the great movement of love that is the life of the Trinity. Who really needs a mansion when you can live in the heart of God? That is our true dwelling place that the Father is preparing. It’s not about houses and seats of honor; it’s about a place in the heart of the God who made us and loves us. It is to become fully alive and perfect as the Father is perfect.
🏈Pope Benedict presents this beautiful image of eternal life:
To imagine ourselves outside the temporality that imprisons us and in some way to sense that eternity is not an unending succession of days in the calendar, but something more like the supreme moment of satisfaction, in which totality embraces us and we embrace totality—this we can only attempt. It would be like plunging into the ocean of infinite love, a moment in which time—the before and after—no longer exists. We can only attempt to grasp the idea that such a moment is life in the full sense, a plunging ever anew into the vastness of being, in which we are simply overwhelmed with joy. This is how Jesus expresses it in Saint John’s Gospel: “I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (16:22) (Spe Salvi, 12).
🏈In the following video from a few years back, Bishop Robert Barron makes an interesting point, one that I have made in other posts as well: when the Church fails to teach her doctrine well or casts aside her traditions, the world often picks them up but distorts them. In this video, Bishop Barron discusses the current obsession with vampires. He notes that as we have struggled to present well the concept of eternal life, the world has taken up the notion of those “who can never die” in the vampire craze. The fact that they live forever is a horrible curse to them and any biblical notion of eternal life is absent; they are merely the “un-dead.” Yes, when the Church drops the ball, the world picks it up—but flattens and distorts it. I often think that we haven’t done a very good job of setting forth the doctrine of eternal life. For most people, the concept seems a rather shallow one: that we will live forever. Frankly, many may not consider it all that appealing if the place where we live forever is Heaven. Too often, Heaven is reduced to merely this: a place where I’ll be happy. I’ll have a mansion, I’ll see my mother again, and I won’t ever have to suffer. The description never gets around to mentioning God. If He is mentioned at all, He’s way down on the list somewhere rather than at the top where He belongs. This is sad, for the heart of Heaven is to be with God!"
"25 Secrets of spiritual struggle that Jesus revealed to St. Faustina", by Kathleen Beckman
Info from this site:
http://catholicexchange.com/jesus-st-faustina-spiritual-warfare-25-secrets
"How to protect yourself from demon attacks - In Cracow-Pradnik, June 2, 1938, the Lord Jesus directed a young Polish Sister of Mercy on a three-day retreat. Faustina Kowalska painstakingly recorded Christ’s instruction in her diary that is a mystical manual on prayer and Divine Mercy. Having read the Diary a few times in the past 20 years, I had forgotten about the unique retreat that Christ gave on the subject of spiritual warfare. Then, recently, I was invited to lead a retreat in Trinidad based on Christ’s “Conference on Spiritual Warfare” as presented in the Diary. The Sanctuary of the Holy Family, an amazing group of lay leaders in service to the Archbishop and priests, sponsored the retreat in the Archdiocese of Trinidad and we filled the Seminary of St. John Vianney to ponder this teaching.
Here are the secret whispers of Jesus to his little bride Faustina on how to protect herself from the attacks of the devil. These instructions became Faustina’s weapon in fighting the good fight.
Jesus began, “My daughter, I want to teach you about spiritual warfare” (1760). (The Lord’s words are in bold text; my comments follow.)
1. Never trust in yourself but abandon yourself totally to My will. Trust is a spiritual weapon. Trust is part of the shield of faith that St. Paul mentions in chapter six of Ephesians: the armor of God. Abandonment to God’s will is an act of trust; faith in action dispels evil spirits.
2. In desolation, darkness and various doubts, have recourse to Me and to your spiritual director. He will always answer you in my name. In times of spiritual warfare, immediately pray to Jesus. Invoke His Holy Name that is feared in the netherworld. Bring darkness into the light by telling a spiritual director or confessor and follow his instruction.
3. Do not bargain with any temptation; lock yourself immediately in My Heart. In the Garden of Eden, Eve bargained with the devil and lost. We have recourse to the refuge of the Sacred Heart. In running to Christ, we turn our backs on the demonic
4. At the first opportunity, reveal the temptation to the confessor. A good confession, a good confessor, and a good penitent are a recipe for victory over temptation and demonic oppression—without fail.
5. Put your self-love in the last place, so that it does not taint your deeds. Self-love is natural but it should be ordered, free of pride. Humility defeats the devil that is perfect pride. Satan tempts us to disordered self-love to lead us into his pool of pride.
6. Bear with yourself with great patience. Patience is a secret weapon that helps us to keep our peace of soul even in the great storms of life. Bearing with oneself is part of humility and trust. The devil tempts us to impatience, to turn against our selves so we become angry. See yourself from God’s view. He is infinitely patient.
7. Do not neglect interior mortifications. Scripture teaches that some demons can only be evicted by prayer and fasting. Interior mortifications are weapons of warfare. They can be small sacrifices offered with great love. The power of sacrificial love evicts the enemy.
8. Always justify to yourself the opinions of your superiors and of your confessor. Christ is speaking to St. Faustina who lives in a convent. But we all have people in authority over us. The devil aims to divide and conquer so humble obedience toauthentic authority is a spiritual weapon.
9. Shun murmurs like a plague. The tongue is a powerful vessel that can do great harm. Murmuring, gossiping, is never of God. The devil is a liar who stirs up false accusations and gossip that can kill a person’s reputation. Shun murmurs!
10. Let all act as they like; you are to act, as I want you to. To mind one’s own business is key in spiritual warfare. The devil is a busybody attempting to drag everyone down. Please God and let the opinions of others go by the wayside.
11. Observe the rule as faithfully as you can. Jesus is referring to the rule of a Religious Order here. Most of us have made some vow before God and Church and we should be faithful our promises—i.e. Marriage vows and baptismal vows. Satan tempts to infidelity, lawlessness and disobedience. Fidelity is a weapon for victory.
12. If someone causes you trouble, think what good you can do for the person who caused you to suffer. Being a vessel of divine mercy is a weapon for good and for defeating evil. The devil is about hatred, rage, revenge, and unforgiveness. Others have hurt us all at some time. What good can we do in return? Returning a blessing breaks curses.
13. Do not pour out your feelings. A talkative soul will more easily be attacked by the devil. Pour out your feelings to the Lord only. Remember, the good and evil spirits hear what you say aloud. Feelings are fleeting. Truth is the compass. Interior recollection is a spiritual armor.
14. Be silent when you are rebuked. Most of us have been rebuked at some time. We have no control over that but we can control our response. The need to be right all the time can lead into demonic traps. God knows the truth. Let it go. Silence is a protection. The devil can use self-righteousness to trip us up also.
15. Do not ask everyone’s opinion, but only the opinion of your confessor; be as frank and simple as a child with him. Simplicity of life can drive out demons. Honesty is a weapon to defeat Satan, the Liar. When we lie we put a foot in his camp and he will try to seduce us all the more.
16. Do not become discouraged by ingratitude. No one likes to be taken for granted. But when we are met with ingratitude or insensitivity, the spirit of discouragement can weigh us down. Resist all discouragement for it is never of God. It is one of the devil’s most effective temptations. Gratitude in all things wins the day.
17. Do not examine with curiosity the roads down which I lead you. The need to know, and curiosity about the future is a temptation that has led too many people into the backrooms of psychics, witches, etc. Choose to walk in faith. Decide to trust in God who leads you on the path to heaven. Resist the spirit of curiosity always.
18. When boredom and discouragement beat against your heart, run away from yourself and hide in My heart. Jesus delivers the same message a second time. Now He refers to boredom. Earlier in the Diary he told St. Faustina that the devil most easily tempts idle souls. Beware of boredom, a spirit of lethargy, or acedia—the noonday devil. Idle souls are easy prey for demons. Be about the business of God.
19. Do not fear struggle; courage itself often intimidates temptations, and they dare not attack us. Fear is the second most common tactic of the devil (pride is the first). Courage intimidates the devil—he will flee in the face of persevering courage that stands on Jesus, the rock. All people struggle, God is our provision.
20. Always fight with the deep conviction that I am with you. Jesus instructs a Sister in a convent to “fight” with conviction. She can do so because Christ accompanies her. Christians are called to fight with conviction against all demonic tactics. The devil tries to terrorize souls, demonic terrorism—resist! Invoke the Holy Sprit throughout the day.
21. Do not be guided by feeling, because it is not always under your control; but all merit lies in the will. All merit lies in the will because love is an act of the will. We are completely free in Christ. We must make a choice, a decision for good or evil. What camp do we live in?
22. Always depend upon your superiors, even in the smallest things. Christ is instructing a Religious here. But, we all have the Lord as our Superior. Dependence upon God is a weapon of spiritual warfare because we cannot win on our own. Proclaiming Christ’s victory over evil is part of intentional discipleship. Christ came to defeat death & evil. Proclaim Him!
23. I will not delude you with prospects of peace and consolations; on the contrary, prepare for great battles. St. Faustina suffered physically and spiritually. She was prepared for great battles by the grace of God who upheld her. Christ clearly instructs us in scripture to be prepared for great battles, to put on God’s armor and resist the devil. Be vigilant and discerning always.
24. Know that you are on a great stage where all heaven and earth are watching you. We are all on a great stage where heaven and earth are watching. What message is our life giving? What radiates from us—shades of light, darkness or grey? The way we live attracts more light or more darkness. If the devil does not succeed in pulling us into darkness, he tries to keep us in the category of the lukewarm, which is not pleasing to God.
25. Fight like a knight, so I can reward you. Do not be unduly fearful, because you are not alone. The Lord’s words to St. Faustina can become our mantra: Fight like a knight! A knight for Christ knows well the cause that he fights for, the nobility of his mission, the King who he serves, and with blessed assuredness of the victory, he fights to the end, even at the cost of his life. If a young, uneducated, simple Polish nun, united to Christ, can fight like a knight, every Christian can do the same. Trust is victorious."
Info from this site:
http://catholicexchange.com/jesus-st-faustina-spiritual-warfare-25-secrets
"How to protect yourself from demon attacks - In Cracow-Pradnik, June 2, 1938, the Lord Jesus directed a young Polish Sister of Mercy on a three-day retreat. Faustina Kowalska painstakingly recorded Christ’s instruction in her diary that is a mystical manual on prayer and Divine Mercy. Having read the Diary a few times in the past 20 years, I had forgotten about the unique retreat that Christ gave on the subject of spiritual warfare. Then, recently, I was invited to lead a retreat in Trinidad based on Christ’s “Conference on Spiritual Warfare” as presented in the Diary. The Sanctuary of the Holy Family, an amazing group of lay leaders in service to the Archbishop and priests, sponsored the retreat in the Archdiocese of Trinidad and we filled the Seminary of St. John Vianney to ponder this teaching.
Here are the secret whispers of Jesus to his little bride Faustina on how to protect herself from the attacks of the devil. These instructions became Faustina’s weapon in fighting the good fight.
Jesus began, “My daughter, I want to teach you about spiritual warfare” (1760). (The Lord’s words are in bold text; my comments follow.)
1. Never trust in yourself but abandon yourself totally to My will. Trust is a spiritual weapon. Trust is part of the shield of faith that St. Paul mentions in chapter six of Ephesians: the armor of God. Abandonment to God’s will is an act of trust; faith in action dispels evil spirits.
2. In desolation, darkness and various doubts, have recourse to Me and to your spiritual director. He will always answer you in my name. In times of spiritual warfare, immediately pray to Jesus. Invoke His Holy Name that is feared in the netherworld. Bring darkness into the light by telling a spiritual director or confessor and follow his instruction.
3. Do not bargain with any temptation; lock yourself immediately in My Heart. In the Garden of Eden, Eve bargained with the devil and lost. We have recourse to the refuge of the Sacred Heart. In running to Christ, we turn our backs on the demonic
4. At the first opportunity, reveal the temptation to the confessor. A good confession, a good confessor, and a good penitent are a recipe for victory over temptation and demonic oppression—without fail.
5. Put your self-love in the last place, so that it does not taint your deeds. Self-love is natural but it should be ordered, free of pride. Humility defeats the devil that is perfect pride. Satan tempts us to disordered self-love to lead us into his pool of pride.
6. Bear with yourself with great patience. Patience is a secret weapon that helps us to keep our peace of soul even in the great storms of life. Bearing with oneself is part of humility and trust. The devil tempts us to impatience, to turn against our selves so we become angry. See yourself from God’s view. He is infinitely patient.
7. Do not neglect interior mortifications. Scripture teaches that some demons can only be evicted by prayer and fasting. Interior mortifications are weapons of warfare. They can be small sacrifices offered with great love. The power of sacrificial love evicts the enemy.
8. Always justify to yourself the opinions of your superiors and of your confessor. Christ is speaking to St. Faustina who lives in a convent. But we all have people in authority over us. The devil aims to divide and conquer so humble obedience toauthentic authority is a spiritual weapon.
9. Shun murmurs like a plague. The tongue is a powerful vessel that can do great harm. Murmuring, gossiping, is never of God. The devil is a liar who stirs up false accusations and gossip that can kill a person’s reputation. Shun murmurs!
10. Let all act as they like; you are to act, as I want you to. To mind one’s own business is key in spiritual warfare. The devil is a busybody attempting to drag everyone down. Please God and let the opinions of others go by the wayside.
11. Observe the rule as faithfully as you can. Jesus is referring to the rule of a Religious Order here. Most of us have made some vow before God and Church and we should be faithful our promises—i.e. Marriage vows and baptismal vows. Satan tempts to infidelity, lawlessness and disobedience. Fidelity is a weapon for victory.
12. If someone causes you trouble, think what good you can do for the person who caused you to suffer. Being a vessel of divine mercy is a weapon for good and for defeating evil. The devil is about hatred, rage, revenge, and unforgiveness. Others have hurt us all at some time. What good can we do in return? Returning a blessing breaks curses.
13. Do not pour out your feelings. A talkative soul will more easily be attacked by the devil. Pour out your feelings to the Lord only. Remember, the good and evil spirits hear what you say aloud. Feelings are fleeting. Truth is the compass. Interior recollection is a spiritual armor.
14. Be silent when you are rebuked. Most of us have been rebuked at some time. We have no control over that but we can control our response. The need to be right all the time can lead into demonic traps. God knows the truth. Let it go. Silence is a protection. The devil can use self-righteousness to trip us up also.
15. Do not ask everyone’s opinion, but only the opinion of your confessor; be as frank and simple as a child with him. Simplicity of life can drive out demons. Honesty is a weapon to defeat Satan, the Liar. When we lie we put a foot in his camp and he will try to seduce us all the more.
16. Do not become discouraged by ingratitude. No one likes to be taken for granted. But when we are met with ingratitude or insensitivity, the spirit of discouragement can weigh us down. Resist all discouragement for it is never of God. It is one of the devil’s most effective temptations. Gratitude in all things wins the day.
17. Do not examine with curiosity the roads down which I lead you. The need to know, and curiosity about the future is a temptation that has led too many people into the backrooms of psychics, witches, etc. Choose to walk in faith. Decide to trust in God who leads you on the path to heaven. Resist the spirit of curiosity always.
18. When boredom and discouragement beat against your heart, run away from yourself and hide in My heart. Jesus delivers the same message a second time. Now He refers to boredom. Earlier in the Diary he told St. Faustina that the devil most easily tempts idle souls. Beware of boredom, a spirit of lethargy, or acedia—the noonday devil. Idle souls are easy prey for demons. Be about the business of God.
19. Do not fear struggle; courage itself often intimidates temptations, and they dare not attack us. Fear is the second most common tactic of the devil (pride is the first). Courage intimidates the devil—he will flee in the face of persevering courage that stands on Jesus, the rock. All people struggle, God is our provision.
20. Always fight with the deep conviction that I am with you. Jesus instructs a Sister in a convent to “fight” with conviction. She can do so because Christ accompanies her. Christians are called to fight with conviction against all demonic tactics. The devil tries to terrorize souls, demonic terrorism—resist! Invoke the Holy Sprit throughout the day.
21. Do not be guided by feeling, because it is not always under your control; but all merit lies in the will. All merit lies in the will because love is an act of the will. We are completely free in Christ. We must make a choice, a decision for good or evil. What camp do we live in?
22. Always depend upon your superiors, even in the smallest things. Christ is instructing a Religious here. But, we all have the Lord as our Superior. Dependence upon God is a weapon of spiritual warfare because we cannot win on our own. Proclaiming Christ’s victory over evil is part of intentional discipleship. Christ came to defeat death & evil. Proclaim Him!
23. I will not delude you with prospects of peace and consolations; on the contrary, prepare for great battles. St. Faustina suffered physically and spiritually. She was prepared for great battles by the grace of God who upheld her. Christ clearly instructs us in scripture to be prepared for great battles, to put on God’s armor and resist the devil. Be vigilant and discerning always.
24. Know that you are on a great stage where all heaven and earth are watching you. We are all on a great stage where heaven and earth are watching. What message is our life giving? What radiates from us—shades of light, darkness or grey? The way we live attracts more light or more darkness. If the devil does not succeed in pulling us into darkness, he tries to keep us in the category of the lukewarm, which is not pleasing to God.
25. Fight like a knight, so I can reward you. Do not be unduly fearful, because you are not alone. The Lord’s words to St. Faustina can become our mantra: Fight like a knight! A knight for Christ knows well the cause that he fights for, the nobility of his mission, the King who he serves, and with blessed assuredness of the victory, he fights to the end, even at the cost of his life. If a young, uneducated, simple Polish nun, united to Christ, can fight like a knight, every Christian can do the same. Trust is victorious."