But if they did see the reality of his love, their eyes would be opened to their sinfulness. Its that moment at Mass when, through him, with him, and in him, the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ is offered up to the Father as a perfect sacrifice of love. Yet hes wrapped in swaddling clothes and resting in a poor manger? The pleasing and consoling language has to do with a desire simply to love God for who he is (perfect love). Its the Good News that Gods love is like water, which always goes to the lowest place. I say that because, as Scripture teaches, the measure with which we measure will be measured back to us (see Lk 6:38). It just takes you and me and maybe one other person. And such praise itselfis a powerful act of trust, pleasing to the Lord. Even after die death of her one true friend in the convent (Therese), even after her mental illness caused her to have to leave the convent at the age of 55 after 28 years of religious life, even after years of wondering aimlessly about the French countryside (ibid., p. 51) amazingly she could still write the fol lowing words to Mother Agnes, words that reveal her hidden sanctity: The work of sanctification which my beloved Therese began so lovingly in me beore she died continues. Second, she realized that sinners often close their hearts to the Lords loving mercy, and their rejection of it causes Jesus great suffering. Let me put it this way: Have you ever wondered why the great saints often spoke of themselves as being the biggest sinners? He said, You need to do for the Offering to Merciful Love of St. Therese of Lisieux what you did for Marian consecration. You can, then, in one instant prepare me to appear before You. We give it back to God as an exhaled magnificat. For that, Im only giving you two options: Thereses actual text or the Prayer of Consecration to Merciful Love.178 (Of course, you can certainly pray both.) Specifically, would you pray the following prayer of St. Therese for us? Why? Moreover, sometimes our praise will have no outward expression at all. Y26-SGSBK book Y26-EBSGSBK Divine Mercy in the Second Greatest Story (DVD and Guidebook) New! (See chart on pages 22-23 for other recommended feast days.) But this greatness is not whats usually thought of as greatness. Pere de la Trinite, OCD, at www.fransciscan-sfb.org/ap/litftvrpu.htm (accessed January 10, 2012). Here is the Son of God! That program is called Hearts Afire: Parish-based Programs from the Marian Fathers ofthe Immaculate Conception (HAPP), and you can learn more about it in the Resource Pages. Mother Agnes recalled the occasion during an interview: When she asked me this, her face was all lit up, as ifshe were on fire with love. But what does wound Jesus, Therese explains, is only when his friends, ignoring their continual indelicacies, make a habit out of them and dont ask forgiveness for them (cited in ibid., p. 189). In fact, the other school kids bullied her and made fun of this girl who didnt know how to join in their games and couldnt even comb her own hair.45 In the midst of her extreme loneliness and sensitivity, Therese deeply longed to be loved. Michael Gaitley, MIC, 33 Days to Merciful Love. In other words, what we think is right and wrong may not actually be whats truly right and wrong. As you might have guessed, the ocean I just described is the ocean of Gods Merciful Love. She chose mercy, and so, even Gods Justice seemed to her clothed in love." 570. However, at this point, perhaps some of us are experiencing at least something of St. Faustina Kowalskas own sentiments: It seems to me as though Jesus could not be happy without me, nor could I, without Him. When, on one occasion, instead of interior prayer, I took up a book of spir itual reading, I heard these words spoken distinctly and forcefully within my soul, You will prepare the world for My final coming. Simply put, the Little Way is a choice. (See endnote 159 for instructions on how to pray it.) Almost everyone else has abanJ^/doned him, but Mary is here with you. That's the way to save the world through the power of Gods Merciful Love.160 WEEK FOUR: Into the Darkness 107 You know, it really is true. Saint Faustina even went so far as to describe holiness according to the path of mercy as very easy: O my Jesus, how very easy it is to become holy; all that is needed is a bit of good will. I searched, then, in the Scriptures for some sign of this elevator, the object of my desires, and I read these words coming from the mouth of Eternal Wisdom: Whoever is a LITTLE ONE, let him come to me." Remain in me as in a tabernacle and never separate Yourself from Your little victim. 204 Catechism, 1085. Especially bless those who visit our home may they experience your mercy here. 90 Ibid. 34 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE DAY 4 Mary's Pilgrimage of Faith Yesterday, we learned that theres a key to Marys innermost reality, a key to understanding her faith the blessing of Elizabeth: Blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled. Now, while those words firstly refer to the Annunciation and the moment when Mary believed the angels words that she would be the mother of the Son of God, they also refer to her whole life of faith or, as St. John Paul II puts it, her pilgrimage of faith. Now, contrary to overly pious belief, Mary didnt constantly have angels waiting on her at her home in Nazareth, helping with the housework and changing Jesus diapers. "10' Alright, so does the Offering to Merciful Love make this life into purgatory? 30? Based on the book, 33 Days to Merciful Love, by Fr. It will be much easier for you to live the Little Way, become one of the greatest saints of all time, and help save the world. (2) Write out or print up the Prayer of Consecration to Merciful Love or Thereses own text so you can sign it after youve recited it if youd like, you can visit ShopMercy.org for a certificate or prayercard with the Prayer of Consecration to Merciful Love. Specifically, like Sr. Marie of Jesus, they would often come down with some illness that would cause terrible suffering and an agonizing death. In other words, the love that flows from the Lords pierced Heart is an infinite ocean of mercy. Were saying, Behold, Lord, here I am without your mercy, Ill collapse and die. Of course, when we present ourselves to the Lord like that, he rushes to us with his mercy, and we take a deep breath in. For instance, after years of not going to Confession, people say things like, Look, Father, Im a good person. Therese doesnt seem to have a problem with it.121 After all, isnt God all-powerful? Now, some of us may have read it and thought that perhaps Therese is encouraging the sin of presumption by telling us to believe that we can bypass purgatory. Marc Foley, OCD, whose brilliant course on Therese of Lisieux opened my eyes to hidden treasures buried in the saints writings. 6English translation of the Catechism ofthe Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica (Washington, D.C./Vatican: United States Catholic Conference, Inc./Librcria Editrice Vaticana, 1997), 397. 151 The French philosopher Blaise Pascal said that the sole cause of mans unhappiness is that he does not know how to stay quiedy tn his own room (Pensees. Now, what if, as a special gift for the time of mercy, God wanted to make it easier than ever before to become a saint? How do we know that? Todays Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, fire of mercy. But Sr. Marie of St. Joseph did not despair. It was explicit in [the year] 2000, but it was something that had been maturing in [John Pauls] heart for some time. Based on the book, 33 Days to Merciful Love, by Fr. Yes, Jesus wants us to receive the grace that makes us holy, and when we do, it consoles him, as he told St. Faustina: I desire to bestow My graces upon souls, but they do not want to accept them. For instance, she wrote: I made a resolution to give myself up more than ever to a serious and mortified life. Never before had I prayed with such inner power as I did then (474). It is a consignment that he gave us, but which comes from on High.75 So, were in a time of mercy, and we have that on the authority of the Pope. Looking at a picture of two children with Jesus, she said: The other little one does not please me as much; hes acting like an adult. This is a striking illustration of what I want to say, but the reality itself is beyond the power of words to express.142 Well now let these last words of Thereses autobiography be the last words of this days meditation. And so, this vulnerability of God in Christ is part of the poverty of the incarnation (see 2 Cor 8:9) and is a particularly profound aspect of the self-emptying of Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at (Phil 2:6-7). It seeks to please him and console him. If through weakness I sometimes fall, may Your Divine Glance cleanse my soul immediately, consuming all my imperfections like the fire that transforms everything into itself. Without me, you are nothing. May this martyrdom, after having prepared me to appear before You, finally cause me to die and may my soul take its flight without any delay into the eternal embrace of Tour Merciful Love. We need Marys help to obtain the gift of faith, that is, the grace to believe. More specifically, were going to reflect on the root of the worlds darkness and how it affected St. Therese. Of course not! Ah! 124 Story ofa Soul, p. 181. (2) Keep trying to grow in holiness and do little things with great love. But according to St. Therese, theres one path that particularly attracts him, one path, more titan oth ers, that allows God to manifest His infinite grandeur: Its the way of mercy. And we believe her. Abrahams temptation clearly would have been to think that God is a liar, that he doesnt keep his promises. It means we have to keep striving to grow in holiness. In odier words, it doesn't focus on lots of vocal prayers each day of the retreat but, rather, on short spiritual readings that you can easily ponder in your heart throughout the day. That means well be moved to pray for the conversion of hardened sinners die very same ones who rejected die graces of mercy that well be receiving. 18! I say that because our prayers truly can obtain for others this amazing mercy, even for those who seem hopelessly lost. As she herself expressed it to the Lord: For me to love You as You love me, I would have to borrow Your own love.147 And she knew hed give it. Yes, I believe. This week, we'll explore the role that darkness plays in living it out. He has anticipated the movements of the Holy Spirit and given us means by which to suck the marrow out of this year of Mercy. We need only fear the sin of presumption where we seek to justify' ourselves and our behaviors without asking for forgiveness and mercy. And by that, I certainly dont mean its easy to avoid because its easy to go to hell! Okay, so here we seem to have a case where less is more. In other words, it may be better to have something 126 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE thats shorter (less) than Thereses text of Offering and that will also summarize all the main teachings weve covered during this retreat (more). It can be so because Gods ways are not our ways, and he delights in lifting up the lowly and making the greatestfrom the littlest and perhaps no sinner is more lowly and little than Therese of Lisieux. Outwardly, it seems as if everything were lost, but it is not so. Here is a king whose reign will last forever! Infinite harshness? WetkTwo The Little Way Last week, we covered the biblicalfoundation ofSt. 70 Paraphrasing and applying Marys Magnificat to herself in order to ex press her gratitude to God for having made her so vividly aware of her littleness, Therese writes: The Almighty has done great things in the soul of His divine Mothers child, and rhe greatest thing is to have shown her her littleness, her impotence (Story ofa Soul, p. 210). Here I am, Lord. You continue: Here I am, Lord, with all my sinfulness, weaknesses, and attachments. For Therese, that is the true and greatest holiness. Of course, that may be hard to believe. 124 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE It has to do with the reality of Gods love his burning, passionate, infinite love. Does not Your Mercifid Love need them too? They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and the Image of Divine Mercy is a thousand words of mercy. And, again, the death Therese implicitly says in the flight of her soul to God as makes this point a bit more Diary: of love allows one to bypass purgatory as text of the Offering when she describes the being without any delay. Saint Faustina explicit in the following passage from her Gods mercy sometimes touches the sinner at the last moment in a wondrous and mysterious way. In fact, I believe that it is in the context of the offering of the Mass that we can best understand the following words of St. Therese (especially draw me, we shall run) that reveal how she found a simple way of inter ceding for others: Since I have two brothers and my little Sisters, the novices, if I wanted to ask for each soul what each one needed and go into detail about it, the days would not be long enough and I fear I would forget something important. In fact, thats really the most amazing part: Jesus need is to show mercy and to save us. This is appropriate because Jesus asked that the Divine Mercy Image be solemnly blessed on Divine Mercy' Sunday and vener ated publically.224 Endnotes 1 Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, trans. 32 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE The great key, the great secret, has to do with Marys faith, because faith gets to her deepest reality'. And she knew she could! The moment in obviously refers to inhale and follows the moment of empty lungs. 162 Ibid., p. 211. Alright, so we acknowledge that God is completely selfsufficient and content. Hes been told something, and he knows he must respect Jesus. In heaven she would not be like the Seraphim who cover themselves with their wings before God. (Gaucher, pp. Of course, youre going to want to continue to live the Little Way by doing the three diings we learned about on Day 11: (1) Keep recognizing the dark ness of your littleness and brokenness. 196 Diary, 244. (See Rom 5:5.) St. Therese asked the Lord to pour into her little soul all the rejected mercy that 20 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE others dont want and he gave it to her. Washington, DC 20002 U.S.A. wTvw.icspublications.org From General Correspondence Volume Two translated by John Clarke, O.C.D. Traveling by horse and buggy, we arrived in thirty days at the Himalayan site of Ranikhet. I offer them to You with gladness, begging You to look upon me only in the Face of Jesus and in His heart burning with Love. Yes, in the midst of an ordinary, mundane life, she had extraor dinary faith, hope, and love that are accessible to us all. Its supposed to pull back great desires for holiness, like reining in a horse. (See also ibid.) See Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Redemptoris Custos, 4. Quite the contrary', in fact. So, her aim is to love God with his own perfect love. And, actually, Therese is smiling at you now. 144 The whole citation is as follows: You see what you are of yourself, but do not be frightened at this. 71 Story ofa Soul, p. 256. 115 Day 30: The Little Way. 117 Day 31: The Offering 120 Day 32: The Darkness 122 Day 33: Putting It All Together . 125 DAY OF CONSECRATION: The Happy Day .131 AFTER CONSECRATION: The Lens of Mercy . DAY 8 None More Lowly 1 just said that perhaps no one among sinful humanity is more lowly and little than Therese of Lisieux. But what is trust? I often attend upon the dying and through entreaties obtain for diem trust in Gods mercy', and I implore God for an abundance of divine grace, which is always victorious. Because of lais faith. Michael Gaitley MIC this 33 Days to Morning Glory Group Retreat goes more deeply into understanding and living Marian consecration than the book alone. Todays Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, fire of mercy. -- Week two: The little way -- Week three: The offering to merciful love -- Week four: Into the darkness -- Final five days: Synthesis and review Death and martyrdom? Why? In another way one may eat Christ spiritually, as He is under the sacramental species, inasmuch as a man r i 202 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE believes in Christ, while desiring to receive this sacrament; and this is not merely to eat Christ spiritually, but likewise to eat this sacrament; which does not fall to the lot of the angels. Emphasis added. 8 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE RETREAT COORDINATOR'S GUIDE PART ONE OVERVIEW THE HEARTS AFIRE PROGRAM The 33 Days to Merciful Love Group Retreat falls within Stage Three of the Hearts Afire program. All of it. 19 Ibid. Week Three will treat the Offering to Merciful Love. Thats why Jesus asked St. Faustina to paint an image of Divine Mercy with the signature, Jesus, I trust in you.78 Its because in this present WEEK TWO: The Little Way 63 time of mercy, Jesus wants to work the great miracle of forming the littlest of souls into the greatest of saints. To satisfy Divine Justice, perfect victims were necessary, but the law of Love has succeeded to the law of fear, and Love has chosen me as a holocaust, me, a weak and imperfect creature.115 Again, its Thereses weakness that gave her the boldness to offer herself to Merciful Love. I accept everything that comes my way as given me by the loving will of God, who sincerely desires my happiness. Well, it was only after I discovered the Litde Way and offered myself to Merciful Love more than 15 years ago diat I began to experience true peace and joy a peace and joy diat remain with me even to diis day. But he created the child who knows only how to make his feeble cries heard; He has created the poor savage et ho has nothing but the natural law to guide him. Using the same 33-day preparation format, 33 Days to Merciful Love journeys with one of the most beloved saints of modern times, St. Thrse of Lisieux, and concludes with a consecration to Divine Mercy. Lets visit this humble nun and listen to her advice, as one of her own religious sisters once did: On the initial day of the retreat, I was visited by one of the sisters who had come to make her perpetual vow s. She confided to me that she had no trust in God and became discouraged at WEEK ONE: What Is Trust? The word conse cration means to set apart for God. Its a choice to see ourselves as little. From Fr. Because great saints clearly see this reality, theyre not blind to their sins. And now I am simply resigned to see myself always imperfect and in this I find my joy. 147 Ibid., p. 256. Well, when I saw that claim on the back of the book, I was sold. Later, in his book The Name of God is Mercy, the Pope further elab orates on these comments on the plane: Yes, I believe that this is a time for mercy. This blood and water (which is his mercy) and this wonderful air (which is also his mercy) fill your soul. I offer them to You with gladness, begging You to look upon me only in the Face of Jesus and in His heart burning with Love. In other words, they may be saying, Look, I like the Divine Mercy message and devotion and everything, and I thought Td do a nice little consecration. Its short.) He spoke about mortal sin, and he described a soul in the state of sin and how much God hated it.
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