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The Voice of Christ
My child, you are not yet a brave and wise lover.
The Disciple
Why, Lord?
The Voice of Christ
Because, on account of a slight difficulty you give
up what you have undertaken and are too eager to seek
consolation.The brave lover stands firm in
temptations and pays no heed to the crafty
persuasions of the enemy. As I please him in
prosperity, so in adversity I am not displeasing to
him. The wise lover regards not so much the gift of
Him Who loves as the love of Him Who gives. He
regards the affection of the Giver rather than the
value of the gift, and sets his Beloved above all
gifts. The noble lover does not rest in the gift but
in Me Who am above every gift.
All is not lost, then, if you sometimes feel less
devout than you wish toward Me or My saints. That
good and sweet feeling which you sometimes have is
the effect of present grace and a certain foretaste
of your heavenly home. You must not lean upon it too
much, because it comes and goes. But to fight against
evil thoughts which attack you is a sign of virtue
and great merit. Do not, therefore, let strange
fantasies disturb you, no matter what they concern.
Hold strongly to your resolution and keep a right
intention toward God.
It is not an illusion that you are sometimes rapt in
ecstasy and then quickly returned to the usual
follies of your heart. For these are evils which you
suffer rather than commit; and so long as they
displease you and you struggle against them, it is a
matter of merit and not a loss.
You must know that the old enemy tries by all
means in his power to hinder your desire for good and
to turn you from every devotional practice,
especially from the veneration of the saints, from
devout meditation on My passion, and from your firm
purpose of advancing in virtue. He suggests many evil
thoughts that he may cause you weariness and horror,
and thus draw you away from prayer and holy reading.
A humble confession displeases him and, if he could,
he would make you omit Holy Communion.
Do not believe him or heed him, even though he
often sets traps to deceive you. When he suggests
evil, unclean things, accuse him. Say to him: "Away,
unclean spirit! Shame, miserable creature! You are
but filth to bring such things to my ears. Begone,
most wretched seducer! You shall have no part in me,
for Jesus will be my strength, and you shall be
confounded. I would rather die and suffer all
torments than consent to you. Be still! Be silent!
Though you bring many troubles upon me I will have
none of you. The Lord is my light, my salvation. Whom
shall I fear? Though armies unite against me, my
heart will not fear, for the Lord is my Helper, my
Redeemer."
Fight like a good soldier and if you sometimes fall
through weakness, rise again with greater strength
than before, trusting in My most abundant grace. But
beware of vain complacency and pride. For many are
led into error through these faults and sometimes
fall into almost perpetual blindness. Let the fall of
these, who proudly presume on self, be a warning to
you and a constant incentive to humility.
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