Conversation
of the Merciful God with a Despairing Soul
†
Jesus:
O soul steeped in darkness, do not despair. All is not yet
lost. Come and confide in your God, who is love and mercy.
—But the soul, deaf even
to this appeal, wraps itself in darkness.
Jesus calls out again:
My child, listen to the voice of your merciful Father.
—In the soul arises this
reply: "For me there is no mercy." And the soul falls
into a greater darkness, a taste which is a foretaste of hell and
makes it unable to draw near to God.
Jesus calls to the soul a third
time, but the soul remains deaf and blind, hardened and despairing.
Then the mercy of God begins to exert itself, and, without any co-operation
from the soul, God grants its final grace. If this too is spurned,
God will leave the soul in this self-chosen disposition for eternity.
This grace emerges from the merciful Heart of Jesus and gives the
soul a special light by means of which the soul begins to understand
God’s effort; but conversion depends on it’s own will.
The soul knows that this, for her, a final grace and, should it
show even a flicker of good will, the mercy of God will accomplish
the rest.
My omnipotent mercy
is active here. Happy the soul that takes advantage of this grace.
Jesus:
"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."
Soul: (as if
awakening, asks fearfully): "Is it possible that there yet
is mercy for me?"
Jesus:
"There is, 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."
Soul: "But
fear fills me at the thought of my sins, and this terrible fear
moves me to doubt Your goodness."
Jesus:
"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 doubt My goodness."
Soul: "O
Lord, save me yourself, for I perish. Be my Savior, O Lord, I am
unable to say anything more, my pitiful heart is torn asunder; but
You O Lord..."
Jesus does not let the soul
finish but, raises it from the ground, from the depths of its misery,
he leads it into the recesses of His Heart where all its sins disappear,
instantly consumed by the flames of love.
Jesus:
"Here, soul, are all the treasures of My Heart. Take
everything you need from it."
Soul: "Oh
Lord, I am inundated with Your grace. I sense that a new life has
entered into me and, above all, I feel your love in my heart. That
is enough for me. Oh Lord, I will glorify the omnipotence of Your
mercy for all eternity. Encouraged by Your goodness, I will confide
to You all the sorrows of My Heart."
Jesus:
"Tell me all, My child, hide nothing from Me, because My loving
Heart, the Heart of your Best Friend, is listening to you."
Soul: O Lord,
now I see all my ingratitude and Your goodness. You were pursuing
me with Your grace, while I was frustrating Your benevolence. I
see that I deserve the depths of hell for spurning Your graces."
Jesus
(interupting): "Do not be absorbed
in your misery—you are still too weak to speak of it—but
rather, gaze on My Heart filled with goodness and be imbued with
My sentiments. Strive for weakness and humility; be merciful to
others, as I am to you; and when you feel your strength falling,
if you come to the fountain of mercy to fortify your soul, you will
not grow weary on your journey."
Soul: Now I
understand Your mercy, which protects me and like a brilliant star,
leads me into the home of My Father, protecting me from the horrors
of hell that I have deserved, not once, but a thousand times. O
Lord eternity will hardly suffice for me to give due praise to Your
unfathomable mercy and Your compassion for me."
