It Was The Cross That Made Jesus Recognized As God. The Cross Of Pain And The Cross Of Love

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.(1 Corinthians 1:18)

Volume-March 8, 1901

Continuing in my poor state, and with the silence of blessed Jesus, this morning, as I was oppressed more than ever, on coming, He told me: “My daughter, it was not my works, nor my preaching, nor the very power of my miracles that made Me recognized with clarity as the God I am, but when I was put on the Cross and lifted up on It as though on my own throne – then was I recognized as God. So, the Cross alone revealed Me to the world and to the whole of hell for Who I really was. All were shaken and recognized their Creator. Therefore, it is the Cross that reveals God to the soul, and makes known whether the soul is truly of God. It can be said that the Cross uncovers all the intimate parts of the soul and reveals to God and to men who she is.”
Then He added: “Upon two crosses do I consume souls – one is of pain, the other is of love. And just as in Heaven all nine choirs of Angels love Me, though each one has its distinct office – as for example, the special office of the Seraphim is love and their choir is positioned more in the front in order to receive the reverberations of my love; so much so, that my love and theirs, darting through each other, correspond continuously – in the same way, I give to souls on earth their distinct offices: some I render martyrs of pain, and some of love, as both of them are skillful masters in sacrificing souls and in rendering them worthy of my satisfactions.”

Prayer Meditation: O Lord You have given us all the portion of Your Cross that You have meant for us, Come what may Lord, may we pick up our crosses and follow You knowing You ate the skillful Master who finish the work You have begun in us (Philippians 1:6). Perfect us Lord in Your Love and Your Eternal Fiat!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

Drinking The Chalice

Look at the plants

in your garden, they always climb and try to reach higher. Their

flowers wither quickly, but soon new ones open up. The withering

of the flower does not show its uselessness because the chalice of

withered flowers contains the fertile seed which reproduces the

plant.

You understand, do you not? If there were no battle, what would

then give value to things? Always try to go higher. Do not feel

sorry for the withered chalices in your flowers. (Jesus) (June 29, 1964)

Today’s Readings: Jesus said in reply,
“You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”
They said to him, “We can.”
He replied,
“My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left,
this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” (Matthew 20)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, today we read in the Gospel about a mother and two disciples that are really no different from us. We follow You and we anticipate glory, and rightfully so, but we confuse earthly glory with Heaven. Lord, You came to serve and not to be served. You came to suffer and die for us- there is no way to Heaven except through the Cross. So, can we drink the chalice You have for us- knowing that the withered chalices of life contain the fertile seed of new life. Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a grain of wheat but if it dies it bears much fruit (John 12:24). Lord, increase our faith, hope and trust that drinking the chalice You have for us would be not bitter but sweet in union with You!

The Words Of Jesus Are Full Of Truth And Of Light, And They Carry With Them The Substance And The Virtue Of Transmuting The Soul Into The Same Truth, Into The Same Light, And Into The Very Good They Contain

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; (John 6:68)

Volume 14, March 7, 1922

I was thinking about what is written, and I said to myself: ‘Is it really Jesus that speaks to me, or is it a trick of the enemy and of my fantasy?’ And Jesus, on coming, told me: “My daughter, my words are full of truth and of light, and they carry with them the substance and the virtue of transmuting the soul into the same truth, into the same light, and into the very good which they contain, in such a way that the soul not only knows the truth, but feels within herself the substance of operating according to the truth that she has known. Moreover, my truths are full of beauty and of attraction, in such a way that the soul, taken by their beauty, lets herself be enraptured by them.
In Me everything is order, harmony and beauty. See, I created the heavens; they alone could be enough – but no, I wanted to adorn them with stars, almost studding them with beauty, so that the human eye might enjoy more from the works of its Creator. I created the earth, and I adorned it with many plants and flowers. I created nothing which did not have its ornament. And if this is in the order of created things, much more so in my truths, which reside in my Divinity, such that, while it seems that they reach the soul, they are like solar rays which, while they hit and warm the earth, yet never depart from the center of the sun. And the soul remains so enamored with my truths, that she finds it almost impossible not to put into practice the truths that she has known, even at the cost of her life. On the other hand, when it is the enemy or the speculation of fantasy that want to speak about truths, they bring neither light, nor substance, nor beauty, nor attraction – they are empty truths, without life, and the soul does not feel the grace to sacrifice herself in order to put them into practice. So, the truths that your Jesus tells you are full of life and of everything that my truths contain. Why do you doubt?”

Prayer Meditation- O Lord, You are full of truth and light, You have the words of Eternal Life! Your Word does not come back empty but it accomplishes the purpose for which You sent it! We know it is Your Word when we have peace, help us never to doubt Your truths which are full of life!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

Purify Our Intentions

My little one, do not be overwhelmed. Live hidden in great humility.

Except for a few persons, no one should know about you.(Jesus) (March 4-7, 1962)

Today’s Readings: All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ (Matthew 23)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, we who follow You may find ourselves in many ministries and activities to the point of exhaustion, but who are we really serving? No one wants to admit it, but are we doing what we do to be seen? Yet, Lord, You do Your Work through the humble and the hidden. Lord, many of the things we do may be good but are they about the one thing necessary (Luke 11)? Lord, all of our works are filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) if You are not in them- purify our intentions that we would serve You in true humility.

Oppressions And Melancholies Have No Reason To Exist In The Divine Will. They Form The Clouds, The Bitter Little Drops, Which Embitter God And The Creature

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Volume 35-March 6, 1938

The sea of the Divine Volition never ceases to plunge me into Its waves, as though wanting nothing to enter to into me other than Its light, so as to grow in me, by way of light and heat, the Life of Its Will alone. But in spite of all this, I felt oppressed, with an air of melancholy, because of the circumstances, alas, too painful, of my poor existence down here, which formed as though clouds around me, to prevent me from enjoying the beauty of the light and the gentleness of the warmth in which the soul remains fecundated, reborn and growing inside her very Creator. And my sweet Jesus, Who jealously watches over my poor soul, all goodness told me: “My good daughter, courage! Oppressions, melancholies, the thought of the past, have no reason to exist for one who lives in my Will. These are notes that clash with Our notes of joy, of peace and of love, and form feeble sounds which sound unpleasant to Our divine ears. They are like bitter little drops which, thrown into Our sea, would want to embitter Our divine sea; while by living in Our Will, We make the creature the owner of Our seas of joy, of happiness, and if necessary We arm her with Our Power so that everything may be propitious to her and nothing may do harm to her, because there is no power against Our Will. On the contrary, Our Will has the power to level and to crush anything, like dust under the empire of a mighty wind. Therefore, when We see the creature in Our Will being afflicted, oppressed – how bad it sounds to Us; and since she lives in Our Volition, because of the one Will that animates Us We are forced to feel her afflictions and oppressions. To set Ourselves aside when the creature is afflicted is not of Our Divine Being – nor of Our Love. Rather, We make use of Our Power, and We inundate her more with Our Love, so that We may see her again with a smile on her lips, and with joy in her heart.
Besides, the thought of the past is truly absurd – it is like wanting to claim the divine rights. You must know that anything beautiful and good that the creature has done is deposited inside of Us, attesting to Us her love and the glory that she gives Us, and forming her crown, for her to be crowned on her first entrance into Our Celestial Fatherland. Therefore, the most beautiful act of the creature is to throw herself into Our arms – abandon herself – letting Us make whatever We want to make of her, in time as well as in eternity. Only then do We take all the delight in making her one of the most beautiful statues that must adorn Our Celestial Jerusalem.”

Prayer Meditation- O Lord, how often we find ourselves in melancholy thoughts of the past and yet these thoughts and fears are not of You and do not belong in Your Holy and Divine Will! Let us abandon ourselves into Your arms, forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13) letting You make of us what You will in time and in eternity! Fiat Lord!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Monday of the Second Week of Lent

Good Gifts Will Be Given

Let this be the supreme

goal of your lives, the most valuable gift that you can bring

to Me. Take advantage of every opportunity and every means to

save souls. Work at it! Remember what you once read: ‘If each

Christian would save just one soul, no one would be lost.'” (Jesus) (January 15, 1964)

Today’s Readings: “Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.” (Luke 6)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, how often it is that we judge and we condemn. We do this even in our own families. We forget that we are not the judge- You are the judge. How often, because of our own anxiety, fears, worries, we feel like it is up to us to singlehandedly save our family members totally apart from You. There is no condemnation in You (Romans 8:1) but there is plenty in us. Lord instead of judging, arguing, and cajoling let us unite our desires for our loved ones with Yours and take advantage of every means to save souls- prayer and fasting most of all! Help us to give ourselves for Your Cause so that blessings would flow to our families because You will never refuse to hear prayers for the conversion of sinners.

The Cross Is Citation, Advocate, and Judge Of The Soul, For Her To Take Possession Of The Eternal Kingdom

As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. (Luke 12:58)

Volume 6, March 5, 1904

This morning I was feeling in much suffering, with the addition of His privation. Then, after I struggled very much, He came for just a few instants, and told me: “My daughter, sufferings, crosses, are like many citations which I send to souls. If the soul accepts these citations – whether they be citations that notify the soul to pay some debt, or it be a notification to obtain some gain for eternal life – if the soul responds to Me by resigning herself to my Will, by thanking Me, by adoring my holy dispositions, we are immediately in accord, and the soul will avoid many inconveniences that are possible, like being cited again, having advocates involved, going through the lawsuit, and receiving the condemnation of the judge. Responding to the citation with resignation and with thanksgiving alone will make up for all this, because the cross will be citation, advocate and judge for her, with nothing else needed for her to take possession of the Eternal Kingdom. If, on the other hand, she does not accept these citations – think about it, yourself, how many abysses of disgraces and troubles she will throw herself into, and what the rigor of the judge will be in condemning her for having shunned the cross as her judge, a judge so much milder, more compassionate, more prone to enriching her rather than judging her, more intent on embellishing her rather than condemning her.”

Prayer meditation- Lord, this calendar reading today is deep and difficult but how many times have we not resigned ourselves to Your Will for our lives and even fought You tooth and nail by staying stuck in our own ideas and desires only to find ourselves in prisons and chains of our own making! Sometimes we have to reach rock bottom like the Prodigal Son before we throw ourselves in our desperation and surrender into Your Compassionate Arms! Because Lord, there is no condemnation in You (Romans 8:1), You are the Good, Good Father who always wills our good even in the crosses of life which You have tailor made in love for each one of us! Fiat Lord!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Second Sunday of Lent

Rise and Do Not Be Afraid

Because your soul has been purified of the anguish of

doubts, you now have been given the power to rise to the heavenly

Father and be immersed in the delightful and joyful contemplation

of the Holy Trinity. (Jesus) (October 23-24, 1963)

Today’s Readings: But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone. (Matthew 17)

Prayer Meditation- Lord today we meditate on the Transfiguration. Peter, John, and James see You in the Your Glory. Peter nervously tries to enter the conversation with You, the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) but really the Apostles are scared to death and have no idea what is going on. In so many ways, when faced with Your Glory and Your Majesty, we can be the same. And yet, You call us- Our God first and foremost but also Our Friend to rise and not be afraid especially in these turbulent times. You call us to be purified of doubt and fear and to rise to You in confidence and trust! Let us raise our eyes and see no one but You alone- reign in all the Earth Jesus!

The Soul Must Live Up High. One Who Lives Up High Cannot Be Harmed

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
    they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Volume 6, March 4 1904

As I was very afflicted and in suffering because of the loss of my good Jesus, I saw Him for just a little, and He told me: “My daughter, your soul must try to maintain the flight of an eagle – that is, to dwell up high, above all the low things of this earth; and so high that no enemy may harm it. In fact, one who lives up high can harm the enemies, but cannot be harmed. And she must not only live up high, but must try to have purity and sharpness of eyes, similar to those of an eagle. Though living up high, through the sharpness of her sight, she penetrates the divine things – not in passing, but by chewing them to the point of making of them her favorite food, despising any other thing. And she also penetrates the necessities of her neighbor, nor is she afraid to descend into their midst and do good to them; and if needed, she lays down her life. Through the purity of her sight, the love of God and the love of neighbor, from two she makes them one, rectifying everything for God. So must the soul be if she wants to please Me.

Prayer Meditation- O Lord, we long to to live up high as You tell Luisa but so many obstacles can have us crashing to the ground! And yet You tell us to wait for You to renew our strength so that we can indeed mount up with wings like eagles! Lord, purify our sight so that we would live for love of You and love of neighbor loving them with Your Love! Let us lay down our lives and our will which is that obstacle that prevents our flight to You!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Saturday of the First Week of Lent

Perfected In Love

If we refer to the Flame

of Love, the Lord Jesus will enlighten our intellect to know what

we must do, for example, how we can choose between two things

and which is the most perfect and represents the Will of God. (Elizabeth) (July 11, 1975)

Today’s Readings: And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, it just seems natural- we prefer those who like us and tend to avoid those who don’t. These people can even be among our loved ones at times- how many times do we avoid family members who criticize us. Perfect love just seems like some kind of ideal we will never reach. And yet You do not ask us to be perfect to set us up for failure. You really mean we can love those who hate us and persecute us- Lord it is in Your Love and Love alone that we can be perfected. Lord Jesus enlighten our minds and our hearts that we would always choose Your Will and not ours so that we would be perfected in love this Lenten season!