(c)Mateo Ivankovic 2018
J.M.J.
February 7, 2018
Dear Family of Mary!
“Dear children! May this time be for you a time of prayer, so that the Holy Spirit, through prayer, may descend upon you and give you conversion. Open your hearts and read the Sacred Scripture, that through the testimonies you also may be closer to God. Above everything, little children, seek God and the things of God and leave earthly ones to the earth, because Satan is attracting you to the dust and sin. You are called to holiness and created for Heaven; therefore, seek Heaven and the things of Heaven. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (January 25, 2018)
I return to the January 25, 2018 message because I feel drawn to it.
“Seek God and the things of God and leave earthly ones to earth…” “You are called to holiness and created for Heaven; therefore, seek Heaven and the things of Heaven.”
This is the time to seek heaven, to seek God in everything, to seek holiness and life in God. I feel this call in my heart. I suspect we all do.
St. Faustina became more and more consumed by this call to seek God and Heaven. Late in her life she wrote often of how she could only seek God, only stay with Him in silence, leaving the world behind. Here is one example:
And You speak to me sweetly: Give Me, give Me your heart.
Silent conversation, alone with You,
Is to experience what heavenly beings enjoy,
And to say to God, “I will, I will give You my heart, O Lord,”
While You, O great and incomprehensible One, accept it graciously.
Love and sweetness are my soul’s life,
And Your unceasing presence in my soul.
I live on earth in constant rapture,
And like a Seraph I repeat, “Hosanna!”
O You Who are hidden, body, soul and divinity,|
Under the fragile form of bread,
You are my life from Whom springs an abundance of graces;
And, for me, You surpass the delights of heaven.
When You unite Yourself with me in Communion, O God,
I then feel my unspeakable greatness,
A greatness which flows from You, O Lord, I humbly confess,
And despite my misery, with Your help, I can become a saint.
St. Faustina experienced paradise, the rapture of the angels, the life of a saint when she was able to commune with Jesus in silence. All she wanted was to be with Him. Her eyes were fixed on Heaven while she lived humbly on earth. Our Lady is calling us to just such a life. It is not so that we will exclude others or leave our brothers and sisters behind, but so that we can show them the way to heaven, and bring them along. Our love for God will only help them to love Him too!
Denis and I are finding ourselves drawn to pray after Mass each day in silence before the Tabernacle. We are almost paralyzed before Jesus, unable to move, unwilling to leave. No words are needed. Just to be with Him. I believe it is a grace Our Lady is giving her children, to just be with her Son. To stay with Him. To love Him. To desire Him alone.
We pray for all of you there too!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2018
