Well, my research was not 64 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE in vain. Thereses sister Celine (Sr. Genevieve of the Holy Face) puts it best: We must not confuse [my sisters desire to be a victim to Merciful Love] with the victims of justice. I say that because the word distrust reminds us that we have a trust problem. And to an swer it, God himself would have to let us know by choosing someone with authority to announce it to us. 180-1. 33 Days to Merciful Love Group Retreat goes even deeper than the book alone and explores new material on the heart of St. Thrse of Lisieux's Little Way, uncovering the power of trust in the face of . However, keep in mind that the whole focus of the Offering is mercy and the God who WEEK THREE: The Offering to Merciful Love 83 is all gentleness.113 Having said that, I do have one suggestion if youre feeling a bit anxious about making it: Say the prayer, Yes, Lord, I do want to be a saint, but please be gentle.114 Frankly, thats a prayer I myself often pray, and I can assure you that the Lord has, indeed, been very gentle with me. 186 Ibid. God put Abraham to the test. 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. Now, the difference between many of us and St. Therese is that she clung to Gods promises of mercy and the memory of his love (consolation), especially in the midst of darkness (desolation).163 She didnt give up. Yes, I want to spend my heaven doing good on earth.166 112 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE We know that God granted the desires of this greatest saint of modern times. So, will you let her help you? Yes. In odier words, its a rediscovery of die very heart of die Gospel. I believe, he also and especially wants to pour out his mercy on families. Its to trust that he will make us into great saints, even if we dont see it happening, even if we struggle with the same sins day after day, even if we have to wait for the grace of great holiness until the very end of our lives. Think of it. Why? St. Therese was declared a Doctor of the Church by St. John Paul II, because she had developed a specific spirituality that is recognized as . 107 Cited in ibid., p. 347. The Divine Mercy Image goes perfectly with the Family Offering to Merciful Love. It is with joy I shall contemplate You on the Last Day carrying the scepter of Your Cross. Little souls often live ordinary lives, but theyre called to do so with extraordinaryfaith, hope, and love. Now, Merciful Love is that particular kind of love that seeks out brokenness, suffering, sin, and weakness. Gaitley's 33 Days to Morning Glory. 255-283. Help us to be grateful for Gods mercy with your own joyfulness of heart at the Visitation. (See endnote 159 for instructions on how to pray it.) Also, see Vatican Ils Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, 61-62, which describes Marys role as a Mediatrix. Listen to what Therese herself said to one of her novices who often failed in the practice of virtue: And if die good God wants you weak and helpless like a child do you believe that you will have less merit? Perhaps its to have a business meeting, a celebration, or simply to get die furnace fixed. I also said, thanks to Fr. Venial sin allows charity to subsist, even though it offends and wounds it (1854-1855). Ifyou say yes to this Offering, then it seems that Jesus would be happy not to hold back the waves of what? Great hope. Just remember to count back 33 days from the feast itself, with the day of consecration (the feast day) being the thirty-forth day. But when Marys Immaculate Heart was pierced, it became an instrument ofgrace that opens hearts to receive Gods mercy (see Lk 2:35). O Jesus, it is not even necessary to say: When dra wing me, draw the souls whom I love! This simple statement: Draw me suffices; I understand, Lord, that when a soul allows herself to be captivated by the odor ofyour ointments, she cannot run alone, all the souls whom she loves follow in her train; this is done without constraint, without effort, it is a natural consequence of her attraction for You. Lens of Mercy. Those who have done so are amazed at how powerfully Jesus takes them up on their offer. Specifically, like Sr. Marie of Jesus, they would often come down with some illness that would cause terrible suffering and an agonizing death. We entered the nine-domed Temple of Kali, where the figures of the Divine Mother and Shiva rest on a burnished silver lotus, its thousand petals meticulously chiseled. Well also remember that she didnt give in to the darkness, that she eking to God with the light of faith. 122 To learn how we can console Jesus, see the first section of Appendix One, How We Can Console Jesus. Also, on this topic, its interesting to note that St. Therese took the religious name Sr. Webmas ters note: This article, in German, appears in the December 2001 and the January 2002 issue of Der Felsat www.der-feis.de/2001 /12-2001 .pdf and www.der-fels.de/2002/01 2002.pdf. 1. Marc Foley, OCD, whose brilliant course on Therese of Lisieux opened my eyes to hidden treasures buried in the saints writings. That vessel is this image with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You.222 By means of this image I shall be granting many graces to souls.223 ALL: Lord Jesus, through this image of your mercy, please grant us your grace. It goes to the lowest place and raises up. Of course, Im talking about Mary, our mother in faith. 17-18. 65 Wlekti-irle. Second, you actually become a Marian Missionary by making the retreat 33 Days to Mary, Mercy, and Community, which comes out next year. Love is not loved! Its to allow our hearts to become more like the heart of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who attentively listened to Jesus painful cry from the Cross: I thirst!98 Its to allow our WEEK THREE; The Offering to Merciful Love 77 hearts to be healed of indifference toward the pain and suffering of our neighbor. I fainted from fright, and even though I know the depth of Gods mercy, I was surprised that God allows humanity to exist. I know that this whole multitude of sins would be lost in the twinkling of an eye like a drop of water cast into a burning furnace. Her presence there helps us to understand the catch that comes with being a victim soul to Merciful Love. 33 Days to Merciful Love Group Retreat; Divine Mercy in the Second Greatest Story Ever Told Series; Leaders . I desire to accomplish Your will perfectly and to reach the degree of glory You have prepared for me in Your Kingdom. She does this through her powerful prayers for us, which are so effective because of the suffering she endured at the foot of the Cross. Includes: Retreat Companion (workbook with daily and weekly questions, written by Fr. 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. Here it is: Blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled (Lk 1:45).13 Now, according to St. John Paul II, that final blessing has a fundamental importance.14 Why? But we have to be willing to accept the cross of an ordinary life and cat the bread of daily darkness. Therefore, hes looking for families who will invite him into their homes and allow him to give them the love that so many other families reject. So, joy should abound this day! This is the temptation of Jansenist fear, but theres no need to be afraid. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, author of the bestselling book Consoling the Heart of Jesus, comes an extraordinary 33. And through that effort, weve come to find a light in the darkness, namely, Gods own love that fills up the abyss of our nothingness. Why all the enthusiasm? Now, Fr. (428 pages.) If you had understood the story of my little bird, you would not have asked me this question. When the prodigal son returned home, I dont think his father told him: You, sit down and listen: what did you do with the money? No! 1, p. 226. 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. If I were to reveal to you the whole misery that you are, you would die of terror. DAY 1 1 Do Three Things As we learned yesterday, the Litde Way is all about the heart of the Gospel: Divine Mercy. But if all that isnt enough to convince us to choose to make the Offering to Merciful Love, then maybe this will: If we make and live the Offering, we need not fear purgatory. Indeed, she was absolutely confident that God would allow her to bor row lais own divine love. He was willing to prose to God that he loved him more than his own son. 224 Ibid., 341. 7 Ibid., 399. So whats the catch FINAL FIVE DAYS: Synthesis and Review 121 when we offer ourselves to Merciful Love? She says, Raise your litde foot to scale the stairway of holiness.62 Of course, we wont be successful, but Therese tiien adds, God requires you only to demonstrate 56 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE your good will. In other words, we just need to give it a try. 70-72. She chose mercy, and so, even Gods Justice seemed to her clothed in love." To learn more, see Appendix One of The Second Greatest Story Ever Told, Regard ing the Lords Final Coming. It is interesting to note here that Pope John Paul II explicitly brought together this topic of preparing the world for the Lords final coming with a consecration or entrustment to Divine Mercy. Well, shortly after entering the seminary, I began to feel that even S Introduction 17 the quickest and easiest path was not enough for me, which was a problem. More over, Marie felt that she herself was the little bird and that there was no hope for her to love God as Therese loved him. [Each day this week, you will (1) read the appropriate day from 33 Days to Morning Glory, (2) pray the Magnificat, and. I say that because, as Scripture teaches, the measure with which we measure will be measured back to us (see Lk 6:38). See Therese solves the mystery as to why the great saints see them selves as great sinners. In the lives of the desert fathers, it is told how one of them con verted a public sinner whose evil deeds were the scandal of the whole country. T)reathing Meditation. Home. Finally, the obituary also includes the following statement from Sr. Marie, which she uttered in the midst of her mortal agony: I am bearing the harshness of divine Justice divine Justice! 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