St. Thomas Aquinas’ prayer before study:
“Grand me, I beseech Thee, O merciful God,
Ardently to desire, prudently to study,
Rightly to understand, and perfectly to fulfill
That which is pleasing to thee, to the
Praise and glory of Thy Name. Amen.”
Jesus to Luisa Piccarreta: “Have you seen what it is to live in my Will? It is to disappear; it is to enter the sphere of Eternity; it is to penetrate into the all-seeingness of the Eternal One – into the Uncreated Mind, and to take part in everything, as much as it is possible for the creature, and in each divine act. It is to enjoy the use, even while being on earth, of all the divine qualities; it is to hate evil in a divine way. It is extending oneself to everyone without exhaustion, because the Will that animates this creature is divine. It is the sanctity not yet known, which I will make known, and which will place the last ornament, and the most beautiful, the most refulgent, among all other sanctities, and will be crown and fulfillment of all other sanctities. Now, to live united with Me is NOT to disappear – two beings can be seen together, and one who does not disappear cannot enter the sphere of Eternity to take part in all the divine acts. Ponder well and you will see the great difference.” (Book of Heaven, April 8, 1918)
Volume 17 - September 18, 1924
The Gift of the Divine Will
To live in my Will is to live as a son; to do my Will is to live as a servant. In the first state, what belongs to the father belongs to the son, and many times servants make more sacrifices than sons do; they have to expose themselves to more toilsome and more humble services, to cold, to heat, to traveling on foot. In fact, how much have my Saints not done in order to execute the orders of my Will? On the other hand, a son remains with his father, takes care of him, cheers him with his kisses and with his caresses; he commands the servants as if his father were commanding; if he goes out, he does not go on foot, but travels in a carriage. And while the son possesses everything that belongs to his father, servants are given only the retribution for the work they have done, remaining free to serve or not to serve their master; and if they do not serve, they have no more right to receive any further compensation. On the other hand, between father and son, no one can remove these rights: that the son possess the goods of the father; no law, either celestial or terrestrial, can remove these rights, nor unbind the sonship between father and son. My daughter, the living in my Will is the living that is closest to the blessed of Heaven; and it is so distant from one who does my Will and is faithfully submitted to my orders, just as Heaven is distant from the earth, just as the distance between a son and a servant, and between a king and a subject. And besides, this is a gift which I want to give in these times, so sad - that they may not only do my Will, but possess It. Am I perhaps not free to give whatever I want, whenever I want, and to whomever I want? Is a master not free to say to his servant: ‘Live in my house, eat, take, command like another me’? And so that no one may prevent him from possessing his goods, he legitimizes this servant as his own son, and gives him the right to possess. If a rich man can do so, much more can I do it.
This living in my Will is the greatest gift I want to give to creatures. My goodness wants to make ever greater display of love toward creatures; and since I have given them everything, and have nothing else to give to make Myself loved, I want to give them the gift of my Will, so that, by possessing It, they may love the great good they possess. And do not be surprised if you see that they do not understand. In order to understand, they would have to dispose themselves to the greatest of sacrifices: that of not giving life, even in holy things, to their own will. Then would they feel the possession of Mine, and would touch with their own hands what it means to live in my Will. You, however, be attentive, and do not be bothered by the difficulties they raise; and I, little by little, will make my way to make them understand the living in my Will.” (Book of Heaven, Vol. 17, Sept. 18, 1924
Father Philipon, Theologian and Editor of Conchita’s Diary) “…we are incontestably in a new era of spirituality…a calling of all, even the laity, even of married people, to the greatest holiness.”
Jesus to Saint Faustina: I want to pour out My Divine Life into human souls and sanctify them, if they are willing to accept My Grace.” (Divine Mercy in My Soul)
Luisa explains the difference between “living resigned” and “living in” the Divine Will:
Living Resigned: “In one who lives resigned to the Divine Will, it is almost impossible not to mix his own will with it.”
Living in the Divine Will: “Living in the Divine Will means being inseparable, doing nothing by oneself, because in the face of the Divine Will one feels incapable of anything.” “…one who lives in the Divine Will finds it impossible to do things by himself, even more, he feel nausea for his human works, though holy, because in the Divine Will all things, even the smallest ones, take on a different look. They acquire nobility, splendor, Divine sanctity, Divine power and beauty, they multiply to infinity…” “And after he has done everything, he says, ‘I have done nothing – Jesus did.’”
From the writings of Saint Maximilian Kolbe:
“The will of Mary Immaculate is so closely united with the Will of God that they seem to be only one will…Her will is united to and identified itself in the closest way with the Will of God. She lives and operates only in God and through God. So we should not be afraid to say that our only and deepest wish is to do the Immaculate’s will as accurately as possible. By doing this, we shall belong to Her every day more. And She shall take possession of our whole being.” The first seven centuries (from the founding of the Franciscan Order) were only the preparation, the idea, the cause. Now comes the realization of that truth, the manifestation of the Immaculate Virgin to souls; Her introduction to souls with all the blessed effects which follow from it. In every country there must arise Cities of Mary Immaculate…you will soon see tears flowing from the eyes of the most hardened sinners; prisons will be emptied; hones workers will unite; families will overflow with virtue, peace, and happiness; all discord will be banished, for it is now the new era.”
Prayer of Blessed Pope John Paul II:
Immaculate Conception
Mary my Mother,
Live in me, act in me, speak in and through me,
Think your thoughts in my mind,
Love through my heart,
Give me your disposition and feelings,
Teach, lead, and guide me to Jesus,
Correct, enlighten and expand my thoughts and behavior,
Possess my soul,
Take over my entire personality and life
Replace it with Yourself,
Incline of to constant adoration and thanksgiving
Pray in me and through me
Let me live in you, and keep me
In this union always. Amen
“This is our great hope and our invocation:
‘Your Kingdom come!’
a Kingdom of peace, justice and serenity,
Which will re-establish the original harmony of creation.”
Pope John Paul II, Papal Address on Psalm 97, Nov. 6,
2002
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