On Humility and Humble Soul
Humiliation is my daily food. I understand that the bride must herself share in everything that is the groom's: and so His cloak of mockery must cover me too. At those times when I suffer much, I try to remain silent, as I do not trust my tongue which, at such moments, is inclined to talk for itself, while its duty is to help me praise God for all the blessings and gifts which He has given me. (92)
At the end of the hour I went before the Blessed Sacrament and, like the greatest and most miserable of wretches, I begged for His mercy that He might heal and purify my soul. Then I heard these words, 'My daughter, all your miseries have been consumed in the flame of My love, like a twig into a roaring fire'. By humbling yourself in this way, you draw upon yourself and upon other souls an entire sea of My mercy. I answered, "Jesus, mould my poor heart according to Your divine delight." (178)
During this hour, I tried to meditate on the Lord's Passion. But my soul was filled with joy, and suddenly I saw the Child Jesus. But His majesty penetrated me to such an extent that I said, "Jesus, You are so little, and yet I know that you are my Creator and Lord." And Jesus answered me,' I am and I keep company with you as a child to teach you humility and simplicity'. (184)
I will hide myself among the sisters like a little violet among lilies. I want to blossom for my Lord and Maker, to forget about myself, to empty myself totally for the sake of immortal souls - this is my delight. (224)
Thank you Jesus, for the great favor of making known to me the abyss of my misery. I know that I am an abyss of nothingness and that, if Your holy grace did not hold me up, I would return to nothingness in a moment. And so, with every beat of my heart, I thank You, my God, for Your great mercy towards me. (256)
Jesus told me that I please Him best by meditating on His sorrowful Passion, and by such meditation much light falls upon my soul. He who wants to learn true humility should reflect upon the Passion of Jesus. (267)
Without humility, we cannot be pleasing to God. Practice the third degree of humility; that is, not only must one refrain from explaining and defending oneself when reproached with something, but one should rejoice at the humiliation. (Advice from Rev. Dr. Sopocko) (270)
Once the Lord said to me, 'My Heart was moved by great mercy towards you, My dearest child, when I saw you torn to shreds because of the great pain you suffered in repenting for your sins. I see your love, so pure and true that I give you first place among the virgins. You are the honour and glory of My Passion. I see every abasement of your soul, and nothing escapes my attention. I lift up the humble even to my very throne, because I want it so'. (282)
'My child, how is your retreat going'? I answered, "But Jesus, You know how it is going." 'Yes, I know, but i want to hear it from your own lips and from your heart'. "O my Master, when You are leading me, everything goes smoothly, and I ask You, Lord, to never leave my side." And Jesus said, 'Yes, I will be with you always, if you always remain a little child and fear nothing. As I was your beginning here, so I was also be your end. Do not rely on creatures, even in the smallest things, because this displeases Me'. (295)
[Jesus] said to me, 'The prayer of a humble and loving soul disarms the anger of My Father and draws down an ocean of blessings'. (320)
Although My greatness is beyond understanding, I commune only with those who are little. I demand of you a childlike spirit. (332)
O how beautiful is a humble soul! From her heart, as from a censer, rises a varied and most pleasing fragrance which breaks through the skies and reaches God himself, filling His Most Sacred Heart with joy. God refuses nothing to such a soul; she is all powerful and influences the destiny of the whole world...Such a soul is most deeply united with God. ...Now I understand why there are so few saints; it is because so few souls are deeply humble. (1306)
'If you do not succeed in taking advantage of an opportunity, do not lose your peace, but humble yourself profoundly before Me and, with great trust immerse yourself completely in My mercy. In this way, you gain more than you have lost, because more favor is granted to a humble soul than the soul itself asks for.. '(1361)
'...you always please Me by your humility. The greatest misery does not stop Me from uniting Myself to a soul, but where there is pride, I am not there'. (1563)
'Tell souls that from this fount of mercy [referring to Confession] souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. The torrents of grace inundate humble souls. The proud remain always in poverty and misery, because My grace turns away from them to humble souls'. (1602)
Then I saw myself ... together with the Mother of God....She was so peaceful and so united to the will of God...When I was left alone with the Blessed Virgin, She instructed me concerning the interior life. The soul's true greatness is in loving God and in humbling oneself in His presence, completely forgetting oneself and believing oneself to be nothing; because the Lord is great, but He is well-pleased only with the humble; He always opposes the proud. (1710-11)
At the end of the hour I went before the Blessed Sacrament and, like the greatest and most miserable of wretches, I begged for His mercy that He might heal and purify my soul. Then I heard these words, 'My daughter, all your miseries have been consumed in the flame of My love, like a twig into a roaring fire'. By humbling yourself in this way, you draw upon yourself and upon other souls an entire sea of My mercy. I answered, "Jesus, mould my poor heart according to Your divine delight." (178)
During this hour, I tried to meditate on the Lord's Passion. But my soul was filled with joy, and suddenly I saw the Child Jesus. But His majesty penetrated me to such an extent that I said, "Jesus, You are so little, and yet I know that you are my Creator and Lord." And Jesus answered me,' I am and I keep company with you as a child to teach you humility and simplicity'. (184)
I will hide myself among the sisters like a little violet among lilies. I want to blossom for my Lord and Maker, to forget about myself, to empty myself totally for the sake of immortal souls - this is my delight. (224)
Thank you Jesus, for the great favor of making known to me the abyss of my misery. I know that I am an abyss of nothingness and that, if Your holy grace did not hold me up, I would return to nothingness in a moment. And so, with every beat of my heart, I thank You, my God, for Your great mercy towards me. (256)
Jesus told me that I please Him best by meditating on His sorrowful Passion, and by such meditation much light falls upon my soul. He who wants to learn true humility should reflect upon the Passion of Jesus. (267)
Without humility, we cannot be pleasing to God. Practice the third degree of humility; that is, not only must one refrain from explaining and defending oneself when reproached with something, but one should rejoice at the humiliation. (Advice from Rev. Dr. Sopocko) (270)
Once the Lord said to me, 'My Heart was moved by great mercy towards you, My dearest child, when I saw you torn to shreds because of the great pain you suffered in repenting for your sins. I see your love, so pure and true that I give you first place among the virgins. You are the honour and glory of My Passion. I see every abasement of your soul, and nothing escapes my attention. I lift up the humble even to my very throne, because I want it so'. (282)
'My child, how is your retreat going'? I answered, "But Jesus, You know how it is going." 'Yes, I know, but i want to hear it from your own lips and from your heart'. "O my Master, when You are leading me, everything goes smoothly, and I ask You, Lord, to never leave my side." And Jesus said, 'Yes, I will be with you always, if you always remain a little child and fear nothing. As I was your beginning here, so I was also be your end. Do not rely on creatures, even in the smallest things, because this displeases Me'. (295)
[Jesus] said to me, 'The prayer of a humble and loving soul disarms the anger of My Father and draws down an ocean of blessings'. (320)
Although My greatness is beyond understanding, I commune only with those who are little. I demand of you a childlike spirit. (332)
O how beautiful is a humble soul! From her heart, as from a censer, rises a varied and most pleasing fragrance which breaks through the skies and reaches God himself, filling His Most Sacred Heart with joy. God refuses nothing to such a soul; she is all powerful and influences the destiny of the whole world...Such a soul is most deeply united with God. ...Now I understand why there are so few saints; it is because so few souls are deeply humble. (1306)
'If you do not succeed in taking advantage of an opportunity, do not lose your peace, but humble yourself profoundly before Me and, with great trust immerse yourself completely in My mercy. In this way, you gain more than you have lost, because more favor is granted to a humble soul than the soul itself asks for.. '(1361)
'...you always please Me by your humility. The greatest misery does not stop Me from uniting Myself to a soul, but where there is pride, I am not there'. (1563)
'Tell souls that from this fount of mercy [referring to Confession] souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. The torrents of grace inundate humble souls. The proud remain always in poverty and misery, because My grace turns away from them to humble souls'. (1602)
Then I saw myself ... together with the Mother of God....She was so peaceful and so united to the will of God...When I was left alone with the Blessed Virgin, She instructed me concerning the interior life. The soul's true greatness is in loving God and in humbling oneself in His presence, completely forgetting oneself and believing oneself to be nothing; because the Lord is great, but He is well-pleased only with the humble; He always opposes the proud. (1710-11)
