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The Voice of Christ
My child, hear My words, words of greatest sweetness
surpassing all the knowledge of the philosophers and
wise men of earth. My words are spirit and life, and
they are not to be weighed by man's understanding.
They are not to be invoked in vanity but are to be
heard in silence, and accepted with all humility and
with great affection.
The Disciple
"Happy is the man whom Thou admonishest, O Lord, and
teachest out of Thy law, to give him peace from the
days of evil,"(1) and that he be not desolate on
earth.The Voice of Christ
I taught the prophets from the beginning, and even to
this day I continue to speak to all men. But many are
hardened. Many are deaf to My voice. Most men listen
more willingly to the world than to God. They are
more ready to follow the appetite of their flesh than
the good pleasure of God. The world, which promises
small and passing things, is served with great
eagerness: I promise great and eternal things and the
hearts of men grow dull. Who is there that serves and
obeys Me in all things with as great care as that
with which the world and its masters are served?
"Be thou ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea speaketh."(2)
And if you ask why, listen to the cause: for a small
gain they travel far; for eternal life many will
scarcely lift a foot from the ground. They seek a
petty reward, and sometimes fight shamefully in law
courts for a single piece of money. They are not
afraid to work day and night for a trifle or an empty
promise. But, for an unchanging good, for a reward
beyond estimate, for the greatest honor and for glory
everlasting, it must be said to their shame that men
begrudge even the least fatigue. Be ashamed, then,
lazy and complaining servant, that they should be
found more eager for perdition than you are for life,
that they rejoice more in vanity than you in truth.
Sometimes indeed their expectations fail them, but My
promise never deceives, nor does it send away
empty-handed him who trusts in Me. What I have
promised I will give. What I have said I will
fulfill, if only a man remain faithful in My love to
the end. I am the rewarder of all the good, the
strong approver of all who are devoted to Me.
Write My words in your heart and meditate on them
earnestly, for in time of temptation they will be
very necessary. What you do not understand when you
read, you will learn in the day of visitation. I am
wont to visit My elect in two ways -- by temptation
and by consolation. To them I read two lessons daily
-- one reproving their vices, the other exhorting
them to progress in virtue. He who has My words and
despises them has that which shall condemn him on the
last day.
A Prayer for the Grace of Devotion
O Lord my God, You are all my good. And who am I that
I should dare to speak to You? I am Your poorest and
meanest servant, a vile worm, much more poor and
contemptible than I know or dare to say. Yet remember
me, Lord, because I am nothing, I have nothing, and I
can do nothing. You alone are good, just, and holy.
You can do all things, You give all things, You fill
all things: only the sinner do You leave
empty-handed. Remember Your tender mercies and fill
my heart with Your grace, You Who will not allow Your
works to be in vain. How can I bear this life of
misery unless You comfort me with Your mercy and
grace? Do not turn Your face from me. Do not delay
Your visitation. Do not withdraw Your consolation,
lest in Your sight my soul become as desert land.
Teach me, Lord, to do Your will. Teach me to live
worthily and humbly in Your sight, for You are my
wisdom Who know me truly, and Who knew me even before
the world was made and before I was born into it.
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