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The Disciple
I will speak to my Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.
If I consider myself anything more than this, behold
You stand against me, and my sins bear witness to the
truth which I cannot contradict. If I abase myself,
however, if I humble myself to nothingness, if I
shrink from all self-esteem and account myself as the
dust which I am, Your grace will favor me, Your light
will enshroud my heart, and all self-esteem, no
matter how little, will sink in the depths of my
nothingness to perish forever.
It is there You show me to myself -- what I am, what
I have been, and what I am coming to; for I am
nothing and I did not know it. Left to myself, I am
nothing but total weakness. But if You look upon me
for an instant, I am at once made strong and filled
with new joy. Great wonder it is that I, who of my
own weight always sink to the depths, am so suddenly
lifted up, and so graciously embraced by You.
It is Your love that does this, graciously upholding
me, supporting me in so many necessities, guarding me
from so many grave dangers, and snatching me, as I
may truly say, from evils without number. Indeed, by
loving myself badly I lost myself; by seeking only
You and by truly loving You I have found both myself
and You, and by that love I have reduced myself more
profoundly to nothing. For You, O sweetest Lord, deal
with me above all my merits and above all that I dare
to hope or ask.May You be blessed, my God, for
although I am unworthy of any benefits, yet Your
nobility and infinite goodness never cease to do good
even for those who are ungrateful and far from You.
Convert us to You, that we may be thankful, humble,
and devout, for You are our salvation, our courage,
and our strength.
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The Voice of Christ
MY CHILD, I must be your supreme and last end, if you truly desire
to be blessed. With this intention your affections, which are too
often perversely inclined to self and to creatures, will be
purified. For if you seek yourself in anything, you immediately
fail interiorly and become dry of heart.Refer all things
principally to Me, therefore, for it is I Who have given them all.
Consider each thing as flowing from the highest good, and
therefore to Me, as to their highest source, must all things be
brought back.
From Me the small and the great, the poor and the rich draw the
water of life as from a living fountain, and they who serve Me
willingly and freely shall receive grace upon grace. He who wishes
to glory in things apart from Me, however, or to delight in some
good as his own, shall not be grounded in true joy or gladdened in
his heart, but shall be burdened and distressed in many ways.
Hence you ought not to attribute any good to yourself or ascribe
virtue to any man, but give all to God without Whom man has
nothing.
I have given all things. I will that all be returned to Me again,
and I exact most strictly a return of thanks. This is the truth by
which vainglory is put to flight.
Where heavenly grace and true charity enter in, there neither envy
nor narrowness of heart nor self-love will have place. Divine love
conquers all and enlarges the powers of the soul.
If you are truly wise, you will rejoice only in Me, because no
one is good except God alone, Who is to be praised above all
things and above all to be blessed.
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