Begin the day with battle? So did St. Faustina!

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Often we see only “one side” of our saints and forget they did battle against evil as we do. In her “Diary”, St. Faustina wrote:

1. My Jesus, despite your graces, I see and feel all my misery. I begin my day with battle and end it with battle. As soon as I conquer one obstacle, ten more appear to take its place. But I am not worried, because I know this is a time of struggle and not peace. When the burden of the battle becomes too much for me, I throw myself like a child into the arms of the heavenly Father and trust I will not perish. O my Jesus how prone I am to evil and this forces me to be constantly vigilant. But I do not lose heart. I trust God’s grace which abounds in the worst misery.

We are all prone to evil as a consequence of original sin, yet God’s grace is always sufficient for us to overcome evil with good. May this Year of Mercy continue to remind us of God’s Great Mercy in sending Jesus to open for us the path to holiness. We are all called to share in His holiness. By His grace, may we persevere through all the battles of life on earth, as St. Faustina encourages us to do.

 

[Casilda]

I always see that side of saints. The seemingly insurmountable evil they faced, sometimes incessantly. In reading about their lives I always try to glean whatever kernal of help and hope I can. Prayer. It is prayer, our communication with our Father in heaven that seems a universal balm used by the saints. That has been my only help most of my life. It is what has kept me company in my dark nights. The Lord has just recently answered some of my most desperate prayers these past few weeks. It is so wonderful to feel fully alive again, and during Lent no less. I must remember, that like St. Faustina wrote, that I must be strengthened by that grace, to withstand what may be around the corner. Lord, have mercy.

 

[MariaChristi]

I always see that side of saints. The seemingly insurmountable evil they faced, sometimes incessantly. In reading about their lives I always try to glean whatever kernal of help and hope I can. Prayer. It is prayer, our communication with our Father in heaven that seems a universal balm used by the saints. That has been my only help most of my life. It is what has kept me company in my dark nights. The Lord has just recently answered some of my most desperate prayers these past few weeks. It is so wonderful to feel fully alive again, and during Lent no less. I must remember, that like St. Faustina wrote, that I must be strengthened by that grace, to withstand what may be around the corner. Lord, have mercy.

Dear Casilda,

Thanks so much for your reply. It is always good to hear from you. It is a blessing to read that you identify with the saints in their spiritual battles and that prayer is the source of your strength, as it was for them.

If we do not have a relationship with God in prayer, there can be no supernatural growth through our trials. By His Grace, we find in Jesus, our Way, our Truth and our Life. May this Lent and this Year of Mercy be for all of us a time of great growth in Faith, Hope and above all Charity.

Please let us continue to pray for one another, and for all those in most need of His Mercy.

 

[therese14]

Thank you for the beautiful quote from the diary of St Faustina.

Have you read the entire diary? If you haven’t you can find the book here.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thank you for the beautiful quote from the diary of St Faustina.

Have you read the entire diary? If you haven’t you can find the book here.

Dear Therese,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I’ve read the entire Diary, and I am re-reading it especially for this “Year of Mercy”. Thanks for the link. I have my own copy of the Diary, but an online copy helps me to cut and paste rather than typing portions to post on the forum. I can also recommend the online version for those who can’t afford to buy their own copy. That may help them to ponder more of Jesus’ words to St. Faustina regarding His Infinite Mercy.