The Way of Divine Love

[Stone]

CHAPTER VIII - THE LENT OF 1923

THE FLIGHT OF THE APOSTLES  March 16th, 1923


“I will make My plaint resound by My Apostles of the past and by My chosen souls of today.” (Our Lord to Josefa, March 16th, 1923)

OUR Blessed Lord came, anticipating His Mother, on the morning of the 16th of March, and Josefa thanked Him for the signal grace conferred on her the day before.

“If you are faithful in your love,” He answered, “shall I not be faithful, too, in consoling you? I am preparing another proof of My love for you. Yesterday, Josefa, you received a few drops of My Heart’s blood, today you will share the pain of the nails. . . . I will leave you My Cross, that you may bear it all day and that your love may comfort Me. I will sustain you, for I also do not cease loving you. Do you not see that I give you proofs of My affection? I shall go on doing so till the day when I take you to Heaven with Me.

“Now continue writing for the sake of souls:

“My disciples have all fled; Peter alone, impelled by curiosity, but full of fear, slinks in among the soldiery. All around Me are false witnesses uttering lie upon lie calculated to increase the anger of the iniquitous judges. They call Me a seducer, a profaner of the Sabbath, a false prophet, and the servants and menials, stimulated by these accusations, utter cries and threats against Me.

“Where then were you, My disciples and Apostles, witnesses of My life, of My doctrine, and of My miracles? . . . And all those from whom I had every reason to expect help and protection—none was there to defend Me. I was alone, accused of the worst crimes, surrounded by soldiers no better than ravening wolves.

“They all ill-treat Me; one strikes Me in the face, another spits upon Me, a third makes a laughing-stock of Me. . . .

“And while I offered Myself to be thus ill-used for the sake of souls held captive by sin, Peter, whom I had constituted Head of My Church . . . Peter, who but a few hours before had vowed to go with Me to torments and to death . . . Peter, who has the opportunity of giving testimony of Me, answers a simple question, first by a denial . . . and when the question is repeated, as fear takes an ever stronger hold of him, he swears that he has never known Me and has never been My disciple. . . .

“Ah! Peter, do you swear that you do not know your Master? You not only swear it, but at a third question you deny Him, uttering horrible imprecations . . .

“O My chosen followers . . . can you fathom the pain of My loving Heart when My own chosen ones deny Me? When the world revolts against Me, when so many souls pour scorn upon Me, ill-treat Me, seek My death, and then turning to My own, I find nothing but loneliness and desertion. . . . What sorrow, what bitterness for My Heart!

“To you as to Peter I say: ‘Have you forgotten the proofs of love I have given you . . . the links that bind you to Me . . . the oft-repeated promises of fidelity given to Me, and of defending Me even to death itself? . . .

“If you are weak and afraid of yielding to human respect, have recourse to Me for strength to conquer yourselves. Do not trust yourselves, but come to Me confidently, for I will sustain you.

“All you who live in the world in the midst of perils and occasions of sin, be on your guard against danger, for would Peter have fallen, if resisting courageously he had not yielded to vain curiosity?

“All of you who labor in My harvest-field or in My vineyard, if at some time you feel yourselves drawn to work by the attraction of a merely human enjoyment, fly. But if obedience, zeal for My glory or the good of souls, imposes a duty on you, have no fear; I will defend you, and you will pass victoriously through the danger.

“While the soldiers were leading Me to prison, I saw Peter in the crowd and I looked at him . . . turning, he looked at Me and forthwith began to weep bitterly for his sin. . . .

“It is thus that I look on guilty souls—but they? . . . Do they look at Me? . . . Do our eyes meet? . . . Alas, how often I look in vain . . . that soul does not see Me, for he is blind! I urge him gently, but he does not respond. . . . I call the sinner by name, but receive no answer. . . . I send the trial that might awaken him, and still he slumbers. . . .

“Beloved souls, unless your eyes are turned heavenward, you will in time become like animals that have no reason. Lift up your heads, gaze on your true fatherland which awaits you. Seek your God. You will find that He returns your earnest look and in His glance are peace and life.

“Here we stop for today, Josefa; tomorrow we shall continue. Keep My Cross and comfort Me.”

It was now three weeks since Our Lord had begun to reveal to Josefa for souls the secrets of His Passion.

So forcibly did she become associated with His feelings that her life was saturated by this mysterious participation, and she was unable to detach her thoughts from it. She went about, she worked and prayed and devoted herself, without for a moment losing sight of the sorrows that each morning were imprinted on her soul.

Nights of reparation had their place in this consecrated life, continually bringing to Josefa’s mind the fact that she had been chosen not only to transmit a Message to souls, but to cooperate effectively in their salvation. The unity of this twofold mission was inscribed by Our Lord on every page of her life. She is victim, she is apostle, such is the true meaning of her vocation.

On March 16th Our Lady responded to Josefa’s request of the day before, and gave her a fresh proof of her motherly love.

“You wanted to ask me something yesterday?” she said kindly, when that evening she came while Josefa was at her needlework. “What was it?”

Josefa answered that she wanted to know how best to pray to Our Lord so as to give Him pleasure.

“I shall tell you,” was Our Lady’s reply, “but go up to your cell, where you can write.”

She had hardly reached her cell when she was joined by Our Lady.

“What pleases My Son most is love and humility—so write: ‘O sweet and dearly loved Jesus, wert Thou not my Saviour, I should not dare to come to Thee, but Thou art both my Saviour and my Bridegroom, and Thy Heart loves me with the most tender and burning love, as no other Heart can love. Would that I could correspond with this love of Thine for me. Would that I had for Thee, who art my only love, all the ardor of the Seraphim, the purity of the angels and virgins, the holiness of the Blessed who possess Thee and glorify Thee in Heaven.

“ ‘Were I able to offer Thee all this, it would still be too little to honor Thy goodness and mercy. That is why I offer Thee my poor heart such as it is, with all its miseries, its weakness and good desires. Deign to purify it in the blood of Thy Heart, to transform and inflame it Thyself with an ardent and pure love. Thus the poor creature that I am, who can do no good but is capable of every evil, will love and glorify Thee as do the Seraphim who in Heaven are consumed with adoring love.

“ ‘Lastly, I ask of Thee, O gentle Jesus, to give my heart the very sanctity of Thy Heart, or rather to plunge it in Thy Divine Heart, that in It I may love and serve and glorify Thee, and lose myself in Thee for all eternity. I beg this same grace for all those whom I love. May they render Thee for me the glory and honor of which my sins have deprived Thee.’ ”

Then Josefa shyly asked this most kind and indulgent Mother to tell her of an ejaculatory prayer that she could repeat over and over again while at her work.

“Say these words which He will love: ‘O my Beloved, who art also my God, make my heart a flame of pure love for Thee.’

“And every evening before you fall asleep, say with much respect and confidence:

“ ‘O Thou who knewest all my misery before Thine eyes were fixed on me—Thou didst not turn away from my wretchedness . . . but because of it Thou didst love me with a love more sweet and tender. I beg pardon for having corresponded so little to Thy love. . . . I beg of Thee to forgive me, and to purify my actions in Thy Divine Blood. I am deeply grieved at having offended Thee, because Thou art infinitely Holy. I repent with heartfelt sorrow and I promise to do all in my power to avoid these faults in the future.’

“After which in all tranquility and joy take your rest.”

The day came when Our Lord matched the gentle courtesy of His Mother, but in order to recount this sequel of divine condescension we shall have to anticipate, and go on to August 26th of this last year of Josefa’s life.

“Josefa,” He said to her that night, “is it true that you would like something to say to My Mother that would please her? Write what I tell you.”

“Then in ardent, burning, even enthusiastic words,” she noted, He said this prayer:

“ ‘O tender and loving Mother, most prudent Virgin, Mother of my Redeemer, I come to salute you today with all the love that a child can feel for its mother.

“ ‘Yes, I am indeed your child, and because I am so helpless I will take the fervor of the Heart of your Divine Son; with Him I will salute you as the purest of creatures, for you were framed according to the wishes and desires of the thrice-holy God.

“ ‘Conceived without sin, exempt from all corruption, you were ever faithful to the impulses of grace, and so your soul accumulated such merit that it was raised above all other creatures.

“ ‘Chosen to be the Mother of Jesus Christ, you kept Him as in a most pure sanctuary, and He who came to give life to souls, Himself took life from you, and received nourishment from you.

“ ‘O incomparable Virgin! Immaculate Virgin! Delight of the Blessed Trinity, admiration of all angels and saints, you are the joy of Heaven. Morning Star, Rose blossoming in springtime, Immaculate Lily, tall and graceful Iris, sweet-smelling Violet. Garden enclosed kept for the delight of the King of Heaven . . . you are my Mother, Virgin most prudent, Ark most precious containing every virtue! you are my Mother, most powerful Virgin, Virgin clement and faithful! you are my Mother, O Refuge of sinners! I salute you and rejoice at the sight of the gifts bestowed on you by the Almighty, and of the prerogatives with which He has crowned you!

“ ‘Be blessed and praised, Mother of my Redeemer, Mother of poor sinners! Have pity on us and cover us with your motherly protection.

“ ‘I salute you in the name of all men, of all saints and all angels.

“ ‘Would that I could love you with the love and fire of the Seraphim, and this is too little to satisfy my desires . . . and to render you filial homage constant and pure for all eternity.

“ ‘O incomparable Virgin, bless me, since I am your child. Bless all men! Protect them and pray for them to Him who is almighty and can refuse you nothing.

“ ‘Adieu, tender and sweet Mother; day and night I salute you, in time and for eternity.’

“Now, Josefa, praise the Mother with the words of the Son, and the Son with those of His Mother.”

“Never,” said Josefa, “had I seen His Heart so resplendent, nor heard in His voice such burning enthusiasm!”