On the struggle against thoughts

When we struggle against demonic thoughts, the struggle will be considered as a martyrdom.  This is because one suffers a great deal when evil thoughts attack, and God, seeing the toil and pain of his soul, considers it to be a martyrdom. 

 

The necessity of ardent prayer

Pray, pray—just pray continuously now.  The miracles of ardent prayer are beyond description and explanation.  One marvels how the sea subsides and how the fierce winds stop!  Many times temptations arise like a fearful storm and relentless winds that threaten us with total destruction.  But by crying out the prayer, “Master, save us, we are perishing,” (Luke 8:24), you will see that all becomes calm miraculously, and we are saved.  Amen. 

 



On the conscience part 3

 

Humble yourself, and from now on confess, for confession contains holy humility, without which no one is saved.  The devil greatly rejoices when he manages to persuade a person to hide diabolical thoughts.  This is because he will achieve his premeditated, soul-destroying goal. 
 

 





On the conscience part 2

Do not let your conscience prick you for long, but quickly give it whatever it wants, lest it take you to the judge and the prison (cf. Mt. 5:25).  Does your conscience want you to attend to your prayer rule and regain prayer?  Give it these things and behold, you are delivered from going to the judge.  Do not weaken the saving voice of your conscience by disregarding it, because later you will regret it to no avail. 

On the conscience part 1

 

I have written to you about the conscience, that we must be careful not to do something that will make it reproach and condemn us.  Bear in mind that God sees everything and that nothing is hidden from His eyes.  So, how could I tell lies before God?  Don’t you know that lies are from the devil and that by not being careful, it becomes a practice, then a habit, then a passion and don’t you know that liars will not inherit the Kingdom of God? 

Fear God.  God is not pleased with material offerings when we neglect attending to our inner heart.  But it is necessary to do these also without leaving the others undone (cf. Mt. 23:23). 

Attend to your conscience, for we do not know the hour of our death. And if we do not repay our creditor (our conscience, that is) everything we owe him, he will accuse us vehemently, without holding back.  Then—alas!—our mouth will be silenced, not having any answer to give.

Patience, patience...

We should not find it strange if the passions and sicknesses war against us, but rather we should entreat God to give us patience, that great balm for the wounds of the soul as well as of the body.  Patience is the one and only diamond which beautifies the Christian and makes straight the rough road of our salvation.  Patience is the fortitude of the soul, the support, the deep root that holds the tree when the winds beat against it and the streams strike it.



Always remember Him

 

My children, always remember Jesus so that in all your weaknesses you may find the appropriate medicine.  Are you in pain?  By calling on Jesus you will find relief and enlightenment.  Are you in affliction?  Call on Jesus and behold, consolation will dawn in the realm of your heart.  Are you overcome by discouragement?  Do not neglect to set your hopes on Jesus, and your soul will be filled with courage and strength.  Are you bothered by carnal thoughts that allure you to sensual pleasure?  Take the consuming fire of the name of Jesus and set fire to the tares.  Are you oppressed by some worldly affair?  Say, "Enlighten me, my Jesus, how to deal with the matter which lies before me. Work it out in accordance with Thy holy will."  And behold, you will be at peace and will walk with hope. 

On those who tempt and grieve you

Put up with that person who grieves you and creates temptations.  Put up with him joyfully.  Pray for him every day.  Alays try to do good to him, to commend him, to speak to him with love, and God will work His miracle and he will reform.  Then our Christ will be glorified and the devil, who sets up all the stumbling-blocks, will be foiled.  Force yourself especially to stop criticizing and lying.  Your penance is to do one prayer-rope every day for this person who hates you, so that God may enlighten him to repent…   

 

If this person does something against you, overlook it, be patient.  Let yourself be wronged, but do not wrong; let yourself be slapped,  but do not slap; let yourself be criticized, but do not criticize.  When you do all this, then the Son of God, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, will dwell in your soul.  Fight the good fight; overlook the deeds of this person, just as our Christ has overlooked your sins. 

On bearing pain and illness

Just as the earth becomes productive when the plow tills it deeply, likewise the soul becomes fruitful in virtues when pain and illness visit it frequently and intensely!  The more pain and affliction a person has, the more beautiful his crown becomes.  And if there are many and various pains that oppress him, then the crown of glory is adorned with many flowers and pearls. 

 

Gold has to pass through the furnace to become purified, and the soul of a Christian has to pass through the furnace of temptations to receive the seal of eternal glory in the royal treasury of Christ the King.  If holy and blessed people passed through the furnace of pain and were benefited, how much more pain suits us and how much benefit we will derive from it when we endure it with knowledge and gratitude!  It is when we see pain oppressing us, physically or spiritually, that we should consider that we are loved by God and that He has placed us in the ranks of His chosen. 

 

 

On things endured for the sake of His love

 

We owe thousands of thanks to the sweetest Heavenly Father, Who providentially allows painful events to occur in our lives, so that we will not find ourselves in the other world incapable of showing that we endured something for the sake of His love. 





On patience with rambunctious children

My child, be patient with your children.  What can we do?  Of course they are rambunctious, but they cannot be otherwise.  In any case, we must be patient.  Do not let things pile up in your soul; do not demand details.  For by constantly worrying, you will harm your health and that will be worse.  Just overlook their shortcomings and increase your prayer, for prayer works miracles.  And then miraculously, without exertion, they will become calm and quiet children.  Many children were very rambunctious when they were small; afterwards, however, they became wonderful in everything.  The rambunctious children are usually smart, too, and they may achieve much. 

Dispelling the darkness within

The darkness which you have, my child, comes both from nature and from the tempter.  Both are healed by the arrival of God's grace.  For this reason, entreat God to give you sobriety and the ability to remember good things and forget bad things.  When you persist, little by little the grace of God will help you.