December 27, 1945prev home next
I was still at Communion when St. John the Apostle appeared to me in a wood of olive trees: ruddy, laughing, in a lilac robe and a light brown mantle. He seemed to be coming in a big rush. He turned around to look at me, smiled at me, and called out, “Sister!”
“Oh, John!” I replied with the same laughter he displayed.
He remained like that until I received the Eucharist and afterwards, while I gave thanks, and even longer, until... I had to practice patience in listening to small talk which did not interest me and had no value except that of charity towards bothersome people....
But now, as I, though listening to that talk, ask myself a question - this one: “How will Dina R., whom Jesus did not name in his dictation in favor of Antonio R.,130 be judged” - the Apostle replies:
“The words on the Cross will be - indeed, are - applied: ‘Father, forgive her, for she does not know what is being done.’131 Consider, though, that here, by harming what should not be derided with the sarcasm of her reasoning, Jesus, Our Lord, does not forgive on his own. He forgives the offenses against Jesus Christ, God and Man. But as for the offenses against the Triune Divinity - and thus particularly against Power and Love (the Father and the Spirit) - He, who knows that only God can forgive the sins against the Spirit of God - for only the Most High and Divine One can give this absolution - expresses to the Father his prayer for the blameworthy woman. And I do along with Him, I, who heard the way He uttered those words from the Cross and who cannot harbor doubts on their power.
“Good-bye, little sister. May the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ always be with you.”
And he went off, as quickly as he had come.
For Emma Federici132
Jesus says:
“Do you know what myrrh is? It is the resin which protects against corruption. Do you know what it can be compared to? Tears. But what do tears do, when they are good? They remove human impurities.
“Listen, daughter. Remember Ben Sirach: ‘Whoever loves his son punishes him often to receive consolation from him in the future.’133 And Proverbs: ‘My son, do not disdain the Lord’s discipline and do not be discouraged when He punishes you, for the Lord corrects the one He loves, as a father does with his beloved son.’134 In my last severe admonishment135 perceive all of my love.
“And listen, daughter. It is a promise and a peace I give you as a gift on my three feasts: Christmas, the Circumcision, and the Epiphany. Even if because of the hostility of men you could not see the Work, you would be equally dear to Me. Your being generous and faithful is enough for Me. And all you suffer will be a justification for what you will have been able to carry out imperfectly. What I demand, absolutely demand from you, is docility, absolute abandonment to the Will showing itself to you hour by hour. Absolutely renounce all personal judgment. With this renunciation, every action will be charged to the responsibility of others.
“Do not say, ‘But then I will never have merit!’ Merits in human actions are ten parts per thousand, even in actions with an intentionally good aim. Demerits are the other 990 parts. But if you renounce your own judgment and leave actions to others, you fulfill obedience on a one thousand per thousand basis. One thousand per thousand - that is, totally and perfectly. And you receive complete merit therefrom which cancels out every other possible demerit on your part in my eyes.
“Will you give Me this myrrh? I will embalm your whole spirit with it, and it will be uncorrupted.
“My daughter, my peace be with you.”
130 See note 126.
131 Luke 23:24.
132 See note 4 and notes 312 and 472 in The Notebooks. 1944.
133 Ben Sirach 30:1.
134 Proverbs 3:11-12.
135 On December 2.