I’ve been enjoying the daily email readings from the Diary of St. Faustina for Lent from the great folks at Flocknote (read the full reflection) and I particularly loved this excerpt from March 20:

“The loss of each soul plunges Me into mortal sadness. You always console Me when you pray for sinners. The prayer most pleasing to Me is prayer for the conversion of sinners. Know, My daughter, that this prayer is always heard and answered.” (Diary – 1397)

I was so happy to hear that the prayer most pleasing to Jesus is the conversion of sinners, because I pray that one a lot. And I know I’ve been told to be persistent in prayer and there are plenty of saint examples and even words from Jesus that support this, but sometimes I thinking I’m bugging God, you know? I think clearly he’s not ready to convert this particular sinner, so perhaps I should be quiet and know that God’s will shall be done in His time.

But after reading this, it made me feel good about continuing this prayer. We want to console Jesus and make Him happy. And he told me it WILL be answered in His time. I’ll keep on praying…

Got newbie questions? You’re not alone! I do, too. Here’s one that I wonder about every time we read it at mass. I would love any help with the answer!

In the below Gospel reading, how do the people Jesus is speaking to know what He’s talking about when He tells them to “take up their cross” when He has not died on the cross yet? Is it because this was a common occurrence at that time so people were familiar with the reference? Or do they not understand the reference yet? That one always gets me thinking…

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Lk 9:23)

Thanks for the help!

From the wonderful book “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young, part of the meditation for January 25:

“Sit still in the Light of My Presence and receive  my Peace. These quiet moments with Me transcend time, accomplishing far more than you can imagine. Bring Me the sacrifice of your time, and watch to see how abundantly I bless you and your loved ones…Enjoy the tempo of a God-breathed life by letting Me set the pace. Hold My hand in childlike trust, and the way before you will open up step by step.”

Go sit before the Blessed Sacrament or in Eucharistic Adoration. It’s transformative!

Courtesy of the Oblates of Divine Mercy

At mass a few weeks ago, we had a guest speaker who leads an organization that helps women heal after an abortion. She quoted from the Diary of St. Faustina, to whom Jesus appeared and spoke of his infinite love and “divine mercy.” This is where the image of divine mercy (with prisms of light radiating from Jesus’ heart) originates, as well as the Church’s Feast of Divine Mercy, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, etc. This quote really stuck with me, and it’s an image I keep bringing to mind again and again as I gaze upon Jesus on the cross.

From Jesus: “Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it -with peace. Tell [all people], My daughter, that I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls.” — Diary of St. Faustina, p. 1074.

The word “snuggle” is what gets me! The idea of “snuggling” close to Jesus’ merciful heart really touches me and has opened the floodgates of love for our Lord. I encourage you to meditate on it today and see how it speaks to you. Let me know!