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What is of greater value to God?  To be successful in all that you set out to do, or to endure every hardship of life in patience and peace?  Many may struggle with this question and want to choose both.  Certainly it is easy to see that if we set out to accomplish the Will of God and all that He wants of us, this will be of great value for the Kingdom of God.  But what if that which God calls us to do is to embrace patience and peace in the midst of some apparent struggle of difficulty?  Is this of great value?  Yes, it is of the greatest value because in this process of growing in patient endurance we are made truly holy (See Diary #86).

What is it that is most difficult for you each and every day?  What tries your patience more than anything?  Do you look at this trial as an “obstacle” to happiness and fulfillment in life?  If so, try to look at it from a different perspective.  Try to see any difficulty as an opportunity for virtue and, in particular, an opportunity for personal growth in patience.  Growing in that virtue delights the Heart of Christ and is of the greatest value for His Kingdom.

Lord, I surrender to You those things that are most difficult for me.  I thank You for them and believe that they are what will help me grow in holiness more than anything.  I especially offer to You (mention any personal difficulty).  Receive it Lord as my offering to You and give me the grace to transform it into love and Mercy.  Jesus, I trust in You.

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There are many times in life when we are treated unjustly.  As a result, our first instinct is to fight back, defend ourselves and see to it that justice is done.  But is that what Jesus did?  No, He remained silent and accepted all injustice as a sacrifice for the atonement for our sins.  He was the Just One who took upon Himself all injustice.  In doing so, He did two things.  First, He appeased the justice of the Father as He offered this injustice for the atonement of sin.  This is the central and deepest mystery of our faith.  Second, He invites us to follow His example.  In doing so, we are invited to accept unjust treatment and meet it with Mercy and forgiveness.  This requires great inner strength and love.  But if we are able to unite our own unjust suffering to that of Christ’s, we will win more souls for God than if we fought back winning a temporary satisfaction of earthly justice (See Diary #81).

How have you been treated with cruelty and injustice?  Reflect upon that which has been most painful to you and know that this suffering is an opportunity for you to atone for the sins of the world.  You are enabled, by uniting your hurt to the suffering of Christ, to win many souls for God.  This is the mystery of our redemption.  It’s a mystery we are invited to enter into, live and offer to God as a sacrifice of love.  Take a step in this direction, today, and watch the hurt you have dissolve into Mercy.

Lord, I offer You, this day, my hurt, pain and all suffering.  I especially offer You the injustices I have faced in life.  May You remove all bitterness from my heart and replace it with Your Divine Mercy.  Jesus, I trust in You.

February 11: Our Lady of Lourdes

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At times, the truth can seem to be of little consolation to us.  That may seem strange to say.  But if we are honest, there are times when we suffer interiorly despite the fact that we know what we are feeling is not true.  For example, we may KNOW that God is with us and loves us, but we may not feel that or experience that at one time or another.  We may KNOW that God is in control of our lives, but we may feel like in our life He is nowhere to be found.  This apparent contradiction between what we know and what we feel or experience can be hard to reconcile interiorly.  But it is a grace to experience this apparent contradiction.  It’s a grace because when we do not feel the presence of God or, even worse, if we feel like we have been rejected by God, we are given, in that moment, an incredible opportunity for holiness.  Why?  Because faith is not about feeling, it’s about knowing.  It’s about knowing the truth in all things, believing that truth and living in accord with that truth despite what we may feel or experience interiorly.  Though this can be hard to understand, it’s a truth we must believe and embrace if we are to grow in perfection and holiness (See Diary #77).

Reflect upon the truths of our faith that appear to be in contradiction to what you feel.  Which will you rely upon? That which comes through faith?  Or that which directs your feelings?  The best way to transform your misleading feelings is to make a profound act of faith in all that God has spoken and revealed.  Make that act of faith and let God, in His time, redirect all that you interiorly feel and experience. Trust Him!

Lord, I offer You, this day, that which I feel and experience in my life.  Specifically, I offer you (state an intention).  Help me to rely upon You and all that You have spoken as my guide.  Help me to allow Your truth to enter into my life and redeem me.  Jesus, I trust in You.

February 10: Saint Scholastica, Virgin—Memorial

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A speck of dust or a grain of sand are somewhat insignificant in most circumstances.  No one notices one speck or one grain in the yard or even on the floor of a home.  But if either were to enter the eye, this grain or speck becomes immediately noticeable.  Why?  Because of the sensitivity of the eye.  So it is with the Heart of our Lord.  He notices the smallest of our sins.  Often times we fail to see even our most grievous sins, but our Lord sees all things.  If we wish to enter into His Heart of Divine Mercy, we must allow the rays of His Mercy to shine on the smallest speck of sin in our souls.  He will do so gently and lovingly, but He will help us to see and experience the effects of our sin, even the smallest ones, if we let His Mercy in (See Diary #71).

Look into your soul today and ask yourself how aware you are of the smallest sin.  Do you let His Mercy shine within, illuminating all that is there?  It will be a joyful discovery when You let Jesus reveal to you what He sees so clearly.

Lord, I pray that Your Divine Mercy so fills my soul that I see all that is within me as You see it.  Thank You for Your gentle and compassionate Heart and for being attentive to the smallest detail of my life.  Thank You for being attentive to even the smallest of sins that I need to overcome.  Jesus, I trust in You.

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It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that, because we follow Jesus, we should be continually consoled and comforted in all we do.  Is that true? Yes and no. In one sense, our consolation will be continual if we always fulfill the Will of God and know we are fulfilling it. However, there are times when God removes all spiritual consolation from our soul out of love. We may feel like God is distant and experience confusion or even sadness and despair. But these moments are moments of the greatest Mercy imaginable. When God seems far away, we should always examine our conscience to make sure it is not a result of sin. Once our conscience is clear, we should rejoice in the sensory loss of God’s presence and the loss of spiritual consolations. Why? Because this is an act of God’s Mercy in that He is inviting us to obedience and charity despite how we feel. We are given the opportunity to love and serve even though we sense no immediate consolation. This makes our love grow stronger and unites us more firmly to the pure Mercy of God (See Diary #68).

Reflect upon the temptation to turn from God the moment you feel down or distressed. See these moments as gifts and opportunities to love when you do not feel like loving. These are opportunities to be transformed by Mercy into the purest form of Mercy.

Lord, I choose to love You and all whom You put in my life regardless of the way I feel. If love of others brings me great consolation, I thank You. If love of others is difficult, dry and painful, I thank You. Lord, purify my love into a more authentic form of Your Divine Mercy. Jesus, I trust in You.

February 8: Saint Jerome Emiliani, Founder & Saint Josephine Bakhita, Virgin

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Some may feel as though their lives are dull and monotonous.  It’s the same thing day in and day out. Sometimes we seek some new excitement and experience.  But if we allow grace to accompany us, every day, throughout the simple, repetitive and monotonous aspects of life, we will discover that life is always new.  Every experience is a new moment and a new grace.  We will never tire of our daily duty because we will discover God alive and fresh in every moment, making all things fruitful and beautiful.  When we live in the grace and Mercy of God, we will discover joy and excitement in the smallest and most repetitive of daily activities.  This is a Mercy that enables us to love life every moment of every day (See Diary #62).

Reflect upon your daily duty.  Are there things that you dread each day?  Are there chores that seem thankless and tiresome?  Try to envision our Lord walking with you through every moment of every day.  See Him with you in every activity, be it great or small.  Know that every action you do can become an act of love for God.  When this happens, you will begin to discover greater joy in life.

Lord, I invite You to accompany me on my daily journey.  I invite You into every big and small duty I have.  Help me to make everything I do, be it big or small, living gifts of love to You.  In that love, help me to joyfully discover and live in your Mercy.  Jesus, I trust in You.

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There are three words to ponder today: humility, simplicity and sincerity.  Humble souls see and know God because they do not turn to themselves in their need.  They recognize that God is everything and, without Him, they are nothing.  Simple souls do not get caught up in the complications of life.  They are able to cut through the countless distractions and live a childlike trust in God.  Sincere souls are honest souls who are pure in heart and pure in their intentions.  Be honest and truthful in your Christian walk and God will overwhelm all that is not of Him in your life (See Diary #55).

Ponder these three gifts today: humility, simplicity and sincerity.  How well do you live them in your life?  If one stands out as the most challenging, then sit with that for a while.  Let God speak to you as you open your heart to His Mercy.

Lord, I open myself to the gifts of humility, simplicity and sincerity.  Help me to see each of them as a precious gift that You wish to bestow upon me.  May my mind comprehend them and my will embrace them.  Jesus, I trust in You.

February 6: Saints Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs—Memorial

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At times we experience life as difficult. Our spiritual life may appear to be dry or overwhelming. Our sins may seem to be too much to overcome. And our relationship with God may appear to be too difficult to foster. But these experiences are all graces that invite us to seek God and His Mercy all the more. One grace we receive, as we need it, is the friendship and guidance God gives us through other people. Look for Jesus in others. Let His Heart reach out to your own in the people He places in your life. God is there, not only in the saint, but also in the sinner. Seek to discover the presence of God in each and every soul (See Diary #53).

Reflect, today, upon the people God has placed in your life. Begin with family but think also about each and every person whom you encounter. Some may be encountered only once, others every day. Know that God dwells in each and every one of them. Do you seek to meet God in each person? Try to look beyond the surface and discover the indwelling of God in them. When you see Him, you will find much more joy in each and every person you meet.

Lord, You promise to come to each one of us and to live within us. Help me to constantly seek Your divine presence in each and every person I meet. Help me to find You in my family and friends, in those at work or within the community. Help me to see You in the stranger I meet in passing and in every soul around me. As I discover You, help me to love You in them.  Jesus, I trust in You.

February 5: Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr—Memorial

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Do you understand the Passion of our Lord? Do you perceive His sufferings in your soul? This may, at first, seem undesirable. But perceiving the sufferings and Passion of our Lord is a great grace. As we perceive His suffering we must then encounter it and embrace it as our own. We must live His sufferings. In doing so, we begin to discover that His suffering is nothing other than divine love and Mercy. And we find that the love in His soul which endured all sufferings enables us to endure all things in love. Love endures everything and conquers everything. Let this holy and purified love consume you so that you can endure, in love, whatever you encounter in life (See Diary #46).

Gaze upon the crucifix this day. Gaze upon the perfect Sacrifice of Love. Gaze upon our God who willingly endured all things out of love for you. Ponder this great mystery of love in suffering and love in sacrifice. Understand it, accept it, love it and live it.

Lord, Your Cross is the perfect example of sacrificial love. It’s the purest and highest form of love ever known. Help me to understand this love and to accept it into my heart. And as I accept Your perfect Sacrifice of Love, help me to live that love in all that I do and in all that I am. Jesus, I trust in You.

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