Child-like assurance

Your humility draws Me down from My lofty throne, and I unite myself closely with you (Christ to St. Faustina, 1109).

Like a child in the lap of her parent, I desire to rest in the quiet of Your strong arms. Your arms wrap around me, protecting me from the Evil One and all harm. Help me, Lord Jesus, to quietly rest here with You protecting me. (Meditation by Fr. Daniel Cambra, MIC)

Encouraging others to trust

Encourage the souls with whom you come in contact to trust in My infinite mercy. Oh, how I love those souls who have complete confidence in Me -- I will do everything for them (Christ to St. Faustina, 294).

My God, I trust in You, but heal my lack of trust! I want to encourage others to trust in Your mercy, but I myself sometimes feel like I need others to encourage me. Remind me of Your goodness. Help me to experience Your tenderness more deeply. How can I do this? Ah, yes. I'll think about all the good things You've done for me. When I look back on my life, I see that You've helped me through so many difficult times. You've been the best of friends. You were always there for me when I turned to You. Yes, I will encourage others to trust in You, and I will tell them that they will not be disappointed. (Meditation by Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC)

Pondering Jesus's Passion

My daughter, today consider My Sorrowful Passion in all its immensity. Consider it as if it had been undertaken for your sake alone (Christ to St. Faustina, 1781).

Jesus, I'm grateful for all that You suffered for me. Yet I'm afraid I can't fully understand all that Your love endured. Please enlighten me. Help me to know Your greatest suffering. Was it the rejection? I think so. And You endured that for me? Yes. But I caused it, too? Yes, it's true. I've so often subtly rejected You. I'm sorry, Jesus. I'm sorry for drifting from Your love and for not taking time to ponder it. Help me, Lord, to know and experience Your love more deeply. Have compassion on my hardened heart, so I can feel more compassion for You. (Meditation by Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC)

Giving Him our hearts

My daughter, I want to repose in your heart, because many souls have thrown Me out of their hearts today. I have experienced sorrow unto death (Christ to St. Faustina, 866).

Jesus, I'm making a resolution to remember that You're in my heart. Nevertheless, I'm afraid that I'll soon forget that You're there. Well, I'm going to start smiling as soon as I finish this meditation, and that's a sign to You that I love You. People may wonder why I'm smiling, but You'll know for sure. And when I have to stop smiling, or forget to smile, remember that I was smiling for You. And give me gentle reminders to smile for You throughout the day, because I want to cheer You up. At least remember my smile now, and don't be sad, because I love You. (Meditation by Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC)

Habemus Papam!

Pope Francis I: the first Francis, the first Jesuit and the first Latin American to be pope. He took the bus to work as Archbishop of Argentina. He's a professor of chemistry. I can't wait to learn more about him, and what God in His providence has in store for the Church. Pope Francis, we love you!

Bearing crosses

"I do not ask, Lord, that You take me down from the cross, but I implore You to give me the strength to remain steadfast upon it" (St. Faustina, 1484).

Lord, St. Faustina is a great saint. I'm not. Sometimes I complain about even the littlest crosses in my life. Well, as You gave Faustina the grace to accept her big crosses, please give me the grace not to complain about my little ones. You are so merciful that You forget what a complainer I've been. Today, Lord, I begin again. Out of love for You, I will try to give You a smile when I feel the splinters from the Cross. And if I have to begin again tomorrow, I won't get discouraged. After all, You love little souls most especially, and I'm certainly much smaller than Faustina. (Meditation by Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC)

Trusting in Mercy

There is no misery that could be a match for My mercy, neither will misery exhaust it, because as it is being granted-- it increases. The soul that trusts in My mercy is most fortunate, because I Myself take care of it (Christ to St. Faustina, 1273).

Thank You, Jesus, for Your merciful Heart. I trust in Your mercy, and I happily accept Your special care. But when I begin to feel anxious or discouraged and my trust falters, I beg You, please don't abandon me. Instead, give me the grace to trust in You completely. Jesus, I trust You to do this. After all, isn't my misery greatest during those times of darkness? And didn't You just say, "There is no misery that could be a match for My mercy?" Well, then, I know Your mercy will be there for me during those trials. Thank You, Jesus, for Your mercy, which reaches out to me, especially in the darkness. (Meditation by Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC)

Please say a prayer for Fr. Gaitley, who did the above meditation, and who wrote Consoling the Heart of Jesus, because he is in the hospital for some serious heart problems. Two of his nieces are in Frankie's class.