Elements in the Christian life

Our great ones in Israel really look like the wild she-asses mentioned by the Prophet. They are accustomed to the desert of their hearts, because, believe Me, as long as one is with God, even if one is as poor as Job, even if one is alone, even if one is naked, one is never alone, poor or naked, one is never a desert, but they have rejected God in their hearts and thus they are an arid desert. Like wild she-asses they sniff in the air the smell of males, which in our case, because of their lust, are named power, money, as well as true and proper lechery, and they follow that smell, as far as crime. Yes. They follow it and will follow it even more so in future. They do not know that their hearts, not their feet, are exposed to the darts of God Who will avenge their crime. How confused kings, princes, priests and scribes will be, because they really said and still say to what is nothing, or worse, is sin: “You are my father. You have begotten me”!

• Crime
• Desire
• God's justice
• Leaders and heads of state - Kings and monarchs
• Lust
• Passions
• Power
• Scribes
• Silver
• Sin
• The wicked man

Believe Me, as long as one is with God, even if one is as poor as Job, even if one is alone, even if one is naked, one is never alone, poor or naked, one is never a desert.

• Job
• Loneliness - Isolation
• Poverty - Misery
• The poor man
• Union with God and Jesus - Living with God
• Words of wisdom

My friends, distance is good and evil. To be very far from the places where I am likely to speak is an evil, because it prevents you from hearing the words of Life. And you regret it. That is true. But it is good inasmuch that it keeps you away from the places where sin ferments, corruption boils and snares hiss to act against Me, hampering Me in My work, and against the hearts of people, by insinuating doubts and falsehood with regards to Me. But I prefer you to be far away rather than corrupted. I will see to your formation. You know that God had provided before we were acquainted with one another, so that we might love one another. I was known before we met. Isaac was your announcer. I will send many Isaacs to speak My words to you. However, you must know that God can speak everywhere and privately to the spirit of man and instruct him in His doctrine.

• Corruption
• Good and evil
• Isaac de Yutta (shepherd of the Nativity)
• Sin

You must know that God can speak everywhere and privately to the spirit of man and instruct him in His doctrine.

• God
• How to perfect and sanctify yourself
• Soul
• Words of wisdom

Do not be afraid that by being alone you may be led into error. No. If you do not want, you will not be unfaithful to the Lord and to His Christ. On the other hand, he who just cannot stay away from the Messiah should know that the Messiah opens His heart and stretches out His arms to him and says: “Come”. Come, whoever wishes to come. Stay here, whoever wishes to stay. But both the former and the latter should preach Christ by means of an honest life. Preach Him against the dishonesty that nestles in too many hearts. Preach Him against the levity of the numerous people who do not know how to persevere faithfully and forget their ornaments and sashes of souls called to the wedding with Christ.

• Apostolate - Evangelism
• Discipleship - Following Jesus Christ
• Dishonesty
• Infidelity
• Lightness - Frivolity
• Loneliness - Isolation
• Loyalty
• Messiah

You said to Me in your happiness: “Since You came here, we have had neither sick nor dead people. Your blessing has protected us”. Yes, health is a great thing. But make sure that My present coming makes you all wholesome spiritually, always and in everything. To that effect I bless you and I give My peace to you, to your children, to your fields, crops, homes, herds and orchards. Make a holy use of them, do not live for them, but by them, giving what is superfluous to those in need, and you will thus obtain an overflowing measure of the Father’s blessings and a place in Heaven. You may go. I will stay here to pray…

• God's blessing
• Health - Well-being - Comfort
• Material wealth
• Peace
• Soul

Always bear in mind that one achieves more by means of kindness than by intolerance and that you are a man as well. So examine yourself and consider how easy it is also for you to fall and how you become upset when you are reproached too frankly.

• Anger - Irascibility
• Apostolate - Evangelism
• Humanity of men
• Humility
• Reproach
• Severity - Intransigence - Toughness
• Softness
• Weakness
• Words of wisdom

It is painful to part from one’s son. We mothers would always like to be with our children. But we are giving them for a great cause, and we will not lose them. Not even death can take our sons away from us, if they and we are in grace in the eyes of God. But ours are still on the earth, even if by the will of God they are torn from our bosoms to be given to the world for its good. We can always join them and even the echo of their deeds is like a caress to our hearts, because their deeds are the scent of their souls.

• Apostolate - Evangelism
• Death
• Family martyrdom
• Life and death
• Parents and children
• Priests

That woman of Bethzur became almost insane when her sons died, did she not? But I swear it to You, sometimes I have thought and still think, looking at my Judas who is handsome, healthy, intelligent, but he is not good, not virtuous, not righteous in his soul, not sound in his feeling, I often think that I would prefer to mourn him dead rather than know that he is disliked by God. But tell me, what do You think of my son? Be frank. This question has been tormenting my heart for over a year. But whom could I ask? The citizens? They did not yet know that the Messiah existed and that Judas wanted to go with Him. I knew. He told me when he came here after Passover, elated, violent, as usual, when he has a sudden fancy, and as usual, scornful of his mother’s advice. His friends in Jerusalem? A holy prudence and a pious hope prevented me. I did not want to say: “Judas is following the Messiah” to those whom I cannot love because they are everything but saints. And I hoped that his fancy notion would vanish, like many others, like all of them, even at the cost of tears and desolation, as happened in the case of more than one girl whom he charmed here and elsewhere, but never married. Do you know that there are places where he will no longer go because he may receive a fair punishment? Also his being of the Temple was a whim. He does not know what he wants. Never. His father, may God forgive him, spoiled him. I never had any authority on the two men in my house. I could but weep and make amends with all kinds of humiliation… When Johanna died — and although no one told me, I know that she died of a broken heart when Judas told her that he did not want to get married, after she had been waiting for all her youth, whereas everybody knew that in Jerusalem he had sent friends to a very rich woman who owned stores as far as Cyprus to enquire about her daughter — I had to shed many bitter tears, because of the reproaches of the dead girl’s mother, as if I were an accomplice of my son. No. I am not. I have no authority over him.

• Elise de Bet-Çur
• Joanna de Kérioth (deceased)
• Messiah
• Mother of Joanna de Kérioth

They are also discussing the tour they are about to make, towards the fertile plains before the sea. And the names of past glories come to light again, giving rise to stories, questions, explanations and friendly discussions.

«When we reach the top of this mountain, I will show you all the areas in which you are interested. They may suggest you thoughts for your sermons to the crowds.»

«But how can we do that, my Lord? I am not capable» moans Andrew, and Peter and James join him. «We are the most unlucky ones.»

«Oh! In that case I am no better. If it was gold or silver, I could talk about it, but about these things…» says Thomas.

«And what about me? What was I?» asks Matthew.

«But you are not afraid of the public, you are debating» replies Andrew.

«Yes, but on different matters…» retorts Matthew.

«Of course!… But… Well, you already know what I would like to say, so just imagine that I have already told you. The fact is that you are worth more than we are» says Peter.

«Listen, My dear. There is no need to be sublime. Simply say what you think, with your firm belief. Believe Me, when one is convinced, one can always persuade others» says Jesus.

But Judas of Kerioth implores: «Give us some hints. An idea put forth properly may be useful in many ways. I think these places have been left without one word about You. Because no one seems to know You.»

«The reason is that there is still a strong wind blowing from the Moriah… It makes sterile…» replies Peter.

«It is because it has not been sown. But we will sow» retorts the Iscariot, who is sure of himself and happy after his first success.

• André (apostle)
• Apostolate - Evangelism
• James of Zebedee (apostle)
• Judas de Kérioth (apostle)
• Matthew (apostle)
• Preaching of the apostles
• Simon-Pierre - Simon de Jonas (apostle)
• Thomas (apostle)