Mercy Minutes with Jesus (from Saint Faustina’s Diary)

December 7 ~ Part One: With a Despairing Soul

Theme:  Conversations with the Merciful Savior

“Jesus: ‘O soul steeped in darkness, do not despair. All is not yet lost. Come and confide in your God, who is love and mercy.’

“ – But the soul, deaf even to this appeal, wraps itself in darkness.

“Jesus calls out again: ‘My child, listen to the voice of your merciful Father.’

“ – In the soul arises this reply, ‘For me there is no mercy,’ and it falls into greater darkness, a despair which is a foretaste of hell and makes it unable to draw near to God.

“Jesus calls to the soul a third time, but the soul remains deaf and blind, hardened and despairing. Then the mercy of God begins to exert itself, and, without any co-operation from the soul, God grants it final grace. If this too is spurned, God will leave the soul in this self-chosen disposition for eternity.

“This grace emerges from the merciful Heart of Jesus and gives the soul a special light by means of which the soul begins to understand God’s effort; but conversion depends on its own will. The soul knows that this, for her, is final grace and, should it show even a flicker of good will, the mercy of God will accomplish the rest.

“‘My omnipotent mercy is active here. Happy the soul that takes advantage of this grace.’” (Mercy Minutes with Jesus/Diary, 1486a)

(To be continued)

My prayer response:

Lord Jesus, Your All-powerful Mercy is active in the despairing soul. Please continue to give it graces. (Mercy Minutes with Jesus)

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Please Comment, Like and Share, and Suggest to your Facebook friends – to spread the message of God’s Merciful Love.

Por favor Comente, Le Gusta y Comparta, y Sugiera a tus amigos en Facebook – en difundir el mensaje del Misericordioso Amor de Dios.

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Editorial Note

This “final grace” is what I explain to parents who despair about the direction and choices their children make in life. This “final grace” is offered in that split moment which exists between time and eternity. It is God’s last effort to save a lost soul, for it is not our Heavenly Father’s desire that any of His children should be lost for all eternity.

But the soul must choose to open its heart, even if only slightly ajar to God’s final offer, so that our Lord’s promise of His Divine Mercy may ultimately reconcile the soul to Himself.

I wish each of you peace and God’s blessings during this Holy Advent Season, †
Ed