Catholic during the Great Apostasy

Sometimes we hear the complaint: I want to improve, I want to be better, but I can’t. (…)
It would seem that such an admission of one’s own impotence as not being able to improve in similar circumstances is a symptom of humility. However, it harbours an underlying pride.

And how is this? Well, these people admit in many things that they can do this or that, only they are unable to subdue this or that flaw in this or that circumstance. All this only proves that they count only on their own strength and think that they can do this or that up to this limit by their own efforts.

However, this is untrue, a lie, because by our own efforts, by ourselves, without God’s help, we can do nothing, absolutely nothing (cf. Jn 15:5). Everything that we are and whatever we have and can do, we have from the Lord God and we receive it from Him at every moment of our life, because abiding in existence is nothing else than constantly receiving this existence.

By ourselves, then, we can do nothing, except perhaps evil, which is precisely the lack of goodness, of order, of strength. If we recognise this truth and look to God, from whom we receive at every moment all that we have, we immediately see that He, God, and more can give, and desires as the best Father to give us all that we need. But when the soul ascribes to itself what is the gift of God, can the Lord God shower it with favours?

After all, he would then confirm it in a false and arrogant view. So, out of His mercy, He does not give this abundance of gifts and… He even permits a fall, so that the soul may know at last what it is of itself, so that it does not rely on itself, but with all confidence only gives itself to Him.

Hence the falls were for the saints – rungs to perfection. Woe, however, to the soul that will not even accept this final cure, but, remaining in pride, says: I cannot improve, for the Lord God is also just and will demand a strict account of every grace given.

What, then, is to be done?
Place yourself completely and unreservedly in the hands of the Divine Mercy, whose personification by the Divine Will is Mary Immaculate. Do not trust in anything, do not be afraid of yourself, but trust in Her unreservedly, and in every evil occasion turn to Her like a child to its mother, and you will never fall. The saints claim that whoever prays to Our Lady in temptation will certainly not sin, and whoever turns to Her with confidence throughout his life will certainly be saved.

„Rycerz Niepokalanej” wrzesień 1925 r

za: archiwum.rycerzniepokalanej.pl