Purification and Trials

The following is an excerpt from the Marian Press book 52 Weeks with St. Faustina by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle:

“Mary, Immaculate Virgin, take me under Your special protection and guard the purity of my soul, heart and body. You are the model and star of my life.”
Diary, 874

Week 34

Trials and purification go hand in hand. We might resist at times, but trials and purification are absolutely essential in our spiritual lives. Facing these challenges should start within our hearts and our souls as early as possible. Saint Faustina shows us how to do it! Let’s delve into all of that in this week’s spiritual exercise — and also learn of another wondrous mystical experience for Sr. Faustina! Let’s get started!

We know that the real purpose of our lives here on earth is to work out our salvation so that, at the appointed time, we can make it to Heaven to live in eternal happiness with the Most Holy Trinity, as well as with the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, and all of the angels and the saints. That is our ultimate goal. It’s no secret that the world is abuzz with activity. Our lives are often cluttered with things we need to do and stuff that gets in the way of our prayer lives. Sometimes we can get sidetracked or distracted, but we must keep our eyes on the prize! We read in Scripture, “[P]ress on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14). We need to fight the good fight and press on throughout all of the nitty gritty details of our lives to stay on that straight and narrow path that leads to Heaven. We want to be able to say with St. Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim 4:7-8).

As my former spiritual director Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ, would often say, “There’s work to be done!” This is certainly a succinct instruction about our purpose and direction in our spiritual lives. We must do the work to earn the prize — our crown in Heaven. Purification is oftentimes arduous. However, as St. Faustina had written in her Diary, “In order to purify a soul, Jesus uses whatever instruments He likes” (Diary, 38).

Purification and Trial for Sr. Faustina
Sister Faustina underwent a continual purification as she strove for holiness, pursuing perfection in the spiritual life. Sometimes that purification came through enduring murmuring from other sisters questioning her authenticity, or from the illnesses and weakness she often experienced. Other times, purification occurred during the trials of obedience that she navigated. Though she was very obedient, she felt convicted at times because of how important matters involving Jesus’ requests to her were handled. For instance, when she shared some of these things openly with her confessor, she was told that these things could be from God, but they could also be from the devil, or possibly illusions. Sister Faustina wrote, “Because of my frequent changes [of assignment], I did not have a permanent confessor and besides,” she added, “I had great difficulty in speaking of these things. I prayed ardently that the Lord would give me that great grace — that is, a spiritual director” (Diary, 34). She would be given that special grace after she made her perpetual vows. His name was Fr. Michael Sopoćko. God had allowed Sr. Faustina to, in a sense, meet him in advance of their first meeting. She had seen him in an interior vision long before they met in person.

One time, miraculously, Sr. Faustina was summoned to the judgment seat of God! Jesus presented Himself to her as He appeared in the Passion. “After a moment, His wounds disappeared except for five, those in His hands, His feet, and His side.” Suddenly, Sr. Faustina “saw the complete condition” of her soul as God sees it. “I could clearly see all that is displeasing to God” (Diary, 36).

She learned something profound in that moment. “I did not know that even the smallest transgressions will have to be accounted for. What a moment! Who can describe it? To stand before the Thrice-Holy God!” Jesus asked her a question: “Who are you?” Sister Faustina answered, “I am Your servant, Lord.” Jesus told her, “You are guilty of one day of fire in purgatory.” The mystic deeply desired to throw herself into the flames of Purgatory. Jesus stopped her by giving her the choice of suffering for one day in Purgatory or for a short while on earth. Sister Faustina chose both. She desired to suffer in Purgatory, but also to endure “the greatest pains on earth, even if it were until the end of the world.” However, Jesus told her “one [of the two]” was enough. He said she would go back to earth where she wouldn’t suffer too much longer, but would accomplish His holy will. He promised her a faithful servant to help her.

Jesus told her to rest her head on His “bosom, on My heart, and draw from it strength and power for these sufferings.” He warned her, “[Y]ou will find neither relief nor help nor comfort anywhere else” (Diary, 36). He finished by telling her she would have very much to suffer, but not to be afraid, He would be with her. Immediately after that, Sr. Faustina was stricken ill. She said that the physical illness became a “school of patience” for her and that “Jesus uses whatever instruments He likes” (Diary, 37, 38) to purify a soul. Sister Faustina was being purified through the melting pot of God’s love so that she would be able to stand before Him on Judgment Day as pure as pure can be. All throughout, Sr. Faustina sought God’s holy will and responded in love to the many contradictions (that is, challenges or trials) that unfolded in her life, which included many forms of suffering.

Sister Faustina explained, “My soul underwent a complete abandonment on the part of creatures; often my best intentions were misinterpreted by the sisters, a type of suffering which is most painful; but God allows it, and we must accept it because in this way we become more like Jesus.” She continued, “There was one thing which I could not understand for a long time: Jesus ordered me to tell everything to my Superiors, but my Superiors did not believe what I said and treated me with pity as though I were being deluded or were imagining things” (Diary, 38). This caused Sr. Faustina to avoid God interiorly for fear of being deluded. Thank God He always provides! As Sr. Faustina explained, “[T]he grace of God pursued me at every step, and God spoke to me when I least expected it” (Diary, 38).

Eight-Day Retreat Before Perpetual Vows
Getting back to Sr. Faustina’s retreat before her perpetual vows, on April 18, 1933, the three sisters left for Krakow. It would be a welcome place for such an important retreat since the sisters had been there before as novices. It was where Sr. Faustina first embarked upon her religious life. The sisters were over the moon seeing the cheerful Mother Mary Joseph and the others. Upon arriving, Sr. Faustina visited the chapel. Joy filled her heart. “In a flash,” she recorded in her Diary, “I recalled the whole ocean of graces that had been given me as a novice here” (Diary, 216).

The Mother Directress explained the retreat program and gave a short talk. Sister Faustina was profoundly grateful for her. She felt bittersweet emotion, realizing that the retreat marked the last time she would be in the novitiate. There was a certain security felt in the novitiate, as though the novices had a kind of spiritual “safety net.” Now, though, Mother Directress would no longer “be at my heels to teach me here, warn me there, or to admonish, encourage, or reproach me.” She paused and took it all in. She thought, “Now I must battle together with Jesus, work with Jesus, suffer with Jesus; in a word, live and die with Jesus.” It thoroughly penetrated her brain. “I am so afraid of being on my own,” she thought. “Jesus, do something about this. I will always have a superior, that’s true; but now a person is left more on her own” (Diary, 217). She had a lot to think about, but would trust God.

Later on, she prayed, “I am beginning the retreat today. Jesus, my Master, guide me.” She desired only His holy will, praying, “Govern me according to Your will, purify my love that it may be worthy of You, do with me as Your most merciful Heart desires.” She wanted to drown out the world and just be with Jesus. “Jesus, there will be just the two of us during these days until the moment of our union. Keep me, Jesus, in a recollected spirit!” (Diary, 218), she earnestly begged. He answered her that evening.

“My daughter, let nothing frighten or disconcert you. Remain deeply at peace. Everything is in My hands. I will give you to understand everything through Father Andrasz. Be like a child towards him” (Diary, 219). We can imagine that Jesus’ words deeply consoled Sr. Faustina’s heart, since now she could know that a priest would understand her. Jesus had told her to be at peace — deeply at peace!

Something to Ponder
Trials certainly help us to become more loving and humble, depending upon how we respond to them. We must be purified in this life on earth before we can go to Heaven for all eternity. Even holy St. Faustina, who was privileged to receive many great graces, was told by Jesus that, unless she suffered her Purgatory on earth, she would have to undergo “one day of fire in purgatory” for purification before going to Heaven. Sister Faustina teaches us that “even the smallest transgressions will have to be accounted for.” What might be the state of our own souls? Take time this week to pause and ponder, as well as to beg for grace and mercy. We know not the day or the hour when we will be called to the judgment seat of God.

Now is the time to pray for a more profound conversion of heart. It is time to do the work required to change our hearts and souls. Will we grumble and complain when our Lord allows us to be burnished in the fire of His love? Will we respond in love to His holy will in our lives? Certainly, we will want to earn that “crown of righteousness.” However, first we must fight the good fight! We can also pray to serve at least part of our Purgatory while on earth.

A Merciful Action
What are some concrete ways in which you can impart God’s love to those in need this week? Can you devise a plan to do so by taking time to jot ideas down on a short list? Also be open for the needs that spontaneously unfold before you. In light of our discussion this week, could you work hard at bearing wrongs patiently? It’s not easy. But never doubt that it will change your soul and perhaps help to change the person or persons who have wronged you. Pray about it.

A PRAYER OF MERCY FOR THIS WEEK
(To be prayed each day this week.)
Dear Merciful Jesus, I want to pay more attention to the state of my spiritual life.
I want to step back from the busyness of the world and immerse my heart in Your Heart. Mother Mary, help me to slow down and pray more. Saint Faustina, please pray for me.
Jesus, I trust in You!
Amen.

You can order 52 Weeks with St. Faustina by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle here:

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