Humble Simplicity

The following is an excerpt from Mercy Minutes with Jesus: Praying Daily on Jesus' Words from the Diary of St. Faustina, a new daily devotional published by the Marians of the Immaculate Conception and arranged by Fr. George Kosicki, CSB. This excerpt covers from Dec. 24-31 and focuses on the virtue of humility:

As we enter into the joy and wonder of the Christmas season, the little Lord Jesus invites us to come to Him simply and humbly like children. ... The Lord Jesus teaches St. Faustina about humility and often uses the simplicity of a child as an example. He even appears to her as a child to strengthen His teaching, pointing to Himself as the supreme model of humble simplicity. Consider this appearance of a child to St. Faustina, who reveals to her that He Himself is the Lord God:

A moment later, I again saw the child who had awakened me. It was of wondrous beauty and repeated these words to me, True greatness of the soul is in loving God and in humility. I asked the child, "How do you know that true greatness of the soul is in loving God and in humility? Only theologians know about such things and you haven't even learned your catechism. So how do you know?" To this He answered, I know; I know all things. And with that, He disappeared (Diary, 427).



Because humble simplicity is so important to our spiritual life, Jesus continued to appear to St. Faustina as a little child, keeping her company and forming her heart. This revelation to St. Faustina is a living example of the teaching of Jesus in Sacred Scripture: "Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 18:3).

May we ask the little Lord Jesus to make us humble and simple, especially as we celebrate His holy birth. As He works in our hearts, may we hear Him say to us - as He did to St. Faustina:

You are my great joy; your love and your humility make Me leave the heavenly throne and unite Myself with you.Love fills up the abyss between My greatness and your nothingness (Diary, 512).



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December 24
A Childlike Spirit


Holy Hour. During this hour, I tried to meditate on the Lord's Passion. But my soul was filled with joy, and suddenly I saw the Child Jesus. But His majesty penetrated me to such an extent that I said, "Jesus, You are so little, and yet I know that You are my Creator and Lord." And Jesus answered me, I am, and I keep company with you as a child to teach you humility and simplicity (Diary, 184).

Thursday. When I started the Holy Hour, I wanted to immerse myself in the agony of Jesus in the Garden of Olives. Then I heard a voice in my soul: Meditate on the mystery of the Incarnation. And suddenly the Infant Jesus appeared before me, radiant with beauty. He told me how much God is pleased with simplicity in a soul. Although My greatness is beyond understanding, I commune only with those who are little. I demand of you a childlike spirit (Diary, 332).

My Prayer Response:
Lord Jesus, teach me humility and simplicity. May I be childlike in my willingness and openness to learn. May I have a childlike spirit to grasp Your greatness.

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December 25
True Greatness


In the evening, I just about got into bed, and I fell asleep immediately. Though I fell asleep quickly, I was awakened even more quickly. A little child came and woke me up. The child seemed about a year old, and I was surprised it could speak so well, as children of that age either do not speak or speak very indistinctly. The child was beautiful beyond words and resembled the Child Jesus, and he said to me, Look at the sky. And when I looked at the sky I saw the stars and the moon shining. Then the child asked me, Do you see this moon and these stars? When I said yes, he spoke these words to me, These stars are the souls of faithful Christians,
and the moon is the souls of religious. Do you see how great the difference is between the light of the moon and the light of the stars? Such is the difference in heaven between the soul of a religious and the soul of a faithful Christian
. And he went on to say that, True greatness is in loving God and in humility (Diary, 424).

My Prayer Response:
Lord Jesus, may I learn that true greatness is in loving You and in humility. May I learn to come to You as a child.

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December 26
Again, the Lesson of Humility


A moment later, I again saw the child who had awakened me. It was of wondrous beauty and repeated these words to me, True greatness of the soul is in loving God and in humility. I asked the child, "How do you know that true greatness of the soul is in loving God and in humility? Only theologians know about such things and you haven't even learned the catechism. So how do you know?" To this He answered, I know; I know all things. And with that, He disappeared (Diary, 427).

The day of the renewal of vows. The presence of God flooded my soul. During Holy Mass I saw Jesus, and He said to me, You are My great joy; your love and your humility make Me leave the heavenly throne and unite Myself with you.Love fills up the abyss that exists between My greatness and your nothingness (Diary, 512).

My Prayer Response:
Lord, again You appeared as a child to St. Faustina and repeated Your teaching: True greatness of the soul is in loving God and in humility. Lord, make me humble.

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December 27
Telling Jesus Everything


Today, the Lord said to me, My daughter, I am told that there is much simplicity in you, so why do you not tell Me about everything that concerns you, even the smallest details? Tell Me about everything, and know that this will give Me great joy. I answered, "But You know about everything, Lord." And Jesus replied to me, Yes, I do know; but you should not excuse yourself with the fact that I know, but with childlike simplicity talk to Me about everything, for My ears and heart are inclined towards you, and your words are dear to Me (Diary, 921).

My Prayer Response:
Lord Jesus, in childlike simplicity, help me talk with You about everything, because You delight in our conversing with You and in our trust in You.

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December 28
Cuddling Close to Jesus' Heart


Today I heard these words: My daughter, be always like a little child towards those who represent Me, otherwise you will not benefit from the graces I bestow on you through them (Diary, 1260).

Today during Holy Mass, I saw the Infant Jesus near my kneeler. He appeared to be about one year old, and He asked me to take Him in my arms. When I did take Him in my arms, He cuddled up close to my bosom and said, It is good for Me to be close to your heart. "Although You are so little, I know that You are God. Why do You take the appearance of such a little baby to commune with me?" Because I want to teach you spiritual childhood. I want you to be very little, because when you are little, I carry you close to My Heart, just as you are holding Me close to your heart right now (Diary, 1481).

My Prayer Response:
Lord Jesus, You delight in our cuddling close to Your Heart, so You can teach us spiritual childhood. Thank You for the example of St. Faustina.

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December 29
Simplicity is More Pleasing


I saw myself in some kind of a palace; and Jesus gave me His hand, sat me at His side, and said with kindness, My bride, you always please Me by your humility. The greatest misery does not stop Me from uniting Myself to a soul, but where there is pride, I am not there (Diary, 1563).

February 27, [1938]. Today, I went to confession to Father An. [Andrasz] I did as Jesus wanted. After confession, a surge of light filled my soul. Then I heard a voice: Because you are a child, you shall remain close to My Heart. Your simplicity is more pleasing to Me than your mortifications (Diary, 1617).

My Prayer Response:
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your teaching to St. Faustina that You are always pleased by humility and that simplicity is more pleasing to You than mortifications.

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December 30
Purity of Intention


When I was apologizing to the Lord Jesus for a certain action of mine which, a little later, turned out to be imperfect, Jesus put me at ease with these words: My daughter, I reward you for the purity of your intention which you had at the time when you acted. My Heart rejoiced that you had My love under consideration at the time you acted, and that in so distinct a way; and even now you still derive benefit from this; that is, from the humiliation. Yes, My child, I want you to always have such great purity of intention in the very least things you undertake (Diary, 1566).

My Prayer Response:
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the lesson You taught St. Faustina about the purity of intention for our actions that delight You even if what we do is not perfect. Purify my heart, O Lord.

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December 31
A Summary


Conclusion of the Retreat.
Last Conversation with the Lord.

Thank you, Eternal Love, for Your inconceivable kindness to me, that You would occupy Yourself directly with my sanctification. - My daughter, let three virtues adorn you in a particular way: humility, purity of intention, and love. Do nothing beyond what I demand of you, and accept everything that My hand gives you. Strive for a life of recollection so that you can hear My voice, which is so soft that only recollected souls can hear it ... (Diary, 1779).

My Prayer Response:
Thank You, Lord, for summarizing Your teaching on sanctification that we should practice three special virtues: humility, purity of intention, and love. Help us to be recollected, so we can always hear Your voice teaching us. Bless us, Lord, in the New Year. Help us put this teaching into practice.

mmWJ

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