The Way of Divine Love

[Stone]

CHAPTER VIII - THE LENT OF 1923

LOVE’S GREAT DAY March 29th, 1923


“Love humbles Itself . . . Love surrenders Itself.” (Our Lord to Josefa)

“JOSEFA, today is My great day, the day of Love. . . . Its feast day,” said Our Lord on the morning of Holy Thursday.

She was at prayer in her cell and suddenly He came as on the preceding day, with a Heart surrounded with flames. She renewed her vows and fell on her face in adoration before Him. He spoke:

“Today is the day on which I give Myself to souls, that I may be for them just what they wish: If they will look on Me as their father I shall be a father to them. . . . If they desire Me as their beloved I shall be their Beloved. . . . If they need strength I will be their strength and if they long to console Me, I will let them console Me. . . . All I want is to give Myself to them . . . and to fill them with graces prepared for them. . . . I cannot withhold them any longer. What, Josefa, shall I be to you?

“My All, Lord, for I am nothing!”

Tranquil peace and gratitude filled Josefa’s heart, and so she went to Mass, then to Holy Communion. On returning to her place she at once renewed the complete offering of her whole person to her good and beloved Master, definitely abandoning herself into His hands forever. Jesus ratified the offering:

“It is on account of your nothingness and utter misery that you must let Me kindle your heart’s fire, consume and destroy it. You surely know that ‘nothing’ and ‘misery’ cannot resist . . .”

Josefa spent the whole day under the power of “Love that gives” . . .”and Love that humbles Itself before Its own” . . . She would hear these words from Our Lord’s lips while in the silence and recollection of that day she lived through the ceremonies of religious life, the last actions, the last outpourings of the love of our Saviour among His own.

At about four in the afternoon Josefa was at prayer in her cell near a statue of Our Blessed Lady, and was thinking over the mysterious words of Jesus, when He Himself appeared.

“Yes, Josefa, I did indeed say that Love gives Itself to Its own and it is true. . . . Come, draw near My Heart and enter in, and taste and see what Its overwhelming emotions are.”

“ ‘Love gives Itself as food to Its own and this food is the substance which gives them their life and sustains them.

“ ‘Love humbles Itself before Its own . . . and in so doing raises them to the highest dignity.

“ ‘Love surrenders Itself in totality, It gives in profusion and without reserve. With enthusiasm, with vehemence It is sacrificed, It is immolated, It is given for those It loves. . . . The Holy Eucharist is love to the extreme of folly.’ ”

It looked as if Our Lord at that moment was unable to restrain the burning effusions of His Heart, then His voice changed and He spoke with gravity, saying: “This love will lead Me to My death! . . .”

Then, turning to Josefa, He addressed her directly: “Today you are sustained, consoled, and strengthened by love; tomorrow, Josefa, you will accompany Me to Calvary and suffer with Me.”

The somber shades of the Passion were about to descend on a day which had been all light. During the night, spent in part in the Chapel in prayer at the “Sepulchre,” she was again allowed to share in the Cross, the Crown, the anguish and the sorrows of her Master, treasures she had learnt to bear and to esteem for His sake.

Towards midnight He appeared and called on her to share with Him the solitude of the dungeon. His white tunic was in shreds and stained with blood; His sacred countenance bore vivid traces of the injuries and ignominy to which it had been subjected. “Josefa,” He said, “you have been My comfort . . . now I come to take back My Cross.”

“Keep Me company now. . . . Do not leave Me alone in prison. . . . When I raise My eyes, let Me find yours looking at Me. The presence of a sympathetic heart greatly consoles one who suffers. Do you realize this? You who have experienced the tenderness of My Heart, can gauge what My heartache is at being so outraged by My enemies and deserted by My friends. . . .”

Jesus then left her, saying: “No need to say adieu, for are you not always with Me?”