The Proving of a True Lover
MY CHILD, you are not yet a brave and wise lover.
The Disciple
Why, Lord?
The Voice of Christ
Because, on account of a slight difficulty you give up what you have undertaken and are too
eager to seek consolation.
The brave lover stands firm in temptations and pays no heed to the crafty persuasions of the
enemy. As I please him in prosperity, so in adversity I am not displeasing to him. The wise lover
regards not so much the gift of Him Who loves as the love of Him Who gives. He regards the
affection of the Giver rather than the value of the gift, and sets his Beloved above all gifts. The
noble lover does not rest in the gift but in Me Who am above every gift.
All is not lost, then, if you sometimes feel less devout than you wish toward Me or My saints.
That good and sweet feeling which you sometimes have is the effect of present grace and a certain
foretaste of your heavenly home. You must not lean upon it too much, because it comes and goes.
But to fight against evil thoughts which attack you is a sign of virtue and great merit. Do not,
therefore, let strange fantasies disturb you, no matter what they concern. Hold strongly to your
resolution and keep a right intention toward God.
It is not an illusion that you are sometimes rapt in ecstasy and then quickly returned to the usual
follies of your heart. For these are evils which you suffer rather than commit; and so long as they
displease you and you struggle against them, it is a matter of merit and not a loss.
You must know that the old enemy tries by all means in his power to hinder your desire for
good and to turn you from every devotional practice, especially from the veneration of the saints,
from devout meditation on My passion, and from your firm purpose of advancing in virtue. He
suggests many evil thoughts that he may cause you weariness and horror, and thus draw you away
from prayer and holy reading. A humble confession displeases him and, if he could, he would make
you omit Holy Communion.
Do not believe him or heed him, even though he often sets traps to deceive you. When he
suggests evil, unclean things, accuse him. Say to him: “Away, unclean spirit! Shame, miserable
creature! You are but filth to bring such things to my ears. Begone, most wretched seducer! You
shall have no part in me, for Jesus will be my strength, and you shall be confounded. I would rather
die and suffer all torments than consent to you. Be still! Be silent! Though you bring many troubles
upon me I will have none of you. The Lord is my light, my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Though
armies unite against me, my heart will not fear, for the Lord is my Helper, my Redeemer.”
Fight like a good soldier and if you sometimes fall through weakness, rise again with greater
strength than before, trusting in My most abundant grace. But beware of vain complacency and
pride. For many are led into error through these faults and sometimes fall into almost perpetual
blindness. Let the fall of these, who proudly presume on self, be a warning to you and a constant
incentive to humility.