Indifference
from various sources
The dulling of Conscience leads to Indifference!
The inner workings of the mind are quite different in the
good doing wrong and the evil doing evil.
In the latter, a hardening process sets in. Conscience first shouts; then,
after repeated chokings it becomes so weak
it can only whisper; finally, its voice is stifled
altogether. Since such people willed to have no moral law except of their
own making, God leaves them alone. It is terrible for the
soul when God pursues it and drives it to
perfection; but it is more terrible still when
He leaves the soul to its own
conceits.
Jesus' Lament Over Man's Indifference
At the beginning of My Passion I saw in Gethsemane all
the sins of men - past, present, and future - and I Myself seemed to share in
those sins. The revulsion was so great that my sweat became drops of blood. Here
in the Tabernacle, this agony continues, for I see
Myself in the midst of sin and the consequences of sin.
From My prison here in the Tabernacle I behold men inflicting
injustices upon their fellowmen; I see wars, killing,
impurities and thefts. My suffering is intense,
and My agony renewed.
In Gethsemane I looked for comfort from My friends but they slept.
Note, my child, they did not at first flee - they remained nearby and slept. Here in the Tabernacle
I endure the same loneliness. How many there are who, not caring about Me,
slumber on in their indifference, although I long to enter their
hearts. I tell you, my child, that it does not cause Me as much pain to
enter a heart in sin, as it does to be ignored
by those who should know and love Me.
In My Passion, I was dragged from one
court of "justice" to another. Here I was
falsely accused of gross crimes of which I was innocent, and
My reputation was dragged to the depths. Here, too, I am falsely described by those who hate
Me, in order to destroy, if possible, in the hearts of
those who love Me, their faith in the Holy Eucharist.
Then, at Pilate's house I was scourged. Ah - what pain
I experienced as those scourges ripped and seared My
flesh! It was a punishment for criminals and
outcasts which was administered to Me. Here, too, I
am scourged by those tongues of those who use their tongues to speak uncharitably
of their neighbor. When I am placed in Communion upon such a tongue stained with blood of a ruined reputation or a
slandered soul, it is for Me as if the
scourges once more cut My Body. Yes - from you, too, have I
suffered this scourging.
The crowing with thorns followed - and the mockery. Child, do you know how
sharp and painful the thorns were? They were pressed into My temples
- an excruciating agony.
In the Eucharist I resuffer the crowning and the
mockery of My Kingship whenever I am visited or received by
those who render Me only lip service, and then go out and break My Heart by
disobeying Me in their daily lives, or who question My authority
as expressed by My Church.
Afterwards I was presented to the crowd so that they might choose between
Barabbas and Me. How it hurt Me when they chose
him!
Today, in the Eucharist, My Heart suffers untold
agony when souls prefer their own pleasure and ease to Me. There are
countless souls who pass the church door without even thinking of Me, or if
they do think of Me, decide against visiting Me in order to pursue their own
interests. Some even prefer a hunting or fishing trip or some other recreation to coming to a Mass of
obligation, and there are many who prefer their own beds to Me. Some there are, who, present with
Me in body, withdraw their minds and
hearts from Me to fix them on some other objects which they desire more.
You, too, My child, at times prefer your own comfort to Me. Your
wandering thoughts and comfortable postures while at prayer, and your coldness to Me
when I come to you in Holy Communion, are all forms of choosing
Barabbas.
The road to Calvary was a painful, sordid one for
Me. I was kicked and jostled, thrown to the ground, covered with blood, mud
and filth.
Today in the Eucharist I suffer the same. The
sacrileges perpetrated against Me are numerous. At times the very hosts
are ground underfoot, defiled, and made an object of ridicule. At times
it is a sin-stained heart that oppresses Me
when I enter it, as the Cross weighed on
My shoulders en route to Calvary.
And then I was crucified. Exposed naked to the rude gaze of those
who jeered at Me, I died in unspeakable agony.
My life in the Tabernacle is a continual
crucifixion. I see Myself once more exposed to the
scorn of My enemies, and the indifference
of those I love is like a spear in My Heart. I am fastened to this prison by nails of
love - love for all mankind, even for those who
ignore Me or hate Me
- love for you.
For you - yes, for you - I endure this life of loneliness. Yet
I permit you to share it with Me, and
My Heart is gladdened when you come and spend time here at
My feet.
Dear child, in order that you do not leave here discouraged or downcast,
I tell you that, in spite of your failings, I love you.
Love for you keeps Me in the Tabernacle,
love for you brings Me to your heart in
Holy Communion. You are very dear to Me, and I
understand your difficulties and temptations, and shall help you to overcome
them. Your efforts to do My Will please Me, and
I shall draw you ever closer to My Heart.
Be at peace, dear child. Be at peace. Love Me.
It is all I ask.
Novena to Saint Benedict
Glorious Saint Benedict, sublime model of virtue, pure vessel of God's grace!
Behold me humbly kneeling at your feet. I implore you in your loving kindness to pray for me before the throne of God.
To you I have recourse in the dangers that daily surround me.
Shield me against my selfishness and my indifference to God and to my neighbor.
Inspire me to imitate you in all things.
May your blessing be with me always, so that I may see and serve Christ in others and work
for His kingdom.
Graciously obtain for me from God those favors and graces which I need so much in the
trials, miseries and afflictions of life.
Your heart was always full of love, compassion and mercy toward those who were afflicted
or troubled in any way. You never dismissed without consolation and assistance anyone who had recourse to you.
I therefore invoke your powerful intercession, confident in the hope that you will hear my
prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favor I earnestly implore.
{mention your petition}
Help me, great Saint Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to run in the
sweetness of His loving will, and to attain the eternal happiness of Heaven.
Amen
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