(Our Lady speaks to Saint Maria Faustina)
“I desire, My dearly beloved daughter, that you practise the three virtues that are dearest to Me and most pleasing to God. The first is humility, humility, and once again humility; the second virtue, purity; the third virtue, love of God. As My daughter, you must especially radiate with these virtues” Divine Mercy in my soul # 1415
Humility, purity and Love of God. these three virtues that our Lady exhibited so strongly in her fiat and life are intertwined and interdependent.
To me, it is difficult to love and be loved by God without humility and purity. Loving God humbles our souls and lifts us to purity.
My life shows this to some degree. Many years ago, for most of my life, I didn’t love nor honor God. I was born and given the Sacraments, for which I can never thank my parents enough, these sacraments protected me and kept my Father’s love close even when I did not reciprocate. I walked in a world where my religion was hedonism and my god was me. What I wanted and what felt good, was right. Again, I praise God and thank my parents because by my baptism I was claimed and adopted as God’s son and through Confirmation I was armored by the Holy Spirit. He kept me from doing anything more than minor stupidities.
When I met my wife, I met God for the first time. No, that’s wrong, I had met God many times in my life, He was always there attempting to get my attention. But, when I met Connie, I actually noticed God. I started the Road Of Faith the day we met and continue through to this day. I can truly say that by the time I stood at the altar with my bride at my side, I deep love of God was growing.
To get to the deepest love, the Father had to humble me like He did with Israel coming out of Egypt…many times. He broke me at my dad’s funeral and again an Emmaus retreat and again by the ICU bedside and many more times. And, yet, each time I was humbled, I learned of God’s love for me to a greater degree and that love has led me to more purity of spirit. I am not sinless but I do sin less. God led me from the humble place of fear of hell to the lofty heights of simple love of Father..a path to purity.
Once upon a time, I was god in my life. Then, I met God and realized that maybe I wasn’t God, but I didn’t let go of my control. As I came to know God better, He and I became equals of the path. I was no longer God but I still maintained my level of control. And through humility, I have come to see God truly is far above me, and the more I come to know Him, the more I see how infinitely far greater He is than I am. I am not less or lower than before I knew Him, I am magnitudes greater than ever in my life but He is greater still.
Some day when our Road of Faith is complete and we stand saint among saints. We will see God in all His Majesty and despite our sanctity, we will fall face down before the throne of God and praise Him.
Humility leads to Purity – purity leads to love of God and love of God leads to humility and a desire of sanctity, purity. It’s a grand wheel ever turning as we clim the majestic mountain to God.
NEVER STOP CLIMBING!!!