Ave Maria Meditations
Our Lord’s words to St. Bridget: Yet, even though I am now so despised, I am still so merciful that whoever prays for My mercy and humbles himself in amendment shall be forgiven his sins, and I shall save him from the evil robber – the devil. But to those who continue despising me, I shall visit My justice upon them, so that those hearing it will tremble, and those who feel it will say: “Woe, that we were ever conceived or born! Woe, that we ever provoked the Lord of majesty to wrath!”
But you, my daughter, whom I have chosen for Myself, and with whom I now speak in spirit: love Me with all your heart – not as you love your son or daughter or parents, but more than anything in the world – since I, who created you, did not spare any of My limbs in suffering for your sake! Yet, I love your soul so dearly that, rather than losing you, I would let Myself be crucified again, if it were possible. Imitate My humility; for I, the King of Glory and of angels, was clothed in ugly, wretched rags and stood naked at the pillar and heard all kinds of insults and ridicule with My own ears. Always prefer My will before your own, because My Mother, your Lady, has, from the beginning to the end, never wanted anything but what I wanted.
If you do this, then your heart shall be with My Heart, and it will be inflamed by My love in the same way that anything dry becomes rapidly inflamed by fire. Your soul shall be so inflamed and filled with Me, and I will be in you, so that everything worldly becomes bitter to you and all fleshly lusts like poison. You will rest in the arms of My Divinity, where no fleshly desires exist, but only spiritual delight and joy which fill the delighted soul with happiness – inwardly and outwardly – so that it thinks of nothing and desires nothing but the joy which it possesses. So love Me alone, and you will have all the things you want, and you will have them in abundance. Is it not written that the oil of the widow did not decrease until the day the rain was sent to earth by God according to the words of the prophet? I am the true prophet! If you believe My words and follow and fulfill them, the oil – joy and jubilation – shall never decrease for you for all eternity.”
