10, 1) for it is better that human frailty be at times considered ignorant and wicked, than that it make a vain show of virtue and wisdom. In the Lord was that teaching of the wise man put into practice: More precious is a little foolishness in its time than wisdom and glory (Eccles. As the Teacher of this philosophy and as the Physician of the sickness of sin, He would not deny the charges nor defend or justify Himself, nor refute those who accused Him, showing us by his own living example, how to oppose and counteract the intentions of the serpent. In order to crush the head of Lucifer and overcome pride and arrogance, my Son observed this patient silence in his Passion, permitting Himself to be treated as an ignorant and foolish criminal. The way of the cross and imitation of Christ in humble Christian sincerity is deserted, because they are so few that walk upon it.Ħ02. Commonly all are swollen up by the mortal poison of the serpent and so much the more anxious to drink it, the more deeply they are already wounded and weakened by his lamentable assaults. They receive them as if they were their due and not owing to his liberal kindness instead of being thankful for them they abuse them as weapons against God and against their own selves. They palliate their faults, extol their virtues and abilities, they attribute to themselves the goods and the blessings as if they had not received them from God. All of them are pursuing the same deceit of seeking to appear what they are not in fact, and fail in reality to come up to what they appear to be. The powerful seek to be feared, worshipped and obeyed. The poor strive to be and appear rich, anxious to gain the approbation of the wealthy. The rich glory in their riches and wish to be respected on their account. The learned and those who think themselves wise, wish to be applauded and looked up to, bragging about their knowledge. Each one ordinarily seeks to advance his honor and vainglory, struggling to be applauded and renowned. 50, 7), and let them realize how strong has grown in them the hellish seed of pride, of presumption, vanity, self-esteem, avarice, hypocrisy, deceitfulness, and all other vices. Let men then consider themselves conceived in sin (Ps. Because they do not heed the contagion of Lucifer through sin, which is perpetuated in the world, they do not seek in the Physician the medicine of suffering, which the Lord in his immense charity has left to the world in word and deed. In the silence and the meekness, which He maintained during his Passion, permitting Himself to be reputed as a wicked and foolish man, He left to mankind a lesson just as important as it is unnoticed and unpracticed by the children of Adam. But besides this, I wish, my dearest, that thou understand the instructive lessons contained in these works for in each one of them my Son acted as Redeemer and Teacher of men. 2, 4), and if not all of them attained this salvation, no one can justly complain of his superabundant kindness.Ħ01. He wished all of them to be saved (I Tim. But these sentiments of wonder should be especially united to a deep veneration for the judgments of the Lord, who disposed all things connected with the Redemption according to his equity, goodness and rectitude and in a manner befitting all his attributes, denying none of his enemies sufficient help to follow the good, if only they wished to use their freedom for that purpose. But many do not know, and others are astonished, that the Lord should have consented to be presented as a criminal before iniquitous judges and be examined by them as a wicked malefactor that they should have been allowed to treat Him as an ignorant fool and that He should not have made use of his divine wisdom to defend his innocence, convict the Jews and all his enemies of their malice, since He could so easily have done it. My daughter, great is the neglect and the inattention of men in failing to consider the works of my most holy Son and to penetrate with humble reverence the mysteries which He has concealed within them for the salvation of all. THE VIRGIN MARY SPEAKS TO SISTER MARY OF AGREDAĦ00.
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