REVELATION OF FEBRUARY 2, 1847

FEAST OF THE PURIFICATION

Significantly our Saviour chose the Feast of the Blessed Virgin's Purification to teach Sister Mary of St. Peter how to purify her soul in imitation of the Mother of God. Heretofore our Lord's revelations stressed overwhelmingly only doctrinal and spiritual verities. Today, however, the Saviour speaks to her plainly about attending to the ordinary matter of labor. In one sublime stroke of divine wisdom, our Lord settles for all concerned the important and excellent place which honest work well done holds in the life of a Christian, without which there is no true virtuous living.

SINCE I felt myself growing considerably weaker for some time, I asked the Mother Prioress to appoint another sister who would share with me the work of the office of portress, feeling no longer able to do this work alone on account of my health. But the Prioress, refusing me this, said that perhaps it was my laziness and self-love that prompted me to ask for assistance. She also told me to ask our Lord to restore me my strength so that at the end of fifteen days I could resume all my duties. While I accepted this order respectfully, I must confess that I was sadly disappointed at finding our Prioress on this occasion lacking her ordinary sympathy, and then the demon, too, began to tempt me.

Going to our Lord, I opened my heart to Him, shedding many tears, as I told Him that the office of portress was for me a continual martyrdom, because it incessantly drew me away from His presence. Yet as an act of obedience to the Prioress, I asked Him, nevertheless, to restore my health to me so that I could fulfill all my duties as I was told to do.

The following morning after Holy Communion our Lord said to me:

"My daughter, is it not true that you find very much pleasure in solitude? And furthermore, was not every day a feast-day for you during those first years you spent in the cloister, when you were given no exterior work to perform?"

"Yes, Lord," I answered.

"Well, then, my daughter, learn now that every Religious should be a living crucifix. If you did not have all these worries, how would you be able to save those souls that I have placed in your hands? To prove that it is my desire that you should be the portress, and to show you that it is I Myself Who through your superior's lips have refused you a second turn-Sister to share your work, I now will that you be cured instantly! Be very happy because for all your labors I will repay you by giving you souls."

I can say with certainty that our Lord has, indeed, granted me a complete cure, for I am able to perform all my duties as I did before I became sick.

Again revealing Himself to me later, He declared:

"I want you to imitate My industriousness. I came to earth not to be served but to serve!" and then He added:

"During a time of scarcity, when the price of bread is very high, would not the father of a family deserve the reproaches of his wife and children, if being able to work the whole day, he labored only half the day because of his laziness? Surely, working only part time the man would never be able to earn sufficient money to buy the provisions necessary for the life of his family. Well, my daughter, apply this lesson to yourself. You, too, have children to nourish, as I have already told you, and make no mistake about it. It is essential that you earn sufficient bread for them, and to achieve this they need your entire day's labor. Therefore do not open yourself through laziness to risk hearing these souls reproach you on Judgment Day."

On still another occasion our Lord instructed me on the need of conscientiously laboring to fulfill all the work assigned, as follows:

"My daughter, you at times complain that you cannot live a life of solitude because of your many occupations, but tell me, do you know what a solitary soul really is? Behold, a soul in solitude is one that has become mistress of her passions. Therefore, such a soul continually sacrifices her self-will and in obediently attending to the various occupations imposed on her, by reason of her office, she lives the life of a true solitary, and in a certain way begins to share in the very solitude of God Himself, by living according to His Holy Will." Then our Lord added:

"And on the contrary, although a soul is sheltered in the stillness of a retreat, yet she does not deserve to be called a soul in solitude if she is distracted by the noise of her own passions and seeks self-satisfaction in doing her own will. Know and remember, therefore, that self-will is the nurse of the passions."