Stealing for Jesus

"Son, when thou perceivest a yearning after eternal bliss to be poured into thee from above, and that thou longest to go from the tabernacle of the body, that thou mayest behold my glory without any shadow of change, open wide thy heart, and with all thy affection draw in this holy inspiration.

Render fullest thanks to the divine goodness, which deals so condescendingly with thee, which mercifully visits thee, ardently excites thee, and powerfully raises thee up, that thou fall not by thine own weight down to things of earth.

For it is not by thine own thought or endeavour that thou attainest to this, but only by the condescension of heavenly grace and divine regard, that thou mayest advance in virtues and greater humility, and prepare thyself for future conflicts, and labour with the whole affection of thy heart to cleave unto me, and to serve me with a fervent will."

"Son, the fire often glows, but the flame ascends not without smoke.

So also the desires of some are ablaze after heavenly things, and yet they are not free from the temptation of carnal affection.

Therefore they are not acting purely for the honour of God in asking of him so earnestly.

And such is often thy desire, which thou wouldest have me to believe will be so urgent. For that is not pure and perfect which bears some taint of self-interest."

"Ask not what is delightful and convenient for thee, but what is pleasing and honourable to me ; for if thou judgest rightly, thou oughtest to prefer and follow mine appointment rather than thine own desire, and before any thing desired.

I know thy desire, and I have heard thy many groanings.

Thou wouldest be in the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Already thou dost delight in thine eternal home and in the heavenly country, full of joy; but thine hour has not yet come ; rather is there yet another time, a time of war, and toil, and trial."

"Thou wishest to be replenished with the highest good, but thou canst not now attain it. It is I ; wait for me, saith the Lord, till the Kingdom of God come. Thou must yet be tried upon earth and exercised in many things.

Consolation will from time to time be given thee, but to be fully satisfied shall not be granted thee.

Take courage therefore, and be strong as well in doing as in suffering things repugnant to nature.

Thou must put on the new man and be changed into another man.

Thou must oftentimes do that which thou willest not, and let alone that which thou willest."

"That which is pleasing to others will go forward ; that which thou wouldest have will not succeed.

That which others say will be hearkened to; what thou sayest will be esteemed as nought.

Others will ask and will receive ; thou wilt ask and not obtain.

Others will be great in the mouths of men ; but none will speak of thee.

Others will have this or that office; but thou wilt be accounted fit for nothing.

Nature will sometimes repine at this, and it will be no small matter if thou bear it with silence.

In these and many such-like things, the faithful servant of the Lord is wont to be tried, how far he has been able to renounce and break himself in all things."

"… But weigh well, my son, the fruit of these labors, how quickly they will end, and their exceeding great reward ; and thou wilt not thence have trouble, but a strong solace to thine endurance.

For instead of this little will thou now of thine own accord forsakest, thou shalt for ever have thy will in heaven.

For there thou shalt find all that thou hast wished for, all that thou canst desire.

There the wealth of all good will be thine without fear of ever losing it.

There thy will, being always one with mine, will desire nothing either out of thyself or in thyself.

There no one will resist thee, no man will complain of thee, no man hinder, nothing stand in thy way ; but all things thou desirest will be present there together, and shall refresh thy whole affection and fill it to the full.

There I will give thee glory for the affronts thou hast endured; the garment of praise for sorrow; and, for the lowest place, a royal throne for all eternity.

There will the fruit of obedience come forth, there will the toil of penance rejoice, and humble subjection will be gloriously crowned."

"Son, I have said : Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto you.

Peace is what all desire; but not all care for those things which make for true peace.

My peace is with the humble and meek of heart; Thy peace shall be in much patience.

If thou wilt hear me and follow my voice, thou wilt enjoy much peace.

What, then, shall I do?

In every thing attend to thyself, what thou art doing and what thou art saying; and direct thy whole intention to this, that thou mayest please me alone and neither desire nor seek any thing apart from me."

"As for the sayings or doings of others, judge nothing rashly, and busy not thyself with things not committed to thy care; and so it may come to pass that thou be little or seldom disturbed.

But never to feel any disturbance at all, nor to suffer any grief of heart or body, belongs not to this present life, but is the state of everlasting rest.

Think not therefore that thou hast found true peace if thou feelest no burden ; nor that then all is well if thou hast to withstand no adversary; nor that thou hast attained to perfection if all things are done according to thine inclination.

Neither then think thyself any thing great nor imagine thyself to be especially beloved if thou experience great devotion and sweetness ; for it is not in such things that a true lover of virtue is known, nor does the progress and perfection of a man consist in these things."

"In what, then, O Lord?

In offering thyself with thy whole heart to the will of God ; in not seeking the things that are thine, whether in little or great, in time or in eternity.

So that with the same equal countenance thou mayest continue the giving of thanks both in prosperity and in adversity, by weighing all things in an equal balance."

JOM, 3:23:

"There is little progress for the man who thinks he is walking in perfection! Therefore, do not think you have gained true peace if you feel no adversity. Do not think you have gained perfection if things go according to your wishes and desires. My Peace is not the peace the nature of man knows! Focus all your attention on Me. Offer all of yourself to Me, and do not seek to gain anything of this world or the next. Maintain a balance of all joys and sorrows. Seek only Me, and do not weigh your heart heavily on either your sadness or your happiness."

"It is better to have little knowledge with humility and small understanding than great treasures of learning with a vain self conceit."

"The more a religious is held beneath the yoke of obedience for the love of God, so much the greater fruit will he reap; and the more a religious is obedient and subject to his superior for the honor of God, so much the more is he poor and free from his sin in comparison with all the other men of this world. …"

"A religious who desireth to live according to his own will desireth to go into hell fire.

So long as the ox holdeth its head beneath the yoke it filleth the granaries with grain, but the ox not holding its head beneath the yoke but running about wandering seemeth to itself to be a great lord, but the granaries are not filled with grain.

The great and the wise humbly put their heads beneath the yoke of obedience, and the foolish withdraw their heads from beneath the yoke and will not obey.

A mother sometimes nourisheth and maketh much of her son who after he hath grown up doth not obey his mother on account of his pride, but mocketh and spurneth her.

I esteem it greater to obey a superior for love of God than to obey the Creator Himself, giving some command in person. …

He who placeth his head beneath the yoke of obedience, and afterward that he may follow the path of perfection withdraweth his head from beneath the yoke of obedience - this is a sign of great hidden pride.

Good habits are the way to all good, and bad habits are the way to all evil."

JOM, 4:12:

"It is better to be obedient to your superior in the good works of God than it is to be directly obedient to Me! … Evil can deceive through your hidden pride to expose yourself. It is like anyone who has the initial desire to do good works and serve Me through obedience, but then he or she decides to go off on his or her own and plays God! Always be obedient to your religious advisor. This will keep you pure and poor in sin. The ox, who works under the supervision of his superior, may gather grain for the barn when his head is buried in the yoke. The ox, who lifts his head from the yoke, may gather much grain, but will not have the barn in which to store the grain."

"Son, cast thy heart firmly on the Lord, and fear not the judgment of man, when thy conscience assures thee of thy piety and innocence.

It is good and blessed to suffer thus; neither will this be grievous to an humble heart, and one that trusts in God more than in itself."

"Many say many things, and therefore little trust is to be placed in them.

Neither is it possible to content all.

Though Paul endeavoured to please all in the Lord, and made himself all things to all men, yet he counted it a very small thing that he should be judged by the judgment of men.

He laboured for the edifying and salvation of others as much as in him lay, and as he was able; but he could not prevent being sometimes judged or despised by others.

Therefore he committed all to God who knew all, and defended himself by patience and humility against the tongues of those who spoke evil, or thought and uttered vain and false things of him as they pleased.

However, he answered them sometimes, lest his silence might give occasion of scandal to the weak.

Who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a mortal man? To-day he is, and to-morrow he appears no more.

Fear God, and thou shalt not tremble at the terrors of men.

What can any one do against thee by words or wrongs? He hurts himself rather than thee; nor can he, whoever he be, escape the judgment of God.

See thou have God before thine eyes, and strive not with complaining words.

And if at present thou seemest to be overcome and to suffer a confusion which thou hast not deserved, be not angry at this, and do not lessen thy crown by impatience ; but rather look up to me in heaven, who am able to deliver thee from all confusion and wrong, and to reward every man according to his works."

"Son, it is more profitable for thee and safer to hide the grace of devotion, and not to be elevated with it, nor to consider it much; but rather to despise thyself the more, and to be afraid of it as being given to one unworthy. … Nor does advancement in the spiritual life consist so much in having the grace of consolation, as in bearing the withdrawal of it with humility, resignation, and patience …"

 "Those who are as yet new and inexperienced in the way of the Lord may be easily deceived and brought to ruin if they rule not themselves by the counsel of the discreet. But if they would rather follow their own judgment than believe others who have experience, their end will be full of peril, that is if they still refuse to be withdrawn from their own conceits."

"Whatever a man doth, whether good or evil, he doth it unto himself; thou oughtest not therefore to be scandalized if anyone do thee harm, but thou oughtest to have compassion because of his sin.

Bear patiently the injuries done thee by thy neighbor for God's sake, for thy neighbor's sake, and for thine own sake.

In so far as one is ready to bear tribulations and injuries for God's sake, so great is he before God and not more; and in so far as one is cowardly in bearing tribulations and sorrows for God's sake, so much the less is he before God and he doth not know what God is.

If someone speaketh ill to thee, help him. If one speaketh well to thee, refer it to God; thou oughtest however to help him so that if he speaketh ill to thee thou mayest speak worse of thyself.

If thou wouldst do thy part well, do thy part ill and the part of another well: that is, praise the deed and word of another and reprove thine own; and if thou wouldst do thy part ill, do the contrary. When therefore any one contendeth with thee, lose if thou wouldst win: for in the end when thou thinkest to have won, thou wilt find that thou hast lost. The way of loss is therefore the way of salvation.

We are not good bearers of tribulation, because we are not good seekers after spiritual consolations; for he who would labor faithfully in himself and above himself, and for himself will bear all things sweetly.

Do injury to no one; and if any one do injury to thee, bear it patiently for the love of God and the remission of thy sins. For it is much better to bear one grievous wrong for the love of God without any murmuring than to feed one hundred paupers for many days, and to fast daily for many days, even till the heavens are starry. What doth it profit a man to despise himself and to afflict his body in fasts and prayers and watchings and disciplines, and not be able to bear one injury from his neighbor by reason of which he would receive a far greater reward than for those things which he sustaineth of his own accord: and this is the reason why insult offered trieth latent pride.

To bear tribulations without murmur purifieth the sins of men more than the shedding of tears.

Blessed is he who ever keepeth before his eyes his own sin and the benefits of God, and who patiently beareth every trial and tribulation, for he hath reason to hope for great consolation.

Blessed is he who doth not ask or desire any consolation under heaven from any creature.

A man ought not to expect a reward from God if he is humble and quiet, only whilst he is well satisfied in all things.

He that keepeth his sins ever well before his eyes shall not give way in any trial.

Every good which thou hast, thou oughtest to receive from God, and every evil from thy sin, for if one man had done, or were to do all the good that all men in the world have done, are doing, and will do yet, if he were to look well into himself, he would find himself ever contrary to his own welfare.

A certain Brother said to him : 'What shall we do, if great tribulations should come in our time?' Brother Giles answered : ' If the Lord should rain stones and rocks from heaven they would not harm us, if we were such as we ought to be.' If a man were such as he ought to be, evil would for him be turned to good. For just as in one having a bad will, good itself is distorted into evil, evil is changed into good. For all great goods and the great evils are from within man and cannot be seen.

The worst demons run after great infirmity and great labor and great hunger and at great wrongs done to anyone.

If thou wouldst be saved, ask not that justice be done to thee by any creature.

Holy men do good and suffer evil.

If thou knowest that thou hast offended the Lord thy God, the Creator and Lord of all things, know that it is meet that all should persecute thee and avenge the injury thou hast done to thy Lord.

Thou oughtest to bear patiently injuries and wrongs done to thee by all creatures, because thou hast not justice against any one since thou art worthy to be punished by all. It is a great virtue for a man to overcome himself. If thou overcomest thyself, thou overcomest all thine enemies and attainest to every good.

It is a great virtue if one suffereth himself to be overcome by men, for such a man is the lord of this world.

If thou wouldst be saved, strive to be without hope of all consolation that any mortal creature can give thee, because the falls which occur from consolation are greater and more frequent than those arising from tribulation."

Condensing, and rearranging Brother Giles' thoughts like furniture in a crowded apartment, Gianna's pen then recorded the following "dictation" from Jesus. Her task was rendered all the more complicated by the need to chop up Brother Giles' words into dozens of fragments and re-arrange them in a new and improved way for the sake of the "dictation."

 "Bear patiently the injuries done thee by thy neighbor for God's sake, for thy neighbor's sake, and for thine own sake."

"Whatever a man doth, whether good or evil, he doth it unto himself; thou oughtest not therefore to be scandalized if anyone do thee harm, but thou oughtest to have compassion because of his sin."

"If someone speaketh ill to thee, help him. If one speaketh well to thee, refer it to God; thou oughtest however to help him so that if he speaketh ill to thee thou mayest speak worse of thyself." … When therefore any one contendeth with thee, lose if thou wouldst win: for in the end when thou thinkest to have won, thou wilt find that thou hast lost. The way of loss is therefore the way of salvation. … Do injury to no one; and if any one do injury to thee, bear it patiently for the love of God and the remission of thy sins."

"If someone speaks ill of you, bear it with patience and help him by speaking worse of yourself. When someone competes with you, lose if you want to win! The way of salvation is in the way of losing. If someone offends you, bear it patiently for the love of God and in remission of your sins. Do not offend anyone! Bear patiently without complaining."

"Blessed is he who ever keepeth before his eyes his own sin and the benefits of God, and who patiently beareth every trial and tribulation, for he hath reason to hope for great consolation. … Blessed is he who doth not ask or desire any consolation under heaven from any creature. … Holy men do good and suffer evil. … What doth it profit a man to despise himself and to afflict his body in fasts and prayers and watchings and disciplines, and not be able to bear one injury from his neighbor by reason of which he would receive a far greater reward than for those things which he sustaineth of his own accord: and this is the reason why insult offered trieth latent pride."

"To bear tribulations without murmur purifieth the sins of men more than the shedding of tears. … It is a great virtue for a man to overcome himself. … We are not good bearers of tribulation, because we are not good seekers after spiritual consolations; for he who would labor faithfully in himself and above himself, and for himself will bear all things sweetly. … If thou overcomest thyself, thou overcomest all thine enemies and attainest to every good. … If a man were such as he ought to be, evil would for him be turned to good. For just as in one having a bad will, good itself is distorted into evil, evil is changed into good. For all great goods and the great evils are from within man and cannot be seen."

 "If thou wouldst be saved, ask not that justice be done to thee by any creature. … If thou knowest that thou hast offended the Lord thy God, the Creator and Lord of all things, know that it is meet that all should persecute thee and avenge the injury thou hast done to thy Lord. … Blessed is he who doth not ask or desire any consolation under heaven from any creature. … Thou oughtest to bear patiently injuries and wrongs done to thee by all creatures, because thou hast not justice against any one since thou art worthy to be punished by all. … If the Lord should rain stones and rocks from heaven they would not harm us, if we were such as we ought to be. … The worst demons run after great infirmity and great labor and great hunger and at great wrongs done to anyone."

"The glory of a good man is the witness of a good conscience.

Keep a good conscience and thou shalt always have gladness.

A good conscience can bear very much, and is exceeding joyful in the midst of adversity.

A bad conscience is always timid and uneasy.

Sweetly wilt thou rest if thy heart blame thee not.

Never be glad but when thou hast done well.

The wicked have never true gladness, nor feel peace within ; because there is no peace or the wicked, saith the Lord.

And if they shall say: We are in peace, evils will not come upon us, and who shall dare to hurt us ? believe them not ; for the wrath of God will arise on a sudden, and their deeds shall be brought to nought, and their thoughts shall perish.

To glory in tribulation is not hard to him who loves ; for so to glory is to glory in the cross of the Lord.

That glory is short-lived which is given and taken by men.

The glory of the world is always accompanied by sorrow.

The glory of the good is in their consciences, and not in the mouths of men.

The gladness of the just is from God and in God, and their joy is in the truth.

He who desires true and everlasting glory values not that which is temporal.

And he that seeks after temporal glory or does not despise it from his heart, shows himself to have little love for that which is heavenly.

That man has great tranquility who cares neither for praises nor dispraises.

He will easily be content and in peace whose conscience is clean.

Thou art not more holy if thou art praised, nor worse if thou art dispraised.

What thou art, that thou art; nor canst thou be said to be greater than God sees thee to be.

If thou considerest well what thou art within thyself, thou wilt not care what men may say of thee.

Man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart.

Man considers the actions, but God weighs the intentions.

To do always well and to hold self in small account is a mark of an humble soul.

To refuse comfort from any creature is a sign of great purity and of inward trust.

He that seeks no outward testimony for himself, plainly has committed himself wholly to God.

For not he who commendeth himself, saith blessed Paul, is approved, but he whom God commendeth.

To walk with God within, and not to be held by any affection without, is the state of an interior man."

As she had done so recently with the lengthy passage from Brother Giles, Gianna had to chop up this chapter into many little pieces and reassemble them before she got the "dictation" just right.

"Keep a good conscience and thou shalt always have gladness. … He will easily be content and in peace whose conscience is clean."

"Man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart. Man considers the actions, but God weighs the intentions. … What thou art, that thou art; nor canst thou be said to be greater than God sees thee to be. If thou considerest well what thou art within thyself, thou wilt not care what men may say of thee. … That glory is short-lived which is given and taken by men. … The glory of the good is in their consciences, and not in the mouths of men. … Thou art not more holy if thou art praised, nor worse if thou art dispraised."

"To refuse comfort from any creature is a sign of great purity and of inward trust. … To do always well and to hold self in small account is a mark of an humble soul. … He who desires true and everlasting glory values not that which is temporal. And he that seeks after temporal glory or does not despise it from his heart, shows himself to have little love for that which is heavenly."

"The wicked have never true gladness, nor feel peace within; because there is no peace for the wicked, saith the Lord. … That man has great tranquility who cares neither for praises nor dispraises."

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