12 3 5 From the Diary of St. Faustina Diary 471, 472, 1020, 278 Prophet for Our Times 1 + Jesus came to the main entrance today, under the guise of a poor young man. This young man, emaciated, barefoot and bareheaded, and with his clothes in tatters, was frozen because the day was cold and rainy. He asked for something hot to eat. So I went to the kitchen, but found nothing there for the poor. But, after searching around for some time, I succeeded in finding some soup, which I reheated and into which I crumbled some bread, and I gave it to the poor young man, who ate it. As I was taking the bowl from him, he gave me to know that He was the Lord of heaven and earth. When I saw Him as He was, He vanished from my sight. When I went back in and reflected on what had happened at the gate, I heard these words in my soul: My daughter, the blessings of the poor who bless Me as they leave this gate have reached My ears. And your compassion, wi thin the bounds of obedience, has pleased Me, and this is why I came down from My throne — to taste the frui ts of your mercy. 13 O my Jesus, now everything is clear to me, and I understand all that has just happened. I somehow felt and asked myself what sort of a poor man is this who radiates such modesty. From that moment on, there was stirred up in my heart an even purer love toward the poor and the needy. Oh, how happy I am that my superiors have given me such a task! I understand that mercy is manifold; one can do good always and everywhere and at all times. An ardent love of God sees all around itself constant opportunities to share itself through deed, word and prayer. Now I understand the words which You spoke to me, O Lord, some time ago. 16 October 1, 1937. Daughter, I need sacr i f ice lovingly accompl ished, because that alone has meaning for Me. Enormous indeed are the debts of the wor ld which are due to Me; pure souls can pay them by their sacr i f ice, exercising mercy in spir i t . 17 I understand Your words, Lord, and the magnitude of the mercy that ought to shine in my soul. Jesus: I know, My daughter , that you understand i t and that you do everything wi thin your power . But wr i te this for the many souls who are often worr ied because they do not have the mater ial means wi th which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spir i tual mercy, which requires nei ther permissions nor storehouses, is much more mer i tor ious and is wi thin the grasp of every soul . I f a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, i t wi l l not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment . Oh, i f only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestal l My judgment wi th their mercy. Sacrifice, Love and Mercy
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