Excerpts from Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda

[Therese]

'Let thy meditation day and night be, how thou canst provide against losing the highest Good, which thou lovest.  It is not befitting that thou sleep or slumber in the midst of invisible enemies.  If sometimes thy Beloved hides Himself from thee, hope in patience and seek Him solicitously without ceasing, since thou knowest not His secret judgments.  For the time of his absence and temptation provide thyself with the oil of charity and good intention, so that it fail thee not in time of necessity and that thou mayest not be rejected with the foolish and negligent virgins.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. I, p. 530
(Bk. II, #688)

[Therese]

'When any creature rose up against me, I conceived no anger toward it, for I knew in reality it was an instrument of the Most High, directed by his Providence for my special good.  This knowledge and the consideration, that it was a creature of my Lord, capable of grace, exited me to love it truly with a greater fervor, and I did not rest until I could reward this benefit of persecution by obtaining for it eternal life, as far as was possible.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, p. 545
(Bk. II, #711)

[Therese]

'Strive after, therefore, and labor for the imitation of that, which thou hast understood and written; show thyself most meek, peaceful and agreeable toward those, who molest thee; esteem them truly in thy heart, and do not take vengeance of thy Lord by taking vengeance on his instruments, nor despise the inestimable jewel of injuries.  As far as lies in thee always give good for evil, (Rom. 12, 14) benefits for injuries, love for hate, praise for blame, blessings for malediction.  Then wilt thou be a perfect daughter of thy Father (Matth. 5, 43), the beloved spouse of thy Lord, my friend and my most cherished daughter.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. I, p. 546
(Bk. II, #712)

[Therese]

'Saint Anne lived fifty-six years, portioned off into the following periods; at the age of twenty-four she espoused saint Joaquim and she remained without issue for twenty years; then in the forty-fourth year she gave birth to the most holy Mary, and of the twelve years which she lived during the lifetime of Mary, three were passed in her company and nine during her absence in the temple, which all together makes fifty-six years.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vo. I, p. 555
(Bk. II, #723)

St. Joaquim's  death took place a little before St. Anne's death.  I wish I had provided some info about St. Joaquim for you when I had read about him.  But you can gather a little about him from the passage above.  St. Anne died with her daughter Mary still dwelling in the temple.  I believe Mary dwelled in the temple just up until her espousal to St. Joseph, which will come up later in City of God.

[Therese]

'Man's sole duty is to live in obedience and in the love of his Lord.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. I, p. 556
(Bk. II, #725)

[Therese]

'What is still worse, if by his carnal wisdom and by diabolical astuteness to which man resigns himself, he succeeds sometimes in obtaining what he seeks, he deems himself fortunate on account of this, his own misfortune!  And with sensible pleasure he imbibes the poison of eternal death in the deceitful delight, which he has gained, while incurring the alienation and abhorrence of his God.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. I, P. 557
(Bk. II, #726)

[Therese]

If the condition of mortals were not so low, they would covet sufferings merely for the sake of their God and Lord, who has proclaimed them to be according to his will and pleasure; for the faithful and loving servant should always prefer the likings of his lord to his own convenience.  But the worldlings in their torpidity are moved neither by the duty of conforming to their Father and Lord, nor by his declaration that all their salvation consists in following Christ in his sufferings and that his sinful children must reap the fruit of the Redemption by imitation of their sinless Chief.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. I, p. 564-565
(Bk. II, #739)

[Therese]

"I exhort thee, my daughter, to select the sufferings of his Cross in preference to his favors and gifts and rather embrace afflictions than desire to be visited with caresses; for in choosing favors and delights thou mayest be moved by self-love, but n accepting tribulations and sorrows, thou canst be moved only by the love of Christ.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. I, p. 565
(Bk. II, #740)

[Therese]

'Thy incessant prayer, my daughter, should be always to repeat: here I am, Lord, what wilt Thou do with me?  Prepared is my heart, I am ready and not disturbed; what does Thou wish for me to do for Thee?  These sentiments should fill thy heart in their full and true import, repeating them more by sincere and ardent affection, than by word of mouth.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. I, p. 565
(Bk. II, #741)

[Therese]

'If any danger or difficulty seems to present itself in that which the Lord commands, let man confide in Him and firmly believe that he was not placed therein in order to be forsaken, but in order that he may come forth victorious and triumphant, if he cooperates on his own part with the assistance given by the Lord.  Whenever the soul seeks to scrutinize the decrees of his wisdom and satisfy itself before it obeys and believes, let it be convinced that it defrauds the Creator of its glory and honor, and at the same time loses for itself the merit of its works.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. I, p. 574-575
(Bk. II, 753)

[whiterockdove]

Amen, Therese! More good posts, I see!

[Therese]

Amen, Therese! More good posts, I see!

Yes, Whiterockdove!  Are you still in the process of reading City of God?

[Therese]

'He [St. Joseph, on the day of his espousal to Mary] was then thirty-three years of age, of handsome person and pleasing countenance, but also of incomparable modesty and gravity; above all he was most chaste in thought and conduct, and most saintly in all his inclinations.  From his twelfth year he had made and kept the vow of chastity.  He was related to Mary in the third degree, and was known for the utmost purity of his life, holy and irreprehensible in the eyes of God and of men.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. I, p. 576
(Bk. II, 755)

[Therese]

"She [Blessed Mary] desired in all things to obey her spouse St. Joseph, asking him solely for permission to help the poor, which the saint gladly gave.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. I, p. 582
(Bk. II, 765)

[Therese]

'If thou dost not hinder the course of his Providence, I assure thee of his protection and of the power of his divine arm to direct thee and guide all thy actions toward perfection.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. I, p. 586
(Bk. II, 771)

[whiterockdove]

Hi Therese, yes, I am still plugging along, very slowly but that's ok.
Thank you for continuing your posts!