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

[Therese]

'Before conceiving Him and becoming is Mother, She was inspired with divine knowledge and science concerning the passibility of the Word made flesh.  And when She became Mother She saw and experienced this truth in Her Son and Lord himself and therefore She gave a greater license, or rather a more strict command, to creatures to afflict Her, since She saw the results of this activity in their own Creator.  Hence, as the Most High did not wish his only and chosen Spouse to be continually molested by the creatures, even though She herself desired it, He often restrained them and neutralized their operations, so that the heavenly Princess unhindered by them, might occasionally enjoy the delights of the most high King.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. II, p. 42-43
(Bk. 3, Chap. 3, Para. 31)

[Therese]

I'm so glad we as Catholics are encouraged to have those images of Mary in our homes, around our necks, the statues in our gardens.
It does help!

Just to clarify: when Blessed Mary teaches us to keep images out of our mind she is referring to images of people, places and things in the world (as they distract us)--she is not referring to images of crucifixes and other sacramentals, which serve to unite us more closely with out Lord.  God bless you!

[Therese]

I'm so glad we as Catholics are encouraged to have those images of Mary in our homes, around our necks, the statues in our gardens.
It does help!

Just to clarify: when Blessed Mary teaches us to keep images out of our mind she is referring to images of people, places and things in the world (as they distract us)--she is not referring to images of crucifixes and other sacramentals, which serve to unite us more closely with out Lord.  God bless you!

To clarify further:  the Blessed Virgin Mary is referring to images that are not sacred.  I do not mean profane images, but images that are not of Jesus, Mary, Angels, Saints, and of holy objects like crucifixes, sacred chalices, etc..  From what I have read in the City of God about this matter we should not retain images in our memory of persons, places and things, even though they be not profane or unholy (e.g. our parents).  St. John of the Cross has taught that we should not cling to images even of the sacred.  God bless you.

[Therese]

'I desire, therefore, that thou, my friend, be now my companion in the sorrow which I suffered and which is so little noticed by the living.  In order to imitate me therein and in the effects of this most just grief, thou must deny thyself, forget thyself entirely, and crown thy heart with the thorns of sorrow at the behavior of mortals.  Weep thou at seeing them laugh at their eternal damnation, for such weeping is the legitimate occupation of the true spouses of my most holy Son.  Let them seek their delight only in the tears, which they pour out on account of their sins and those of the ignorant world.  Thus prepare thy heart in order that the Lord may make thee a participant of his treasures; not in order to become rich, but in order that his Majesty may fulfill his most generous love toward thee and in order that souls may find justification.  Imitate me in all that I teach thee, since thou knowest that this is my desire in favoring thee.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. II, p. 51-52
(Bk. 3, Chap. 4, Para. 46)

[Therese]

"'Yet, although I have shown thee part of their malice, I wish, my friend, that thou shouldst once more know in Me, how small is the number of those who are to know and love me as my chosen ones; and how great and extended is the number of the ungrateful and of the reprobate.  The innumerable sins and abominations of these impure and defiled men, whom I have foreseen in my infinite knowledge, retard my bounteous mercy and have locked up the treasurehouse of my Divinity, making the world entirely unworthy of receiving my gifts.'"

God the Father to Blessed Virgin Mary on the fifth day before the Incarnation, as revealed to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. II, p. 54
(Bk. 3, Chap. 5, Para. 48)

[Shin]

It is we who put things in the way.. God help us to change our ways! 

[Therese]

It is we who put things in the way.. God help us to change our ways! 

May God help us! 

[Therese]

'I had no part in the sin of Adam, for I was exempted from his disobedience; but because I partook of his nature and by it was his daughter, I humiliated myself in my estimation to nothingness.  In the light of this example then, how far must those humiliate themselves, who not only have had a part in the first sin, but also have committed other sins without number?  The aim and motive of this humiliation moreover, should not be to remove the punishment of those sins, but to make restoration and recompense for the diminution and loss of honor, which was thereby occasioned to the Creator and Lord.'

Vol. II, 67*

* Paragraph #


Shin, here I have used  the same form of citation that Ven. Mary of Agreda uses in her work ... it is more convenient for me than the other forms I've been using.  Would it be fine with you if I kept up with this particular form, or would you prefer that my citations include page numbers?

[Therese]

'Great victories and advances in merit are connected with the true submission of self and subjection of our own judgments to those of others.  Thou shouldst never wish to retain for thyself the power to will or not to will: then thou shalt sing of victories and overcome thy enemies.'

Vo. II, 69

[Shin]

As long as you have the paragraph #s it suffices Therese.

[Therese]

As long as you have the paragraph #s it suffices Therese.

Thanks, Shin!

[Therese]

'If thou wishest to attain the highest purity of that perfection and become worthy of standing in the presence of thy Lord and Spouse, strive to be robust and strong in love; and thou knowest, that this is augmented in the same degree, as mortification and self-abnegation are practiced.  Thou must deny thyself and forget all earthly things; thou must expel all the meanings toward thyself and toward visible things, in the divine love solely thou must increase and advance.  Wash and purify thyself in the blood of thy Redeemer, Christ, and apply this cleansing many times by renewing thy loving sorrow for thy sins.  Thereby wilt thou find grace in his eyes and thy beauty will be desired by Him, and all thy adornments will be full of the greatest perfection and purity.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. II, 85

[Therese]

'Remember that the Lord very often shows great favors to the unworthy, in order to manifest his goodness and munificence. 

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. II, 86

[Therese]

'All have their source only in his goodness, binding us and obliging us to grateful recognition.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. II, 86

[Therese]

"Be thou not any longer slow in understanding the greatness of his divine love and his readiness to benefit his friends and dear ones, whom He desires to elevate from the dust and enrich in diverse manners.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. II, 96

[Therese]

'And in order that thou mayest dispose thyself and be inspired so much the more, I remind thee, that the Lord often says these same words to his chosen ones: "Reverte, reverte, ut intueamur te."  For He derives just as great pleasure from their deeds, as when a father rejoices in his beloved and well-behaved son, whom he looks upon many times with great affection; or as an artist, when he beholds with pride the perfect work of his hands; or as a king, who inspects the rich city, which he has added to his dominions; or as one, who is pleased with his much beloved friend.  There is only this difference: the Most High finds incomparably more delight than all these in the souls, which He has chosen for his blessings; and in proportion as they dispose themselves and advance in virtue, the Lord also multiplies his favors and benefits.  If the mortals, that attain to the light of faith, would enter into this truth, they would, merely on account of this complacence of the Almighty in their good deeds, not only preserve themselves from sin, but they would zealously engage in great works until death and eagerly show their loving servitude to Him, who is so liberal in rewarding, and so generous in his favors.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, City of God, Vol. II, 97