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

[Shin]

'Although thou dost not hear with thy bodily ears the sermons of my divine Son, nor his own voice in preaching, thou canst yet imitate me in the reverence with which I listened to Him;  for it is the same One that speaks to thy heart, and who teaches thee the same doctrine.  Therefore, I exhort thee whenever thou recognizest the enlightening voice of thy Spouse and Pastor, to kneel down in reverence and listen to his words, adoring Him full of thankfulness and writing his counsel in thy heart.  If thou happenest to be in a public place, where thou canst not show this external reverence, do it interiorly and obey Him in all things as if thou wert present at his very preaching; for, just as hearing Him then without obeying Him would not have made thee happy, so thou canst now make thyself blessed by executing that which Thou hearest Him say to thee interiorly, even though thou dost not hear Him with thy bodily ears.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 340

Beautiful words!

[Therese]

'Although thou dost not hear with thy bodily ears the sermons of my divine Son, nor his own voice in preaching, thou canst yet imitate me in the reverence with which I listened to Him;  for it is the same One that speaks to thy heart, and who teaches thee the same doctrine.  Therefore, I exhort thee whenever thou recognizest the enlightening voice of thy Spouse and Pastor, to kneel down in reverence and listen to his words, adoring Him full of thankfulness and writing his counsel in thy heart.  If thou happenest to be in a public place, where thou canst not show this external reverence, do it interiorly and obey Him in all things as if thou wert present at his very preaching; for, just as hearing Him then without obeying Him would not have made thee happy, so thou canst now make thyself blessed by executing that which Thou hearest Him say to thee interiorly, even though thou dost not hear Him with thy bodily ears.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 340

Beautiful words!

Let us try hard to follow all of our Lady's instructions.  This will please her very much and will help us to get to heaven.

[Therese]

"The greater my prerogatives, so much the greater was my humility, because in my estimation they far exceeded my merits and only increased my obligations.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 353

[Therese]

'The truly humble must lower themselves beneath that which they have deserved.  If all the creatures would despise and abhor them, or offend them; if they would consider themselves worthy of hell-fire, they would only fulfil justice, but not the requirement of humility, since that would only be admitting their deserts.  But real, deep humility goes to the length of desiring a greater humiliation that that is due to one's self in justice.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 353

[Therese]

'Never judge thyself injured by any one nor consider thyself offended; if thou abhor pretense and lying, remember, that the greatest offense is to aspire after honor or high position.  Do not attribute to creatures that which God brings about in order to humiliate thee or others by affliction and tribulations; for this is protesting against mere instruments, while it is divine mercy which inflicts punishment on men for their humiliation....Humiliate thyself in the divine presence for thyself and for all thy fellow-men, in order to placate his wrath, just as if thou alone were guilty; and as if thou never hadst made any satisfaction; since during mortal life no one can ever know whether he has satisfied for his transgressions.  Seek to appease Him as if thou alone hadst offended Him; and in regard to the gifts and favors which thou hast received and dost receive, show thyself grateful as one who deserves much less and owes much more.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 354

[Therese]

'The presence of Christ and his blessed Mother filled that foul prison of the Baptist with celestial light.  While the other parts of the palace of Herod were infested by innumerable demons and sycophants more criminal than the state prisoners in their dungeons below, the cell of saint John was entirely sanctified by the presence of the Sovereigns of heaven, who were accompanied by a great host of angels.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 362

[Therese]

'My daughter, the Savior and I have taught the way of humility, of contempt and tribulation.  This is the royal road, on which we first walked, and of which We have set Ourselves up as Teachers.  We are the Protectors of all the afflicted and ill-used, ready to assist by miraculous and especial favors all those who call upon Us in their necessities.  Of this assistance and protection the followers of this world and its vain pleasures deprive themselves, since they hate the way of the Cross.  To the Cross thou wast called and invited, and on account of it thou art favored with the sweetness of my loving guidance.  Follow me and labor to imitate me, since thou hast found the secret treasure (Matth. 12, 44) and the precious pearl, for the possession of which thou must despise all that is earthly and give up all human freedom in so far as it is contrary to the pleasure of my most exalted Lord.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 367

[Therese]

'I wish thee also to understand another secret hidden from the world: namely, that one of the most vile and horrible sins before the Lord is the little esteem in which the just and friends of the Church are held, and especially the little veneration shown toward me, who was chosen for his Mother and am the cause of the happiness of men.  If the failure to love the enemies and contempt of them is so displeasing to the Lord and to the saints in heaven (Matth. 18, 35), how shall He bear with such treatment of his most dear friends, whom He holds as the apple of his eye and in deepest affection? (Ps. 33, 16).  This counsel thou canst never bear in mind too much in this mortal life, and it is one of the signs of reprobation to hold in abhorrence the just.  Beware of this danger and judge no one, especially those that reprehend and admonish thee (Matth. 7, 1).'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 387

[Shin]

Ah now that is a quote that is dear to my heart. Thank you Therese.

May God grant holiness to be loved.

Thanks be to God and to Mary Ever Virgin, and to all the Archangels, Angels and Saints, and Holy Souls. And may God grant rest through the offering of His Most Precious Blood to the Holy Souls.

[Therese]

'If thou wilt look into the deceptive course of the lovers of this word, thou wilt see that they consider themselves fortunate, whenever they attain all that they desire according to their earthly inclinations.  This only hastens their great misfortune; for they, having received their reward, cannot expect any in the eternal life.  But the just, who despise the world and meet with many adversities, are withdrawn and shielded from danger, because the Lord denies them the temporal goods, which they desire and ask for.  In order that thou mayest not fall into such danger, I exhort thee and command thee never to hanker after nor to seek earthly possession.  Separate thyself from all; preserve thy will free and independent; never desire for anything beyond what is God's pleasure, for He will assume charge of all those that resign themselves to his divine Providence.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 387

[Therese]

Ah now that is a quote that is dear to my heart. Thank you Therese.

May God grant holiness to be loved.

Thanks be to God and to Mary Ever Virgin, and to all the Archangels, Angels and Saints, and Holy Souls. And may God grant rest through the offering of His Most Precious Blood to the Holy Souls.

You are most welcome, Shin.

[Therese]

"During our mortal life the Lord is very slow in visiting vengeance upon us; but He will make up for his slowness in the severity of his punishments after death.  If then God suffers and bears with us so much, how much must one poor worm of the earth bear with another, since both are of the same nature and condition?  By the light of this truth and by the charity of the Lord and Spouse, thou must regulate the amount of thy patience and longsuffering with others and the zeal for their salvation.  I do not say that thou must therefore permit what is against the honor of God, for that would not be a true zeal for the good of thy neighbor; but thou must love them as creatures of the Lord and abhor sin; thou must suffer and ignore whatever is done against thee, always seeing, as far as in thee lies, the salvation of others.  Do not lose heart, when thou seest no immediate fruit, but continue to present to the eternal Father the merits of my most holy Son, my intercession and that of the saints and angels; for as God is charity and as they are the ministers of the Most High, they will gladly make use of this same charity for the benefit of those who are still on their pilgrimage.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 403

[Shin]

This is teaching us how to live. 

[Therese]

This is teaching us how to live. 

Yes, the instructions of our Lady found in this work are so wonderfully excellent!  I try to follow all that she teaches us, and so should everybody.  God bless you!

[Therese]

'As if in pledge or advance payment of the universal exaltation of Christ after his Ascension, and especially at the final judgment, the Father decreed that the inhabitants of Jerusalem should meet Him with great applause and honor at his entrance into Jerusalem....'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 409

[Therese]

'The Lord was to make use of both of them [an ass and her colt] according to the prophesies of Isaias (Is. 62, 11), and Zacharias (Zach. 9, 9), who had foretold these particulars many ages before, in order that the priests and scribes should not be able to allege ignorance as an excuse.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 410