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

[Therese]

'In order that the triumph of our Savior over death might be more glorious, the Most High ordained, that on that day [of Christ's entrance into Jerusalem] death should have no power over any of the mortals, so that, although in the natural course many would have died, not one of the human race died within those twenty-four hours.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 412

[Therese]

'Though so many had acknowledged Christ our Savior and King of Jerusalem [at His triumphal entrance into Jerusalem], not one tendered Him hospitality or received Him in his house (Mark, 11, 11).

Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 413

[Therese]

'Just as the virtuous and the friends of God gradually become instruments in the hands of the Lord and resign themselves entirely to his divine disposition, so that He alone governs and directs them and does not allow them to be moved by other agencies; so, in the like manner, many of the reprobate and of those who are forgetful of their Creator and Redeemer and who deliver themselves over to the devil by repeated sins, are moved and drawn into all kinds of wickedness and are mere tools of his depraved malice.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 427

[Therese]

'The sins of hate and vengeance shall be punished with greater severity than other sins on the judgment day; and in this life these vices will soonest drive away the infinite mercy of God and cause eternal punishment of men, unless they amend in sorrow.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 429

[Shin]

These last quotes have been truly educational!

[Therese]

These last quotes have been truly educational!

Can we both agree that we both should be following all of our Lady's instruction found in this work, as everything pertains to us except for the instruction meant for superiors?

[Therese]

What's wrong, Shin?  Are you frightened to answer my question?   I know that our Lady asks a lot from us in this work, but I also know that it is best that we obey her in all things.

[Shin]

Ho ho, I am just a bit busy with the new house!

Of course we should be following Our Lady's instructions!!

 

[Therese]

'Direct all thy faculties and strain all the powers of thy heart and soul, to make thyself at least somewhat worthy of understanding and meditating upon the ignominies and sorrows of the Son of the eternal Father in his death on the Cross for the salvation of men; and also of considering my doings and sufferings in connection with his bitterest Passion.  This science, so much neglected by men, I desire that thou, my daughter, study and learn, so as to be able to follow thy Spouse and imitate me, who am thy Mother and Teacher.  Writing down and feeling deeply all that I shall teach thee of these mysteries, thou shouldst detach thyself entirely of human and earthly affections and of thy own self, so as freely to follow our footsteps in destitution and poverty.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 442

[Therese]

'Do thou sorrow with me; for this faithful correspondence is due to me, who favor thee with these graces.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 443

[Therese]

'The outward aspect of Christ our Lord was most exquisitely charming and attractive; his countenance, serenely dignified, yet sweetly expressive and beautiful, was framed in abundant waves of golden chestnut hair, freely growing after the manner of the Nazarenes; his frank and open eyes beamed forth grace and majesty; his mouth, nose and all the features of his face exhibited the most perfect proportion and his whole Person was clothed in such entrancing loveliness, that He drew upon himself the loving veneration of all who beheld Him without malice in their hearts.  Over and above all this, the mere sight of Him caused in the beholders an interior joy and enlightenment, engendering heavenly thoughts and sentiments in the soul.  This divine Personage, so lovable and venerable, Judas now saw at his feet [to wash them], striving to please him by new tokens of affection and seeking to gain him by new impulses of love.  But so great was the perversity of Judas, that nothing could move or soften his hardened heart; on the contrary he was irritated by the gentleness of the Savior, and he refused to look upon his face or take notice of his actions; for from the time in which he had lost faith and grace, he was filled with hatred toward his Master and toward his heavenly Mother and never looked them in the face.'  

Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 462

[Therese]

"But saint John, though he recognized the traitor by the bread dipped into the sauce and handed to Judas, would not inform saint Peter.  He alone knew the secret, but taught by the charity which he had acquired in the school of his divine Master, he buried the secret in his bosom.'

Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 463

[Therese]

'Remember that my Lord and Son conferred no bodily blessings on anyone, without accompanying them with spiritual, and it would have been derogatory to the divine perfection of his works, to perform them without this plentitude of goodness.  From this thou wilt understand how much we must prefer the benefits of the soul to those of the body; hence thou must always seek them in the first place, although earthly minded men blindly prefer temporal blessings, forgetting the eternal ones and those tending toward the friendship and grace of the Most High.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 466

[Therese]

"In order that thou mayest not lose this pearl of humility just at the time that thou thinkest thyself secure of it, remember that the exercise of it is not to be preferred to obedience, nor must thou practice it merely at thy own will, but in subjection to thy superiors; for if thou prefer thy own judgment to thy superiors even if thou do it under color of humility, thou art guilty of pride; for that would be not only refusing to seek the lowest place, but placing thyself above thy superior....Let it then be to thee an inviolable rule, that as soon as thy confessors and superiors approve of certain blessings and favors as coming from the Lord, thou accept them as such with due thanks and reverence.  Do not allow thyself to be led into new doubts and vacillating fears, but correspond with the favors of the Lord in humble fear and tranquil obedience.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 468

[Shin]

'Direct all thy faculties and strain all the powers of thy heart and soul, to make thyself at least somewhat worthy of understanding and meditating upon the ignominies and sorrows of the Son of the eternal Father in his death on the Cross for the salvation of men; and also of considering my doings and sufferings in connection with his bitterest Passion.  This science, so much neglected by men, I desire that thou, my daughter, study and learn, so as to be able to follow thy Spouse and imitate me, who am thy Mother and Teacher.  Writing down and feeling deeply all that I shall teach thee of these mysteries, thou shouldst detach thyself entirely of human and earthly affections and of thy own self, so as freely to follow our footsteps in destitution and poverty.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 442

The science of sorrow.. . . !

[Therese]

'Direct all thy faculties and strain all the powers of thy heart and soul, to make thyself at least somewhat worthy of understanding and meditating upon the ignominies and sorrows of the Son of the eternal Father in his death on the Cross for the salvation of men; and also of considering my doings and sufferings in connection with his bitterest Passion.  This science, so much neglected by men, I desire that thou, my daughter, study and learn, so as to be able to follow thy Spouse and imitate me, who am thy Mother and Teacher.  Writing down and feeling deeply all that I shall teach thee of these mysteries, thou shouldst detach thyself entirely of human and earthly affections and of thy own self, so as freely to follow our footsteps in destitution and poverty.'

Our Lady to Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God, Vol. III, 442

The science of sorrow.. . . !

Yes, and with this science of sorrow we should detach ourselves entirely of human and earthly affections and of our own selves, so as freely to follow our Lord and our Lady's footsteps in destitution and poverty.  God bless you!