Saint Anthony Mary Claret - Catholic Apologetics Information

what those who oppose me lose; do not fail to tell them of it.''' 149
254. "Once, when I was in prayer, I felt so great a joy that, since I was so unworthy of such a good,
I began thinking how much more I deserved to be in the place I had seen as my lot in hell (the manner of
which, as I have said, I shall never forget). At this thought my soul began to burn all the more and such a
rapture of the spirit fell upon me that I cannot describe it. It seemed to me that I was immersed in and
filled with that Majesty that I have known on other occasions. Within this Majesty I was given to
understand a truth that is the fulfillment of all truths: I cannot say how, for I saw nothing. I was told--I
could not see by whom--although I knew that it was Truth itself: 'It is no small thing that I am doing for
you; it is a thing for which you are in my debt. All the ills of this world befall it from not clearly
understanding the truths of Scripture, and not a jot of it will pass away.' It seemed to me that I had
always believed this, as all the faithful do. 'Alas, daughter,' he told me, 'Few are they that truly love me,
for if they did, I would reveal all my secrets to them. Do you know what truly loving me means? It
means understanding that everything that displeases me is a lie. What you do not understand now, you
shall see clearly, in the good it does your soul.''' 150
255. "At this time I learned of the misfortunes in France and the havoc wrought by the Lutherans,
as well as of the growth of this misguided sect. I was much aggrieved and, as though I could do anything
or were a person of any consequence, I cried to the Lord and implored Him to remedy this great evil. It
seemed to me that I would have laid down a thousand lives for the rescue of just one of the many souls
that were being lost there. And seeing that I was but a puny woman, unable to serve God as I would (and
all my care, then as now, has been to see to it that God, who has so many enemies and so few friends,
should at least have good friends), I determined to do the little that was in my power, namely, to observe
the evangelical counsels as perfectly as I could and see to it that the few nuns who live with me should
do likewise, trusting in the great mercy of God, who unfailingly comes to the aid of all those who have
determined to leave everything for his sake. I hoped that my sisters, since they were all that I might
desire, would have virtue enough to resist the bad example of my faults and thus help me offer the Lord
some solace, and that busying ourselves with prayers for the success of the preachers and scholars who
defend the Church, we might do what we could to help this Lord of mine, who is so oppressed by those
whom He has favored that it seems as if they wish to nail Him to the cross again and deprive Him of a
place on which to rest his head."
256. "O my Redeemer, my heart cannot dwell on this without becoming deeply troubled. What is it
with these Christians nowadays? Must those who owe you the most be the very ones to grieve you? Must
it always be those for whom you have worked the greatest wonders, those whom you have chosen as
your friends, those in whose midst you have walked and to whom you have given yourself in the
sacraments? Are they not content with the torments you have already endured for them?"
257. "Surely, my Lord, those who abandon the world lose nothing. For if the world treated you so
lawlessly, what should we expect? Are we, perhaps, better deserving of its esteem? Have we done it
greater favors than you have to merit its friendship? What am I saying! How can we hope for more, since
through the mercy of God we are not in that pesthole where the devil's minions already are? They have
earned just punishment at his hands and have reaped eternal fire with their pleasures. There they must
remain, although it breaks my heart to see the many souls that are lost. Were their evil not so immense, I
could not stand to see more of them lost each day."
258. "O my sisters in Christ, help me to pray to the Lord for this, because this is why we have come
together in this place. This is your calling and these must be your occupations, your desires, your tears,
and your prayers.'' 151
Chapter XV
ON THE SAME SUBJECT
149 Ibid., chap. 38, par. 3.
150 Ibid.,chap.40,par. 1.
151 Way of Perfection, chap. I, pars. 2-5.
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