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gentle Jesus, by saying so don’t you get for yourself the bitter
drink?» Jesus in His agony says to me in reply: «Beloved soul,
I thirst, that is, I most ardently desire that all creatures may
come and find rest in my Heart, by plunging into my infinite
love, and that will be for me a most welcome water that will
refresh my ardour, quench my thirst and soothe my wounds,
whereby my most painful death will be made most sweet».
That is the answer given me by Jesus dying on the Cross, and
who of us will be so unfeeling as to refuse to give his loving
Father this last comfort?
My God, let that never come to be: do take my will, my heart,
my soul, my intellect, for all is yours, my God! Let the burning
flames of Divine Love melt me and turn me into a refreshing
drink to quench your burning thirst. How happy I would be, my
dearly-beloved Jesus, if I could give you this tiny comfort in
your terrible pain!
Oh my soul, if you want to be a sweet drink for a God, you
must give up every other love, you must be humble, self-
denying, patient, disposed to die totally to your natural
inclinations, in the pursuit of all the virtues.
The pure, perfect essence of love consists in voluntary
suffering, in the practice of virtues, in profound humility and
self-abasement, in never seeking esteem and appreciation, in
ceaseless mortification both internal and external, and in
perfect poverty of spirit. There is no other holiness-of-life here
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