Why Humility?
Why Humility?
Turn to any page of St. Faustina’s Diary, and you’ll find spiritual gems. Marc Massery, a staff writer for the Marian Fathers at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, reflects on one such gem.
My daughter, the Lord said, … it is only by My grace that you are a participant of eternal life and all the gifts I lavish on you. And with these words of the Lord, there came to me a true knowledge of myself. Jesus is giving me a lesson in deep humility and, at the same time, one of total trust in Him. My heart is reduced to dust and ashes, and even if all people were to trample me under their feet, I would still consider that a favor (Diary, 1559).
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Jesus said: Do not be absorbed in your misery — you are still too weak to speak of it — but, rather, gaze on My Heart filled with goodness, and be imbued with My sentiments. … when you feel your strength failing, if you come to the fountain of mercy to fortify your soul, you will not grow weary on your journey (Diary, 1486).
Write that by day and by night My gaze is fixed upon him and I permit these adversities in order to increase his merit. I do not reward for good results but for the patience and hardship undergone for My sake. (86)
Saint Faustina wrote:"Our meals shall be such that not even the poor will have any reason to envy us" (546). So, it's no surprise that St. Faustina didn't eat meat on Fridays even outside of Lent. That was Canon Law. But since St. Faustina's time, Canon Law has allowed us, depending on our bishops conferences, to choose another penance on Fridays in place of abstaining from meat. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops allow a substitute penance. Nevertheless, the USCCB gives "first place to abstinence from flesh meat" (24, Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence)
