In response to my youth minister’s mention, I will finally post something here on this blog.

I was so happy to attend Mass on the Feast of St. Francis de Sales. Here is a beautiful quote from his writings, which have inspired me a great deal: “During the course of the day, recall as often as possible that you are in God’s presence. Consider what God does and what you are doing. You will see His eyes turned toward you and constantly fixed on you with incomparable love. Then you will say to Him, “O God, why do I not look always at You, just as You always look at me? Why do You think so often of me, O Lord, and why do I think so seldom of You?” Where are we, O my soul? God is our true place, and where are we?” (INT. Part II, Ch. 12; O. III, p. 92)

For the times that we feel unworthy of God’s love and mercy, St. Francis de Sales:

It is a very fine thing to feel ashamed of oneself when one realizes one’s own imperfections and misery, but the feeling must not drag on lest one lose heart. It is necessary to raise the heart to God with a holy confidence, founded not in our strength but in God. We indeed change, but God never does; He always remains equally good and merciful toward us, whether we are weak and imperfect or perfect and strong. I always say that our misery is the throne of God’s mercy, and so we must realize that the greater our misery, the greater should be our confidence in Him.

– Spiritual Discourses II; O. VI, p. 22

For our times of trial, he writes:

Considered in themselves, tribulations certainly cannot be loved, but considered in their origin, namely in the Providence of the Divine Will which has brought them about, they are to be loved with an infinite love. Just consider Moses’ staff: laid on the ground, it was a ferocious serpent; in the hands of Moses it was a wonder-working wand. In like manner, tribulations in themselves are terrible, but considered as a manifestation of the will of God they are indications of love and delight. Likewise, love either removes the harshness of the trial or renders it lovable.

– T.L.G. Book 3, Ch. 2; O. V, pp. 112-113

When I think of him, I feel my heart soar to Heaven in happiness, and I know it will never stop soaring.

I continue to realize that God is using Joshua as an instrument to reveal His love for me. Last night, I cried for a long time when I remembered all the hurt that I’ve been through in my previous relationships: times when I thought that I was in love, before I knew what true love means.

Now I understand that when you are in love, you hear God speaking through your loved one’s words and actions:

I will never lie to you.
I forgive you for everything wrong you’ve ever done.
I will do anything for your happiness.
You are the only one for me. I will never leave you.
I will always be here to help you.
I want to give you all the desires of your heart.
I don’t need to be physically intimate with you to show you that I love you.
I don’t want you to be uncomfortable in any way.
I look forward to the day when you will be my wife.
I look forward to every day because of your love.
I want you to be successful in all your endeavors.
I want to serve you.
I want to give you everything you need.
You are always beautiful.
I hope that someday I have a daughter just like you.
I want to share everything of myself with you.
I want to pray with you.
I want to help you get to Heaven.

Finally, I understand what it means to love. This relationship helps me to understand everything about God’s love so much more fully. I thank God several times a day, perhaps every hour of every day, for the one whom I love. With tears in my eyes, I thank Him for answering my prayers for so many years.

I’m doing alright now.

My birthday was Monday. I’m twenty now. It was the most beautiful, wonderful birthday I’ve ever had.

Now I’m concerned for a close friend’s health. Please offer up a tiny prayer for him and his family. Today is his mother’s birthday, and I’m hoping that she’s not in pain, as well.

I’ve learned these past few days that Satan makes it tougher to cling to Jesus during the times when you really should.

Peace to you.

St. Francis de Sales, thanks to PhatCatholic:

The bee has not other remedy for its sickness but expose itself to the rays of the sun, expecting heat and healing from its splendor. Let us all place ourselves before the Crucified and say to Him: O splendid Sun of our hearts, You will revive us with the rays of Your goodness. Here we are almost dead before You; we will not move from here until Your heat brings us back to life.

– Letters 904; O. XVI, p. 50