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As the Vespers continued, she kept on meditating on the mysterious merging of suffering
and grace.” She then heard “the voice of Our Lady” tell her, “Know, My daughter, that although
I was raised to the dignity of Mother of God, seven swords of pain pierced My heart. Don’t do
anything to defend yourself; bear everything with humility; God Himself will defend you.”
(14.3) Mary Says to the Suffering Soul, “Love and Suffering Go Together” 205
(Diary, # 843): On December 24, (1936), during Holy Mass, Sr. Faustina united herself
with Jesus and His Mother. The Blessed Mother’s humility and love especially touched her soul.
She came to realize that, the more she imitated the Blessed Mother, the more profoundly she
came to know God. Thus, she yearned for God and even felt aggrieved in her soul for her
continuing exile on earth. But, “Love and suffering go together.” Yet, she would not trade the
sufferings from God’s hand, for anything else, for the soul’s agonies lead to the indescribable
joys of the soul, for these were afflictions from the hand of a loving God.
(14.4) Mary Says, “Put the Will of God before All Sacrifices and Holocausts” 206
On August 15, 1937, while deep in her “meditation,” Sr. Faustina experienced not only
the strong presence of God; but she was also favored with a vision of the Mother of God. She
also became “aware of Mary’s joy at the moment of Her Assumption.” Then, after the convent’s
religious ceremony honoring Her on this Feast Day of Assumption, Mary told Sr. Faustina, “Oh,
how very pleased I am with the homage of your love!” Sr. Faustina wrote in her Diary:
I remained alone with the Most Holy Mother who instructed me about the will of
God and how to apply it to my life, submitting completely to His most holy
decrees. It is impossible for one to please God without obeying His holy will.
(The Blessed Mother then told Sr. Faustina), “My daughter, I strongly recommend
that you faithfully fulfill all God’s wishes, for that is most pleasing in His holy
205
206
Ibid., Faustina, Diary,