Who better than I to understand the truth of these words of Our Lord: "My Kingdom is not of this world"? When on Earth, I lost myself through pride. Who then can understand the total lack of value of the earthly kingdom if not I? What was I able to bring with me of my earthly regality? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! And as if to make my lesson more terrible, it did not even accompany me to my tomb! A queen amongst men, I thought to enter Heaven as a queen. What a disillusion! What a humiliation when, instead of being received as a sovereign, I saw above me, along way above me, those whom I had judged insignificant and whom I had despised because they were not of noble blood.
MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD
Oh! How I understand now the barrenness of honours and splendour so eagerly courted on Earth!
In order to win a place in this Kingdom it is necessary to show abnegation, humility, benevolence and charity in its most celestial form. They do not ask who you are, or what position you occupied. Instead they ask what good you have done, how many tears you have dried.
Oh Jesus! You said that Your Kingdom was not of this world because it is necessary to suffer in order to reach Heaven; and one cannot reach there by means of the steps to a throne. Only the most painful paths lead one to it. Seek your path then, through briars and thorns and not amongst the flowers.
Men and women hurry to and fro with the hope of acquiring earthly possessions, as if they would be able to keep them forever. Here however, illusions disappear and it is soon perceived that they had only been chasing shadows. Then it becomes apparent that the only really golden possessions, the only ones which can be made use of in their Heavenly home, the only ones which can offer the possibility of entry, have been despised. Have pity on those who have not entered into Heaven. Help them with your prayers, because prayer helps mankind approach the Most High; it is what links Heaven and Earth. Do not forget!
A QUEEN OF FRANCE (Havre, 1863). |
Do not become irritated with the person to whom you are talking if he does not meet your expectations. Perhaps you were not sufficiently clear in expressing yourself.
When addressing someone and you do not receive a prompt answer don’t complain. He is probably a stutterer; if he is not, discourtesy is a sadness in itself.
When someone does not give you the solicited information as quickly as you would like, do not become irritated. Remember that deafness can happen to anyone.
Avoid matters which are disturbing to the listener. We all have painful periods in our destiny about which we must be silent.
Refrain from asking thoughtless questions. The person who interrogates too much often offends greatly.
Cultivate courteousness with the workers of any institutions or establishment you may happen to temporarily visit. Almost always your mind is usually unconcerned in such places and ignore the problems of those serving you.
Be sincere, but avoid uncharitable frankness. On the pretext of being realistic do not try to be more honest than God, from whose Loving Authority only we receive the revelations and work of each day. |
