Leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday, our first-year novices have been preparing to make an Offering to Merciful Love guided by the spirituality and writings of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and Fr. Michael Gaitley’s book, 33 Days to Merciful Love.
Reflection by Sister Mary Amata:
Throughout this 33 Days to Merciful Love journey, I have come to understand the gift of desire. I desire to be a great saint and to reach the heights of holiness, to see God face-to-face! But when I ruminate on my past or try to plan and control my future, I only come face-to-face with my own inadequacy, my “littleness” as St. Thérèse calls it. Yet this is exactly where God’s merciful love is most powerful. He delights to stoop low and embrace me, His little one, to give me His grace, to suffer and rejoice with me, to dwell within me. His merciful love is so great that He sees my weakness and my desire and actually gives me His own Love to love Him. In this offering to God’s merciful love, I realize that I can only love Him here and now. He alone knows how to bring me to Himself. On my part, I need to recognize my littleness, trust in Him, and try to please Him in everything. (Note: try. He sees my efforts, even when I fail).
“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would fulfilled,” said Elizabeth to Our Lady at the Visitation (Luke 1:45). Amidst the unknown hiddenness and the darkness of the Cross, Mary held on to God’s promises and never gave in to doubt or despair, but trusted completely in God’s plan. And what is it the Lord has spoken to me? The Word, crucified for my sins, merciful love completely poured out. He has spoken, and He calls me “Beloved.” So when I encounter the storms around me, or more often within, I will quiet my heart that is now and forever consecrated to Merciful Love and say with great confidence, “Jesus, I trust in You.”