Hello, I'm Father Joe Roche of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. Thank you for

joining us as we continue with our year-long journey, reading the diary of St. Maria Faustina

Kovalska from beginning to end. Today we take up from where we left off, beginning with

diary entry number 7.59. When I experienced these sufferings for the first time, it was like this.

After the annual vows, on a certain day, during prayer, I saw a great brilliance,

and issuing from the brilliance rays which completely enveloped me.

Then, suddenly, I felt a terrible pain in my hands, my feet, and my side, and the thorns

of the crown of thorns.

I experienced these sufferings during Holy Mass on Friday, but this was only for a brief moment.

This was repeated for several Fridays, and later on, I did not experience any sufferings

up to the present time, that is, up to the end of September of this year.

In the course of the present illness during Holy Mass one Friday, I felt myself pierced by the

same sufferings, and this has been repeated on every Friday and sometimes when I meet a soul

that is not in the state of grace. Although this is infrequent, and the suffering lasts a very short time, still it is terrible,

and I would not be able to bear it without a special grace from God.

There is no outward indication of these sufferings.

What will come later I do not know.

All this for the sake of souls. November 21st, 1936, Jesus, you see that I am neither

gravely ill nor in good health. You fill my soul with enthusiasm for action, and I have no strength. The fire of your love

burns in me, and for what I cannot accomplish by physical strength, love will compensate.

Jesus, my spirit yearns for you, and I desire very much to be united with you, but your

works hold me back.

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