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 Kavalska from beginning to end.

Today we take up from where we left off, beginning with Diary Entry Number 853.

In the evening, a great longing took possession of my soul. I took the pamphlet

with the image of the merciful Jesus on it and pressed it to my heart, and the following words

burst forth from my soul. Jesus, eternal love, I live for you, I die for you, and I want to be united with you.

Suddenly I saw the Lord in his inexpressible beauty.

He looked at me graciously and said,

My daughter, I too came down from heaven out of love for you. I lived for you. I died for you.

And I created the heavens for you. And Jesus pressed me to his heart and said to me,

very soon now, be at peace, my daughter. When I was alone, my soul was set a fire with the desire

to suffer until the moment when the Lord would say, enough. And even if I were to live for thousands of

years, I see in the light of God that that is but one moment.

Souls, and then she leaves the thought unfinished.

December 29, 1936.

Today, after Holy Communion, I heard a voice in my soul.

My daughter, stand ready, for I will come unexpectedly.

Jesus, you do not want to tell me the hour I am looking forward to with such longing?

My daughter, it is for your own good. You will learn it, but not now.

Keep watch.

O Jesus, do with me as you please.

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