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

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

beginning with diary entry number 1287. Despite the peace in my soul, I fight a continuous battle with the enemy of my soul.

More and more I am discovering his traps and the battle flares up anew. During interludes of

calm, I exercise myself and keep watch lest the enemy finds me

unprepared and when I see his great fury I stay inside the stronghold that is the

most sacred heart of Jesus September 19th 1937 today the the Lord told me, my daughter, write that it pains me very much when religious souls receive the sacrament of love merely out of habit, as if they did not distinguish this food.

I find neither faith nor love in their hearts.

I go to such souls with great reluctance. It would be better if they did not receive me.

Most sweet Jesus, set on fire my love for you and transform me into yourself.

Divinize me that my deeds may be pleasing to you.

May this be accomplished by the power of the Holy Communion which I receive daily.

Oh, how greatly I desire to be wholly transformed into you, O Lord.

September 19, 1937. Today my own brother, Stanley, visited me. I rejoiced greatly in this beautiful soul,

who also intends to devote himself to God's service. That is to say, God himself is drawing him to his love.

We talked for a long time about God, about his goodness. During this conversation with him, I learned how

pleasing his soul was to God. I received permission from Mother Superior to see him more than more often.

When he asked my advice about entering religion, I replied, surely you know best what God is asking of you.

I mentioned the Jesuit order, but said, enter wherever you like. I promised to pray for him,

and I decided to make a novena to the

sacred heart through the intercession of Father Peter Skargha, with the promise of having

...