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I know that God makes use of me as an instrument and that neither by reason of my talents nor because of my services was I called to fill this position that I now occupy. To the blindest of men I am a striking proof of what faith can do, and nothing worthwhile that I have done in my life has come from me.

All of this darkness signifies the obscurity of faith with which the divinity is clothed while communicating itself to the soul.

If Our Lord were to offer me a choice between dying in ecstasy or in the loneliness of Calvary, I would prefer the latter, not for the sake of the merit, but to glorify Him and be like Him. If I had died in my former state of soul, it would have been too easy! It is in pure faith that I now leave and I prefer it that way. I am thus more like my Master and more in truth.

These times in which all structures of life on earth are tottering and changing, are also a period of struggle over eternal questions. Ardently, we seek God, we strive for intensification and revival...we have a desire to live totally out of faith, to place ourselves completely at the service of the Lord.

In order to reach the ideal life of the soul, I believe we must live in the realm of the supernatural and be persuaded that God dwells in our innermost being, and go to everything with Him. Then nothing can be trivial, no matter how commonplace in itself, for we do not live in those things, but soar above them.

I have made more acts of faith during the past year than in all the rest of my life. Whenever my enemy provokes me to combat, I try to behave like a gallant soldier. Aware that a duel is an act of cowardice, I turn my back on the foe without once looking him in the face; then hastening to my Savior I tell Him that I am ready to shed my blood as a witness to my belief in Heaven. I tell Him that if He will deign to open it for eternity to poor unbelievers, I am content to sacrifice during my life all joyous thoughts of the Home that awaits me.

Let us gaze upon our Master and may this gaze of simple, loving faith separate us from all else, and place, as it were, a cloud between us and the things of the earth ... let us keep everything for Him alone, and sing to the Lord with David, ‘I will keep my strength in thee’ (Ps. 58:10).

The cross...It is the path from earth to heaven. It will lift one who embraces it in faith, love, and hope into the bosom of the Trinity.

When I think that previously I was envious of Mary Magdalene for having had Jesus in her home so many times, for having listened to Him, I become ashamed; for He did not abandon our earth. He remains in the tabernacle. There I look at Him in faith and listen to Him.

It also happens very quickly and ineffably that God will show within Himself a truth that seems to leave in obscurity all those that are in creatures, and one understands very clearly that God alone is Truth, unable to lie.

Let us live with God as with a friend, let us make our faith a living faith in order to be in communion with Him through everything, for that is what makes saints.

One could believe that it is because I haven't sinned that I have such great confidence in God. Really tell them, Mother, that if I had committed all possible crimes, I would always have the same confidence; I feel that this whole multitude of offenses would be like a drop of water thrown into a fiery furnace.