The Book of Heaven
—Unofficial Version—

August 23, 1905

If the soul does everything for God, she remains extinguished in the flame of Divine Love. Thinking of oneself is never virtue, but always vice.

Continuing in my usual state, my blessed Jesus told me:  “My daughter, if the soul does everything for Me, she imitates those little moths which hang around and around a flame, and remain extinguished in that very flame.  In the same way, according to whether she offers to Me the fragrance of her actions, of her movements and desires, the soul hangs round Me - now around my eyes, now my face, now my hands, now my Heart, according to the different offerings she makes to Me.  And by her continuous hanging round Me, she remains all extinguished in the flame of my Love, without touching the flames of Purgatory.”  Then He disappeared, and as He came back, He added:  “Thinking of oneself is the same as going out of God and returning to live in oneself.  Moreover, thinking of oneself is never virtue, but always vice, be it even under the aspect of good.”