The Book of Heaven
—Unofficial Version—

December 30, 1899

Effects of humiliation and of mortification.

This morning I saw my adorable Jesus for just a little, and since obedience had told me to pray for a certain person, when Jesus came I commended her to Him, and He said to Me:  “Humiliation must not only be accepted, but also loved; so much so, as to chew it like food.  And just as when a food is bitter, the more one chews it, the more he feels the bitterness, in the same way, humiliation, when it is well chewed, gives rise to mortification.  And these – that is, humiliation and mortification – are two most powerful means in order to get out of certain hitches and obtain those graces which are needed.  While it seems to be noxious to the human nature, just like the bitter food which seems to do harm rather than good - so with humility and mortification.  But it is not so.  The more the piece of iron is beaten on the anvil, the more it sparkles with fire and is purged.  The same for the soul:  the more she is humiliated and beaten on the anvil of mortification, the more she sparkles with celestial fire and is purged - if she really wants to walk along the path of good.  If then she is false, it happens all the opposite.”