Just for Today, September 29

Blessed, O Lord, be Thy name for ever, who hast been pleased that this trial and tribulation should come upon me. I cannot fly from it, but must of necessity fly to Thee, that Thou mayest help me and turn it to my good. Lord, I am now in tribulation, and my heart is not at ease: but I am much afflicted with my present suffering.

And now, dear Father, what shall I say? I am taken, Lord, in these straits: Oh, save me from this hour! But for this reason I came unto this hour, that Thou mightest be glorified, when I shall be exceedingly humbled and delivered by Thee.

May it please Thee, O Lord, to deliver me: for, poor wretch that I am, what can I do, and whither shall I go without Thee? Give me patience, O Lord, at this time also. Help me, O my God, and I will not fear, how much soever I may be oppressed.

-Bk. III, ch. xxix.
_______________

More terrible than her physical sufferings was the mental agony of Gethsemane that came upon her. For several days the infirmarian had noticed a look of anguish on her face, and she kept repeating: "Oh! how we should pray for those in their agony! If you only knew!"

One night she begged the Sister watching by her to sprinkle the bed with holy water, saying:

"The devil is close to me; I cannot see him, but I feel him. He is tormenting me, holding me in his iron grasp so that I may find no relief, and trying to drive me to despair by increasing my sufferings. I cannot even pray, I can only look at Our Lady and say: Jesus! I am going through something mysterious; I am suffering for another soul, not myself, and the devil is angry."

The infirmarian lit a blessed candle, and the spirit of darkness fled, to return no more. The Saint was under­going the final assaults of Satan, sometimes directed against those who have opposed his reign.

-The Story of a Soul (L'Histoire d'une Âme).
__________________
For more information, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.