An Abyss of All Good

'In a word, this Divine Heart is an abyss of all good, 

into which the poor must plunge their necessities.  

It is an abyss of joy, into which we must cast all our sorrows.  

It is an abyss of humiliation for our pride,

an abyss of mercy for the miserable,

and an abyss of love into which we must cast all our troubles.' 

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

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From the Heart of St. Faustina

Over the next few days, I'd like to look at several 'cloistered hearts' who have gone before us.  While these holy ones may never have thought of their hearts as 'cloistered,' indeed that was the reality.

I will be looking primarily at men and women determined by the Church to be saints, or at least ones recognized as on the steady path to sainthood.

After all, look at where their paths have led.

'I find pleasure, not in large buildings and magnificent structures,' said Jesus to St. Faustina Kowalska, 'but in a pure and humble heart.'  (Diary #532)

'In the dwelling of my heart is that wilderness to which no creature has access.  There, You alone are King.'  (St. Faustina, Diary #725)

'My heart is a permanent dwelling place for Jesus.  No one but Jesus has access to it.' (St. Faustina, Diary #193)

'Nothing terrifies me, even if the whole world should turn against me.  All adversaries touch only the surface, but they have no entry to the depths, because God, who strengthens me, who fills me, dwells there.'  (St. Faustina, Diary #480)

'Nothing disturbs my union with the Lord, neither conversation with others nor any duties; even if I am to go about settling very important matters, this does not disturb me.  My spirit is with God, and my interior being is filled with God, so I do not look for Him outside myself.  He, the Lord, penetrates my soul just as a ray from the sun penetrates clear glass.  When I was enclosed in my mother's womb, I was not so closely united with her as I am with my God.  There, it was an unawareness; but here it is the fullness of reality and the consciousness of union.'  (St. Faustina, Diary #883)

'My daughter, I want to repose in your heart, because many souls have thrown Me out of their hearts today.'  (Jesus to St. Faustina, #866 )

All quotes above are from Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul by St. Faustina Kowalska, Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Stockbridge, 1996.  Click this link for more information. 

Painting: Adolf Kaufmann, 1904, detail, in US public domain 
Photo of St. Faustina in public domain

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Each Thing a Priceless Treasure

"If, while I am sewing, I do each stitch as well as possible, because I am doing it for Him and with Him Who resides in my little soul... each thing that I do is is a priceless treasure....

"My share in the apostolate may be by prayer or by suffering, by letting my light shine, by being the salt of the earth, by making the fact that Jesus lives within me so patent that people cannot help glorifying my Father Who is in heaven....

"It is not only those who are called to active service who share with the divine Master this magnificent Apostolate.  All who cherish the Interior Life are, by that very fact, called to be Apostles, sent by God to do His work in some form or another.

"Eternal God!  It is Thy gracious pleasure to make my pour soul Thy home."

(from The Living Pyx of Jesus, by A Religious, Pellegrini, 1941, pp. 42-44)

R Berenguer painting in US public domain due to age

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In Crowds or Cells

"Divine Truth abides within us.  We absorb more and more of His Spirit until - in the midst of crowds or secluded in our cells - we are alone with our Master and inseparable Guide.

"Jesus Christ is very nigh to the soul that seeks and loves Him, and she speaks to Him in the inner cloister of her heart...   She is quite real and actual in all she says to him.

"She lives in His Will, her attention is fixed on Him; all through the hours of work, He is there....."

(from Sheltering the Divine Outcast, compiled by A Religious, Peter Reilly Co., Philadelphia, 1952, pp. 14-16)

Painting:  Lesser Ury,  1898, Abend im Cafe Bauer, detail

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Don't Mind Me. I'm Just Loistering.

Yes, you're at the right blog - if you clicked in looking for "The Cloistered Heart," that is.  Twelve hours ago, you may have left wondering.  For a short while, there was a background behind the blog title.  Our "C" got swallowed up in a saint's face on that, being hidden altogether and possibly causing anyone who'd never been here before to ask themselves "just what IS a Loistered Heart?"

I, meanwhile, was at Church - realizing this had happened right before it was time for me to leave my house but having no time to change it.

One does go on about one's life, at times leaving Loistered Blogs lingering.  At least I was where I could do something about it.  I prayed.

Now I'm off again.  In a short while, hopefully a chunk of the world's population will be joining, in one way or another, in worldwide Eucharistic Adoration.... all at the same time.  Those who cannot do so in a chapel or church can, of course, adore our Lord Jesus wherever we may be.

Meanwhile, back at this blog, anyone happening to check in throughout this day (and perhaps beyond...) is likely to see changes and then changes again.  Yes, I know a light background may be a bit jarring for those of us accustomed to a dark "oasis."  I will admit, however, to being "of an age" when what is easiest to see is what's most appreciated.

I can say this much:  a few more things will change in this little blog over the next day or two.  So stay tuned:  you wouldn't want to miss a fleeting tryout of abstract purple tulips stuck smack behind the Loister.

Many bloggers hide their blogs from public view while changing colors and fonts.  Not I.   So if you see something you dislike, hang on - it may not be there long.  If you see something you like - look quickly - it may not be there long.  You can let me know in "the parlor" if you have any suggestions along the way.

In the meantime, this is a significant day, a day of worldwide Eucharistic adoration.  I want to participate as fully as possible.

It's time again for me to leave the Loisters.  I will be praying with you before our Eucharistic Lord.