https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwQwWD2IvFw
Like any good mother, I forget the mistakes of my children almost immediately. I can help poor sinners to forgive themselves and seek the forgiveness of my Son, a forgiveness that heals and strengthens. Sinners must not be afraid. They must simply close their eyes and say, ‘God, I have made mistakes. I’m sorry. I am Your child, though, and seek to be united to You.’ My child, all of heaven weeps for joy when even one soul makes this act of humility and love. How we rush in to assist this soul, and protect him from the attacks of the evil one. We nurture and guide this soul until he is back walking the path to Christ with confidence. Don’t be afraid, dear souls. You will find no recriminations. Only love.” -Our Blessed Mother Mary via “Anne” a Lay Apostle. Read more here: Messages of Divine Love (PDF)
Truly, Jesus is All Mercy, All Kindness, and All Love, and His grace can heal and unlock even the most hurt and hardened hearts. A single act of humble yet courageous admittance of our faults and failures-“God, I’ve made mistakes, and I’m sorry. I am your child though, and I long to be united to you”– melts and moves His compassionate Heart to forgive and forget even a whole lifetime of sins in a single split second, just like He did for the repentant criminal on the Cross!
Yet our smallest prayers might might be the deciding factor as to whether a specific soul chooses everlasting life over eternal separation from God, and thus, from all Goodness, Beauty, Truth, Peace, Joy, and Love… That is because, like the adorable cooing and babbling of little babies in the arms of their parent, our heartfelt efforts in prayer and sacrifice utterly enamor, pierce, and ravish the Heart of our Father and Creator, causing Him to disarm His justice, open the floodgates of His Mercy, and unleash upon the whole world the torrents of grace necessarily for closed, callous hearts to sincerely turn to Him, even in their final moments!
Of course, this is just one of the many benefits of developing a deeper interior life of silence and prayer. After all, the more we pray, the more closely we will be united to Christ and the more clearly we will know His Will for us by the promptings He places in our hearts at every moment. The more we pray, the more of God’s love, joy, and peace will fill and flow through us to others, even and especially those hardest to love (who need it the most). The more we pray, the greater degree of brightness and beauty our soul will radiate throughout eternity, as Jesus raises our place in Heaven forever every time we merely look at Him in the Tabernacle/Eucharist with love! No wonder St. Padre Pio, the mystic and stigmatic, who was often able to see his guardian angel and even physically battled with the devil, is quoted as saying, “Prayer is oxygen for the soul.”
Yet what is the most perfect and pleasing prayer to the ears of Our Lord? Besides simply talking to Him as an intimate friend and offering Him all our little deeds of the day (like working, driving, eating, even sleeping!), the most beautiful of all prayers, and indeed greatest of all Commandments, is loving Him from the depth of our hearts! And that is exactly where the “Act of Love*” prayer comes in…
In Our Lord’s own words to Sister Maria Consolata Betrone, to who, He revealed this “Act of Love” prayer: “…tell souls that I prefer an act of love and a Communion of love over any other gift they could give Me.” “This ‘Act of Love’ includes all souls; the souls in purgatory, the innocent, the suffering, the sinful, the dying, and even your own poor soul.” “If a creature of good will loves Me and wants to make his life an act of love (from the heart, as understood) from awakening to the moment of sleep, I will do enormous things with this soul.” “I will think of everything, even to the smallest details. You, think only of loving Me.”
As is plain to see from the above words concerning the “Act of Love,” the fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful (James 5:16). Yet, there is another weapon readily available to each one of us at nearly every moment of the day that can bring even more souls to salvation: sacrifice. In the words of Sister Lucia, the visionary of Our Lady of Fatima, “Putting up with any sacrifices that are asked of us in our day-to-day lives becomes a slow martyrdom which purifies us and raises us up to the level of the supernatural, through the encounter of our soul with God, in the atmosphere of the presence of the Most Holy Trinity within us. We have here an incomparable spiritual richness!” Indeed, the more we suffer here during this very short on earth, the greater will be our glory and the closer will be our resemblance to the Christ for all of eternity in Heaven! Jesus Himself, Who suffered everything imaginable, physically, emotionally, and spiritually for our salvation, tells us that “…suffering saves souls.” “You must begin to equate even your smallest crosses to so many souls rescued from darkness.” Wow! Just think about how many little pains, annoyances, inconveniences, disappointments, and misunderstandings we may experience on any given day. Talk about an opportunity to grow in holiness and help others get to Heaven! And yet, do we carry our cross in this life, which will our Crown in the next, as Jesus did, with resignation, humility, acceptance, love, and even joy? Can we truly say, along we Saint Paul, “…for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)? If you are like me and struggle to embrace the crosses in your life, listen to these words and consider taking up the following prayer, given to us by Our Divine Lord Himself:
“See how willingly I accept this cross? If My children, even just My chosen ones, would accept their small crosses and say, ‘I accept this cross in the name of Jesus Christ for the salvation of sinners,’ I could save countless souls. Countless. The value of even a small thing offered to God is inestimable. You must understand that suffering will occur in every life. Use it for your holiness and for the good of your brothers and sisters.” Jesus via “Anne” a Lay Apostle in Volume 1: Thoughts On Spirituality, DirectionForOurTimes.com
Beyond involuntary sufferings, making voluntary sacrifices can win us more grace and strength for our souls to overcome the immediate urges and selfish impulses of our bodies. As Our Lady revealed through the modern-day visionary Maureen Sweeny-Kyle of Holy Love Ministries, on June 8th, 1998, “When sacrifice is added to prayers, it is twice as strong.” The following are some ideas for little sacrifices to give to Jesus throughout the day to help bring souls to Him:
First and foremost, waking up (without hitting snooze!) and right away giving your whole day to the Lord and accepting with love all the crosses He sends your way that day in advance by uniting every moment to Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross, made present in all the Masses said throughout the world, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary…
(Our Blessed Mother has revealed to her beloved children that if they simply give Jesus our day in the morning, He can use every moment of their day, even their recreation, to save souls! For a list of more morning prayers recommended from Our Lord, click here: https://liveandliveon.com/daily-prayers/).
Other ideas for little sacrifices include committing oneself to a more structured, scheduled prayer life, attending daily Mass (and staying after for at least 20 minutes to allow the Eucharistic Presence of Our Lord time to overflow His lasting Love into our souls: https://www.sofc.org/BLUEBKII/bb2_74.htm), forgoing desserts or sugary drinks (or choosing healthier options instead), intermittent fasting (such as the Medjugorje bread and water fast on Wednesday’s and Friday’s. Read more about the power of and urgent need for fasting from Jesus’ own words in God’s Blue Book 3 here: https://www.sofc.org/BLUEBK3/bb3_80.htm ), talking less and listening more intentionally to those God places on your path, smiling at strangers, taking a cold or cool shower (even for the duration of a few seconds or “Acts of Love”), choosing silence instead of the radio, exercising instead of watching TV/Netflix, reaching out to old friend, visiting a grandparent in a nursing home and recording their life advice/experiences, picking up a piece of trash (“To pick of a pen for love can convert a soul” -St. Therese), answering a text or email RIGHT AWAY, obeying a parent, boss, or authority figure quickly and joyfully without complaining, holding your tongue from a derogatory or unnecessary comment or joke, waiting a moment and prayerfully recollecting one’s self before having a conversation, detaching from the outcome of a game or another person’s opinion, taking a few minutes at the end of your day to examine your conscience to see the ways you could have loved God and neighbor more selflessly, forgiving an unkindness and even returning it for a kindness, sealing your lips and smiling at/praying for someone being unkind to you (this one is definitely NOT easy, but you being Christlike to them and loving the unloving could actually be their salvation! https://www.sofc.org/BLUEBKI/bb1_45.h… ) And the best possible sacrifice of all? Our Lord tells us on it is actually an internal sacrifice of heartfelt LOVE: “…the greatest and most perfect of all sacrifices is to live in Holy Love in every present moment. To do so dictates a total dying to self. This is the sum total of all I ask.” (For more “sacrifice ideas,” click here: Little Physical, Social, and Mental Sacrifice Ideas
Remember, to never, ever, ever let yourself become discouraged if you find yourself struggling with making these little sacrifices or even in persisting in constant, loving prayer. We, as imperfect human beings, are subject to inconstancy and distraction, yet it is precisely our weakness and littleness that humbles us and draws Our compassionate Savior to help us all the more readily and tenderly. Over time, however, with God’s grace and our perseverance, building the selfless habits of prayer and sacrifice will become an easier and easier, even second nature to us! Therefore, there is no need to get frustrated or dismayed, for in the end, it is not in the success but the effort where true virtue lies, it is not in the great and heroic deeds but the hidden and humble tasks where saints are made, and it is not the cost of the sacrifice to the soul that God looks at, but the love in our hearts when we freely offer it to Him. Indeed, it is love alone that sanctifies us and makes even the smallest of our actions precious. In the 24 Hours of the Passion (the amazing book where Jesus promised He will give you a soul for every word you read!), Servant of God Luisa Picarreta goes as far as to say that, “Every little act, suffering and thought that we do united to Jesus can be used to grab souls, so that they may not fall into hell. United with Jesus, we will have His own power in our hands. But if we do not do our acts united with Jesus, they will not serve to prevent even one soul from going to hell.” Truly, the more we love Jesus in everything we say, think, and do, the more souls He will be able to rescue in and through us! No wonder Our Lord revealed to St. Gertrude the Great that every time one soul recieves Him in Holy Communion (in a state of grace, of course), something good happens to every soul in His Mystical Body, the Church, in Heaven, Purgatory, and Earth! And so the best thing we can do for all others is to truly love God more and more! In Jesus’ own words via God’s Blue Book 2:
To learn more about the Church’s teaching on and understanding of penance, visit: http://www.religious-vocation.com/penance_and_mortification.html#.XhaOU0dKjIU
And for more quotes from Our Lord and Our Lady about the power of prayer and sacrifice for atoning and consoling their United Hearts through the mystical “Church of Atonement,” which are overwhelmed by so much sin and evil in these urgent times, visit: http://www.holylove.org/files/med_1568741966.pdf
Finally, the following are a compilation of quotes from various sources to give you even more motivation to commit yourself to more prayer and sacrifice from the heart. Please prayerful consider one or two persons with whom you could share this post, so as to teach them this powerful prayer to incorporate throughout the little moments of their day and indeed life! I truly believe the souls saved because of it will thank you profusely and praise God eternally in Paradise! Thank you so much and may God bless you with all the Blessings of the United Hearts, the Anointing of St. Michael, and the Baptism of Truth! Mary, Refuge of Holy Love and Protectress of the Faith, pray for us and come to our aid! Yours in the Infinite, Infinite Love of the Three Hearts of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
“Little Gregory”
“My brothers and sisters, tonight realize that your prayers offered with humility and heartfelt love ransom many souls from the path of perdition and onto the path of righteousness. Persevere, then, in heartfelt prayer, for many souls depend on your efforts. Do not be discouraged in any way, for this is Satan trying to dissuade you from the path of righteousness.” -Jesus on June 1st, 2007 via holylove.org
“In this hour of decision, the smallest prayer or sacrifice can mean the difference between life or death for a soul.” -Jesus on 4/5/1993, via holylove.org
“Dear children, do not be disheartened. No prayer is wasted but is meritorious at the moment it is said, and for all eternity.” -Blessed Mother on 11/7/2012, via holylove.org
“No prayer, no sacrifice is too small or is ever ineffective.” “Take for instance one Hail Mary. If it is recited with a loving heart it brings with it the power to convert a soul, to stop a war, to deliver a soul from purgatory, even to change the future of the world. See then that the love in your heart when you pray determines the power of the prayer.” -Jesus via holylove.org
“The inner working of hearts and, indeed, the movement of the Cosmos itself, depends on a few just prayers offered daily in Holy Love. Often, you do not see the dramatic effects of your prayers; but I tell you, no prayer offered with love goes unheard. You have the power of your rosary in your hands to stop wars and thwart man made or natural disaster. The rosary is more powerful than any nuclear weapon when it is prayed with love. In trust, believe in Me.” -Jesus on 4/30/2013
“When lovers are together, they spend hours and hours repeating the same thing: ‘I love you!’ What is missing in the people who think the rosary monotonous is Love; and everything that is not done for love is worthless.” -Sister Lucia, visionary Our Lady of Fatima
“I have come to tell each one of you that anything you do without love in your heart is wasted. Priests in particular must pray for love of prayer, sacrifice and penance, for this is the way of conversion for their flock that they have been entrusted with. Do not hesitate to ask me to intercede for you, whether you are a priest or lay person. This is a special grace to love penance, prayer and sacrifice. I will help you with it.”-St. Jean Vianney on July 14th, 2006, via holylove.org
“Satan knows that the Rosary is the weapon which will bring about his defeat. This is why he is desperate to discourage its use. Every time you recite a Hail Mary from the heart, the devil is weakened forever in some area and in some soul.” “You must never be discouraged, then, in praying the Rosary. When your heart is most filled with distraction, understand the adversary is frightened of your prayers.” -Jesus on 9/18/1999 via holylove.org
“My child, you must understand that when you come to Me in prayer, if only for a moment, I am consoled. My heart is comforted, which allows Me to give you untold graces, of course, but also, your prayer allows Me to soften My justice toward others who never seek Me. When you meet Me face to face, you will see clearly every happiness you have caused Me. I need you and so appreciate any fidelity offered to Me. If only for the sake of repayment you should come to Me often, as I reward each prayer, each glance, each petition even, beyond anything you might imagine.” -Jesus in Volume 2, Read more here: https://directionforourtimes.com/wp-c…
“Dear little children, Jesus has sent Me to ask of you extra prayers, as many prayers as you can offer, for such is the need of our Hearts. Every prayer you offer is already used up by My Son, whose Heart is greatly offended. Therefore, My little children, pray, pray, pray.” -Blessed Mother on 9/9/1993, via holylove.org
“Do not think that the merit of your prayer is based on how you feel when you are praying. You may feel nothing on some days, but you must persevere and believe me when I tell you that on those days, when you feel nothing, you are saving as many souls through your smallest prayers as on the days when all of heaven seems open to you. Smile now, and let everyone you meet see the smile of Jesus. You are a soul who is being held close to my heart. My child, my little one, how precious you are to me.” -Blessed Mother on 7/7/2003 via Anne a Lay Apostle
“…please understand that your prayer life is the mortar that holds the bricks of virtue in place. Without mortar, bricks crumble and fall. Without prayers, virtues are replaced with weaknesses and sin.” -St. Thomas Aquinas via holylove.org
“From the moment you wake up, intercede for others. Claim sinners from Me. You cannot know the joy you would give Me. I died for them. It wasn’t illness that made Me die. I was struck down in the fullness of life. If you don’t help Me today, I won’t be able to save this soul or that one, and you know I love them. Then save them as though you were saving Me.” -Jesus to Blessed Gabrielle Bossis, “He and I”
“You don’t feel feel yesterday’s cold any more and you can’t yet feel the cold of tomorrow. So it’s only a question of this present moment. And what is a moment of discomfort in exchange for the salvation of a soul who will praise Me eternally?”
“What you do for yourself will perish miserably. What you do for others, for the love of Me, will go on re-echoing throughout all eternity.” -Jesus to Blessed Gabrielle Bossis, “He and I”
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death.” -1 John 5:14
For the Love of God and the Life of Souls 
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