Month of the Sacred Heart: Heart of Jesus, Patient and Rich in Mercy

When a soul prays for a sinner with an intense desire for his conversion, his prayer generally obtains the sinner’s conversion, though sometimes only at the last moment, and the offense given to My Heart is repaired.

But in any case, prayer is never lost, for on the one hand, it consoles Me for the pain sin has occasioned, and on the other, its efficacy and power are applied, if not to that sinner, then to others better disposed to profit by it.

There are souls who during life and for all eternity are called to give Me not only the glory they owe Me themselves, but also that which other souls who are lost should have given Me… In this way My glory is not impaired, and a just soul is able to make reparation for many others.

Poor sinners, how blind they are! I want only to forgive them, and they seek only to offend Me… I pursue sinners as justice pursues criminals. But justice seeks them in order to punish; I, in order to forgive.

The world precipitates itself into pleasures of all kinds; such a multitude of sins are committed that My soul is drowned in bitterness and grief!

Sister Josefa Menéndez, The Way of Divine Love, Aeterna Press, pp. 220-222.