Dearest Ones,
God has entrusted to each of us a share in saving the world for Jesus. Each has a mission to fulfill for the good of others - we are not here just to save our own souls. We're co-workers with Jesus. All our actions are of value only if they help toward saving souls - anything else is a useless, waste of time. In case I get busy and forget to offer them during the day, each morning I offer to Jesus through Mary, my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of the day. Regardless of what we do, nothing is too small to offer to God for the salvation of souls. Very young children can be taught to offer up the things they don't like and the things they do like for others. When Our Mother Mary appeared to the three little shepherds (ages 7, 8, & 10) at Fatima, Portugal in 1917, she didn't think they were too young when she asked that they offer their daily tasks to Jesus to make up for the sins committed in the world. She was talking to all of us, the entire world, not just the children. We are all here to get each other to heaven. We don't understand how our offerings can help others get to heaven but they do. No matter where we are, no matter what we are doing, each of us is capable of offering our boring or interesting, pleasant or unpleasant jobs to Jesus with love. Instead of complaining about our headache, or our pains, or our job, we can store up treasure in heaven, if we only say, "Yes, Jesus, this is for poor sinners. Thank you for this chance to offer this small suffering for souls." We can save souls by uniting our sufferings with those of Christ. Saving souls is everyone's job. I think of my dear brother, George, who suffered a stroke nearly two years ago. By all appearances, it may seem that he is doing nothing in a nursing home, that his life is useless, but in God's eyes, he may be doing the most important work of his entire life - accepting his suffering. Suffering accepted becomes a mighty weapon to save souls. Sometimes, in pain we simply cannot pray, then our suffering becomes a prayer. Jesus did His greatest work, saving us, while hanging on the cross - He was neither working miracles nor preaching. Someone may be praying us into heaven right now! We'll thank them when we get to heaven. Whether we are suffering from sickness, loneliness, an unpleasant person to work with or a disagreeable family member, God can turn it into gold, if only we offer it to Him. Make sure not to waste any suffering. Our Mother Mary taught the little children in Fatima to pray the rosary and begged them to pray it every day for sinners. These children were very poor and could neither read nor write, yet they learned to pray the rosary. They were given a vision of hell, in which they saw horrible black forms floating around in agony. This made them very sad and more determined to help save more souls. Mary told them there are many souls going to hell because there is no one to pray and make sacrifices for them. That's why she asked them to add this prayer after each decade of the rosary: "O Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy." Often, throughout the day, I say this prayer. It might not be fashionable to speak of hell, but if Mary showed these very young children what it is like, it must be true. In the Bible, Jesus talked about hell more than He did about heaven. Why? Because He didn't anyone to go there. Let's rescue as many souls as possible for heaven. We won't know who they are until we get there, but won't it be wonderful in heaven, if we meet someone we helped to get there? Don't go to heaven alone - take as many others with you as possible!
All my love and prayers,
Sister Francelle
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