12. Penances and Sufferings

Some days later, as we were walking along the road with our sheep, I found a piece of rope that had fallen off a cart. I picked it up and, just for fun, I tied it round my arm. Before long, I noticed that the rope was hurting me.

“Look, this hurts!” I said to my cousins. “We could tie it round our waists and offer this sacrifice to God.”

The poor children promptly fell in with my suggestion. We then set about dividing it between the three of us, by placing it across a stone and striking it with the sharp edge of another one that served as a knife. Either because of the thickness or roughness of the rope, or because we sometimes tied it too tightly, this instrument of penance often caused us terrible suffering. Now and then, Jacinta could not keep back her tears, so great was the discomfort this caused her. Whenever I urged her to remove it, she replied: “No! I want to offer this sacrifice to Our Lord in reparation, and for the conversion of sinners.”

Another day we were playing, picking little plants off the walls and pressing them in our hands to hear them crack. While Jacinta was plucking these plants, she happened to catch hold of some nettles and stung herself. She no sooner felt the pain than she squeezed them more tightly in her hands, and said to us: “Look! Look! Here is something else with which we can mortify ourselves!” From that time on, we used to hit our legs occasionally with nettles, so as to offer to God yet another sacrifice.

Sister Lucia's Memoirs. [pdf]
Second Memoir. The Apparitions

17. Questioned by Priests

…I had the happiness of speaking to the Vicar of Olival [Father Faustino]. I do not know why, but His Reverence inspired me with confidence, and I confided my doubt to him. I have already explained, in my account of Jacinta, how he taught us to keep our secret. He also gave us some further instructions on the spiritual life. Above all, he taught us to give pleasure to Our Lord in everything, and how to offer Him countless little sacrifices.

“If you feel like eating something, my children,” he would say, “leave it, and eat something else instead; and thus offer a sacrifice to God. If you feel inclined to play, do not do so, and offer to God another sacrifice. If people question you, and you cannot avoid answering them, it is God who wills it so: offer Him this sacrifice too.”

This holy priest spoke a language that I could really understand, and I loved him dearly.

Sister Lucia's Memoirs. [pdf]
Second Memoir. The Apparitions

This life is for suffering. Afterwards we will have an eternity to take delight in. Then up in Heaven, all that we have suffered will appear to us as nothing and, if we could feel pity, it would be at not having suffered more for the love of Our Lord.

‹…› The sacrifice of not being able to embrace all your children makes you suffer as much, if not more than would corporal punishment. But this sacrifice is asked of us by Him who has the right to ask, and Who also, before us, separated Himself from His Most Holy Mother for love of us, and did so in a much more sorrowful manner, which was through death on a cross.

Faced with this example, let us embrace the cross lovingly; seeking to help Him save the World. And now in a special way let us offer up our sacrifices for the conversion of Russia.

‹…› I should remain in silence, prayer and penance. This is the best way in which I can and should help. It is necessary that the entire apostolate have this principle as a basis; and this is the part that the Lord chose for me: to pray and sacrifice myself for those who fight and work in the vineyard of the Lord and for the extension of His Kingdom.

‹…› Unfortunately, the majority of people are ignorant in religious matters and let themselves be tossed wherever the wave carries them. Therefore the great responsibility lies with those who have the office to lead them; and all of us are each other’s leaders, because we all have the obligation to mutually help one another, and walk the good path.

‹…› And I remain in my place, praying for you, and for all those with whom you are going to work, that it may be a battle which gives much glory to God and brings much light and grace to souls, peace to Holy Mother the Church and peace to a world stained by the blood of wars.

I also have not been feeling very well in my heart, in my eyes, etc. but it is necessary to complete in one’s self what is wanting in the Passion of Christ. It is necessary that Our Lord’s members be one with Him, by physical pain and by moral anguish ... Our poor Lord, Who saved us with such love, and how little understood He is! How little loved! How badly served!

‹…› Voluntarily I sacrifice myself and offer my life to God, for peace in His Church, for priests and for all consecrated souls, above all for those who carry on so erroneously and so deceived! For our separated Brothers: May God give light to all of them and put them on the right path — the path of Truth, which is Jesus Christ.