Continuing from the last column on hell, we push on with the devil, or a quote from him (her?) on how humans fall into diabolical traps that eventually land them also in hell.
Again, from mystic Sister Josefa Menendez, who died in 1923 at the age of 33, a Spanish nun whose saintly life was compiled in The Way of Divine Love.
Before death, she was shown hell and reluctantly wrote about the experience only upon orders of her superiors.
On Oct. 4, 1923, she wrote: “Today, I saw a vast number of people fall into the fiery pit… they seemed to be worldlings and a demon cried vociferously: ‘The world is ripe for me…
I know that the best way to get hold of souls is to rouse their desire for enjoyment… Put me first… me before the rest… no humility for me! but let me enjoy myself…
This sort of thing assures victory to me… and they tumble headlong into hell.’ “
Feb. 3, 1923, she noted: “Tonight I was transported to a place where all was obscure… Around me were seven or eight people; I could see them only by the reflections of the fire. They were seated and were talking together.
One said: ‘We’ll have to be very careful not to be found out, for we might easily be discovered.”
Now here’s the part on how we fall into the devil’s trap. Sister Melendez’s notes on the same day: “The devil answered: ‘Insinuate yourselves (demons) by inducing carelessness in them… but keep in the background, so that you are not found out… by degrees they will become callous, and you will be able to incline them to evil.
Tempt these others to ambition, to self-interest, to acquiring wealth without working, whether it be lawful or not.
Excite some to sensuality and love of pleasure. Let vice blind them . . . As to the remainder… get in through the heart… you know the inclinations of their hearts… make them love… love passionately… work thoroughly… take no rest… have no pity.
Let them cram themselves with food! It will make it all the easier for us… Let them get on with their banqueting. Love of pleasure is the door through which you will reach them…”
Shivers, shivers, shivers. The devil was describing our lifestyle these days. Serious self examination is needed here.
Now let’s jump from hell to heavenly, there in famous Medjugorje where the Blessed Mother started her still continuing apparitions to five persons way back in 1981.
In her message to visionary Ivan Dragicevic last June 15, the Blessed Mother said:
‘Dear children, know that the Mother loves you. With love I desire to lead you. I have come to tell you that God exists. Therefore, also today, I call you to decide for Him.
Put Him in the first place in your life and in your families and together with Him, set out into the future.
Dear children, through this upcoming time of grace, I desire for you to renew my messages and to say to me: ‘yes’, ‘yes’. Thank you, dear children, for having said ‘yes’ to me.’
This wasn’t the first time that the Blessed Mother underscored that God exists.
She knows how lacking faith in God mankind has become, and this is probably why the devil takes it easy luring humans to the goings of pleasure and ambition and pride.
We need to bolster faith in God, definitely, and lots of prayers, prayers, prayers. The Blessed Mother has naggingly repeated her appeal to us to pray, pray from the heart.
In our will is the choice: heaven or hell. But this entails embracing either some sacrifice on earth, or some pleasure. Inevitably, there’s eternity to face.
