Souls in Darkness/Lost

Entrusting my words to the Holy Spirit

These words by St. Teresa of Avila I read in recent weeks have had a profound effect on me they being: “I saw souls falling into hell like snowflakes.” The words cut deeply into my heart and soul. I realized there are many of my brothers and sisters who live in darkness and are lost. The question, which I needed to answer was who are they, where are they, how can I reach them, and what can I do. I was once in the same darkness/lost but not totally. I had my Catholic Faith and since built on a strong foundation it is here, I stood shakily. It was in this shakiness that the conversion of my heart and the sanctification of my soul began.

I have seen many methods used by many of us Christians in our enthusiasm to reach those who have yet to experience the relationship we have been blessed to have in Christ. There are two “popular” methods used in the efforts to reach the lost brothers and sisters. The first method is the “hit” the lost over the head with Word of God bringing the unsaved to a quick save. The second is to shower the lost with love and all the blessings given to us by God but staying mute about the struggles of the journey. I personally fell in the first category although looking back the seeds of what I received fell on rocky soil had not taken deep route. Therefore, I was the blind trying to lead the blind. The second method I experienced in frustration because the more I heard Christian brothers and sisters talking about the joy of the Lord, His peace, being assured of His love and hearing His voice no one every explain what happen for this blessing/grace to enter into their lives. It was here for a lack of understanding that I could not understand why God was not letting me experience these gifts and blessings. It was also here that I thought I needed to “do stuff” to get God’s attention. I was to learn later that I needed to go through a “conversion” and I need not do anything to get His attention I always had it.

I have often times thought about those in darkness/lost and prayed for them but it was not consistent. However, this year during Lent once again the pangs of the plight of those in darkness/lost tugged at my heart. I heard the voice of God to the approach I am to take and I noted it in my journal:

Sunday March 2, 2008 10:15 a.m.

…However, today I am directed by the Holy Spirit to pray for the souls in darkness at the gates of hell. Mama as well directs me to pray an additional Little Crown Rosary for these souls daily. In order for me to have a deep love and compassion for these souls and to take them to my heart in prayer and suffering, I have to acknowledge them as one of my own. It is here I am directed to see them as my children with the heart of their mother. To adopt them as my own if you will. It is in this place I will be able to plead their cause, pray diligently, cherish their hearts, and willingly suffer for them. My love, heart and tears will be for these my children. As I write this, I know the Holy Spirit speaks to me in the words I write mapping out the direction He wants of me.

Because I am called and I answer the call with a resounding yes I will be given all I need by the Holy Spirit to stay in the call and to do as I am ask. I am willingly joyful to work in union with the Holy Spirit. My heart knows no other joy but for what I am called upon to do.

I love Sundays because although I am fully aware of God’s presences all week long it is on Sunday’s He chooses to pick to direct my life as He wills. This soul is blessed.

6:46 p.m. The miracle: On My Space …asks for St. Therese and me to be …friend. I accept, as I knew I would because I have entrusted the Little Therese to make the decision where we would journey. After accepting the request, I look at…the site. I wonder how many Catholic Saints is in the space so I went through…pages with…friends and the Little Saint is the only one. However, as I went through the pages I kept hearing these words in my heart these are your children and so they are. It is here there is a mix of the children not with God in various poses and… {attire} as well as… It is here I truly know the place I am called it is verified although I sought no verification.

The Little Saint and I are working together in this calling. The Little Saint always said she would do more in heaven for souls than she ever did on this earth. I am so privilege to work not only with the Little Saint but also with Mama as well in the truth, conviction and power of the Holy Spirit. My heart is full of joy to be able to work for the salvation of souls and their conversion. I know I am weak and cannot do this I would quit in a second but I am in good company. I am happy to say yes. Your humble servant Lord, Linda

{I edited the original journal entry to maintain privacy}

I have taken those in darkness/lost to my heart as though each were my children. It is here that I “never” forget to pray for them daily. It is here I weep for the danger they are in and their inability to see the light of Christ. I can understand their darkness and thinking that I would not ever see the Light. It is here that I recall being in despair, feeling divorced from love and a sense of hopelessness. My heart knows the plight of those in darkness/lost. In reflecting on all this that I saw the direction of the approach to be taken the same method God used with me.

The approach God used with me was to first let me know He was with me, who I was to Him, and to gently direct my life lining it up with His. There was “NO” running down of the commandments I was not following, His word I bent to “MY” understanding and host of all that I was doing out of “HIS” will. Instead, He let me know who I was His child, beloved of His Son and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This was given to me in “doses” as I learned about the total relationship with God in the Trinity. He showed me in Psalm 40:2-3 He had hold of me. His first lesson began with trusting Him and all else birth from there.

It was not a rush process He took me through the darkness into the light at the place and in the “doses” I could retain and understand. The total essence of the coming into His light took for me eight years.

My approach to those who are in darkness/lost is much the same being constantly guided by the Holy Spirit. I make every heart and soul I meet know who they are “Child of the Father, beloved of His Son and in the truth, conviction and power of the Holy Spirit.” I have found these words said to those in darkness/lost has a profound effect on them. There is a fighting back of tears, emotion and a contemplative somberness. I shower them with love because I am showered in God’s love. I give it as much as humanly possible without reservation without conditions. I guard myself from myself, which more times then not brings to failure to follow the same blessings and graces given to me by God. I rely totally on the Gifts and Graces of the Holy Spirit for what I need to reach these hearts and souls.

We must “never” forget from where we came our own darkness/lost state. We must never forget the gentleness and patient journey God took us through and we must never forget our brothers and sisters whom are in darkness/lost. We must be prepared to pluck the souls [snowflakes] before they fall into hell. We must be prepared to suffer through mortification and prayer for these souls. We must take up our crosses and follow Jesus the One who always went after the lost sheep, the One who died for us, the One who bought us out of darkness and into His light.

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless you.

Deo gra’tias

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino

PS: Two favorite prayers of mine to pray for the souls in darkness/lost:

Seven Sorrows of Mary Rosary:

http://www.thegrotto.org/rosary_of_the_seven_sorrows.htm

And

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from thee.
From the malignant enemy defend me.
In the hour of my death call me.
And bid me come unto Thee,
That with all Thy saints,

[they] I may praise thee
Forever and ever.
Amen.

[Replacing me with them]