It is to you that I speak, my brother, my sister, who lives in mortal sin, with hatred, in the mire of impurity, ever closer to the mouth of hell: stop and turn back! Jesus is calling you. With all the eloquence of His wounds, He appeals to your heart: “My son, My daughter, if you condemn yourself, do not blame anyone but yourself. Listen, dear soul, to these, my last words. You cost Me Blood. If, despite the Blood that I shed for you, you wish to condemn yourself, do not reproach Me, but yourself, and remember this for all eternity. If you are condemned, it is because you chose to be so, against My will.”
Could there be anyone who, despite all the grace and help of God, insists on throwing himself into hell? If there is, let him hear me:
“Sinners, kneeling at your feet, I beseech you, for the sake of the Blood of Jesus and the Heart of Mary: change your life. Enter once again on the way of Paradise, do everything in your power to include yourself in the small number of the elect. Prostrate yourselves at the feet of Jesus and, with tearful eyes and bowed head, with a contrite and humbled heart, say to Him: ‘I confess, my God, that until now I have lived worse than a pagan. I do not deserve to be numbered among Thy elect. I recognize that I deserve eternal condemnation, but I know that Thy mercy is great. And so, full of confidence in the help of Thy grace, I declare that I desire to save my soul. Yes, I want to save myself, even if it is at the expense of my fortune, my honour, or my very life. I repent; I deplore my infidelity and humbly ask Thy forgiveness. Forgive me, my beloved Jesus, and strengthen me so that I may be saved. I ask of Thee neither riches, nor honours, nor prosperity. I ask only for the salvation of my soul.’”
St. Leonard of Port Maurice
