When I was reading this morning’s reading from Divine Intimacy by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, I received this beautiful inspiration of how the Church is like a garden. Our souls are planted in the soil of the Church when we are baptized. The Church and the sacraments are the nutrients which help our souls spring forth into life. The radiant Face of Christ looking down upon His garden casts forth its glorious heat and brilliant light into our souls.

The world on the other hand, seemingly run by the prince of darkness, comes along and tries to spoil the soil in the garden. He tempts our poor souls to flee the true garden to his false garden, which although may appear on the surface attractive, is full of nasty chemicals which coat our souls with filthy grime and disease. The Lord’s glorious Face can no longer shine through them and penetrate the grotesque covering which our souls have allowed to be covered in, and caused them to be distorted and disfigured in their growth.

Thus, our souls must return to the protection of the Church and receive the nutrients of Confession to clean off the filth. Once again allowing the brilliant warming glow of our Lord’s Countenance to penetrate and promote their growth. This must be a continuous process of renewal until our souls reach the maturity of growth to be completely in union with the Lord, and ready to be harvested and gain entrance into His most glorious Banquet which awaits us, where we are totally consumed by the Lord to become one with Him.

the little Pilgrim of His Holy Face