When all the people had been baptized, and while Jesus, having also received baptism, was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, like a dove, and a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Lk 3:21–22).

Aware of my weakness, I go to present my needs to my deliverer, Mary, hoping that her merciful heart will not abandon me in my misery. Time is short now; I cannot tell her anything else. I need prayer.

When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” And Jesus replied, “Woman, what does this have to do with you? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:3–5).

In my poverty of material goods, I cannot hold back my tears of tenderness. Oh! How good God is, and how many graces He bestows upon me. My trust in Jesus Christ grows ever stronger. And what is truly admirable is that everyone has enough to eat, and they are thriving, content, at peace in

spirit, and united in the utmost charity; they praise and bless God at

all times.

From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Mt 4:17).

In prayer, I present myself now as the poor blind man of the Gospel, now as the leper, now as the tax collector, and now as other converted sinners, saying to the Lord, “Have mercy on me, for I have sinned more than these,” and here my heart swells with the hope of forgiveness. I cannot express to you the abundant peace that the Lord deigns to bestow upon this poor sinner; I never imagined that serving God could be so sweet even for someone who has sinned as I have.

Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what he was saying. As he was speaking, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and as they entered the cloud, they were afraid. And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One; listen to him” (Lk 9:33–35).

She would never leave the feet of her Lord, so as to hear His voice of the sweetest love, which calls her to unite herself ever more closely to Him; she never tires of blessing Him, loving Him, praising Him, and thanking Him with all her heart. She seeks nothing else but to please Him. Pleasing her Lord is her sole delight, and if she achieves this, she is rich and so filled with such consolation that she cannot express it.

On the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper, he also took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me” . (1 Cor 11:23–25)