The Diary of a Soul – Part Two (March-August) E-Book

Margherita Coralluzzo

• Herausgeber: Youcanprint
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

The Diary of a Soul – Second Part continues the spiritual journey begun with the First Part, guiding readers from March to August through six months of daily meditations.Each day includes Bible verses (CEI translation), reflective questions, and practical actions to cultivate virtues such as trust, hope, surrender, humility, joy, and inner freedom.A heartfelt and profound guide for those wishing to grow in spiritual life, strengthen daily prayer, and live God's Word in practice.Perfect for personal reading, prayer groups, catechesis, or spiritual retreats.With a Preface by Don Ambrogio Mazzai and Sr. Tiziana Mazzei of the Apostles of the Inner Life, begin your journey today: your soul awaits.💫 Who this book is forThose wishing to continue a spiritual growth and daily prayer journey. Those who want to develop virtues like faith, hope, and surrender. Readers seeking practical tools to live God's Word daily. Those who enjoy guided meditations and inner reflection.Anyone aiming to complete a full year of authentic spiritual formation.

Leseprobe

Margherita Coralluzzo

THE DIARY

OF A SOUL

A Diary that guides tour inner

Journey, to the heart of God

PART TWO

March / August

Thank you for choosing this book.

Graphics and cover design:

Margherita Coralluzzo

First, know thyself. Indeed,

nothing is more difficult than knowing oneself,

nothing is more laborious, nothing requires

greater effort. Yet when you have

known yourself, you will also know God."

Nilus of Ancyra, Patrologia Graeca, 79, 536 C

Preface

"We cannot hide behind our fingers. In the mindset of our world and our time, superficiality is considered a positive value. Every person strives to maintain a highly 'polished' public image—always perfect, conforming to unattainable imposed standards. Naturally, all the tools that mask imperfections, from digital filters to surgical enhancements, are experiencing an incredible market boom with a growth rate that once seemed impossible to achieve. This fact gives much food for thought, especially when many pay lip service to 'body positivity' and self-acceptance of one's flaws. A veritable festival of ideological hypocrisy. While this is glaringly obvious on a visual level, the interior consequences are equally damaging. The coveted values of life are reduced to monetary success (not even professional achievement focused on dignity and fulfilment, but sheer bank balance) or fame at any cost—even at the expense of selling one's body and dignity. After all, dedicating time to nurturing the wholeness of one's person in a profound, transcendent sense is highly demanding and yields few immediate, marketable results by the world's standards. Instead, people prefer to spend time consuming excessive amounts of short, endlessly stimulating content to drown out the existential void screaming in our souls.

Through the journey proposed in this book, I glimpse the possibility of safeguarding oneself from all this negativity. A slow journey that demands a year of perseverance, day after day, investing in those matters no one sees—those that don't add zeros to your bank account but bear greater fruit for true happiness. I invite you to take advantage of these prompts, of this time you've chosen to invest in your present life and the eternal one to come. May the Lord accompany you and grant you the spiritual fruits that will fill your heart and help you grow as His child."  

Father Ambrogio Mazzai  

"We are bombarded andoverwhelmed by countless inputs and infinite communication channels; news and fake news alternate on our screens, yet there is still room to hear a different voice—an authoritative voice, one that resonates with our inner life, guiding and accompanying us on an

original journey of life in the Spirit.

I came to know Margherita Coralluzzo through the internet, and from the very beginning, I felt drawn to her way of transmitting faith.

Margherita truly is this enchanting voice, in every sense. Indeed, beyond publishing several books, she is musically gifted: she writes and performs musicals based on the Word of God.

Margherita lives with the desire to make Love loved and constantly devises new strategies to achieve this goal.

An exemplary wife and mother, she is supported and upheld by an equally exemplary husband.

These pages, rich and dense with food for thought, are the fruit of her assiduous prayer and her love for God.

Seasoned with striking creativity, they allow us to savour and engage with biblical verses we can memorise and internalise, so they may shape us.

For every circumstance and sphere of life, Margherita lets the Bible speak to our hearts, making this Word of God timely and eloquent.

Above all, Margherita lives what she preaches—and so her words lead you to encounter the Word.

For every day of the year, she conjures from the hat of imagination all sorts of questions that compel you to move from theory to practice.

I believe one of the most common challenges facing Christians today is precisely that of uniting prayer with life.

How easy it is to keep them separate! People who go to Mass on Sunday but don't pay their taxes!

These pages will help you, the reader, in your process of transfiguration because they will convey not Margherita's words, but His Word that "penetrates to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow" like a two-edged sword.

The goal is sublime, the calling irrevocable, your response urgent."

Sister Tiziana Mazzei of the AVI.

Before you begin...

The Diary of a Soul, your soul, is a unique and unrepeatable journey because the protagonist of this book is you. It is a spiritual companion diary that helps you deeply know your own heart and God's love.

The Diary of a Soul spans twelve months, with a different theme each month – Forgiveness; The Body, Temple of the Holy Spirit; Knowing God's Love; Hope; Courage; Fear of the Lord; Obedience and Humility; Gratitude: Unity and Truth; Providence; Faith; Charity - each composed of thirty-one verses from the CEI Bible, one per day, with related questions that will help you know more about yourself (and which you can answer if you wish by writing in the diary itself), along with simple, practical daily exercises on the monthly theme, for continuous training and experience of God's love and His presence in your life.

Looking inward, engaging in sincere, authentic self-introspection, is a lifelong journey.

This diary is a guide to understanding your own fragility – those aspects difficult to welcome, love and admit about yourself, sometimes even complicated to discover – so you may rediscover the beauty the Lord has placed in every human being, in your heart, in your original image of God.

"If you wish to know God, first know yourself" (Evagrius Ponticus).

For there will never be another person besides you who can fulfil the mission that only you, in your unique way of being and doing, have been called to accomplish in this life and this world.

This path is designed above all to foster self-knowledge and enter into a more authentic relationship with the Lord, to awaken faith, to keep your gaze of love for the Lord lifted high, while providing you with tools that will help you approach God intimately.

Who is willing to care for their soul? You are the only one who, with your goodwill and the Lord's daily help, can become aware of the value of educating your spirit to love, to life, to understanding the motivations behind certain weaknesses that perhaps influence behaviours, choices, wrong decisions. Starting from knowledge of your inner baggage, by guarding yourself, everything outside will also begin to change – "As one learns to walk by walking, so one learns to love by loving" (St. Francis de Sales).

Once completed, the journey can be repeated from the beginning because, if you have done everything with the desire and determination of your heart – "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it..." (Isaiah 55:10-11) – you will certainly have received its benefits in spiritual growth – "Behold, I make all things new" (Rev. 21:5).

You will be the protagonist of this diary and it will always be you who completes it, deciding its fate and leaving – or not – a door open to eternal love.

To help you derive the greatest benefit from it, I suggest choosing each day a secluded place where you can withdraw alone and relax. Close your eyes, take long, deep breaths, then recite an opening prayer to invite the Lord to join you in reading your heart, invoke the Holy Spirit, or sing an invocation to the Holy Spirit, your preferred prayer as long as it helps you abandon yourself to listening to the Lord. Whether it's your room where you won't be disturbed, by candlelight, perhaps listening quietly in the background to classical or Christian instrumental music – whatever helps you concentrate. And when you can, do it before a tabernacle too. Exactly as I have done and still do to this day, walking the path that leads to the writing of my soul's diary.

Now it is right for me to step aside, making room for you and the Lord. God bless you and happy journey.

Obedience and Humility

Aquilegia

*How you can prepare. Ideally for at least 15 minutes or longer if you wish, try to gather yourself in silence, in a comfortable position, in a quiet place, closing your eyes, emptying your mind of any distractions; take long, deep breaths, focus on the present moment and inwardly express the desire to be in the Lord's presence. Invoke the Holy Spirit and then contemplate the day's page.

Day 1

Lord, I ask for your help:

What does obedience and humility mean to you? Having a pure heart, ready to recognise God's love, to welcome both good and bad times in one's life, to accept that there is a reason for things that cannot be changed – this is the foundation of obedience and humility.

Verse of the day: "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:19)

❖God the Father's love is authoritative, not authoritarian. Due to personal experiences or the situations, we encounter in human life, the word 'obedience' instinctively evokes fear because it is often associated with loveless concepts like oppression, violence, or deprivation of freedom. Alternatively, it breeds intolerance when we let ourselves be consumed by pride – the moment we feel superior to others, convinced that our thoughts or actions are undoubtedly better than anyone else's. Without a direct relationship with the Lord, with the Father, by meditating on His Word and learning from His love, the truth about obedience fades. Yet obedience is an act of faith and love between a Father and His children. Reflecting on your personal memories and experiences, do you believe you've been conditioned in life to fear obeying the Lord? Have you ever reacted poorly to His teachings and His will?

(reflect and answer the questions)

❖Exercise: From the texts of Opus Dei – "The Second Vatican Council states that 'genuine freedom is in man a most outstanding sign of the divine image. God willed to leave man in the hands of his own counsel, so that he might seek his Creator of his own accord and, by cleaving to Him, might freely attain his full and blessed perfection' (Gaudium et spes, 17). Thus, freedom 'attains its perfection when directed toward God, our beatitude' (Catechism, 1731). Freedom presupposes the absence of all external and internal coercion, but its exercise consists in love, in the autonomous adherence to what is recognised as good. Freedom is rightly exercised when one adheres to the true good, to the good ordered toward the beatitude that God has prepared for us, which will only be given to those who freely accept God's saving action in Christ. In reality, our choices bring us closer to or distance us from God; they make us happier when we do good or unhappy when we reject it or choose disordered things. The teachings of Christ and the Church show us where true good lies. Those who love God autonomously adhere to the good thus recognised. This does not hinder freedom, because those who do what they love act freely. What is at stake is not being more or less free, but loving the goods that fully satisfy the human heart and lead to eternal beatitude. From this perspective, obedience is the path toward the freedom that leads to the full human and Christian maturity of man." Today, you will begin training yourself to break away from any mistaken perspective you might hold about the true Christian meaning of obedience, which may have been ingrained in you by external influences, thereby restoring the truth about it. Pray multiple times today, then meditate by re-reading this concept repeatedly: "Obedience is listening with love and, above all, trust in Jesus' love, directing my attention to the One who loves me and desires my happiness. I follow Him because I trust Him. I let myself be instructed by His teachings, which urge me to be a person truly free to choose my own good and that of others, giving myself to my neighbour in complete freedom. Obedience to the Lord is recognising that I am loved by Him, living in true love, and trusting in His commandments." Write down how the words 'obedience to God' affect you, describing your emotions and where in your body they manifest. Repeat this exercise many times throughout the day until your soul, your emotions, and your body begin to internalise the concept of true love embedded in the word 'obedience', responding to it with different emotions, leaning toward serenity, peace, reassurance, and trust in the unquestionable love Jesus has for you.

*How to prepare yourself. If possible for at least 15 minutes or even longer if you wish, try to gather yourself in silence, in a comfortable position, in a quiet place, closing your eyes, emptying your mind of any distractions; take long deep breaths, focus on the present moment and inwardly express the desire to be in the Lord's presence. Invoke the Holy Spirit and then contemplate the day's page.

Day 2

Lord, I ask for your help:

Obedience means "To listen attentively," "To pay attention" with an open heart to hear who is speaking to you, stripping oneself to welcome, to learn from the other, especially from God.

Verse of the day: “Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’” (John 14:23)

❖For you, is obedience an abstract idea or a concrete action in your life?

(reflect and answer the questions)

❖Exercise: I suggest you immediately repeat yesterday's exercise every day, including today, so that your soul and your reason truly change their perspective on obedience, in the light of Christ's genuine love. May the words obedience, to obey, practicing obedience no longer produce in you that hostility in practicing it, encouraging the wisdom of being lovingly educated in respect, in loving, in the humility of wanting to learn from the Lord, and also from those in life who can help us grow, like your mother, your father, a teacher, for example. All the more so towards the one who is the Father of love itself, since God is love, making you free and happy. And above all, Christian obedience is to act, to operate, to think by choosing good over evil, leaning towards a responsible conscience about what one does and thinks, consciously choosing one's own good and the good of the other. Freedom, in fact, is learned through obedience; false obedience, on the other hand, enslaves us to temptations, opposing the growth of our virtues. In addition to yesterday's exercise, practice what arises from your good conscience, listening to what is said to you by someone, suggested, even through a simple command like performing a task in a certain way, helping at home if asked, carrying out a service on behalf of another person, taking care to tidy up and responsibly handle matters like paying bills, settling a debt, or for example, fulfilling a promise made to a person that you had not yet kept. To obey God's love is to act with conscience, justice, and great love.

*How to prepare yourself. If possible for at least 15 minutes or even longer if you wish, try to gather yourself in silence, in a comfortable position, in a quiet place, closing your eyes, emptying your mind of any distractions; take long deep breaths, focus on the present moment and inwardly express the desire to be in the Lord's presence. Invoke the Holy Spirit and then contemplate the day's scripture.

Day 3

Lord, I ask for Your help:

One cannot be obedient without purity of heart; while humility is what binds together purity of heart and obedience. Why is it worth obeying God the Father? You might then ask yourself: why do I want to be like Jesus? If you wish to imitate Christ, the first thing He testified with His life and repeated was: "I do the will of My Father."

Verse of the day: "My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother" (Proverbs 6:20)

❖Do you see obedience as a limitation or as a way to better express your freedom?

(reflect and answer the questions)

❖Exercise: remember to always do the first exercise, do not neglect it, as it is the foundation of your process of assimilating a conscientious attitude toward yourself and others. False obedience or rebellion is useless: true obedience springs from the conversion of each heart that comes to understand what it truly means to love oneself, to love others, all of creation, and thus, to know Christ's love and trust in Him. Start again from the chains that prevent the flow of love that the Lord, by Grace, bestows upon your life. Today, observe with utmost attention your attitudes that distance you from kind gestures, generous and loving feelings toward yourself and others. Note them down on your phone or in a diary whenever you notice something you know you didn't do well—perhaps you got irritated, acted thoughtlessly, lazily, letting yourself be dominated by all those chains that weigh down your daily life. In the evening, reread them and next to each one, write down the virtue you wish would blossom in your heart, gradually putting it into practice each day, thereby improving your conscience to act more freely in goodness and with a certain serenity.

*How to prepare yourself. If possible for at least 15 minutes or longer if you wish, try to gather yourself in silence, in a comfortable position, in a quiet place, closing your eyes, emptying your mind of any distractions; take long, deep breaths, focus on the present moment and inwardly express the desire to be in the Lord's presence. Invoke the Holy Spirit and then contemplate the day's page.

Day 4

Lord, I entrust myself to you:

The first thing to know about obedience, humility and purity of heart is that they are accomplished through your free will to choose them with love, exactly as Jesus did.

Verse of the day: "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves"

(James 1:22)

❖Do you obey because you must or because you want to?

(reflect and answer the questions)

❖Exercise: remember to practice the first exercise. Have you ever wondered what the steps of love are that lead to humility? They are obedience, learning to be silent to listen to the Lord who is meek and humble of heart. These characteristics then reflect on our person, on our daily attitudes and guide us to the common good. Today, practice well the art of silence. As said many times, even in the fear of God, obedience is not about becoming slaves to something, but rather about making ourselves free in loving deeply, choosing justice, truth, and every possible good. Obedience is being able to choose what is good from what is not. Learning the art of silence and how to practice it means understanding when it's right to remain silent and when it's not; it means becoming aware of stepping back when it's proper to withdraw, avoiding persisting in one's pride regarding an evident wrong we're committing – perpetuating provocations, seeking revenge against others, trying to impose our will on our neighbour, perhaps forcing them to do something rather than correcting them with love; or even taking it out on someone and sometimes arrogantly reproaching them for not heeding our advice. Those who have charity in their heart practice obedience out of love, never substituting themselves for God's merciful love. Today, be attentive to listening for God's voice through others and the situations you encounter: remember to maintain silence whenever necessary, and when you must speak, do so with love. Note down the emotions that accompany you throughout the day, including those less virtuous impulses that arose within you but which, by choosing to practice silence, eventually restored a certain peace to your heart.

*How you can prepare. If possible, for at least 15 minutes or even longer if you wish, try to gather yourself in silence, in a comfortable position, in a quiet place, closing your eyes, emptying your mind of any distractions; take long, deep breaths, focus on the present moment, and inwardly express your desire to be in the Lord's presence. Invoke the Holy Spirit and then contemplate the day's passage.

Day 5

Lord, I entrust myself to you:

Love never forces. God the Father never compels anyone to love Him, follow Him, or love as He teaches. True freedom lies in choosing to learn from His love and thus confidently educating one's heart on how to love in the light of true love. Just as we surrender to our father and mother when we allow them to guide us in life, or when we learn at school, at work, and whenever we are eager to keep growing with the simplicity of those who receive others' teachings as a gift—so too is obedience and humility before God.

Verse of the day: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58)

❖What do you think about obedience? Is it necessary for your Christian life?

(reflect and answer the questions)

❖Exercise: Remember, I urge you, to keep practising the first exercise and, alongside it, add the practice of silence. Obedience is acquired by listening, learning from another person: an elder, a superior, a parent, a spiritual father or mother, a spiritual guide, and specifically, from the Word of God, from the imitation of Christ. Out of love, solely out of love, without hesitation, without doubting respect for others, educating oneself in love. For by learning obedience to the Lord and thus following His teachings, a good conscience is formed, enabling discernment—as mentioned many times—on the freedom to choose what is truly right and good from what we come to understand as wrong, and therefore not good for oneself, nor for others, nor for the common good of all. Retreat to a secluded place during the day and ask yourself what you find most difficult to understand about obedience to God, such as certain concepts in the Word of God that stir unease in you due to greater difficulty in comprehending or interpreting them correctly. Write as many verses as you wish on the matter, then pray, invoke the Holy Spirit, take deep breaths to restore within yourself, through Christ, the peace and trust generated by your faith. Hold tight to these thoughts and emotions, noting where in your body you feel them, then with the help of the Holy Spirit, reread each verse and draw the right interpretation—the one grounded in the Lord's merciful love. If you wish to understand even more, you can search online by typing the name of the Gospel or the book of the Bible, the chapter, and the verse number into Google, adding "commentary" or "meaning from a priest or nun." Remember to question yourself, for example, about the reasons driven by God's love rather than with a tone of tyranny, such as: "Lord Jesus, if You love me completely, why are You telling me these things? Why must I act this way?" Since the Old Testament, men and women of this earth have often hardened their hearts, interpreting God's Word with a rigid spirit. Like the prophet Elijah, who sought God in storms and earthquakes but never found Him there—he discovered Him instead in the whisper of a gentle breeze.

*How to prepare. If possible, for at least 15 minutes or even longer if you wish, gather yourself in silence, in a comfortable position, in a quiet place, closing your eyes, clearing your mind of any distractions; take long, deep breaths, focus on the present moment, and inwardly express the desire to be in the Lord's presence. Invoke the Holy Spirit and then contemplate the day's page.

Day 6

Lord, I entrust myself to You:

Through the trust born of a pure heart, we surrender to the Lord's teachings to grow into the fullness of love.

Verse of the day: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good, pleasing, and perfect."

(Romans 12:2)

❖Is there something that troubles you about obedience? For what reason? Do you understand its true meaning of love?

(reflect and answer the questions)

❖Exercise: I urge you, remember to practice the first exercise and also incorporate the practice of silence alongside it. The Lord is authoritative, not authoritarian—He guides you firmly, correcting you as a brother, leaving you free to choose. He does not accuse, punish, or threaten you, but rather encourages you with the fire of His love, wanting what is good for you and teaching you to do good, nurturing a clear conscience—the image of God within you—which tends to yield to fragility and the evil you choose to let out of your heart rather than to what truly benefits you. Today, pay attention to how you approach others and situations: whether you sometimes act with authority rather than with wisdom, whether you tend to accuse or judge people rather than lovingly correct their mistakes or prevent them, whether you fall into the trap of imposing your will rather than sharing your perspective with love. Do the same for yourself. Note what you observe.

*How to prepare yourself. If possible for at least 15 minutes or even longer if you wish, try to gather yourself in silence, in a comfortable position, in a quiet place, closing your eyes, emptying your mind of any distractions; take long deep breaths, focus on the present moment and inwardly express your desire to be in the Lord's presence. Invoke the Holy Spirit and then contemplate the day's passage.

Day 7

Lord, I entrust myself to you:

But how to pursue and attain purity of heart? Through the practice of daily obedience. Small steps, small habits to transform or abandon. Beginning by putting God's love before your own self is a good start. Do what pleases God, rather than what you believe might please Him. For in truth, how much do you know about yourself? How much do you know about what life will bring you tomorrow and how it will help you mature? Surrendering to God's love is not a sign of defeat, of being weak or fragile, but rather a sign of great humility.

Verse of the day: "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him." (1 John 3:21-22)

❖Why do you think Obedience is so dear to Christ?

(reflect and answer the questions)

❖Exercise: I urge you, remember the practice of the first exercise and add to it, in conjunction, that of silence. You are always free to follow God and His Word, even in those circumstances where it seems impossible that you could do anything with His love. The Lord simply asks you to trust and not act alone, but with Him, with His strength, and He will sustain you. The Lord is capable of opening new paths for you, new glimpses into situations, and where your human impossibility arises, He will do the rest, intervening where you cannot act alone. It is very important that you practice this trust, this surrender, both inwardly and consequently outwardly, so that through you, both you and others may benefit from God's blessings. To do what is right is to give others what is due to them; to obey the Lord is almost the same thing but in a much broader vision of its meaning, which is contained in His love: it is giving yourself to Him with the love He gives you, worshipping Him, bearing witness to it with your life and with respect for His greatness, the recognition of it, and the mercy of His love (cf. Fear of God). Obedience is that virtue which gathers all the virtues contained in God's love. If obedience is lacking, all the others decay or weaken. On this day, dedicate your time by ordering your day according to God's will. Note down everything you need to do or want to do, following an order of charitable priority and relevance. Try to respect all your commitments by following the natural order you have set for yourself. If something unexpected happens and you cannot complete a task, move on to the next one: the important thing is to train yourself to follow a certain inner and outer order. This exercise is one that is good to practice every day, for only through the experience of it, and the training to have a natural order of things, does one understand its importance.

*How you can prepare yourself. Ideally for at least 15 minutes or longer if you wish, try to gather yourself in silence, in a comfortable position, in a quiet place, closing your eyes, emptying your mind of any distractions; take long, deep breaths, focus on the present moment, and inwardly express the desire to be in the Lord's presence. Invoke the Holy Spirit and then contemplate the day's passage.

Day 8

Lord, I entrust myself to you:

Humility makes us more alive than ever, for it spurs us to move forward with a joyful and generous heart towards life.

Verse of the day: “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28)

❖Does it bother you to follow commands from someone in authority? What about from the Lord?

(reflect and answer the questions)

❖Exercise: I urge you, remember to practise the first exercise and, alongside it, add the practice of silence. Note down everything you must do or wish to do, following an order of charitable priorities and relevance. Strive to honour all your commitments according to the natural order you’ve set for yourself. If something unexpected happens and you cannot complete a task, move on to the next one. Obedience is closely tied to faithfulness, to the trust you place in the Lord. If you are faithful to Christ, your obedience will be great. “Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10). Therefore, the more faithful you are to Christ in small matters, the more you will be in great ones, and thus the Lord will know how to fill you with many graces, entrusting you with much of His goodness. This teaching, like any other from Christ, applies in the same way to everyday life, for being Christian is a way of life founded on learning the art of love from He who is the very creator of love—God the Father. Today, then, practise faithfulness to the Lord, starting with small daily actions and thoughts: in your work, at home, in any place where you approach tasks or interact with others, even with yourself. Act moved by the trust that with Christ’s love, you can do anything. Take care and love yourself, and observe what you do when: you are in a hurry, late for a meeting, forget to pray properly, or leave a place without carefully saying goodbye to loved ones, perhaps skipping breakfast, rushing without paying much attention to people. In every situation, reflect on what you do and how you do it. Today and in the days to come, I will try to remind you daily to observe the smallest details of your life and how you care for everything and everyone—whether with generous selflessness or a detached attitude. Note your progress, and wherever you later realise you may have fallen short, try to understand why.

*How you can prepare yourself. Possibly for at least 15 minutes or even longer if you wish, try to gather yourself in silence, in a comfortable position, in a quiet place, closing your eyes, emptying your mind of any distractions; take long, deep breaths, focus on the present moment, and inwardly express the desire to be in the Lord's presence. Invoke the Holy Spirit and then contemplate the day's scripture.

Day 9

Lord, I entrust myself to you:

I reflect. Lord Jesus, I know that by welcoming you in others, I lower my defences, my imperfections, allowing you to enter my heart and heal me. In silence, listen to the Lord.

Verse of the day: "Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him" (Psalm 128:1)

❖Does it bother you when the Lord tells you what is good for you and what is evil? If so, is it possible you haven’t yet fully known God’s merciful love and that you don’t sufficiently trust Him?

(reflect and answer the questions)

❖Exercise: Remember, keep practising the first exercise and add to it, in conjunction, the practice of silence. Note down everything you must do or wish to do, according to an order of charitable priority and relevance. Try to respect all your commitments following the natural order you set for yourself. If something unexpected happens and you can’t complete one, move to the next. Pay attention to the smallest details of your life and how you care for everything and everyone, whether with generous selflessness or a detached attitude. Note your progress, and if later you realise you’ve had some shortcomings, try to understand why. The word submission, which we often read in God’s Word, has the same meaning as obedience. It’s a word many disdain because they interpret it in a way that doesn’t align with its true, profound meaning of respect, education, love, and docility toward oneself, the Lord, and others. And in many instances, it’s been confused with the word slavery, which is quite different. As said repeatedly, Christian obedience is the door that swings open the heart to true freedom, love, truth, and all the other virtues contained in God’s mercy, which we encounter on this journey. Today, you’ll focus on practising obedience starting with your family—parents, toward your wife or husband, for example. How? "Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged" (Colossians 3:18-25). By reading the entire verse carefully, you’ll understand that God’s intentions are directed at everyone in equal measure of love, with different words but the same content of the virtues of God’s love, only expanding their exposition. It’s always about respect, love, education, and esteem for others and those we love. An obedience that those who love perform with utmost naturalness because it’s part of the natural order within us, made in God’s image and likeness. In the verses, you’ll notice it mentions "in the Lord," precisely because obedience and submission are understood within those limits that align with God’s will, not demands or commands that go against the Lord’s love. Today, dedicate your time to caring for, being attentive to those around you, with devotion, acting according to your good conscience, obeying what you’re told to do with love. And if something goes against God’s loving will, address it privately with your family member, with brotherly charity, to help them fulfil what’s been asked of them. Acting with charity and humility is the foundation of all obedience.

*How to prepare yourself. Ideally for at least 15 minutes or longer if you wish, try to gather yourself in silence, in a comfortable position, in a quiet place, closing your eyes, emptying your mind of any distractions; take long deep breaths, focus on the present moment and inwardly express your desire to be in the Lord's presence. Invoke the Holy Spirit and then contemplate today's page.

Day 10

The Lord listens to you:

Lord Jesus, help me to share every talent and gift you've placed in my life for the sake of myself, others, and nature to which I'm connected, because as you teach me: no one is born or lives solely for themselves.

Verse of the day: "He answered: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'" (Luke 10:27)

❖Do you listen to what is given to you as advice? Can you attentively hear what a command or fraternal correction contains within it? And can you distinguish from whom it comes, how it's delivered, or the context?

(reflect and answer the questions)

❖Exercise: Life is made of rules, and though we may sometimes dislike following them, they're necessary for living in communion with one another, respecting each other with that harmonious balance towards every creature in creation, and also to be understood by others. It's important, for example, to follow grammatical rules, use correct words that are clear and carry the meaning we intend, yet simple and free from any misunderstanding. Rules educate us in respect, helping us understand that certain choices we make are based on generous love rather than selfishness—thinking we can do whatever we want or what someone else desires, because we risk crushing the authentic wellbeing of others, the common good, and even their free choices, that free will which belongs to every human being. We must wisely—and therefore with Christ's help—discern what truly makes us free from libertinism: "Do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself." Learn from Christ then, questioning ourselves through meditation on his word whenever necessary: "Jesus answered them, 'Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, took the consecrated bread and ate it—which was not lawful for anyone but the priests—and gave some to his companions.' Then Jesus said to them, 'The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.'" Ask the Lord: "How can I wisely put this word of yours into practice?" Yet sometimes, rules can become idols in our reason and hearts, creating—without us even noticing—walls of rules that leave no room for God's charity, preventing us from behaving as true Christians. Harmony lies precisely in living with balance, especially with Christ's help, to avoid excess in either direction. Today, through meditation, prayer, and with the Holy Spirit's help, search your memories, distinguishing those where—upon reflection—you think you may have excessively prioritised rules, distancing yourself from someone who perhaps truly needed your help or mercy (this applies equally to practising and observing rules in your parish). Then try to recall at least one other episode where, upon reflection, you transgressed a rule in a not entirely just way, infringing on others' freedom, perhaps encouraging others to do the same and acting selfishly (naturally this also applies within the parish community or Christian community in general). Note everything in your notebook and describe how you now intend to make amends, if you wish to remedy or improve by returning to Christ's love.

*How to prepare yourself. Ideally for at least 15 minutes or longer if you wish, try to gather yourself in silence, in a comfortable position, in a quiet place, closing your eyes, emptying your mind of any distractions; take long, deep breaths, focus on the present moment and inwardly express your desire to be in the Lord's presence. Invoke the Holy Spirit and then contemplate the day's page.  

Day 11

The Lord listens to you:

Lord, grant me a heart so generous that in the morning I may rise with the enthusiasm to do as much good as possible, using every resource at my disposal to help my neighbour. I ask this with an open heart, for I am aware of my shortcomings.

Verse of the day: “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’” (Luke 9:23)

❖Are you aware of when you obey? Or have you never discerned its true meaning and obey even when you shouldn’t?

(reflect and answer the questions)

❖Exercise: I urge you, remember to practise the first exercise and also incorporate silence alongside it. Note down everything you need to do or wish to do, according to an order of charitable priority and relevance. Try to honour all your commitments by following the natural order you’ve set for yourself. If something unexpected happens and you can’t complete a task, move on to the next one. Pay attention to even the smallest details of your life and how you care for everything—whether with generous selflessness or a detached attitude. Record your progress, and if you later realise you’ve fallen short in some way, try to understand why. Now let’s turn to the workplace: “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Do not obey them only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people” (Ephesians 6:5-7). Here too, the advice is to dedicate yourself to your work, your employer, your superiors, and your colleagues, because every prosperity, benevolence, and blessing comes through your attitude toward others. You are witnesses of Christ’s love. So today, dedicate your working hours to paying attention to the little things—right up to the big ones—where you can show humility, kindness, and charity in your responses, acting justly. And if something you’re commanded to do goes against God’s will, resist through private and fraternal correction to your superior, lovingly explaining what you truly cannot do. May there be firmness in you, not rebellion. May there be Christ’s love in you.

*How to prepare yourself. Ideally for at least 15 minutes or longer if you wish, try to gather yourself in silence, in a comfortable position, in a quiet place, closing your eyes, emptying your mind of any distractions; take long, deep breaths, focus on the present moment and inwardly express your desire to be in the Lord's presence. Call upon the Holy Spirit and then contemplate the day's page.  

Day 12

The Lord listens to you:

Lord, Ipray You, help me discern my frailties, and abandon the idea of not wanting to give what I have. Lord, I pray You, let me not close myself off by taking refuge in my insecurities and fears. Let me not hide myself by defining humility as an act of humiliation, of frustration masked by a weak smile, and for this reason, distance it from my will to pursue it. Humility is not underestimating oneself, but rather having awareness of who one is, of what one is capable of doing, of learning and of giving. Lord, I pray You, help me evaluate myself in the true measure of who I really am—the good things and the less good, those to put into generous practice, as opposed to those I should avoid, learning what to improve through Your good example, or through those who exemplify Your love.

Verse of the day: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” (Romans 8:14)

❖Does it happen or has it happened to you to be in agreement with what you were asked to do? Did you know that this type of obedience uses a different word, which is “to agree,” and that agreeing and obeying are inconsistent with each other?

(reflect and answer the questions)

❖Exercise: I urge you, remember to practice the first exercise and also add, alongside it, that of silence. Note down everything you need to do or want to do, according to an order of charitable priority and relevance. Try to respect all your commitments following the natural order you have set for yourself. If something unexpected happens and you cannot complete one of them, move on to the next one. Pay attention to all the smallest details of your life and how you take care of everything, whether with generous selflessness or with a detached attitude. Note your progress and, if later you realize you have had some shortcomings, try to understand why. To love God is to want what He wants, and what He wants is for you to love Him as He loves you. So, love yourself and your neighbor, as He loves. This is obedience to the Lord. With the exercises you will do today, you will add details to some considerations regarding your family members, or those closest to you. Remember today to be careful not to ignore, scold, or offend in public the people you love, because it is not kind and they may suffer from it. Perhaps it will not happen to you, but if it does, even when you act in good faith, do it with tact, privately, and always with love. We will add the next exercise tomorrow. In the meantime, note your reactions, whether you have struggled in the past to love with charity, or if you are always predisposed to love.

*How to prepare yourself. If possible for at least 15 minutes or more if you wish, try to gather yourself in silence, in a comfortable position, in a quiet place, closing your eyes, emptying your mind of any distraction; take long, deep breaths, focus on the present moment, and inwardly express the desire to be in the presence of the Lord. Call upon the Holy Spirit and then contemplate the day's page.

Day 13

The Lord listens to you:

I pray You, Lord, help me to have a healthy vision of myself and of You, help me to approach someone by loving them in the most authentic, sincere, and expansive way possible. Forgive me, Lord, if at times I think my pain is greater than that of others; if I believe my life is harder than others'; if I consider my actions better than others', and that no one else should do them.

Verse of the day: "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your good Spirit lead me on level ground" (Psalm 143:10)

❖Obedience is never an act of tyranny, nor can it be extorted; rather, it is that command which manages to stir within you a conflict, a risk of opening yourself up and seeing things from another perspective, or helping you to modify your own point of view. Could you recount an episode where you experienced obedience with greater difficulty?

(reflect and answer the questions)

❖Exercise: Remember, keep practicing the first exercise and add to it, in conjunction, the practice of silence. Note down everything you must do or wish to do, according to an order of charitable priority and relevance. Try to respect all your commitments by following the natural order you have set for yourself. Should something unexpected happen and you fail to complete one, move on to the next. Pay attention to the smallest details of your life and how you take care of everything, whether with generous selflessness or a detached attitude. Note your progress, and if later you realise you had some shortcomings, try to understand why. In the workplace or other environments, when in contact with people who ask you to do something you don’t feel like doing, take a deep breath—without rolling your eyes because you’d rather disobey—and if what you’re being asked to do truly doesn’t appeal to you, express it without getting angry, losing your temper; communicate it with courtesy and charity. Note down any past episodes where you acted this way, or if it happened today.

*How to prepare yourself. If possible for at least 15 minutes or longer if you wish, try to gather yourself in silence, in a comfortable position, in a quiet place, closing your eyes, emptying your mind of any distractions; take long, deep breaths, focus on the present moment and inwardly express your desire to be in the Lord's presence. Invoke the Holy Spirit and then contemplate the day's scripture.

Day 14

Lord, I ask for your help:

Lord, help me to know and acknowledge with simplicity and purity of heart my frailties. Lord, I will try to recognise the talents you have placed in my life, and seek to acknowledge them by putting them at the service of this life which I know has been generously given to me.

Verse of the day: "The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever" (1 John 2:17)

❖Can you distinguish true obedience from slavery? Conversely, can you pursue true obedience or do you tend to tar everything with the same brush, reacting to every command with disobedience because you believe it calls for forced submission?

(reflect and answer the questions)

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