The Door to Heaven
Part 1 of 10 (in HTML format)
Introduction & Messages #1 to #10
Like the earlier books dictated to Catalina, this reaches us together with a soft breeze that transmits a sweet Message of pure, living and fertile love.
Right from the first topic, the proposal is clear and concrete: "Never distance yourself from the Door to My Heart" (DH-1). The revelation is eloquent: "The Door to Heaven is the Heart of Jesus." Hence the insistence of the messages received in the world, inviting us to consecrate ourselves to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, become one in their most sublime expression.
This spiritual School instructs us that in order to pass through the Door and enter the Kingdom of Heaven it we must live in Grace, since this is the way God works in each man and helps him to mold his identity. Emphasize the significant resource of the Holy Spirit as a fountain of inspiration and saintly knowledge.
To be precise, to illuminate our path, observe in a critical manner the behavior of modern man; He feels hurt by the indifference of the world towards their God and bitterly claims: "The souls I have saved with My blood, have strayed away from Me..." He is the Good Shepherd, He goes after His sheep, but many do not want to listen…
Notwithstanding, His patience is infinite and from the depths of His Spirit He presents Himself once more to this ungrateful man, enunciating the name that springs from the abyss of His Heart: "My name is Love," and with that He embraces us, drawing us closer to the righteousness of Heaven, the Homeland of all souls who love the Lord. He wants us all to be together, which is why He reminds us of the dialogue with the Holy Spirit through prayer, the importance of good deeds for God and man. He explains the meaning of suffering and, in the last analysis, He reminds us in the inevitable duty of all God's children: to "concern ourselves with His Glory."
It is an invitation to follow in His footsteps, to be His instruments of love and mercy, although He perceives - with sadness and bitterness - that our commitment is half-hearted, which is why He criticizes the lukewarmness of our hearts and attitudes.
Do not falter, He continues to advise man. He wants "unity" in the prayer groups, in the communities, in the whole world. We were all born of the same Father, our Creator, but we have forgotten His loving teachings. Many "defects" separate men: we do not work for our fellow men; we have neglected humility, for many people purity is an inconceivable and archaic concept, while it is one of the most precious virtues for God. He reminds us how wrath and anger disfigure even the most beautiful face. Finally He says: "You will find Me through silence … I do not like the noise or the profanity of the world."
He speaks to us of Heaven, Purgatory and Hell, realities that man's rationalism and pride want to ignore or understand in their own way, but He insists in their fundamental role.
When Jesus addresses us, He never forgets His Mother: He invites us to come closer to her, the Queen of Heaven, without sin, the Loving Mother, the Protectress. Mary's time has come!
She is of one heart with her Son…there is a sentence for those who do not want to recognize her: "Those who accuse My Mother, accuse Me."
This fervent and wise dialogue seeks an answer from man, one that commits his free will and surrenders it to His Divine Love, one that springs from the depths of the heart, saying an authentic, loyal, trusting and generous "yes".
In this garden of delight where every Message becomes a fresh, juicy fruit, there is still more. At Jesus’ request, the "Prayer Groups" of Cochabamba and La Paz were to join forces and work together. To facilitate this meeting and discussion, a "Spiritual Retreat" was organized in the city. The people responsible for the group selected the topics to be discussed, but they received a great and wonderful surprise when Jesus announced to Catalina that He would dictate the subject matter and context of the Retreat…
The Messages in DH-38 correspond to the aforementioned experience. No one could have expected such a Grace. The arguments are topical, touching on the doubts and truths of present-day man and, in their time, constituted the vectors that marked the new identity that we were acquiring, encouraging our desire to become lay people primarily committed to His Word. It was the least that could be offered to the "living" Christ who is always lovingly present in all human acts, yesterday, today and tomorrow. We did not stop thinking about the Blessed Faustina Kowalska, whom Jesus also guided during a Spiritual Retreat in the 1930's.
These are the Fountains of Love and Mercy that flow from the depths of divine feeling. How can we not drink from this fountain that offers us fresh, living water …even more so if the source is so close? Why discuss or doubt this Good thing so much when the fruits are abundant, lasting, good and delicious? Remember the words: "My sheep know Me and I know them."
Let us be thankful to the good God who spreads His Word even though men turn a deaf ear. A few will listen, eventually there will be more; later the seed will die, but the fruit will live on.
Let us be thankful to our generous sister, Catalina, who with the spirit of oblation has dedicated her life to the service of this extraordinary cause. Our Lord blesses her daily with His fraternal and intimate Word.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. What a sweet path that passes through the hearts of Jesus and Mary and leads us to the Door to Heaven!
Then, let us enter!
Cochabamba, November 27, 1997
Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
The Messages
The messages that follow were originally dictated in Spanish through inner locutions to Catalina who recorded them by hand in notebooks. After the issuance an Imprimatur for the messages by the Archbishop of Cochabamba, the translations of the messages from the original Spanish text into English began.
A priest, fluent in both English and Spanish, has said that the style of Spanish used in the messages "is a great lyrical quality. It is almost like poetry; it is prose, but it almost rhymes; it is a very beautiful lyrical language, and if one believes that it is Jesus who is speaking one should not be surprised." Capturing the beauty of the original Spanish wording was a challenge in developing the English translations that follow.
In the text of the messages, the reader will often find the symbol "…" which indicates a pause for emphasis and a moment of reflection:
Do Not Stray from the Door to My Heart
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DH-1 (CL-134) |
22-Jan-96 |
The Lord |
I want you to be in peace, to trust Me fully. Am I not here with you? I am the one who guides you, who leads you. Do you think that you could solve all the problems that arise on your own? I want you to serve Me always, even in those dark moments when you think you are utterly useless.
Love of My pain, My most beloved girl, why do you worry so much about things that you cannot solve? Trust in your God… Love Me and pray, amend…
The offence to Heaven is so great that not one second of the day passes without the Holy Trinity being offended. Why do they hurt Me? Have I not give them even My last breath? Which of you would do for your brethren a thousandth part of what My Love for you did? What it does today?
Never stray away from the Door of My Heart; do not stop in the struggle for My greater glory. You, with nothing, are united to My greatness which should fill you with strength.
Do you know why they fight against My works? Because of meanness, susceptible mistrust, convenience… I will answer with the humility of a God who has been mocked and misunderstood; the bow cannot always be drawn!
I like to see in you what the world calls craziness. Since when have you worried about what people will say? Why start now?
Do not lose your peace on account of the devil's traps. I know by name those people who are not aware of My true name: Love. They live their life, their poor life and none of them fulfill their responsibilities to Me. Each day they get more and more lost and, with them, those I have entrusted to them. They cannot even save themselves.
Do not turn your feet aside from the path that I have created for you, not even one centimeter, the path of the return of love to My Eucharistic Heart. I know that you are too weak, that I have to support you every single moment, but… It pleases Me so much to do so…!
Understand little one, it is not your time; keep your insignia secret. I do not want anybody to touch My seal, not now that it is the beginning of My union with you. Do not give explanations, let them think what they want, because at the end My Will will be done… The special days disappear, pray a lot; I hope that they visit you to pray together, not just out of curiosity.
You console My Heart so much! I love those who console Me like this so much! Do you want to console Me even more? Pray, amend the pain that they are going to give Me. My poor children, My little ones, those who will have to be sacrificed. The corruption of the "privileged" has exhausted the patience of those who are defenseless.
Always Take Recourse in My Spirit
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DH-2 |
20-Feb-96 |
The Lord |
My daughter, My Mercy and My Forgiveness will always be in My Heart for you because you are faithful and you snatch all these sentiments, fruits of love, from Me.
I want you to be serene. I do not want you to change your temperament, you would not be able to. I speak of serenity that is based on hope, on trust in Me, on abandoning yourself unrestrainedly to your Lord.
Stay where you are, always have recourse to My Spirit that encourages you and leads you. If you allow your humanity to interfere in your undertakings, you drown His voice. Assume your responsibilities and let yourself be guided at the same time by the intelligence of the One who leads you.
Many times you will have to suppress your heart in order to reach Mine.
Now you see how My Merciful Love has solved your small problems. All those who give one glass of water to one of Mine will receive a hundred for one. You still have no idea how I will allay your worries! I do not want them in your head, only those that are for one cause: Mine.
Tonight, be with Me beside the dying….
Your God Is Present in Each and Every One of You
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DH-3 |
23-Mar-96 |
The Lord |
My little one, peace be with you, feel Me, drive out your anguish. Do not let the enemy mistreat you. I will support you and lift your spirit when Satan tries to destroy your peace. My Mother has warned you so much against the underhanded attacks of the enemies of the soul.
If in the realm of eternity Redemption had not evolved, it would not have been so perfect and so complete. All My acts would have been circumscribed and terminated had it not been for the Eternal Will united with Mine. Only in this way was I able to embrace all humanity, from the first to the last, and to absorb all forms of pain.
My Cross was long like the centuries and as wide as all humanity. Many souls will love Me so much when they find out about the sufferings that My Will and Humanity suffered for their sake. I am very grateful for all the effort you are making to announce My Passion.
Unfortunately, human nature today in this century of corruption, the century of the devil, has to see to believe, which is why there are so many images that weep, to make people come back to Me somehow. My daughter, that is why I ask for reparation… The sins of the world are so many that they oppress Me more and more each day.
My dearest daughter, you have done My Will, you have permitted Me to take your hands and your feet to console and rest in them for a while. Thank you for your dedication and your silent sacrifice. This is over for now, because I need you to be active for the work we are starting. I have given you an office, you have peace and quiet. Help your Lord in this stage… Do not be sad, you have understood well, this part of your suffering is over, but I have said for now.
Gather together your dear brothers, pray together during the days left for you of visible suffering. I will always be with you as long as you are always willing to help Me carry My Cross. Believe Me how much the souls who commit themselves and consecrate themselves to My Divine Will help Me, and nowadays there are not very many. I am present, not mystically, but present with My Mother and My Angels when you pray on those days. How many prayers I listen to with love from the people who suffer My pains!
Do not lose fervor and enthusiasm in your works, both small and large. Give it everything you have… Solemnly I tell you that you are very privileged! Many of the consecrated would wish to have the teachings that you have had… Do not let it fall into oblivion. Do not keep them to yourselves, teach them to your brothers. Do what My first disciples did, go out and preach what you have learnt, but first, you must assimilate it…
My children, your God is present in each and every one of you, make your God the first and foremost in your families.
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DH-4 |
30-Mar-96 |
The Lord |
My daughter, My little one… With your love, repair all the pains inflicted on My Divine Heart. Darkness was not meant to have light and all men have areas of darkness and light, but darkness prevents men from relishing light.
I had warned you, My insignia would not be visible on your limbs… There have already been medical examinations in hospital. The most insignificant faults become serious for the soul that doubts, because that soul causes other, greater faults. I told you earlier that I would not permit anyone to touch My wounds any more. It is not your fault, you have nothing to fear. Leave it at that and I will simply manifest Myself in this form when I believe the time is right.
I have been and am still being mistreated; they have turned Me into a wretched being by force of sufferings. I have bowed My head against their sarcasm, I am still bowing My head. Today it is something between you and Me. You will accompany Me in My pain as before, and this will help Me to carry on saving souls. But I most certainly will not be a public spectacle for science. I have already allowed some of My other chosen ones to be the object of ridicule of their rationalist minds, but not you.
This is not goodbye; do not feel bad. I will always be with you; now you will be able to feel Me much more because all your actions will be guided by Me. Simply abandon yourself, put yourself in My hands, without doubt, without hesitation, with the same confidence you have had until now. And let Me act. I need you for other active work. Let your God work! Do not be upset by My silence, I repeat: I am in you!
My daughter you have fallen in love with your Jesus; I hope to find you attentive and full of confidence in the certainty of My coming. Adore your God with all your soul, you know how much your love pleases My Heart. The experience will be final, abandon yourself and trust that all the petitions made by those who prayed together with us in those days, were heard.
Be true in everything, as I am true, since you now possess the truth. Abandon yourself to Me so that I can work in you. Your God is immutable, when will they learn?
Work with those messages, I will tell you what to do.
(During April, the Messages were private. He did not authorize me to reveal them.)
True Love Is Fruitful of Good Works
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DH-5 |
5-May-96 |
The Lord |
Beloved daughter, read Isaiah 12:2-6. Good, now let us talk about the gospel of My Heart, full of love. If man really believes in this divine and human love, if man believes in My invitation to the banquet of love, to the eternal kingdom, close to Me, then everyday difficulties and problems cannot dampen man's joy. Because the sorrows of this world, the most atrocious pains, cannot compare in any way to the love I have shown and the happiness that I have promised and have prepared for them.
Think, loving hearts rejoice when they think of the one they love and delight in reciprocated love. How great then should their happiness be when they know that I love them and that their love is of much interest to Me? That is why, My daughter, their love is of more importance to Me than their works, even though, true love is naturally fruitful of good works and untiring in giving proof of its existence.
Everything that is done with love and that you know will be pleasing to your loved one, you do with courage and enthusiasm without thinking of any difficulties. Even friends, when they are together, speak trustingly. Those whom I begin to conquer with My Love look with pleasure towards Me and rejoice in being able to thank and praise Me. So many saints have understood that the Eucharist signifies giving thanks and praise which should fill the hearts and the lives of My children, and that the most direct reason which impels the joyful praise of the Trinity, is the Love that My Father and the Holy Spirit have shown in Me.
My daughter, if the Israelites sang joyously during their pilgrimages along the path that led them to the temple in Jerusalem, you should come to meet Me with so much more happiness knowing that I am burning with Love for you all. This Eucharistic Love will make your life a tranquil pilgrimage towards your eternal homeland. During this time, you will be gratified to know that I am near you as the Way, the Truth and the Life, because in Me you have true life.
Speak to the priests, My daughter, tell them not to let the people see them looking unhappy, but only when they have found happiness once more. Make them understand how ridiculous and unjust it is to embitter themselves over nothing. Help them to find happiness. Tell them that all creation and the history of salvation speaks to them of My Love for you all, for mankind. In a special way the face of one who loves Me is eloquent. How can someone teach about My Love with a sad or bitter look on their face? Let them be enlightened by joyfully drawing water from Me, as I am the fountain of joy… Let them ask My Spirit to make them messengers and placid witnesses of My Love!
I Bless Those Who Listen to My Word
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DH-6 |
10-May-96 |
The Lord |
It pleases Me, My daughter, that you are seeking the way to eternal truth, of service to your brothers, the way of poorness of Spirit, the way that leads to knowledge and leaves to one side the vain ways of the world.
Do you know how much a spirit of sacrifice and obedience pleases Me? My bitter Passion has, undoubtedly, the dimension of expiation and satisfaction for the sins of men.
The mere fact that I have immersed Myself in the most profound suffering of this sinful world to the point of exposing Myself to torment, martyrdom and the humiliation by men, forms part of My unfathomable mystery, the mystery of this Love. But no one can understand My mystery if they do not penetrate the mystic depths of My Heart. The opposite is also true, no one can be introduced by Me into the depths of My Heart, if they are not willing to express their love and their gratitude with suffering and sacrifice.
At first, many of My children desire divine graces and many abandon that desire for the seductions of the world. I am the Word made flesh and to remain on the path of virtue, you should continually reject the falsehood of worldly riches created by man, which will never guarantee eternal freedom.
I want to speak to you about those children who believe that they are on the right road but are mistaken. Some are those who set out on the road without ever finding the path; they speak of paths of goodness, of love, but never practice neither goodness nor love. Others are those who make only half of their hearts work, that is to say that they fulfil My Word, but only the ones they choose to follow. They are the ones that will have to make do with less because they were never capable of obtaining the all the treasure in the Kingdom of Heaven.
But there are a few other children who do not look at the ways of the world, but focus on the true paths of salvation. These are the wise, those who give the best of their abilities without showing any form of favoritism. They listen to My Word, they perceive My Father's Will in their lives and, even if at times they commit human errors, they always take the road to the absolute.
I lived a human life for you, I suffered a human death, I experienced human temptations. What you live, I lived too. The manner in which My Angels waited for Me is the same way in which My Angels will wait for each one of you. This is why I bless those who listen to My Word and surrender to the truth, because they are wise.
They do not know how convenient it is to give the suffering that hurts them, the same meaning that I gave it. Let them turn this into a proof of their love for Me and their solidarity in salvation with their brothers. In this way they keep receiving and giving with gratitude, entering My course of solidarity in salvation…
I was obedience personified before the love and wisdom of My Father from the beginning of My earthly existence; but in order to make Me just like you, I also wanted to learn through My own experience to obey in the midst of the greatest suffering, of the most atrocious pain. You do not know with how much Love I gave pain a new, liberating meaning.
Think, nobody deserved so much love, nevertheless, nobody found so little love and so much hate. Did I not also show them the way to relieve all that suffering to the point of sanctification through love for the enemies and for prayers for those who were crucifying Me?
My little Catalina, faith is the work of the Holy Spirit, it is the gift of My pierced Heart; faith requires confidence in My Father's plan for salvation, even in suffering and trials… Believe Me that the most atrocious pain loses its poisonous burden when the soul is convinced that it has contributed to the good of humanity. All this is crowned with the knowledge that all sorrow upheld by My Love, will end in an enormous fountain of graces for others. In that significant transformation they are also borne from the fountain of graces, My Heart.
If My children act according to My Spirit, out of love for My Father and all those who have been redeemed, then I work in them and through them, so that the whole world may recognize that I and Mine love the Father and thus love all men.
How much I love to teach you My daughter! How much love have I poured in to this heart that is so sweet for your God!
Place Your Heart Close to Mine
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DH-7 |
12-May-96 |
The Lord |
My children, if you have studied and examined all the divine works without keeping in mind the Love of the Father, you will not understand their real meaning… God also wants your good works, but not as a retribution carried out without love for you to boast of.
The only thing that matters is to love with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength. Total love comes from My Love and springs from the depths of your hearts. Only in this way can you find truth because that love is fruitful through My Grace, fruitful with the fertility of roots and based on My Love that I want to make known to you. (Read John 15, 5-8)
That love, which is the only important thing, that makes life worthwhile, is achieved through an intimate union with Me. If the heart rests in the Heart, if they place themselves unreservedly close to Mine, and if they trust totally in Me, they will see a prodigy come true in you. From that moment on, you will be capable of loving with your spirit and with your heart, with all the energy of your feelings and your will; you will learn to accept your mission with confidence.
The love that springs form My Heart, makes your spirit more vigilant, awake and more sensitive, because as soon as your heart is inflamed with My Love you will always lean towards good. I do not just point out what is possible through grace, but lead you by the hand and initiate you in the mystery of My Love, in a life of love.
My children, the decisive steps should be: to learn to love Me and, with Me, My Father; to learn to love your neighbor with Me; to pray incessantly for the gift of the Spirit that instills this love in them and shows them the way of true love.
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DH-8 |
15-May-96 |
The Lord |
Many of My priests are more worried about themselves than about saving souls. They should work tirelessly for the salvation of souls, they should deny themselves, but the majority do not do this, even though I prayed for them on the Cross: "Father into Thy hands I commend their souls, that none may be lost."
Pray and make sacrifices for them so that at the final judgement they will not be empty handed, as I now find them. There are few priestly souls who love the Cross. Many do not want to hear of suffering and self denial. This is because they do not even ask Me to have love for suffering.
They should frequently ask for the love of the Cross, as much for themselves as for the souls entrusted to them. If they did this, they would be given the grace of love for suffering; it would become pleasant for them and they would be able to perform heroic acts and real miracles. I would give them the gift of poor, humble love. They would receive the mystical grace of being able to learn the secrets of My Heart.
I Am with You in Your Apostolate
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DH-9 |
18-May-96 |
The Lord |
I know, My daughter, that your apostolate needs to be encouraged and supported. I am with you; I support you, little one. My Love for humanity is so immense that I rely on people like you to open the way for Me into their hearts.
The devil wants to destroy the harmony that you need to work for Me… He makes use of such base things … Talk to them, My daughter, you cannot let Me down.
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DH-10 |
18-May-96 |
The Lord |
My daughter, let us talk about chastity. You should know that virginity and celibacy for the love of the Kingdom of Heaven has roots in the Love of the Father that has been manifested in Me. I want to be loved chastely; for the celibate, this means for the love of the Kingdom of Heaven; for Christian spouses, this means that I should be truly loved and that I am not only sought for personal interest. This is to say that love is chaste in the real sense of the word, if it springs from My Heart. The charisma of celibacy can only shine where Christians have the strength to love the unloved, the outcasts and the weakest wholesomely.
Just as evangelical poverty demands not only that you free your heart to make room for My Love, to put it completely at My disposal, this charisma means above all that you feel so steeped in My Love, that you are capable of renouncing a large part or all of your human nature in order to discover the greatest wealth of gratitude.
From this same charisma also flows the intelligence and the art of knowing how to offer your neighbor, not only objects or services, but, primarily, that which is most precious: an ardent, sincere love, that values services and gifts, because the fire of My Love burns within those souls who seek Me. That indefinable Love, which teaches and inspires internally, comes to be the only love that speaks externally.
When you pray silently and contemplate My words of Love, your soul is suspended in the abyss of Love, there you immerse yourself in My Mercy, in My Heart, in My wounds…
I teach them internally; I seek a pure place to rest My head and there I lie down to wait for them to look for Me with fire in their hearts, to look for the truth of My Love. My teachings never cease, I am a God that teaches and My Love will never perish.
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