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BRO. MARCEL VAN: SPIRITUAL POVERTY 2

 
The ideas presented here come from the dialogues Bro Marcel Van had with the Lord Jesus, with the Blessed Mother, and with St Therese of the Child Jesus (it is indicated who is speaking or sending the message) with whom he enjoyed spiritual conversations. Brother Marcel’s holy life did not rest on these conversations but rather on his deep love for God, his obedience to his will, and his commitment and service to others. He died as a “confessor of the faith” – one who lived his faith heroically in the midst of trials – in a North Vietnamese Communist prison where he strived to bring joy and faith to his companions, Catholic or not.

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6.2 to be poor in the image of Christ

Yes, Marcel, you are already poor. The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are really poor in heart, and to acquire this poverty of heart, one must behave like a child. The perfection of the child already includes true inner poverty. Marcel, you probably still remember the teachings of your sister Thérèse on this subject … (see CJ 6.8.8) […]

From my birth to my death, my least actions – even a sigh – meritorious in the eyes of my Father, I willingly gave all merit to souls. I did not book anything with the intention of personally enjoying it later: I left everything to souls only. This is why my infinite merits are really the property of all souls, even of yours, Marcel. […]

You must never work to acquire merits with the intention of putting them in reserve for you, in order to buy eternal happiness later. If you had such an intention, it is absolutely certain that the kingdom of heaven would not belong to you anymore. (see CJ 11.6) […]

Little brother, to come like me to true poverty of heart, you must give up not only any attachment to the goods of this world, but also to any desire to amass spiritual goods for the future life

The merits you acquire are for you superfluous goods. If you keep for yourself these superfluous goods, you are lacking in poverty of heart, for there are a great number of unhappy souls who do not have the spiritual goods sufficient to feed themselves; you have the obligation to give them the alms of all your merits, as I am obliged to give you my infinite merits. […]

It suffices that you offer unceasingly to Love all the graces received, all your works, all your breaths, all that you do for love for me, so that Love distributes it to souls. As for what concerns you, let love take care of it for you.

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