June 3, 1978

A RADICAL CHANGE IN THE SITUATION

Write, brother Octavio; I am Lorenzo.

Brother Octavio, what a radical change in the situation; I mean how different is the vision that one has of things from here, from Paradise, from the vision that they have upon earth. What an effort is required to form a vision of human happenings that is close to what they really are. Our judgment upon earth is so influenced by many diverse elements, often opposed to each other, and only with many difficulties and fatigues can we form a correct judgment.

In general these elements are:

- Human nature, wounded by sin, and because of it, inclined by its very nature to evil, to falsity.

- Personal interests that make one go astray and lose sight of reality.

- Sympathies and antipathies influence our judgments considerably.

Here in Paradise things are different; here everything is seen in God, the highest and eternal Truth, by virtue of which the reality of things is seen shining, pure, free of all foreign elements. You cannot imagine my astonishment when after a short, but to me long, Purgatory, I saw the reality of my affairs in God, and the reality of the Association of Hope.

How harsh and severe is the battle for truth and for good; but woe to him who ceases to overcome and to conquer! Christ died on the cross for the triumph of truth and of justice; he who is in him, and who puts his trust in him, will be certain of victory; you, Octavio, know, and you all know the path of victory: patience, humility and love; not the instinct of wounded human nature, but rather faith, is what should direct you toward the knowledge and the realization of Justice and of Truth.

Brother Octavio, the work desired by God has been begun in the form desired by him, God, the highest and eternal Wisdom. Continue it according to the divine design. What would have become of C., if we would not have accepted the divine invitation? He would already have fallen into the jaws of the ravening wolves!

Courage; you have many friends in Paradise, who look upon you and who follow you, and who intercede for you, and among them is myself.

Lorenzo