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.
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.
