BRO. MARCEL VAN: PRIESTS 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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b. importance of the priesthood
Jesus: The priests are also my spouses whom I have chosen
especially to direct my little friends who are totally ignorant of the manner
of behaving with their Divine Friend; and it will follow that my love will
unite more intimately with their new love through these priests, my spouses,
who, in my place, will serve as guides to my other spouses.
Marcel: Little Jesus, tell me why you love priests so much?
Whenever you talk about them, I see that you show them the greatest respect.
Jesus: It's because the priests are really my other self.
Their dignity prevails that of being my Mother. The dignity of our Mother does
not equal that of priests. However, Mary is more powerful, since she is my
Mother, and therefore, the priests being my other self, they are also the
children of Mary. In heaven, the soul of a priest will be the object of the
veneration of all saints, including our Mother Mary.
c.
prayer for priests
Jesus (strong words): Happy are you not to be a priest ... Many priests use
my name to lead to their loss a great number of souls ... I say to these
priests: "I thirst for souls", and yet they have no problem not
giving me one. Imitating the executioners, they give me vinegar, and, not
daring to approach me, they give me this drink by means of a reed ... O how I
suffer from such a conduct ... Pray for These unhappy priests ... I still love
them and I wait for them, but, for their part, they only know how to receive my
love without loving me in return. The time I give them, they abuse it to outrage
me. My child, love me instead of this class of priests. One thing, however,
consoles me a little: it is that many priests still know how to love me ...
Really, these priests form around me like a shield that protects me from the
features coming from unfortunate priests ... a predilection for these good
priests, I fix on them my eyes, I rejoice with them, I never cease to be their
guide and their support ... I do everything to pamper them ... They are always
at my side, without ever getting away from me. Oh ! Child of my love, how I
desire many priests to do the same to me ... My child, find me such priests.
(first Friday of September 1945)
Jesus: O my little child, if the priests themselves are in
revolt against me, from whom will my love seek a little consolation? Pray for
the priests to be filled with zeal for me; ask that every day they come closer
to me to protect my love and protect me from the wounds inflicted on me by the
bad priests.
Jesus: O my little brother, stay at the foot of the cross
today, kiss my feet and keep repeating: "O Jesus, I love you for priests
who do not love you.” Make your love freely enter the innermost heart of the
priests. Make fervent priests zealous for your love. " Little brother,
always remember this: the voice that rejects my love in the world has come
first from the mouths of priests; that is why the voice of the priests must now
rise to protect my love in the world. Otherwise, the world will be unhappy ...
Marcel: So, what can I do to make the priests become good as
you wish?
Jesus: Little brother, I just told you: stand at the foot of
the cross, and there your voice will be powerful enough to call the priests to
my Love.
God has shown me that in this world there is no lack of
priests; and if people complain about the lack of priests, it is only because
they do not see the priests, because in reality they are very numerous. All
that is missing are the priests filled with fervor and zeal. God therefore
needs certain souls in order to bring forth among the priests the abundance of
divine grace which will help them to live and act according to the will of God.
Message of St. Therese for the priests of France through
Bro. Marcel
Thérèse: By the way, dear little brother, during this month,
do not forget to pray especially for the priests of France, especially for
those who at this moment are persecuted in your country Vietnam. Although it
does not have serious consequences, it remains a very difficult experience for
them. Pray a lot so that they never get discouraged. A time will come when
Jesus will return to put an end to their suffering.
Oh ! Priests of France, my brothers, be courageous and
redouble efforts ... On this earth, who knows suffering and scorn? Above all,
my brethren, it is only at the price of hard sacrifices that you will succeed
in firmly establishing in this world the reign of the love of Jesus, it is only
at the price of hard sacrifices that you will succeed to plunge the whole earth
into the inferno of Love ... O my brothers, you will have to suffer a lot
because it is to you that the love of Jesus wants to entrust the expansion of
his kingdom through the whole universe. Be faithful and constant, welcoming
with joy all the trials and, later, in the kingdom of Love, you will see the
result of your work ...
As for me, your little sister Thérèse, from heaven, I will
enlist for your help an army of little souls who will be like your breath, who
will become like the nerves and the bones, always ensuring the unity among you
for the prosperity of the reign of Jesus' love ...
O priests of France, my brothers, know that the words that
fall on this paper are not written by the little soul who transcribes them, but
rather from your little sister, the little flower of heaven. Remember that from
up there, your little sister Thérèse never abandons you, because the mission
that she had on the earth, she continues to fulfill it still now in the heaven.
(Thérèse de l’Enfant-Jésus A mes frères, les prêtres de France)
