AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP with JESUS CRUCIFIED Fra Leopoldo Maria Musso OFM Brother Teodoreto FSC English Translation by Brother Allen Geppert, FSC
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AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CRUCIFIED Fra Leopoldo Maria Musso OFM Brother Teodoreto FSC English translation by Brother Allen Geppert, FSC. AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CRUCIFIED The life of the Servant of God Fra Leopoldo Luigi Musso OFM Contents Chapter 1 The Dawn....................................................................................1 Revealing signs......................................................................................................1 The first fruits of grace...........................................................................................2 Prayer and work.....................................................................................................3 Chapter 2 At Vercelli...................................................................................5 His life....................................................................................................................5 Friends....................................................................................................................6 Flashes of light from Heaven.................................................................................7 The time of trial......................................................................................................8 Chapter 3 Turin............................................................................................9 The ways of Divine Providence.............................................................................9 Supernatural life.....................................................................................................9 The first interior voice..........................................................................................10 Filial love.............................................................................................................11 “Servite Domino in laetitia”.................................................................................11 Work and fidelity.................................................................................................12 Chapter 4 At Viale d’Asti...........................................................................15 Holidays...............................................................................................................15 The Apostle of Our Lady.....................................................................................16 Suffrages for the dead..........................................................................................17 Piety and charity...................................................................................................19 Chapter 5 Return to Terruggia....................................................................21 Love for Holy Communion..................................................................................21 Apostolate of good example................................................................................21 Catechetical apostolate.........................................................................................22 Miraculous cure....................................................................................................23 Canticle of thanksgiving......................................................................................24 Acts of gratitude...................................................................................................24 Fidelity in times of trial........................................................................................24 The Holy Rosary for the deceased.......................................................................25 Life at home and in the neighbourhood...............................................................26 Chapter 6 At Casale Monferrato.................................................................27 With the Camillian Fathers .................................................................................27 First contacts with the Franciscan lay brothers....................................................27 The death of his mother.......................................................................................28 Divine consolations..............................................................................................29 Return to Casale...................................................................................................29 Chapter 7 Religious Life............................................................................31 The example of St Francis...................................................................................31 In religious life.....................................................................................................31 Mysterious help....................................................................................................31 Novitiate...............................................................................................................32 An ancient crucifix...............................................................................................33 The lover of Jesus Crucified................................................................................33 “My good Jesus”..................................................................................................34 Devotion to Jesus Crucified.................................................................................36 Approbation of the Devotion...............................................................................37 Consoling promises..............................................................................................38 Pious exhortation..................................................................................................39 iv Contents Spiritual fruits......................................................................................................39 Chapter 8 “My Master Jesus” ‒ 1908.........................................................41 Powerful and gentle words...................................................................................41 Temptation...........................................................................................................42 Prayer and sobriety ..............................................................................................43 “How does your Jesus speak to you?”.................................................................43 “Suffer with your Jesus”......................................................................................44 “Trust in mercy”...................................................................................................46 “Obey swiftly”.....................................................................................................47 “A soul made beautiful”.......................................................................................48 “A gentle reproach” ............................................................................................49 “Come and visit me”............................................................................................50 “I speak of Mercy”...............................................................................................50 Duty and gratitude ...............................................................................................51 “The Lamb who takes away sins”........................................................................51 “Have more faith”................................................................................................53 “A terrible punishment”.......................................................................................54 “Do the will of God”............................................................................................55 The Protectress of the Work ................................................................................55 Chapter 9 “My Teacher, Mary Most Holy” ‒ 1908....................................57 “The benevolence of my Heart”...........................................................................57 “Silence, prayer, reparation”................................................................................60 “Devotion to Jesus Crucified” .............................................................................62 “Patron of the Great Order”.................................................................................63 Chapter 10 “My Master Jesus” ‒ 1909.........................................................65 “Devotion to Jesus Crucified”..............................................................................65 “My wish is an innocent life”..............................................................................66 “The Order which will come” .............................................................................67 “You will gain much merit”.................................................................................67 “Make reparation”................................................................................................68 “I make him the king of my Heart”......................................................................70 Chapter 11 “My Teacher, Mary Most Holy” ‒ 1909....................................73 “Keep the most beautiful flowers”.......................................................................73 “The great work”..................................................................................................73 “Be even more generous in