The Sword of St. Paul

(continuation of Sword of the Sufferer– I)

​

Pope Benedict XVI, General audience, Oct.26, 2011:

​

In front of St. Peter’s Basilica, these are two large statues of Sts. Peter and Paul, easily identifiable: St. Peter holds in his hand the keys, St. Paul holds in his hands a sword. Those unfamiliar with the history of the latter might think that this was a great leader who led powerful armies and subdued peoples and nations by the sword, obtaining fame and wealth for himself by the blood of others. Instead, it is exactly the opposite: the sword held between his hands is the instrument by which Paul was put to death, with which he was martyred and that shed his blood. His battle was not one of violence, of war, but that of martyrdom for Christ. His only weapon was the message: “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2). And his preaching was not based on “plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power” (v. 4). He dedicated his life to spreading the Gospel message of reconciliation and peace, spending all of his energy to make it vibrant to the ends of the earth.

And this was his strength: he did not seek a tranquil, comfortable life, free from hardships, from opposition, but was consumed by the Gospel, he gave himself unreservedly, and so became the great messenger of Christ’s peace and reconciliation.

The sword that St. Paul holds in his hands is a reminder, too, of the power of truth, that can often wound, it can hurt; the Apostle remained faithful to this truth to the end. He served it, suffered for it, he gave up his life for it. This same logic holds true also for us, if we want to be bearers of the kingdom of peace proclaimed by the Prophet Zechariah and fulfilled by Christ: we must be willing to pay in person, to suffer misunderstanding, rejection, persecution in the first person. It is not the sword of the conqueror that builds peace, but the sword of the suffering, of whoever gives up his/her own life. 

​

Comments on the sword:
The sword of Paul is the sword we must live and die by.
–it is: –The proclamation of "Jesus Christ and Him Crucified" (1 Cor 2:2)
          –Power of truth, which wounds, make us suffer.
          –Calls for willingness to pay personally any cost.

​

Love Crucified messages and teachings

11/12/11 
Believe that the sword of this mission will conquer the dragon (The Holy Spirit then brought to my mind David and Goliath) 
David and Goliath: How could it be that the little one who could not wear the armor of the mighty warriors defeats the giant? The ways of God are never the ways of the world. He was wearing the armor of God, and he possessed the power of God. He trusted in God with the innocence of a child. God defeated the enemy through His humble vessel so that all glory is given to God not man. The enemy will be conquered and all things will be made new but never in the ways of the world. God has chosen to give the sword of righteousness to His little mustard seed. The sword of the mission is the power of God that will pierce and conquer the dragon. You must remain little, insignificant and innocent drinking the pure milk of the words I bring to you (Cf. 1 Peter 2).

​

Believe, My little ones, believe that the God of heaven and earth has chosen you for the decisive battle. * Live with the innocence of a child the mission given to you. Be little, pure and humble, be nothing, and it is I Who will do the impossible. Trust with the innocence of a child.* Believe in the power of My Cross and the power of My precious Blood, for it is only through the Triumph of My Cross that all darkness will be conquered. Live, love and suffer as ONE with Me and you will become the sword that will pierce this darkness.

​

1 Peter 2:1-5 
1- Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, insincerity, envy, and all slander.
2- Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk so that through it, you may grow into salvation. 
3- for you have tasted that the Lord is good. 
4- Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God.
5- Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

​

 1/29/10 "The world depends on swords, missiles and guns to win battles, but this decisive battle will be won by the Cross. My victim souls uniting themselves to My love crucified will free the world from the bondage and darkness of Satan"

​

Persevere in Christ in the midst of suffering, bring me victim souls

​

9/26/11 
It It is My holy remnant of victim souls who's's prayers and sacrifices will cover the earth as heavenly dew (Cf. Micah 5:7-9). The justice of God will come upon the world. The majority will be caught in total dismay. It is My holy remnant of victim souls that will defeat Satan and all his principalities. Persevere in suffering all with Me. Persevere as ONE with the Word of the Cross, for then and only then, do you hold the power of God.

​

Your lives in My crucified love become the sword of righteousness. Bring Me many victim souls for the battle at hand. My little ones I need you.

To suffer with Me is to be made pure like Me...
To suffer with Me is to begin to love with Me...
To suffer with Me is to become Love...
To suffer with Me is to enter the fullness of JOY and happiness on earth...

​

11/2/11
"I'm forming you as My warriors of love"

The armor you put on is to protect you from being overcome and conquered by the enemy, but your sword is what has the power to pierce the enemy and conquer it. To put on the armor of light, to put on your Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 13:12,14) is to become the Sword of the Spirit. I have been leading you through the passage of union with your Crucified, union with the Word of the Cross. It is in this union in which you enter your Crucified, beginning at the foot of the Cross with Mary, that your lives become the Sword of the Spirit. These are the warriors that will fight the decisive battle and have the power of God to conquer the dragon. I desire each of you to become ONE with the Sword of the Spirit through My Cross.

​

Ephesians 6:10 
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; 16 besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."

​

Romans 13:12: "Put on the armor of light"; 13:14 "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ"

​

Rev. 21:5 "Behold, I make all things new"

​

Rev 21:9-11  "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb. And in the Spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal." (jasper is reddish brown like blood)

​

Rev 21: 21 "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass."  

​

Pure vessels radiate Christ

10/7/11
Just as clear glass is filled with any liquid and you can see clearly through the glass the liquid inside, you are called to be My clear, pure vessel. You are chosen to hold My precious Blood. My Blood is My life. My Blood is healing fire.

Therefore, first, My vessel must be emptied and purified. This is what I have been accomplishing in you at My feet and in My pierced side. It is now in My Sacred Heart, in the furnace which is the fire of the Holy Spirit, that you are formed as My living chalices. My fire purifies all blemishes and tarnishes. You are of pure glass but when filled with My precious Blood you radiate to the world the golden light of the Holy Spirit. My Blood always heals, restores, refreshes and brings new life. Therefore, the gaze of your eyes will radiate pure love. The touch of your hands will heal and your words will pour forth the wisdom, knowledge and understanding of God. This is how you put on your Lord, Jesus Christ, so that you are the light of the world. My little ones, help Me and My Mother form many victims of love radiating the pure love of the Trinity.

 

Conchita's Diary (Dec. 19, 1896)

In God purity is natural. God is as it were a crystal without a flaw and, I understand but cannot explain it. Nothing less than this divine transparency is capable of reflecting the image of the Most Holy Trinity. God is light, God is clarity. God is transparency. The Lord told me time and time again that God's essence is purity itself for purity is the essence of light, of clarity and limpidity. Where purity appears, there shines out the reflection of God, that is, His holiness. From this hearth of eternal purity, which is God, springs light, clarity and limpidity. It is not purity which springs from light, but light which springs from purity. That is why, in pure souls, the light of the Holy Spirit is clearly seen" .  Conchita, Philipon pg 149