Sr. Maria Consolata Betrone - "Jesus, Mary, I love You, Save Souls"

In the message of 25 July 2005 Our Blessed Mother at Medjugorje said: “Dear Children! I call you to fill your day with short and ardent prayers.”

There are countless brief and ardent prayers. Perhaps we all have a favourite one we like to repeat more frequently. It would be an ardent task to find the origins of each, but I think it is fair to say that they are all inspired by God’s Spirit of Love; by Love for Love, for love of souls and love of us. One such inspiration was given to the Servant of God Sr. Maria Consolata Betrone (1903-1946, Italy) after reading St. Therese of Lisieux’s Story of a Soul. Consolata herself was granted mystical experiences, but she is particularly remembered for her “very small way” which can be summed up in the following three points which are the nucleus of Our Lord’s instructions to her:

1. Offer an unceasing act of love from the heart: Jesus, Mary I love You, Save Souls!
2. Have a smiling “yes” for everyone, to see and treat Jesus in everyone.
3. Have a grateful “yes” for everything.

An act of love is also an act of reparation: the Lord told Consolata: A “Jesus, I love You” repairs a thousand blasphemies. The importance of this brief but powerful invocation can be understood by Jesus’ own words: “All I ask for is this: a continuous act of love: JESUS, MARY I LOVE YOU, SAVE SOULS…”

He invited Consolata to intensify the prayer, and to make no delay: “Don’t waste time: every act of love is a soul! Of all the gifts, the best gift you can offer me is a day full of love. I desire an uninterrupted Jesus, Mary I love You, save souls! from when you get up in the morning till when you go to bed at night.”

The act of love that Jesus wants is much more than lip service. It must be interiorized: with one’s mind that concentrates on loving, with one’s will that wants to love, with one’s heart that loves. The formula Jesus, Mary I love You, save souls is but a help.

To German mystic, Justine Klotz (1888-1984), the Lord inspired a similar ejaculation, with special regard for priests: “Jesus, Mary I love You, save priestly souls, save souls!” When we pray for a priest we are praying not only for him, but for the many souls under his pastoral care, for a holy priest will bring many other souls into the realm of God’s love. But they need the support of our prayer. We offer an immense gift to the Church, to ourselves and to the world when we pray for priests… and for the gift of many, holy vocations!