You are my hope in all

things, dear Jesus.

Convert me!
Saint Josemaria
Quotations from Saint Josemaria
Conversion, Contrition, Love
Tags: Repentance, Contrition, Conversion, Holiness, Love
I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than
over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. (St Lukes Gospel, 15:7)
When am I going to convert?
My God, when am I going to convert? The Forge >
Struggle > no. 112
If you have done something wrong, be it big or
small, go running back to God!
Savour those words of the psalm, cor contritum et
humiliatum, Deus, non despicies the Lord will never
spurn or disregard a contrite and humbled heart.
The Forge > Defeat > no. 172
Now! Return to your noble life now. Dont be a fool:
now is not too soon... nor too late.
The Way > Resolutions > no. 254
Nunc coepi!
now I begin! This
is the cry of a
soul in love
which, at every
moment, whether it has been faithful or lacking in
generosity, renews its desire to serve to love! our
God with wholehearted loyalty. Furrow > The
Struggle > no. 161
You are my hope in all things, dear Jesus. Convert
me! The Forge > Defeat > no. 170
God is waiting for us
Christianity is not an easy way of life. It is not enough just to be in the Church, letting the years roll
by. In our life, in the life of Christians, our first conversion that unique moment, which each of us
remembers, when we clearly understood everything the Lord was asking of us is certainly very
significant. But the later conversions are even more important, and they are increasingly demanding.
To facilitate the work of grace in these conversions, we need to keep our soul young; we have to call
upon our Lord, know how to listen to him and, having found out what has gone wrong, and know how
to ask his pardon. Christ is Passing By > The Conversion of the Children of God > no. 57
Human life is in some way a constant returning to our Fathers house. We return through contrition,
through the conversion of heart which means a desire to change, a firm decision to improve our life
and which, therefore, is expressed in sacrifice and self-giving. We return to our Fathers house by
means of that sacrament of pardon in which, by confessing our sins, we put on Jesus Christ again
and become his brothers, members of Gods family.
God is waiting for us, like the father in the parable, with open arms, even though we dont deserve it.
It doesnt matter how great our debt is. Just like the prodigal son, all we have to do is open our heart,
to be homesick for our Fathers house, to wonder at and rejoice in the gift which God makes us of
Caravaggio, Conversion on the Way to Damascus
ersion on the Way to Damascus

Say slowly and in all
earnestness: Nunc
coepi now I begin!
El Greco, The Tears of St. Peter

being able to call ourselves his children, of really being his children, even though our response to him
has been so poor. Christ is Passing By > The Conversion of the Children of God > no. 64
Say slowly and in all earnestness: Nunc coepi now I begin! Dont
get discouraged if, unfortunately, you dont see any great change
in yourself brought about by the Lords right hand... From your
lowliness you can cry out: Help me, my Jesus, because I want to
fulfil your Will... your most lovable Will! The Forge > To fight once
more > no. 398
Love-sorrow
The experience of sin should lead us to sorrow. We should make a more mature and deeper
decision to be faithful and truly identify ourselves with Christ. Christ is Passing By > Christs death is
the Christians life > no. 96
Love-sorrow, then, and, from the depths of that sorrow and humility, we will dare to tell our Lord that
our lives also hold a lot of love; that our fault was real, but equally real is the love that he himself
places within us and that enables us to serve him with all the strength of our hearts. Say often, as a
vocal prayer, Peters act of contrition after his denials: Lord, you know all things: you know I love
you! (Jn 21: 17). Letter dated 24 March 1931, no.
24
We have to learn how to be Gods children (), so
that no matter what kind of mistakes we may make,
even the most embarrassing, we will never hesitate
to react and return to the sure path of divine filiation
which ends up in the open and welcoming arms of
our Father God. Friends of God, no. 148
Trust in God
In this adventure of love we should not be
depressed by our falls, not even by serious falls, if
we go to God in the sacrament of penance contrite
and resolved to improve. A Christian is not a
neurotic collector of good behaviour reports. Jesus
Christ our Lord was moved as much by Peters
repentance after his fall as by Johns innocence and
faithfulness. Jesus understands our weakness and
draws us to himself on an inclined plane. He wants
us to make an effort to climb a little each day. Christ
is Passing By > Interior struggle > no. 75
Now is a good time to examine how much we really
want to live as Christians, to be holy. Here is our
chance to react against our weaknesses with an act
of faith. We can trust in God and resolve to put love into the things we do each day. The experience
of sin should lead us to sorrow. We should make a more mature and deeper decision to be faithful
and truly identify ourselves with Christ. Christ is Passing By > Christs death is the Christians life >
no. 96
What I owe to God as a Christian! My failure to respond to Gods grace, in the face of that debt, has
made me weep with sorrow; with Love-sorrow. Mea culpa! through my fault!
It is good that you acknowledge your debts; but dont forget how they are paid: with tears... and with
deeds. The Way > Examination of conscience > no. 242