Gifts of Heaven · Volume 2 · Chapter 358

In the cross germinates eternal life for soul and spirit

11th September 1846, Greifenburg

To Carl R. v. Leitner

[1] Hear Me, you My friend and brother, from your well-decorated heart! Don't make much of your somewhat weakened foot, with time it will get better. Behold, all I give, is good; but the best of all My gifts is the cross, because in it, true eternal life for soul and spirit germinates!

[2] If the trees foliate a lot, then little or no fruit will appear; but if the trees look more lean and sickly, they give a lot of fruit. Behold, therefore it is the same with man as long as he lives on this earth. If his body is completely fresh and healthy, he feels little of a need for Me and soon lets Me be, as the world says, a so-called 'good man'. But in the case of a minor physical illness, especially if the earthly doctors cannot remedy it, man is again attracted to Me as with a bond and again begins to seek help from Me, which is very healing for his spirit. For so this one again begins to grow from within and works on future fruit shoots for eternal life, which in itself is much better than a completely healthy body with a near dead spirit, from which no fruit for eternal life buds.

[3] Behold, for this reason I also leave your little foot malady to you, which indeed consists in nothing else but only a very light ribbon, which I have wrapped very gently around your foot, so that I have, so to speak, a handle in My hand to lead you truly on the leading string over the plague regions of the world, to eternal life! Therefore also this little ribbon is a little bit stubborn and can neither be smeared away by an ointment nor washed away by a bath!

[4] This serves for your reassurance and for your great consolation, so that you do not become fainthearted at times, if I sometimes hold the ribbon a little tighter. But you think thereby always, if you feel a slight discomfort in your foot: Now again My good Father in heaven has tightened the ribbon for My salvation! Therefore, to Him all My love!

[5] If you will do this more often in the heart, I will also release the rope on the foot more and more and on the other hand will grasp more firmly the bond of the heart, but the washing of the feet comes first at the rebirth of the spirit!

[6] Therewith, My blessing, My love, grace and mercy be to you forever, Amen.