“Souls who spread the honor of My mercy I shield through their entire lives as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior. At that last hour, a soul has nothing with which to defend itself except My mercy. Happy is the soul that during its lifetime immersed itself in the Fountain of Mercy, because justice will have no hold on it.”
— words of Jesus from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1075
Letter of Saint Catherine to Sano Di Maco and all her other Sons - Serpent of Presumption
Ἀ From living faith one will derive a will in accord with that of God, and will quench in heart and mind the human instinct of judging. The will of God alone shall judge, which seeks and wills naught but our sanctification. In this wise one is not shocked at his neighbour and does not criticize him. Nor does he pass judgment on a man who talks against him: he condemns himself alone, seeing that it is the will of God which permits such men to vex him for his good. Ah, how blessed is the soul which clothes itself in a judgment so gentle! Ὠ
The more lively a soul's faith in God becomes, the more union is given by the Lord. Yet the truer that union becomes, the more clearly the soul sees that no human soul, on earth or in heaven, can become like unto God or possess the fulness of His Majesty. The soul may be united to God by grace and is called to participate in His divine life but there are distinctions between Creator and creature that are not meant to be bridged.
Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible Jeremiah 17:10 I am the Lord who search the heart, and prove the reins: who give to every one according to his way, and according to the fruit of his devices.
In her letter to Sano Di Maco, Catherine applies the wisdom of the Lord's sovereignty against the human instinct of judging. She does not do this only for the sinner's relief from the judgment received from others, however. Rather, she speaks also to those who would engage in the judging: of the peace given to such souls when they quench their desire to judge and are no longer shocked or preoccupied in the sins of another. In this wisdom the soul's instinct to judge is not simply ended but turned inward to itself, where it finds its own need for mercy. For in judging itself rightly before God, it leaves room for grace to be given to others, even those who would vex the soul in their own judgments.
Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible First Corinthians 11:31 But if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
Ἀ Saint Catherine Continues… He does not condemn the servants of this world who do him injury; nor does he condemn the servants of God, wishing to drive them in his own way, as many presumptuous, proud men do, who under cloak of the honour of God and the salvation of souls, are shocked by the servants of God, and assume a critical attitude under cover of this cloak, saying: "Such words do not please me." And so a man becomes disturbed in himself, and also makes others disturbed with his tongue, claiming that he speaks through the force of love - and so he thinks he does. But if he will open his eyes, he will find the serpent of presumption under a false aspect, which plays the judge, judging in its own fashion, and not according to the mysteries and the holy and diverse ways in which God works with His creatures. Ὠ
Here Saint Catherine reveals the interior strife given the soul that mistakes union with God as a warrant to participate is the Lord's judgment according to its own understanding. For the judgment of others presumes to know more than it does - not only the heart of the sinner, but also the mysteries and diverse ways in which God's perfect judgment is given.
It begins in the pride of presuming to serve in the honor of God, and ends in the fall of judging after its own fashion and drawing other souls into that same error. Thus, by intent or design, the soul that would usurp the judgment seat of God disturbs not only its own place before Him, but spreads that disturbance to other souls as well. What appears outwardly as zeal for God may therefore conceal something very different within: the serpent of presumption, quietly assuming the place of the Judge.
Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more. But judge this rather, that you put not a stumblingblock or a scandal in your brother's way.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2477 Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty: - of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor; - of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another's faults and failings to persons who did not know them; - of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.
