November 12, 1936
Dear Grown-Up Jesus,
I love You very much. Dear Jesus, I hope that soon Holy Christmas could come to receive You in Holy Communion, but You must help me to be very good. Make Christmas come soon!
Dear Jesus, I will make many sacrifices to save many souls, and to make them not go into purgatory. Dear Jesus, help my parents, bless my sister, bless my aunt and Grandma, and make her pains pass.
Dear Jesus, who knows how beautiful that day of Holy Christmas will be, when I must receive You for the first time? I will be very happy and hope to make many sacrifices because I want to make You a beautiful room in my little heart—all full of flowers and of lilies and a nice bed to keep You very warm and snug in my heart. Dear Jesus, help that person that [...] and I entrust my own [self to you] so much. Dear Jesus, give me souls. I ask You so that You make them good, and—with my mortifications—You make them become good. Dear Jesus, make me find a good confessor. Dear Jesus, help all the world, especially Sister Bartolina. Many greetings and kisses from Your
Antonietta.
* "mortifications" = denying oneself the pleasures of the body (e.g., food) or, in Antonietta's case, self-inflicting bodily harm to either purge or prevent sin (like how Christ underwent suffering on the Cross on behalf of mankind, or how Paul would beat himself). Antonietta would often lean on her own wound to feel pain, similar to how Blessed Chiara Badano would deny offers of morphine. It's certainly "hardcore" (especially for a five-year-old) and not at all required, but meaningful in that regard.
___________________________________
12 novembre 1936
Caro Gesù Grande
Ti voglio molto bene. Caro Gesù spero che presto possa venire il Natale per riceverti nella S. Comunione ma Tu mi devi aiutare ad essere molta buona. Tu fa che venga presto il Natale!
Caro Gesù farò molto sacrifici per salvare molte anime e anche per non andare in purgatorio. Caro Gesù aiuta i miei genitori benedici alla mia sorellina, benedici a zia e nonna e falle passare i dolori
Caro Gesù chissa come sarà bello quel giorno del S. Natale che io dovrò riceverti per la prima volta e sarò molto contenta e spero di fare tanti sacrifici perché voglio farti una bella stanzetta nel mio piccolo cuore tutta piena di fiori e di gigli e un bel lettino per tenerti caldo caldo, e stretto al mio cuore. Caro Gesù aiuta quella persona che [...] e mi raccomando proprio tanto. Caro Gesù dammi delle anime Te le chiedo perché Tu le faccia buone e con le mie mortificazioni le farò diventare buone. Caro Gesù fammi trovare un bravo confessore. Caro Gesù aiuta tutto il mondo e specialmente suor Bartolina e tanti saluti e baci dalla Tua
Antonietta
YOU ARE READING
The Letters of Antonietta Meo (Translated by Austin Schulz)
Non-FictionWhether you believe in God or not, this is well worth your time. Here entails the life story and prayer letters of the Venerable Antonietta 'Nennolina' Meo (1930-1937): a six-year-old girl whose love for God and understanding of His divine Grace ins...
