Gabrielle Bossis - Jesus Speaking: Heart to Heart with the King

From the Writings of Gabrielle Bossis

Edited by Maria Grace Dateno, FSP

Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data

Names: Bossis, Gabrielle, 1874-1950, author. | Dateno, Maria Grace, editor.

Title: Jesus speaking : heart to heart with the King / written by Gabrielle Bossis ; edited by Maria Grace Dateno, FSP. Other titles: Lui et moi. Selections. English. Description: Boston : Pauline Books & Media, [2019] | Excerpts are taken from He and I by Gabrielle Bossis published by Pauline Books & Media which was originally published as Lui et Moi by Beauchesne et ses Fils.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019006145 | ISBN 9780819840318 (pbk.) | ISBN 0819840319 (pbk.) | 9780819840325 (ePub)

Subjects: LCSH: Devotional calendars. | Jesus Christ--Meditations.

Classification: LCC BV4811 .B62313 2019 | DDC 242/.2--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019006145

Excerpts are taken from He and I by Gabrielle Bossis ( ditions Mdiaspaul, 250, rue. Saint-Franois Nord, Sherbrooke, QC, J1E 2B9 [Canada]). Reprinted by Pauline Books & Media. He and I is a condensed version of the original French edition Lui et Moi published by Beauchesne et ses Fils, 117 rue de Rennes, Paris.

Scripture quotations from the letters of Saint Paul are taken from the New American Bible, Revised Edition 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C., and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

All other Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover design and art by Danielle Victoria Lussier, FSP

Handlettering by Marie Heimann of Fawnly Prints

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

P and PAULINE are registered trademarks of the Daughters of St. Paul.

Copyright 2019, Daughters of St. Paul

Published by Pauline Books & Media, 50 Saint Pauls Avenue, Boston, MA 02130-3491

eBook by ePubMATIC.com

www.pauline.org

Pauline Books & Media is the publishing house of the Daughters of St. Paul, an international congregation of women religious serving the Church with the communications media.

Im a lover of books, and books have changed the course of my life on more than one occasion. Some books I read once and pass on. Other books I just cant let go of.

He and I, the classic work by Gabrielle Bossis that is the basis for this devotional, definitely falls into that second category. I came across a copy of He and I during my first year in the convent, and forty-five years later it is still one of the most beloved titles on my book shelf!

Although He and I is a conversation between Gabrielle and Jesus, as the reader I cant help but feel that Jesus is talking directly to me in a personal, intimate way. Heart to heart. Friend to friend. Lover to lover. Its something I dont think we ever outgrow: this need of our heart to hear the voice of the One we love.

People are so hungry for a real, vibrant relationship with the Lord but can be at a loss as to how to go about it. How do you pray when you feel tired and distracted? What do you read to quiet your heart and focus on Jesus? And how do you even start a conversation with Him with all the worries and problems that clamor for your attention even before your morning coffee?

Ive spent many years working in our Pauline Books & Media centers across the United States, and Ive heard countless requests for a book that could help people who

• have lost their spouses,

• just discovered they have cancer,

• have lost hope in life,

• would like to pray but dont know where to start,

• want a devotional that will get them through the day,

• have been disappointed,

• need something inspiring to give as a gift,

• need a prayer-starter for Eucharistic Adoration,

• want a book for someone who doesnt like to read (this one always has me shaking my head).

Well, I can honestly say, THIS book fits the bill for all the above!

Each one of us is special to Jesus. He wants a personal, close relationship with you and with me. The short daily text in Jesus Speaking is meant to be savored and carried in your heart. It is a collection of word gems that will open your heart to feeling loved and cherished by the Lord. And everyone longs for that because we were all made for Him.

JULIA MARY DARRENKAMP, FSP

Gabrielle Bossis was born in France in 1874, into a fairly well- to- do family. She remained single all her life and had many interests and pursuits, such as the fine arts of painting and music, horseback riding, and embroidery. She was very active in her parish and socially. During World War I, she worked as a nurse.

Later in life Gabrielle began writing, producing, and acting in plays. She traveled internationally for her work, and her plays were much in demand. During this time, her many friends and acquaintances were completely unaware of a very deep interior life that was beneath all these activities. She had always been inclined to prayer and contemplation, but beginning in her early sixties, Gabrielle frequently heard Jesus speaking to her, and she wrote down the words she understood Him to saya practice she continued until her death in 1950.

Gabrielle knew these words were intended not just for herself, but for everyone, so she anonymously published a collection of the messages toward the end of her life. It was called Lui et Moi and was very well- received. After her death, more volumes came out and were translated and distributed widely.

In English, the one- volume edition that is condensed from the several French volumes is called He and I and has become a modern classic. Even today, many people who read the words that Jesus spoke to Gabrielle feel as if these words are personally addressed to them.

Jesus Speaking is an effort to introduce new readers to these loving words by providing short selections from He and I, together with Scripture passages, for each day of the year. The index in the back of this book indicates where each He and I selection is taken from. The messages in He and I are dated according to when Gabrielle wrote them.

Below are some suggestions for using this book for daily prayer. Feel free to follow anything helpful and leave aside anything that is not.

• If you do not already have one, its good to decide on a set time for daily prayerat the same time each day, if possible. The time you spend with Jesus is vital to your spiritual life, so its better to schedule time for it and sometimes have to delay or skip it, rather than just try to fit it in between the tasks of the day. It doesnt have to be a long period of timestart with ten minutes if that is what is possible for you. Early morning before your day gets going is a good time. Another possibility is before you go to bed.