Flower of Devotion

The Most Holy Virgin Love said to the venerable Mary of Jesus:

“It is certain that evil spirits have no power over souls unless the souls themselves submit to them and allow them to enter into themselves through venial or mortal sin. For mortal sin grants to evil spirits the express permission and authority to tempt man to further sins. Venial sin, on the other hand, weakens the strength of the soul, and gives the enemy greater power
to tempt. Finally, petty negligence hinders merit and progress in virtue and perfection, and thus also gives courage to the evil spirit. And when the evil spirit perceives that the soul is indifferent, or that it is recklessly exposing itself to dangers and neglecting the loss of merit, then Satan lies in wait for it and pursues it in order to wound it with his arrow and kill it with his deadly poison. Like an imprudent bird, the evil spirit drives the soul, which does not even suspect it until it finally falls into one of the many snares it has set for it.
Mourn, My daughter, for the fall of so many souls, who are mired in this dangerous slumber. They live from day to day, blinded by their passions and corrupt inclinations, unconcerned about the danger that threatens them, indifferent to their own harm. They do not take into account the opportunities for sin that lie in wait for them; And even instead of fearing and avoiding them, they seek them in their blind ignorance. They listen to their perverse tendencies to evil and follow them with mad haste, without fettering their passions and wishes. And they don’t even care where they’re going. Thus they throw themselves into every danger, into every abyss.
And the number of their enemies is exceedingly great; their cunning is satanic and insatiable; Their constant vigilance, their malice that knows no bounds. What wonder, then, that the carelessness and indifference of man, on the one hand, and the unspeakable cunning of Satan on the other, should do so great a harm to the soul, these two great opposites! Is it any wonder that, like the number of these foolish men, the number of the rejected is infinite, and that Satan boasts of so many triumphs which mortals are preparing for him for their own terrible downfall? Weep and grieve for this misfortune of your brethren, and beg continually for help, if it is possible.