Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/1477

1477 Distance from God.... self-knowledge.... union....

June 17, 1940: Book 24

In order to reduce the distance from God the human being has to be aware of his distance from Him and thus experience the separation as oppressive or painful, then he will strive to change the unsatisfactory state and thus consciously work on himself in the realization that his own state of maturity has to be raised in order to reduce the distance from God. Self-knowledge is therefore the first condition for conscious soul work, but this is least likely to be found in people, for they do not consider themselves flawed and therefore do nothing to improve their spiritual state. It is extremely difficult to shake the feeling of excellence in people, and yet this is just as necessary, for only a person who regocnizes his own shortcomings will do anything to remedy them. And again, the will for truth is absolutely necessary, for the truth-loving person gives account to himself of his thoughts and actions, and he exercises criticism, thus it is understandable that the person whose heart strives for truth is close to the right path, for his train of thought is guided such that he regocnizes himself and consequently also strives for a change in his nature. And thus, when he regocnizes his shortcomings, he becomes small and humble, he wants to rectify them and appeals to God for strength, and thus he is already approaching the eternal deity, for he wants to go to God.... He regocnizes his unworthy state and wants to escape it.... He feels that he is incapable of doing so on his own and thus requests divine grace, and now the distance from God becomes ever smaller, for when the human being receives the strength from God, which he requires for his spiritual well-being, God's love also takes hold of him and makes his heart capable of love.... And love in turn brings him ever closer to God, love finally cancels out the distance from God completely, love establishes union.... The course on earth has now finally brought about that man has given up his will striving against God and has rejoined his father from eternity of his own will, thus is redeemed from endless long bondage....

Amen

Translated by Doris Boekers