Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/1771

1771 Acceptance and understanding of the doctrine of salvation....

January 4, 1941: Book 27

It remains a futile endeavour to try to make the meaning of the work of redemption clear to the world, for anyone who desires the world and only gives it his attention, his thoughts and desires, will never have an understanding of anything spiritual. The work of redemption, however, is a purely spiritual matter, for it only touches the life of the human soul. The worldly man, however, has little regard for the life of his soul, he only has the well-being of his body in mind and all his endeavours are only aimed at increasing earthly goods and earthly pleasures. Trying to make him understand the value and meaning of the work of redemption is unsuccessful because he lives without faith. Worldly life and spiritual endeavour are completely separate. Worldly endeavour is the will turned towards God's adversary, spiritual endeavour testifies to the desire for God. The adversary of God will never lead his followers to the divine saviour, rather he will do everything to keep the knowledge of the work of redemption away from them, thus influencing them to reject it. Only when a person learns to despise the world and its goods does he occupy his thoughts with the divine redeemer and come closer to the question of God's incarnation. And it will always be faith in Jesus Christ where the world has lost its appeal, where it appears to man as a vain dazzle and is therefore despised. For the thought of redemption can only take hold in the human heart when this heart is free from earthly desires, when it seriously concerns itself with spiritual things, when the state of the soul worries the person, when he therefore wants to bring help to the soul. Only then does the meaning of the work of redemption become understandable to him, only then does he want to make use of the grace of the work of redemption, and he now consciously seeks contact with the divine saviour, presents all his sins to Him, asks Him for forgiveness of his guilt and commends himself to Him and His grace. Then he has turned away from God's adversary and his will consciously strives towards the divine saviour and redeemer....

Amen

Translated by Doris Boekers