Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/3339

3339 Spiritual power.... bread of heaven.... hunger....

November 21, 1944: Book 43

The spiritual food must be taken in by a hungry heart or it will remain ineffective. God offers nourishment to the soul, but just as the body craves earthly food, the soul must also crave heavenly food, and the degree of craving also determines the degree of effect. A hungry soul is the right receptacle for spiritual food, it will process the food from the heavens and also feel what strength and power flows towards it with the heavenly food. It will not need to starve if it only asks for it; it will also not need to restrict itself because the soul will never be surfeited with spiritual food if it fully opens itself to take spiritual food and drink. But then the body no longer seeks earthly pleasures, its desire for them diminishes the more the soul strengthens itself at the source of eternal life. For now earthly life no longer means so much to the human being that he constantly wants to provide the body with earthly pleasures. His thoughts and aspirations are the spiritual realm, spiritual nourishment and strengthening of the soul. And such a desiring person will be well provided for spiritually and also physically, for he will want for nothing because he puts the salvation of his soul before the well-being of the body and does not allow himself to be satisfied with earthly nourishment, which the body certainly needs but which contributes very little to the maturing of the soul. But if the human being desires spiritual nourishment, the physical nourishment will not be without influence on the soul's development, for then it will draw spiritual substances from everything the body consumes, which will join it and increase its spiritual strength.... Spiritual food is offered to people by God Himself directly or through His heavenly servants who are in full possession of spiritual strength and continuously distribute food and drink to those who are in need and joyfully receive their gift. Anyone who hungers and thirsts will not reject the bread of heaven either, he desires it with all his senses, for he believes that he will pine away if he is not fed, and therefore he will not indifferently receive the delicious gift which is offered to him from above.... He will ask and give thanks for every gift and never ever pass by the lord's table, for he is offered a supper which seems more delicious to him than all the goods and pleasures of the world. And he is always invited to partake, the bread of heaven is always offered to him through divine love if he has a desire for it. And anyone who has once tasted the heavenly food will not want to miss it again, for it is exceedingly delicious and places the soul into a state of maturity, for it makes it capable of working for the spiritual kingdom.... Heavenly food gives strength and endurance, courage and determination.... The human being will become strong in faith, diligent in loving activity, fearless in confessing his faith before the world and therefore active for the kingdom of God.... For all weakness will fall away from him if he accepts spiritual food which God Himself prepares for him and offers him in His love.... the bread of heaven which touches the human soul extremely effectively.... His word, which is supplied as spiritual nourishment to those who desire it and accept it with a longing heart from His hand, which is always willing to give....

Amen

Translated by Doris Boekers