The contemplative meditations of this first of two volumes are intended for spiritually-minded readers, and most particularly for readers who want to belong to God with all their strength of mind, heart, and soul, but who do not see how such a blessed state could ever be possible for them, given what these readers know about themselves. These meditations will help such souls.The author of these meditations was a spiritual director of priests, religious and lay people in the middle decades of the 20th Century. Although living by choice in relative obscurity, he had a profound effect on the lives of many who came to him for counseling and guidance. Most of these meditations were written in Rome in the 1960-1961 timeframe, at a time of personal spiritual trial and growth. During this period of the author’s life, he became a spiritual son of Padre Pio. Before his death on All Saints’ Day in 1980, one of the priests under his spiritual direction had the opportunity to read these meditations and ask him if they might be published. His spiritual father agreed to their publication but only posthumously, and on the strict condition that their author be kept anonymous. That priest later imparted the meditations to the individual who, after decades of delay, now publishes them with a prayer that others might benefit from them as much as have he and his spiritual brothers and sisters.The following are among the private revelations that the author of these meditations received while he was in Rome and recorded in his journal.Darkness and silence, the darkness and silence of the tomb, that is what I want from you now. I will take care of everything else. Yes, the corruption of the whole world is in your flesh