SECTION III.—How to Discover what is the Will of God. The divine action places before us at every moment things of infinite value, and gives them to us according to the measure of our faith and love. If we understood how to see in each moment some manifestation of the will of God we should […]
Continue Reading SECTION II.—By Faith the Operation of God is recognised. The more hidden the divine operation beneath an outwardly repulsive appearance, the more visible it is to the eye of faith. The soul, enlightened by faith, judges of things in a very different way to those who, having only the standard of the senses by which […]
Continue Reading SECTION I.—The Divine Action. The divine action, although only visible to the eye of faith, is everywhere, and always present. All creatures that exist are in the hands of God. The action of the creature can only be perceived by the senses, but faith sees in all things the action of the Creator. It believes […]
Continue Reading SECTION IX.—Sanctity Made Easy. Conclusion of the first chapter. How easy sanctity becomes when this doctrine is properly understood. I believe that if those souls that tend towards sanctity were instructed as to the conduct they ought to follow, they would be spared a good deal of trouble. I speak as much of people in […]
Continue Reading SECTION VIII.—To Estimate Degrees of Excellence. The perfection of souls, and the degree of excellence to which they have attained can be gauged by their fidelity to the order established by God. The will of God gives to all things a supernatural and divine value for the soul submitting to it. The duties it imposes, […]
Continue Reading SECTION VII.—On the Attainment of Peace. There is no solid peace except in submission to the divine action. The soul that does not attach itself solely to the will of God will find neither satisfaction nor sanctification in any other means however excellent by which it may attempt to gain them. If that which God […]
Continue Reading SECTION VI.—On the Use of Mental Faculties. The exercise of mental and other faculties is only useful when instrumental of the divine action. The mind with all the consequences of its activity might take the foremost rank among the tools employed by God, but has to be deputed to the lowest as a dangerous slave. […]
Continue Reading SECTION V.—The Divine Influence alone can Sanctify Us. No reading, nor any other exercise can sanctify us except in so far as they are the channels of the divine influence. Our whole science consists in recognising the designs of God for the present moment. All reading not intended for us by God is dangerous. It […]
Continue Reading SECTION IV.—In what Perfection Consists. Perfection consists in doing the will of God, not in understanding His designs. The designs of God, the good pleasure of God, the will of God, the operation of God and the gift of His grace are all one and the same thing in the spiritual life. It is God […]
Continue Reading ABSOLUTE SURRENDER A PREFACE ON THE FOUNDATION AND TRUE NATURE OF THE VIRTUE OF ABANDONMENT, TO EXPLAIN AND DEFEND Father Caussade’s Doctrine. There is no truth however clear which does not become error the moment it is lessened or exaggerated; and there is no food however salutary for the soul which may not, when ill-applied, […]
Continue Reading SECTION II.—The Duties of Each Moment. The duties of each moment are the shadows beneath which hides the divine operation. “The power of the most High shall over-shadow thee” (Luke i, 35), said the angel to Mary. This shadow, beneath which is hidden the power of God for the purpose of bringing forth Jesus Christ […]
Continue Reading SECTION I.—Hidden Operations of God. Fidelity to the order established by God comprehended the whole sanctity of the righteous under the old law; even that of St. Joseph, and of Mary herself. God continues to speak to-day as He spoke in former times to our fathers when there were no directors as at present, nor […]
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