Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence

by Father Jean Baptiste Saint-Jure & St. Claude de la Colombiere

Part I. Father Jean Baptiste Saint-Jure The Will of God ade and Go!erns "ll Thin#s Great "d!anta#es Gained from $ntire Conformity to the %i!ine Will The Pra&ti&e of Conformity to the Will of God

Part II. St. Claude de la Colombiere Trustful Surrender to %i!ine Pro!iden&e $'er&ise of Conformity to %i!ine Pro!iden&e

I. THE WILL OF GOD MADE AND GOVE NS ALL THINGS

by Fr. Jean Baptiste Saint-Jure (. God &ontrols all e!ents) *hether #ood or bad +o* &an God *ill or allo* e!il, Pra&ti&al e'amples -. God does e!erythin# *ith supreme *isdom Trials and punishments are blessin#s from God and proof of +is mer&y .ur trials are ne!er #reater than our stren#th to bear them Treatin# of the Will of God St. Thomas) follo*in# St. "u#ustine) tea&hes that it is the &ause of all that e'ists. ( The Psalmist tells us that /all that the 0ord *ills +e does in hea!en and on earth) in the seas and in all the deeps./ -

"#ain in the Boo1 of the "po&alypse it is *ritten2 /Worthy art thou) . 0ord our God) to re&ei!e #lory and honor and po*er3 for thou hast &reated all thin#s) and be&ause of thy will they e'isted and *ere &reated. / 4 +en&e it is the Will of God *hi&h from nothin#ness dre* out the uni!erse *ith all its #randeur and all that li!es in it) the earth *ith all that is on it and beneath it) all &reatures !isible and in!isible) li!in# and inanimate) reasonable and *ithout reason) from the hi#hest to the lo*est. If God then has produ&ed all these thin#s) as St. Paul says) according to the purpose of His will) 5 is it not supremely ri#ht and reasonable as *ell as absolutely ne&essary that they should be preser!ed and #o!erned by +im a&&ordin# to the &ounsel of +is *ill, "nd ho* &ould a thin# remain) unless you *illed it3 or be preser!ed) had it not been &alled forth by you, 6 But the works of God are perfect it is *ritten in the Canti&le of oses. 7 They are so *ell done that God +imself) *hose 8ud#ment is stri&t and ri#hteous) found *hen +e had &reated them that they *ere #ood and !ery #ood. 9 It is :uite ob!ious that He who hath founded the earth by wisdom and hath established the heavens by understanding ; &ould not sho* less perfe&tion in #o!ernin# +is *or1s than in &reatin# them. So) as +e is &areful to remind us) if his Pro!iden&e &ontinues to have care of all things) < it is in measure and number and weight) (= it is with ustice and mercy. (( !either can any man say to Him" #hy dost thou so$ (- For if +e assi#ns to +is &reatures the end that +e *ills) and &hooses the means *hi&h seem #ood to +im to lead them to it) the end +e assi#ns them must be #ood and *ise) nor &an +e dire&t them to*ards their end other than by #ood and *ise means. %herefore do not become foolish (4 the "postle tells us) but understand what the will of the &ord is" so that doing it you may receive the promise) (5 that is to say eternal happiness) for it is *ritten the world with its lust is passing away" but he who does the will of God abides forever. (6 !. GOD "ONT OLS ALL EVENTS# WHETHE GOOD O $AD >othin# happens in the uni!erse *ithout God *illin# and allo*in# it. This statement must be ta1en absolutely of e!erythin# *ith the e'&eption of sin. ?>othin# o&&urs by &han&e in the *hole &ourse of our li!es? is the unanimous tea&hin# of the Fathers and %o&tors of the Chur&h) ?and God inter!enes e!ery*here.? ' am the &ord) +e tells us +imself by the mouth of the prophet Isaias) and there is none else. ' form light and create darkness( ' make peace and create evil. '" the &ord" do all these things. (7 't is ' who bring both death and life" ' who inflict wounds and heal them) +e said to oses. (9 %he &ord killeth and maketh alive) it is *ritten in the Canti&le of "nna) the mother of Samuel) He bringeth down to the tomb and He bringeth back again( the &ord maketh

poor and maketh rich" he humbleth and he e)alteth. (; Shall there be evil @disaster) affli&tionA in a city which the &ord hath not done, (< as1s the prophet "mos2 Good things and evil" life and death" poverty and riches are from God Solomon pro&laims. -= "nd so on in numerous other passa#es of S&ripture. Perhaps you *ill say that *hile this is true of &ertain ne&essary effe&ts) li1e si&1ness) death) &old and heat) and other a&&idents due to natural &auses *hi&h ha!e no liberty of a&tion) the same &annot be said in the &ase of thin#s that result from the free *ill of man. For if) you *ill ob8e&t) someone slanders me) robs me) stri1es me) perse&utes me) ho* &an I attribute his &ondu&t to the *ill of God *ho far from *ishin# me to be treated in su&h a manner) e'pressly forbids it, So the blame) you *ill &on&lude) &an only be laid on the *ill of man) on his i#noran&e or mali&e. This is the defense behind *hi&h *e try to shelter from God and e'&use our la&1 of &oura#e and submission. It is :uite useless for us to try and ta1e ad!anta#e of this *ay of reasonin# as an e'&use for not surrenderin# to Pro!iden&e. God +imself has refuted it and *e must belie!e on +is *ord that in e!ents of this 1ind as in all others) nothin# o&&urs e'&ept by +is order and permission. 0et us see *hat the S&riptures say. +e *ishes to punish the murder and adultery &ommitted by %a!id and +e e'presses +imself as follo*s by the mouth of the prophet >athan2 #hy therefore hast thou despised the word of the &ord" to do evil in my sight$ %hou hast killed *rias the Hittite with the sword" and hast taken his wife to be thy wife" and hast slain him with the sword of the children of +mmon. %herefore the sword shall never depart from thy house" because thou hast despised me" and host taken the wife of *rias the Hittite to be thy wife. %hus saith the &ord, Behold" ' will raise up evil against thee out of thy own house" and ' will take thy wives before thy eyes and give them to thy neighbor and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou didst it secretly" but ' will do this thing in the sight of all all 'srael" and in the sight of the sun. -( 0ater *hen the Je*s by their ini:uities had #rie!ously offended +im and pro!o1ed +is *rath) +e says2 %he +ssyrian is the rod and the staff of -y anger" and -y indignation is in his hands. ' will send him to the deceitful nation" and ' will give him charge against the people of my wrath" to take away the spoils" and to lay hold on the prey" and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. -Could God more openly de&lare +imself to be responsible for the e!ils that "bsalom &aused his father and the Bin# of "ssyria the Je*s, It *ould be easy to find other instan&es but these are enou#h. 0et us &on&lude then *ith St. "u#ustine2 /"ll that happens to us in this *orld a#ainst our *ill @*hether due to men or to other &ausesA happens to us only by the *ill of God) by the

disposal of Pro!iden&e) by +is orders and under +is #uidan&e3 and if from the frailty of our understandin# *e &annot #rasp the reason for some e!ent) let us attribute it to di!ine Pro!iden&e) sho* +im respe&t by a&&eptin# it from +is hand) belie!e firmly that +e does not send it us *ithout &ause./ Ceplyin# to the murmurs and &omplaints of the Je*s *ho attributed their &apti!ity and sufferin#s to misfortune and &auses other than the *ill of God) the prophet Jeremias says to them2 #ho is he that hath commanded a thing to be done" when the &ord commandeth it not$ .o not both evil and good proceed out of the mouth of the Highest$ #hy doth a living man murmur" a man suffering for his sins$ &et us search our ways" and seek" and return to the &ord. &et us lift up our hearts with our hands to the &ord in the heavens" saying" #e have done wickedly and provoked thee to wrath( therefore thou art ine)orable. -4 "re not these *ords &lear enou#h, We should ta1e them to heart for our o*n #ood. 0et us be &areful to attribute e!erythin# to the *ill of God and belie!e that all is #uided by +is paternal hand. HOW "AN GOD WILL O ALLOW EVIL% +o*e!er) you *ill perhaps no* say) there is sinfulness in all these a&tions. +o* then &an God *ill them and ta1e part in them if +e is all-holy and &an ha!e nothin# in &ommon *ith sin, God indeed is not and &annot be the author of sin. But it must be remembered that in e!ery sin there are t*o parts to be distin#uished) one natural and the other moral. Thus) in the a&tion of the man you thin1 you ha!e a #rie!an&e a#ainst there is) for e'ample) the mo!ement of the arm that stri1es you or the ton#ue that offends you) and the mo!ement of the *ill that turns aside from ri#ht reason and the la* of God. The physi&al a&tion of the arm or the ton#ue) li1e all natural thin#s) is :uite #ood in itself and there is nothin# to pre!ent its bein# produ&ed *ith and by God?s &ooperation. What is e!il) *hat God &ould not &ooperate *ith) is the sinful intention *hi&h the *ill of man &ontributes to the a&t. When a man *al1s *ith a &rippled le# the mo!ement he ma1es &omes both from the soul and the le#) but the defe&t *hi&h &auses him to *al1 badly is only in the le#. In the same *ay all e!il a&tions must be attributed to God and to man in so far as they are natural) physi&al a&ts) but they &an be attributed only to the *ill of man in so far as they are sinful and blame*orthy. If then someone stri1es you or slanders you) as the mo!ement of the arm or ton#ue is in no *ay a sin) God &an !ery *ell be) and a&tually is) the author of it3 for e'isten&e and mo!ement in man not less than in any other &reature pro&eed not from himself but from God) *ho a&ts in him and by him. For in

Him says St. Paul) we live and move and have our being. -5 "s for the mali&e of the intention) it pro&eeds entirely from man and in it alone is the sinfulness in *hi&h God has no share but *hi&h +e yet permits in order not to interfere *ith our freedom of *ill. oreo!er) *hen God &ooperates *ith the person *ho atta&1s or robs you) +e doubtless intends to depri!e you of health or #oods be&ause you are ma1in# a *ron# use of them and they *ill be harmful to your soul. But +e does not intend that the atta&1er or robber should ta1e them from you by a sin. That is the part of human mali&e) not God?s desi#n. "n e'ample may ma1e the matter &learer. " &riminal is &ondemned to death by fair trial. But the e'e&utioner happens to be a personal enemy of his) and instead of &arryin# out the 8ud#e?s senten&e as a duty) he does so in a spirit of hate and re!en#e. .b!iously the 8ud#e has no share in the e'e&utioner?s sin. The *ill and intention of the 8ud#e is not that this sin should he &ommitted) but that 8usti&e should ta1e its &ourse and the &riminal be punished. In the same *ay God has no share at all in the *i&1edness of the man *ho stri1es or robs you. That is somethin# parti&ular to the man himself. God) as *e ha!e said) *ishes to ma1e you see your o*n faults) to humble you) depri!e you of *hat you possess) in order to free you from !i&e and lead you to !irtue3 but this #ood and mer&iful desi#n) *hi&h +e &ould &arry out in numerous other *ays *ithout any sin bein# in!ol!ed) has nothin# in &ommon *ith the sin of the man *ho a&ts as +is instrument. "nd in fa&t it is not this man?s e!il intention or sin that &auses you to suffer) humiliates or impo!erishes you) but the loss of your *ell bein#) your #ood name or your possessions. The sin harms only the person *ho is #uilty of it. This is the *ay *e ou#ht to separate the #ood from the e!il in e!ents of this 1ind) and distin#uish *hat God operates throu#h men from *hat men add to the a&t by their o*n *ill. P A"TI"AL E&AMPLES St. Gre#ory sets the same truth before us in another li#ht. " do&tor) he says orders lee&hes to be applied. While these small &reatures are dra*in# blood from the patient their only aim is to #or#e themsel!es and su&1 up as mu&h of it as they &an. The do&tor?s only intention is to ha!e the impure blood dra*n from the patient and to &ure him in this manner. There is therefore no relation bet*een the insatiable #reed of the lee&hes and the intelli#ent purpose of the do&tor in usin# them. The patient himself does not protest at their use. +e does not re#ard the lee&hes as e!ildoers. Cather he tries to o!er&ome the repu#nan&e the si#ht of their u#liness &auses and help them in their a&tion) in the 1no*led#e that the do&tor has 8ud#ed it useful for his health. God ma1es use of men as the do&tor does of lee&hes. >either should *e then stop to &onsider the e!ilness of those to *hom God #i!es po*er to a&t on us or be #rie!ed at their *i&1ed intentions) and *e should 1eep oursel!es from

feelin#s of a!ersion to*ards them. Whate!er their parti&ular !ie*s may be) in re#ard to us they are only instruments of *ell bein#) #uided by the hand of an all-#ood) all-*ise) all-po*erful God *ho *ill allo* them to a&t on us only in so far as is of use to us. It is in our interest to *el&ome instead of tryin# to repel their assaults) as in !ery truth they &ome from God. "nd it is the same *ith all &reatures of *hate!er 1ind. >ot one of them &ould a&t upon us unless the po*er *ere #i!en it from abo!e. This truth has al*ays been familiar to the minds of those truly enli#htened by God. We ha!e a &elebrated e'ample in Job. +e loses his &hildren and his possessions3 he falls from the hei#ht of fortune to the depths of po!erty. "nd he says %he &ord gave and the &ord hath taken away. +s it hath pleased the &ord" so is it done. Blessed be the name of the &ord. -6 />ote/ obser!es St. "u#ustine /Job does not say ?The 0ord #a!e and the de!il hath ta1en a*ay? but says) *ise that he is) ?The 0ord #a!e me my &hildren and my possessions) and it is +e *ho has ta1en them a*ay3 it has been done as it has pleased the 0ord.?/ The e'ample of Joseph is no less instru&ti!e. +is brothers had sold him into sla!ery from mali&e and for a *i&1ed purpose) and ne!ertheless the holy patriar&h insists on attributin# all to God?s pro!iden&e. God sent me" he says) before you into /gypt to save life. . . . God sent me before you to preserve a remnant for you in the land" and to deliver you in striking way. !ot you but God sent me here" and made me a father to 0haraoh" lord of all his house" and ruler over the land of /gypt. -7 0et us no* listen to .ur Sa!ior himself *ho &ame do*n from hea!en to tea&h us by +is *ord and e'ample. In an e'&ess of Deal Peter tries to turn +im aside from +is purpose of submittin# to +is passion and pre!ent the soldiers layin# their hands on +im. But Jesus said to him2 Shall ' not drink the cup that the Father has given me$ -9 In fa&t +e attributed the sufferin# and i#nominy of +is passion not to the Je*s *ho a&&used him) not to Judas *ho betrayed +im) nor to Pilate *ho &ondemned +im) nor to the soldiers *ho ill-treated and &ru&ified +im) nor to the de!il *ho in&ited them all) thou#h they *ere the immediate &auses of +is sufferin#s) but to God) and to God not &onsidered as a stri&t 8ud#e but as a lo!in# and belo!ed Father. 0et us ne!er then attribute our losses) our disappointments) our affli&tions) our humiliations to the de!il or to men) but to God as their real sour&e. /To a&t other*ise/ says St. %orothy) /*ould be to do the same as a do# *ho !ents his an#er on the stone instead of puttin# the blame on the hand that threw it at him./ So let us be &areful not to say ?Soand-so is the &ause of my misfortune.? Eour misfortunes are the *or1 not of this or that person but of God. "nd *hat should #i!e you reassuran&e is that God) the so!erei#n #ood) is #uided in all +is a&tions by +is most profound *isdom for holy and supernatural purposes.

'. GOD DOES EVE (THING WITH S)P EME WISDOM +ll wisdom comes from the &ord God *e find in the Boo1 of $&&lesiasti&us) and *ith him it remains fore!er) and is before all time . . . and he has poured her forth upon all his *or1s. -; How manifold are your works" 1 &ord2 e'&laims the Psalmist) 'n wisdom thou hast wrought them all. -< It &ould not be other*ise) for God) bein# infinite *isdom and a&tin# by +imself) &annot a&t e'&ept in an infinitely *ise manner. For this reason many of the %o&tors of the Chur&h hold that) ha!in# re#ard to the &ir&umstan&es) +is *or1s are so perfe&t that they &ould not be more so) and so #ood that they &ould not be better. ?We ou#ht then? says St. Basil) ?to ponder *ell on this thou#ht) that *e are the *or1 of a #ood Wor1man) and that +e dispenses and distributes to us all thin#s #reat and small *ith the *isest pro!iden&e) so that there is nothin# had) nothin# that &ould e!en be &on&ei!ed better.? %he works of the &ord are great the Psalmist a#ain says) e)3uisite in all their delights. 4= +is *isdom is espe&ially sho*n in the ri#ht proportion bet*een the means +e employs and the end +e has in !ie*. She reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well. 4( She @WisdomA #o!erns men *ith admirable order) she leads them to their happiness mi#htily but *ithout !iolen&e or &onstraint) *ith s*eetness and not only *ith s*eetness) but still more *ith &ir&umspe&tion. But though you have might at your disposal) says the Sa#e) you udge with clemency" and with much lenience you govern us. 4- Eou are endo*ed *ith an infinite stren#th that nothin# &an resist but *ith us you do not use the absolute po*er of your so!erei#n authority. Eou treat us *ith e'treme &ondes&ension and adaptin# yourself to the *ea1ness of nature) desi#n to pla&e ea&h one of us in the best and most suitable situation for *or1in# out our sal!ation. Eou dispose of us *ith #reat fa!or as persons *ho at your li!in# ima#e and of noble ori#in and *ho) be&ause of their &ondition) are not to be ordered in the !oi&e of a master as if they *ere sla!es) but *ith &are and &onsideration. Eou treat us *ith the same &ir&umspe&tion as one handles a !ase of pre&ious &rystal or fra#ile pottery for fear of brea1in# it. When it is ne&essary for our #ood for you to affli&t us or send us some illness or ma1e us suffer some loss or pain) you al*ays do so *ith a &ertain respe&t and a 1ind of deferen&e. "s a sur#eon *ho has to operate on a person of importan&e ta1es e'tra &are to &ause him as little sufferin# as possible and only *hat is stri&tly ne&essary for his re&o!ery) or as a father un*illin#ly punishes a son he lo!es dearly only be&ause he is obli#ed to do so for his son?s #ood) so God treats us as noble bein#s for *hom +e has the hi#hest re#ard) or as belo!ed &hildren whom he chastises because he loves them. 44 T IALS AND P)NISHMENTS A E $LESSINGS F OM GOD AND P OOF OF HIS ME "(

&ooking) St. Paul tells us) towards the author and finisher of faith" Jesus @the only be#otten and belo!ed Son in *hom the Father is *ell pleasedA .... 4onsider then Him #ho endured such opposition from sinners against Himself" so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. For you have not yet resisted unto blood 5as He did6 in the struggle with sin" and you have forgotten the e)hortation that is addressed to you as sons" saying" -y son" neglect not the discipline of the &ord" neither be thou weary when thou art rebuked by Him. For whom the &ord loves He chastises" and He scourges every son whom He receives. 4ontinue under discipline" for God deals with you as with sons( for what son is there whom his father does not correct$ 45 In short) the purpose for *hi&h God a&ts is a hi#h and holy one) +is o*n #lory and the #ood of +is &reatures. Infinitely #ood -- Goodness itself -- +e see1s to ma1e them all perfe&t by dra*in# them to*ards +im and ma1in# them sharers in +is di!inity as far as they are &apable. But be&ause of the &lose ties +e has established *ith us by the union of our nature *ith +is in the person of his Son) *e in a still more spe&ial manner are the ob8e&t of +is bene!olen&e and tender &are. " #lo!e is not more fitted to a hand or a s*ord to a s&abbard than *hat +e does and ordains in us and for us is suited to our stren#th and &apabilities) so that e!erythin# may ser!e to our ad!anta#e and perfe&tion if *e but &ooperate *ith the desi#ns of his pro!iden&e. O) T IALS A E NEVE G EATE THAN O) ST ENGTH TO $EA THEM %o not let oursel!es be troubled *hen *e are sometimes beset by ad!ersity) for *e 1no* that it is meant for our spiritual *elfare and &arefully proportioned to our needs) and that a limit has been set to it by the *isdom of the same God *ho has set a bound to the o&ean. Sometimes it mi#ht seem as if the sea in its fury *ould o!erflo* and flood the land) but it respe&ts the limits of its shore and its *a!es brea1 upon the yieldin# sand. There is no tribulation or temptation *hose limits God has not appointed so as to ser!e not for our destru&tion but for our sal!ation. God is faithful says the "postle) and will not permit you to be tempted @or affli&tedA beyond your strength) 46 but it is ne&essary for you to be so) sin&e through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God 47 in the steps of our 7edeemer who said of Himself" .id not the 4hrist have to suffer all these things before entering into His glory$ 49 'f you refused to accept these tribulations you would be acting against your best interests. 8ou are like a block of marble in the hands of the sculptor. %he sculptor must chip" hew and smooth it to make it into a statue that is a work of art. God wishes to make us the living image of Himself. +ll we need to think of is to keep still in His hands while He works on us" and we can rest assured that the chisel will never strike the slightest blow that is not needed for His purposes and our sanctification( for" as St. 0aul says" the will of God is your sanctification. 4;

THE G EAT ADVANTAGES TO $E GAINED F OM ENTI E "ONFO MIT( TO THE DIVINE WILL (. an san&tifies himself by this &onformity -. Conformity to God?s *ill ma1es us happy in this life as *ell .ur san&tifi&ation is God?s aim in all +is dealin#s *ith us. What *ould +e not do for +is o*n honor and our #ood if *e *ould only let +imF The hea!ens ma1e no resistan&e to the spirits that #uide them and their motion is ma#nifi&ent) orderly and useful3 they de&lare aloud the #lory of God and preser!e order in the uni!erse by their influen&e and the in!ariable su&&ession of day and ni#ht. If they resisted this #uidan&e and instead of follo*in# the motion set for them they follo*ed a different one) they *ould soon fall into the utmost &onfusion and destroy the *orld. It is the same *hen the *ill of man lets itself be #uided by God?s *ill. Then all that is in this mi&ro&osm) this /little *orld)/ all the fa&ulties of the soul and members of the body are in the most perfe&t harmony and re#ular motion. But man :ui&1ly loses all these ad!anta#es and falls into the utmost &onfusion on&e he opposes his *ill to God?s and turns aside from it. !. MAN SAN"TIFIES HIMSELF $( THIS "ONFO MIT( In *hat does the san&tifi&ation of man and his perfe&tion &onsist, /Some/ says St. Fran&is of Sales /pla&e it in austerity) others in #i!in# to &harity) others in fre:uentin# the sa&raments) others in prayer. But for my part I 1no* no other perfe&tion than lo!in#God *ith all one?s heart. Without this lo!e all the !irtues are only a heap of stones./ The truth of this &annot be doubted. The S&riptures are full of it. %hou shalt love the &ord thy God with thy whole heart" thy whole soul and thy whole mind. %his is the greatest and the first commandment .ur 0ord tells us. 4< "nd St. Paul2 +bove all these things have charity" which is the bond of perfection. 5= In the same *ay that !irtue is ennobled and perfe&ted by the lo!e of God) /so li1e*ise/ says Codri#ueD follo*in# St. Chrysostom) /the hi#hest) purest and most e'&ellent part of this lo!e is absolute &onformity to the di!ine *ill and ha!in# in all thin#s no other *ill but God?s./ For) as theolo#ians tea&h *ith Pseudo-%ionysius and St. Jerome) /the &hief effe&t of lo!e is to unite the hearts of those *ho lo!e ea&h other so that they ha!e the same *ill./ +en&e the more *e submit to God?s desi#ns for us) the more *e ad!an&e to*ards perfe&tion. When *e resist *e #o ba&1*ards. /Whoe!er ma1es a habit of prayer/ says the #reat St. Teresa of "!ila) /should thin1 only of doin# e!erythin# to &onform his *ill to God?s. Be assured that in this &onformity &onsists the hi#hest perfe&tion *e &an attain) and those *ho pra&ti&e it *ith the #reatest &are *ill be fa!ored by God?s #reatest #ift and *ill ma1e the :ui&1est pro#ress in the interior life. %o not ima#ine there

are other se&rets. "ll our #ood &onsists in this./ It is related of Blessed Stephanie of Son&ino) a %omini&an nun) that she *as one day &arried in spirit to +ea!en to see the happiness of the saints. She sa* their souls min#lin# *ith the &hoirs of an#els a&&ordin# to ea&h one?s de#ree of merit) and noti&ed amon# the Seraphim se!eral persons she had 1no*n before their deaths. +a!in# as1ed *hy these souls *ere raised to su&h a hi#h de#ree of #lory) she *as told it *as be&ause of the &onformity and perfe&t union of their *ill *ith God?s *hile they li!ed on earth. >o*) if this &onformity to the *ill of God raises souls to the hi#hest de#ree of #lory in hea!en amon# the Seraphim) it must be &on&luded that it raises them on earth to the hi#hest de#ree of #ra&e and on it is founded the hi#hest perfe&tion man &an attain. Sin&e it is the most perfe&t a&t of &harity and the most pleasin# and a&&eptable sa&rifi&e that is #i!en to man to offer to God) there &an be no doubt that *hoe!er pra&ti&es entire submission to +is *ill lays up inestimable treasures at e!ery moment and amasses more ri&hes in a fe* days than others are able to a&:uire in many years and *ith #reat labor. To remain indifferent to #ood fortune or to ad!ersity by a&&eptin# it all from the hand of God *ithout :uestionin#) not to as1 for thin#s to be done as *e *ould li1e them but as God *ishes) to ma1e the intention of all our prayers that God?s *ill should be perfe&tly a&&omplished in oursel!es and in all &reatures is to find the se&ret of happiness and &ontent. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him says the Psalmist) He hears their cry and saves them. %he &ord keeps all who love him. 5( "nd a#ain2 #e know that for those who love God all things work together unto good. 5'. "ONFO MIT( TO GOD*S WILL MA+ES )S HAPP( IN THIS LIFE AS WELL The &onformin# of our *ill to God?s is not limited to the attainment of our eternal sal!ation. It also has the effe&t of ma1in# us happy on this earth. It *ill #i!e us the most perfe&t pea&e it is possible to e'perien&e in life and is the means of ma1in# this *orld a foretaste of hea!en. 1 that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments2 God said to Israel) %hy peace had been as a river. 54 $liphaD) one of Job?s three friends) li1e*ise says to him2 4ome to terms with him to be at peace... for then you shall delight in the +lmighty and you shall lift up your face towards God. 55 It is this that the an#els san# at the birth of our Sa!ior2 Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will. 56 Who are these men of #ood *ill but those *hose *ills are in harmony *ith the supremely #ood *ill of God, " *ill that is other*ise disposed must ne&essarily be a bad *ill) in&apable of obtainin# the pea&e promised to men of #ood *ill.

In order for us to en8oy pea&e and &alm *e need to ha!e nothin# opposin# our *ill and e!erythin# done in the *ay *e *ant it. But *ho &an e'pe&t to ha!e su&h happiness e'&ept the man *hose *ill is entirely &onformed to the *ill of God, 7emember the former age for ' am God and there is no God besides.... #ho show from the beginning the things that shall be at last" and from ancient times the things that as yet are not done" saying, -y counsel shall stand" and all -y will shall be done. 57 $!ery *ill that tries to oppose the *ill of God is bound to be o!er&ome and bro1en) and instead of pea&e and happiness its effort &an only end in humiliation and bitterness. God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. #ho has withstood him and remained unscathed$ 59 +e) and he alone) *hose *ill is perfe&tly united to God?s possesses the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. 5; +e alone &an say *ith God +imself all my will shall be done) be&ause *ishin# all that God *ishes and only *hat God *ishes) his *ishes are al*ays fulfilled and nothin# &an happen that he does not *ish. !o harm befalls the ust) 5< or disturbs the serenity of his mind) for if he has e'a&tly *hat he *ishes) he &annot be unhappy in spite of himself. It is ob!ious that unhappiness &omes not from *hat others feel but from *hat *e feel oursel!es. Whate!er our situation is) *e must be happy if *e are 8ust as *e *ish to be. Certainly *e *ill still feel pain and sorro*) but they affe&t us only in the lo*er part of our bein# *ithout bein# able to influen&e the mind. .bedient and resi#ned to the *ill of +is Father) our Sa!ior did not &ease to be filled *ith the utmost 8oy and happiness in the midst of the most #rie!ous sufferin#s it is possible to ima#ine. It &annot be denied ho*e!er that human nature finds the idea of sufferin#) humiliation) e!en po!erty) almost in&ompatible *ith the idea of happiness) so that it is really a mira&le of #ra&e *hen *e &an be happy in su&h &ir&umstan&es. But this mira&le al*ays mer&ifully a&&ompanies the sa&rifi&es of one *ho see1s to do the *ill of God in all thin#s) for it is to God?s honor and #lory that those *ho #i!e themsel!es #enerously to +is ser!i&e should be &ontent *ith their lot. It may perhaps be as1ed ho* it is possible to re&on&ile this *ith the *ords of Christ2 'f anyone wishes to come after me" let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow -e. 6= If in this pla&e our di!ine aster re:uires +is dis&iples to deny themsel!es and &arry +is &ross after +im) else*here +e promises solemnly to #i!e them not only life everlasting but a hundredfold all thin#s they deny themsel!es to please +im in this life. 6( +e further promises to ease the burden of +is &ross so as to li#hten it3 for +e not only says that His yoke is sweet but adds that His burden is light. 6- If then *e do not

e'perien&e the s*eetness of Christ?s yo1e nor the li#htness of the burden of the &ross) it must be be&ause *e ha!e not yet made the denial of our *ill and &ompletely #i!en up our human outloo1 so as to &onsider thin#s in the li#ht of faith. This di!ine li#ht *ould enable us to give thanks to God in all things 64 as *e are tau#ht by St. Paul +e re:uires of us. It *ould be for us the be#innin# of that #reat oy that the "postle ur#es us to ha!e al*ays. 65 THE P A"TI"E OF "ONFO MIT( TO THE WILL OF GOD In the natural in&idents in our daily li!es In publi& &alamities In the &ares and diffi&ulties of family life In re!erses of fortune In po!erty and its hardships In ad!ersity and dis#ra&e In defe&ts of nature In si&1ness and infirmity In death and the manner of it In the loss of spiritual &onsolation In the &onse:uen&es of our sins In interior trials In spiritual fa!ors Summary and &on&lusion To the :uestion) /In *hat thin#s should *e pra&ti&e &onformity to the *ill of God,/ there &an be only one ans*er2 /In e!erythin#./ The first thin# that God as1s of us is that *e should faithfully 1eep +is &ommandments and those of the Chur&h) humbly obey those *ho ha!e authority o!er us) and &arefully fulfill the duties of our state. Thereafter *e should desire *hat God does and a&&ept *ith filial submission all that is de&ided by +is Pro!iden&e. 0et us no* see some of the &ir&umstan&es *hi&h may arise. !. IN THE NAT) AL IN"IDENTS OF O) DAIL( LIVES In a spirit of &onformity to +is holy *ill *e should a&&ustom oursel!es for the lo!e of God to puttin# up *ith all the little daily !e'ations) su&h as a *ord said that *ounds our self-esteem) a fly that annoys us) the bar1in# of a do#) 1no&1in# into somethin# as *e *al1 alon#) a small a&&idental hurt) a li#ht suddenly #oin# out) a rent in our &lothes) a pen that *on?t *rite) and so on. In one *ay it is e!en more important to pra&ti&e &onformity to God?s *ill in these small thin#s than in lar#er ones) both be&ause they are more fre:uent

and be&ause the habit of supportin# them in a Christian spirit prepares us in ad!an&e and in a natural manner to sho* resi#nation *hen *e ha!e to fa&e serious diffi&ulties. We should *ish *ith the di!ine *ill for heat and &old) storm and &alm) and all the !a#aries and in&lemen&ies of the elements. We should in short a&&ept *hate!er 1ind of *eather God sends us) instead of supportin# it *ith impatien&e or an#er as *e usually do *hen it is &ontrary to *hat *e desire. We should a!oid sayin#) for instan&e) /What a*ful heatF/ /What terrible &oldF/ /What sho&1in# *eatherF/ /Just my bad lu&1F/ and other e'pressions of the same 1ind *hi&h only ser!e to sho* our la&1 of faith and of submission to God?s *ill. >ot only should *e *ish the *eather to be as it is be&ause God has made it so but) *hate!er in&on!enien&e it may &ause us) *e should repeat *ith the three youths in the fiery furna&e2 4old" heat" snow and ice" lightnings and clouds" winds and tempests" bless the &ord( praise and e)alt him above all forever. 66 The elements themsel!es are blessin# and #lorifyin# God by doin# +is holy *ill) and *e also should bless and #lorify +im in the same *ay. Besides) e!en if the *eather is in&on!enient for us) it may be &on!enient for someone else. If it pre!ents us from doin#*hat *e *ant to do) it may be helpin# another. "nd e!en if it *ere not so) it should be enou#h for us that it is #i!in# #lory to God and that it is God *ho *ishes it to be as it is. St. Fran&is Bor#ia) the third General of the So&iety of Jesus) pro!ides us a #ood e'ample in this matter. +e *as on&e tra!elin# to a house of the So&iety *hen it *as sno*in# hard and bitterly &old) and his arri!al *as delayed until a late hour of the ni#ht *hen e!erybody *as in bed and asleep. +e had to *ait some time before his 1no&1in# aroused someone to let him in) and then to the apolo#ies for 1eepin# him *aitin# so lon# in su&h foul *eather he ans*ered &heerfully that it *as a #reat &onsolation to him to thin1 that it *as God *ho had dropped so mu&h sno* on him. This pra&ti&e of &onformity to +is *ill is so pleasin# to God that it often has a !isible influen&e on the material thin#s of life. There is a story in the 0i!es of the %esert Fathers of a laborer *hose fields al*ays #a!e better &rops than those of his nei#hbors. When as1ed the reason he replied that he al*ays had *hate!er 1ind of season or *eather he &hose. /I ne!er *ish for any other 1ind of *eather but *hat God *ishes/ he e'plained) /and as I *ish for e!erythin# that pleases God) +e too #i!es me the sort of &rop that pleases me./ '. IN P)$LI" "ALAMITIES We ou#ht to &onform to God?s *ill in all publi& &alamities su&h as *ar)

famine and pestilen&e) and re!eren&e and adore +is 8ud#ments *ith deep humility in the firm belief that) ho*e!er se!ere they may seem) the God of infinite #oodness *ould not send su&h disasters unless some #reat #ood *ere to result from them. Consider ho* many souls may be sa!ed throu#h tribulation *hi&h *ould other*ise be lost) ho* many persons throu#h affli&tion are &on!erted to God and die *ith sin&ere repentan&e for their sins. What may appear a s&our#e and punishment is often a si#n of #reat #ra&e and mer&y. "s far as *e are personally &on&erned) let us meditate *ell on this truth of our faith that the very hairs of our head are numbered) 67 and not one of them *ill fall e'&ept by the *ill of God. In other *ords *e &annot suffer the least harm unless +e *ills and orders it. Celyin# on this truth *e &an easily understand that *e ha!e nothin# more or less to fear in times of publi& &alamity than at any other time. God &an 8ust as easily prote&t us in the midst of #eneral ruin and despair as +e &an deli!er us from e!il *hile all around is pea&e and &ontent. The only thin# *e need to be &on&erned about is to #ain +is fa!or) and this is the ine!itable effe&t of &onformin# our *ill to +is. 0et us therefore hasten to a&&ept from +is hand all that +e sends us) and as a result of our trustful surrender +e *ill either &ause us to #ain the #reatest ad!anta#es from our misfortunes or else spare us them alto#ether. ,. IN THE "A ES AND DIFFI")LTIES OF FAMIL( LIFE If you are the father or mother of a family) you ou#ht to &onform your *ill to God?s *ith re#ard to the number or se' of the &hildren +e pleases to #i!e you. When men *ere animated by the spirit of faith they re#arded a lar#e family as a #ift of God and a blessin# from hea!en) and &onsidered God more than themsel!es as the father of their &hildren. But no* that faith has *ea1ened and people li!e isolated from God) or if they thin1 of +im at all it is mostly to fear +im and hardly e!er to ha!e trust in +is pro!iden&e) they are redu&ed to bearin# the burden of their families alone. "nd as a man?s resour&es) ho*e!er ample and assured they may seem) are al*ays limited and un&ertain) e!en those *ho are most fa!ored by fortune !ie* *ith dismay an in&rease in their family. They re#ard it as a 1ind of disaster *hi&h fills them *ith apprehension) an endless sour&e of *orry to poison their e'isten&e. +o* different it *ould be if *e realiDed God?s paternal treatment of those *ho submit to +im *ith filial trustF If *e did so *e should realiDe also *hat St. Paul meant *hen he said that God is able to make all grace abound in you" so that always having ample means" you may abound in every good work. 69 To obtain the help of Pro!iden&e it should be your aim to &ooperate) as it *ere) *ith the Fatherhood of God and brin# up your &hildren as +e *ould *ish them brou#ht up) espe&ially by sho*in# them #ood e'ample. +a!e the &oura#e to lay aside all other ambition and let this be the only ob8e&t of your

&are and desire. Then) *hate!er the number of your &hildren) you &an rest assured that their hea!enly Father *ill pro!ide for them. +e *ill *at&h o!er them and dispose all thin#s for their happiness and *elfare) and the more unreser!edly you entrust their future to +is hands) the #reater *ill be +is lo!in# &are for them. "!oid *orryin#) then) about anythin# else for your &hildren e'&ept *hate!er may &ontribute to brin#in# them up !irtuously. For the rest... ha!in# entrusted them to God try to see *hat +is *ill for them is) to help them alon# the path in life +e has &hosen for them. >e!er be afraid of relyin# too mu&h on +im) but rather see1 al*ays to in&rease your trust more and more) for this is the most pleasin# homa#e you &an pay +im and it *ill be the measure of the #ra&es you *ill re&ei!e. 0ittle or mu&h *ill be #i!en you a&&ordin# as you ha!e e'pe&ted little or mu&h. -. IN EVE SES OF FO T)NE We should a&&ept *ith the same &onformity to the *ill of God the loss of employment or money and all other set-ba&1s in our temporal affairs) repeatin# *ith faith the *ords of Job2 %he &ord has given and the &ord has taken away( as it has pleased the &ord" so is it done. Blessed be the name of the &ord2 What does it matter *hy those *ho are the instruments of your re!erse of fortune ha!e a&ted as they ha!e done, The re!olt of "bsalom and the &urses of Semei *ere dire&ted a#ainst %a!id for a politi&al purpose but this did not pre!ent him from attributin# them) ri#htly) to the *ill of God. The misfortunes of Job *ere brou#ht about by the de!il be&ause he *as a 8ust and God-fearin# man. In the times of perse&ution Christians *ere depri!ed of ran1 and position) despoiled of their possessions) torn from their families) thro*n into prison and sent to e'e&ution all for their reli#ious &on!i&tions and faith in Christ. Far from &omplainin#) they went their way) li1e the apostles) re oicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 6; Whate!er the e'&use for the perse&ution you may be made to suffer) and espe&ially if it is be&ause of your reli#ion) a&&ept it all *ithout hesitation as &omin# from the understandin# and paternal hand of your Father *ho is in hea!en. It is the same *ith re#ard to money matters. Eou may find yourself obli#ed to ma1e a payment you &onsider un8ust -- somethin# you ha!e already paid but &annot pro!e) the forfeit of a se&urity you ha!e #i!en for someone) or ta'es you &onsider e'&essi!e) or anythin# of this nature. If the payment &an be) and is) la*fully re:uired of you) then it is the *ill of God you should pay it. It is +e *ho is as1in# you for the money and it is to +im you are really #i!in# it *hen you bo* to the ne&essity in a spirit of submission to +is *ill. Those *ho a&t in this *ay &an be assured of +is manifold #ra&es. 0et us ta1e the &ase of t*o persons. .ne) out of a spirit of &onformity perhaps e'&essi!e) perhaps :uite unfair) but *hi&h his &reditor has the po*er to demand. The

other) of his o*n free &hoi&e) #i!es an e:ual sum to &harity. It is *ell 1no*n *hat #reat ad!anta#es) e!en in this life) are to be #ained from #i!in# to &harity) but the person *ho ma1es a sa&rifi&e of his money not of his o*n a&&ord or to some one he &hooses to #i!e it) but out of a spirit of &onformity to God?s *ill) is performin# an e!en more profitable a&t. By the !ery fa&t that it is a#ainst his *ill) the a&t is purer and more a#reeable in the si#ht of God) and if it &an be said that from the e'perien&es of all a#es &harity brin#s do*n upon man the abundant blessin# of God) it &an also be said *ithout e'a##eration that su&h an a&t as has been des&ribed brin#s do*n still more abundant blessin#s. .. IN POVE T( AND ITS HA DSHIPS We ou#ht to &onform to God?s *ill in po!erty and all the in&on!enien&es po!erty brin#s in its train. It is not too hard to do so if *e fully realiDe that God *at&hes o!er us as a father o!er his &hildren and puts us in that &ondition be&ause it is of most !alue to us. Po!erty then ta1es on a different aspe&t in our eyes) for by loo1in# on the pri!ations it imposes as salutary remedies *e e!en &ease to thin1 of oursel!es as poor. If a ri&h man has a son in bad health and pres&ribes a stri&t diet for him) does the son thin1 he has to eat small amounts of plain or tasteless food be&ause his father &annot afford better, %oes he be#in to *orry about ho* he *ill e'ist in the future,Will other people thin1 that be&ause of his diet he has be&ome poor, $!erybody 1no*s ho* *ell off his father is and that he shares in his father?s *ealth and he *ill a#ain ha!e *hat is no* forbidden him as soon as his health is restored. "re *e not the &hildren of the God of ri&hes) the &o-heirs of Christ, Bein# so) is there anythin# *e &an la&1, 0et it be said boldly2 *hoe!er responds to +is di!ine adoption *ith the feelin#s of lo!e and trust that the position of bein# &hildren of God demands has a ri#ht) here and no*) to all that God +imself possesses. $!erythin# then is ours. But it is not e'pedient *e should en8oy e!erythin#. It is often ne&essary *e should be depri!ed of many thin#s. 0et us be &areful not to &on&lude from the pri!ations imposed on us only as remedies that *e may e!er be in *ant of anythin# that is to our ad!anta#e. 0et us firmly belie!e that if anythin# is ne&essary or really useful for us) our all-po*erful Father *ill #i!e it to us *ithout fail. To those #athered round to hear +im our Sa!ior said2 'f you evil as you are" know how to give good gifts to your children" how much more will your heavenly Father...$ 6< This is an un:uestionable truth of our holy faith) and any doubt about it) throu#h la&1 of &onfiden&e on our part) &an only be blame*orthy and an insult to Christ *ho a#ain and a#ain made the most definite promises about

the matter. .o not be an)ious for your life" what you shall eat He tells us" nor yet for your body" what you shall put on. &ook at the birds of the air( they do not sow or reap or gather into barns" yet your heavenly Father feeds them. +re not you of much more value than they$... +nd as for clothing" why are you an)ious$ 4onsider how the lilies of the field grow( they neither toil nor spin" yet ' say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field" which flourishes today but tomorrow is thrown into the oven" how much more you" 1 you of little faith2 %herefore do not be an)ious" saying" 9#hat shall we eat$9 or 9#hat shall we drink$ or 9#hat are we to put on$9" for after all these things the Gentiles seek( but your Father knows that you need all these things. 7= +e has #i!en +is *ord and there is only one &ondition atta&hed -- that *e seek first the kingdom of God and his ustice) that *e ma1e this sear&h the one #reat aim of our li!es by brin#in# e!erythin# else into relation *ith it to ma1e it su&&essful and fulfill our e!ery duty *ith this end in !ie*. In return for this +e *ill unburden us of all an'iety) +e *ill ta1e upon +imself all our needs and the needs of those *ho belon# to us or for *hom *e ha!e to pro!ide) and +is &are *ill be all the #reater in proportion to the de#ree of &onfiden&e and surrender to +is *ill *e stri!e to attain. %o *e then for lo!e of +im #i!e up the desire to possess the perishable #oods of this *orld, By !irtue of another of Christ?s promises these #oods a hundredfold) as *ell as eternal life) are assured us in this life) and as a result *e shall be ri&h *hile *e are 8ud#ed to be poor. Freed from the thirst for *ealth) from the possession of it and the burden that a&&ompanies it) *e shall en8oy a pea&e and &ontentment un1no*n to those *ho) appearin# to possess ri&hes) are in reality possessed by them and &annot es&ape the &ares they brin#*ith them. In this *ay *e shall e'perien&e the truth of St. Paul?s *ords that godliness has the promise of the present life as well as of that which is to come. 7( /. IN ADVE SIT( AND DISG A"E We ou#ht to &onform to the *ill of God in ad!ersity as *ell as in prosperity) in humiliation as *ell as in honor) in dis#ra&e as *ell as in respe&t. We should *illin#ly a&&ept all thin#s as bein# the orderin# of Pro!iden&e) so as to #i!e God by our submission the honor due to +im) and at the same time attain *ithout fail our #reatest #ood. When %a!id left Jerusalem to es&ape the atta&1 of his son "bsalom) the "r1 of the Co!enant *as &arried after him by the order of Sado& the +i#h Priest so that it mi#ht ser!e as a safe#uard for the 1in# in his imminent dan#er and be a pled#e of his safe return. But %a!id told Sado& to ta1e the ar1 ba&1) be&ause God *ould see to his return if +e so *ished) and then he added2 But if the &ord shall say to me, 9%hou pleasest me not9 -- I ha!e *ithdra*n my fa!or from you) I *ill not ha!e you rei#n lon#er o!er my people) I *ill ta1e

a*ay your po*er and #i!e it to your enemy -- ' am ready. &et him do that which is good before Him. 7We should say the same in *hate!er &ir&umstan&es *e find oursel!es) and abo!e all ta1e &are not to refuse on the spe&ious prete't that *e are not &apable of su&h heroi& resi#nation. God +imself *ill a&&omplish it in us pro!ided *e do not oppose resistan&e to +is #ra&e. This is the point of the story that Cassian tells us about the old man *ho *as atta&1ed by a mob of pa#ans in "le'andria. +e remained &alm and unruffled in spite of insults and blo*s. Someone as1ed him mo&1in#ly *hat mira&les Christ had *or1ed. /+e has 8ust *or1ed one/ the old man replied) /for in spite of all you ha!e done to me) I ha!en?t been an#ry *ith you or the least bit upset./ 0. IN DEFE"TS OF NAT) E .ur &onformity to the *ill of God should e'tend to our natural defe&ts) mental ones in&luded. We should not) for e'ample) &omplain or feel #rie!ed at not bein# so &le!er or so *itty or not ha!in# su&h a #ood memory as other people. Why should *e &omplain of the little that has fallen to our lot *hen *e ha!e deser!ed nothin# of *hat God has #i!en us, Is not all a free #ift of +is #enerosity for *hi&h *e are #reatly indebted to +im, What ser!i&es has +e re&ei!ed from us that +e should ha!e made us a human bein# rather than some lo*er animal, +a!e *e done anythin# to obli#e +im to #i!e us e'isten&e itself, But it is not enou#h 8ust not to &omplain. We ou#ht to be &ontent *ith *hat *e ha!e been #i!en and desire nothin# more. What *e ha!e is suffi&ient be&ause God has 8ud#ed it so. Just as a *or1man uses the shape and siDe of tool best suited to the 8ob in hand) so God #i!es us those :ualities *hi&h are in a&&ordan&e *ith the desi#ns +e has for us. The important thin# is to use *ell *hat +e has #i!en us. It may be added that it is !ery fortunate for some people to ha!e only medio&re :ualities or limited talents. The measure of them that God has #i!en *ill sa!e them) *hile they mi#ht be ruined if they had more. Superiority of talent !ery often only ser!es to en#ender pride and !anity and so be&ome a means of perdition. 1. SI"+NESS AND INFI MIT( We ou#ht to &onform to the *ill of God in si&1ness and infirmity and *ish for *hat +e sends us) both at the time it &omes and for the time it lasts and *ith all the &ir&umstan&es attendin# it) *ithout *ishin# for one of them to be &han#ed3 and at the same time do all that is reasonable in our po*er to #et *ell a#ain) be&ause God *ishes it so. /For my part/ says St. "lphonsus) /I &all illness the tou&hstone of the spirit) for it is then that the true !irtue of a

man is dis&o!ered./ If *e feel oursel!es be&omin# impatient or rebellious *e should endea!or to repress su&h feelin#s and be deeply ashamed of any attempt at opposition to the 8ust de&rees of an all-*ise God. St. Bona!enture relates that St. Fran&is of "ssisi *as affli&ted by an illness *hi&h &aused him #reat pain. .ne of his follo*ers said to him) /"s1 .ur 0ord to treat you a little more #ently) for it seems to me +e lays +is hand too hea!ily upon you./ +earin# this the saint #a!e a &ry and addressed the man in these *ords2 /If I did not thin1 that *hat you ha!e 8ust said &omes from the simpli&ity of your heart *ithout any e!il intention I *ould ha!e no more to do *ith you) be&ause you ha!e been so rash as to find fault *ith *hat God does to me./ Then) thou#h he *as !ery *ea1 from the len#th and !iolen&e of his illness) he thre* himself do*n from the rou#h bed he *as lyin# on) at the ris1 of brea1in# his bones) and 1issin# the floor of his &ell said /I than1 you) . 0ord) for all the sufferin#s you send me. I be# you to send me a hundred times more if you thin1 it ri#ht. I shall re8oi&e if it pleases you to affli&t me *ithout sparin# me in any *ay) for the a&&omplishment of your holy *ill is my #reatest &onsolation./ "nd in fa&t if) as St. $phraim obser!es) a mule-dri!er 1no*s ho* mu&h his mule &an &arry and does not try to 1ill it by o!erloadin# it) and if the potter 1no*s ho* lon# the &lay should ba1e to be suitable for use and does not lea!e it lon#er in the 1iln than is ne&essary) then it *ould sho* !ery little appre&iation of God to !enture to thin1 that +e *ho is *isdom itself and lo!es us *ith an infinite lo!e *ould load our ba&1s *ith too hea!y a burden or lea!e us lon#er than is ne&essary in the fire of tribulation. We &an be :uite sure that the fire *ill not last lon#er or be hotter than is ne&essary to ba1e our &lay to the ri#ht point. 2. IN DEATH AND THE MANNE OF IT We ou#ht to &arry our &onformity to God?s *ill to the point of a&&eptin# our death. That *e shall die is a de&ree a#ainst *hi&h there is no appeal. We shall die on the day and at the hour and in the manner that God de&ides) and it is this parti&ular death *e should a&&ept) be&ause it is the one most be&omin# +is #lory. .ne day *hen St. Gertrude *as &limbin# a hill she slipped and fell do*n to the bottom. She *as unhurt and be#an to &limb up a#ain sayin#2 /What #reat happiness it *ould ha!e been for me) . 0ord) if this fall had been the means of brin#in# me sooner to theeF/ +er &ompanions as1ed her if she *as not afraid of dyin# *ithout re&ei!in# the last sa&raments. /I *ould &ertainly *ish *ith all my heart to re&ei!e them in my last moments)/ she ans*ered) /but I mu&h prefer the *ill of God) for I am sure the best disposition for a #ood death is submission to +is *ill. So I desire only the death by *hi&h +e *ishes me to &ome to +im) and I am &onfident that in *hate!er *ay I die) +is mer&y *ill not fail me./

$!en more) it is the tea&hin# of #reat masters of the spiritual life that a person *ho) at the point of death) ma1es an a&t of perfe&t &onformity to the *ill of God *ill be deli!ered not only from hell but also from pur#atory) e!en if he has &ommitted all the sins in the *orld. /The reason)/ says St. "lphonsus) /is that he *ho a&&epts death *ith perfe&t resi#nation a&:uires similar merit to that of a martyr *ho has !oluntarily #i!en his life for Christ) and e!en amid the #reatest sufferin#s he *ill die happily and 8oyfully./ !3. IN THE LOSS OF SPI IT)AL "ONSOLATION We ou#ht to pra&ti&e &onformity to the *ill of God *hen *e are depri!ed of those e'terior aids to our spiritual *ell-bein# that +e pleases to*ithdra* from us. For e'ample a friend or &ounsellor on *hom you rely for help and en&oura#ement is ta1en a*ay from you and you seem unable to #et alon# *ithout him. There is) in fa&t) some truth in *hat you feel) in that you really need the help of someone) and the friend or &ounsellor had been #i!en to you for that !ery reason. But does God lo!e you less no* than +e did *hen +e made the #ift, Is +e no lon#er your Father, .r does su&h a Father as +e is desert +is &hildren, Eour #uide and friend has been of !alue to you so far) but is he the ri#ht person to help you in *hat you are &alled to do no*, Christ our di!ine aster said of +imself to +is apostles 't is e)pedient for you that ' depart" for if ' do not go" the +dvocate will not come to you" but if ' go ' will send him to you. 74 Who then &an !enture to say that it is not an ad!anta#e for him to lose a friend or spiritual ad!iser) ho*e!er e'&ellent) *ise or holy he may be, But) you may ans*er) ho* do I 1no* it is not a punishment my sins ha!e brou#ht on me, It may *ell be so) but the punishments of a father be&ome salutary remedies for obedient &hildren. If you *ish to stay the an#er of your hea!enly Father) soften +is heart and e!en obli#e +im to send you fresh #ra&es) then a&&ept your punishment) and in return for your trustful surrender to +im +e *ill either find you someone to help you e!en better than before) or +e +imself in +is #oodness *ill dei#n to be your #uide. +e *ill send you +is +oly Ghost as +e sent +im to +is apostles. +e *ill enli#hten your path and fortify you by the a&tion of +is #ra&e. 0et us ta1e another e'ample. Eou are li!in# a #ood Christian life in the pra&ti&e of your reli#ion. Eou fall seriously ill and &annot fre:uent the Sa&raments or assist at ass -- perhaps you feel too *ea1 e!en to pray. But do not #rie!e. Eou are &alled to the honor of nourishin# your soul by parta1in#) *ith Christ +imself) of a food that) perhaps) you 1no* not of) and *hi&h *ill be the means of ma1in# your illness a po*erful means of san&tifi&ation. -y food +e said to +is dis&iples) is to do the will of Him who sent -e. 75 It is the same food that is offered to you) and note *ell that it is only by this food that it is #i!en to us to li!e to eternal life. Prayer itself is !alueless unless it is !italiDed by this health-#i!in# food) as our Sa!ior

e'plained *hen +e said2 !ot everyone who says to me 9&ord" &ord9 shall enter into the kingdom of heaven" but he who does the will of -y Father in heaven shall enter the kingdom of heaven. 76 If then it is God *ho has pla&ed you in the &ondition you are in) it is +e *ho dispenses you from the pra&ti&es of your reli#ion) nay) forbids them. So you should not *orry) but remember that in e'&han#e +e e'pe&ts you to ta1e more &are in doin# +is *ill by #i!in# up your o*n. It is in order that you may ma1e the doin# of +is *ill your &hief food that the means to do it are so fre:uently #i!en. +o* many in&on!enien&es and sa&rifi&es are in fa&t imposed upon us by illnessF -- plans upset) e'pense in&urred) unpleasant remedies) perhaps) loneliness and la&1 of &are -- a host of lar#e and small annoyan&es. There are so many opportunities to say) ?God *ishes it so. +is *ill be done.? %o not let any of these opportunities pass and you *ill be amon# those souls most dear to Christ. For whoever +e said) does the will of my Father who is in heaven" he is -y brother"-y sister" and -y mother. 77 0et us ta1e another e'ample. Some #reat feast-day or solemnity is approa&hin# and you prepare yourself in anti&ipation of the 8oyful e!ent. But *hen the day arri!es you no lon#er feel the same as you did before. Eour fer!or has #i!en pla&e to disinterest and spiritual dryness and you are in&apable of a sin#le #ood thou#ht. %o not try to for&e yourself out of this state. It has been produ&ed in you by God) and *e 1no* that all that &omes from +im is #ood) so it must be to your ad!anta#e if you submit to it. "&&ept the situation from +is hand) endea!orin# as far as possible to be re&olle&ted in +is presen&e and submittin# yourself to +im as a patient *ho a*aits the healin# a&tion of the do&tor) and you &an rest assured that no spiritual &onsolation *ill e!er be so profitable to you as the dryness &heerfully born in a spirit of &onformity to +is *ill. It is not *hat *e feel that prepares us for God?s #ra&e) but the a&t of our *ill) and this a&t is not one of feelin#. It may *ell be a&&ompanied by pleasurable sentiments) but this adds nothin# to the merit of it. In the si#ht of God the absen&e of this sentiment or e!en the presen&e of &ontrary ones *hi&h *e do not *ish to ha!e in no *ay minimiDes the !alue of the a&t itself. 0et us realiDe this fa&t) that prayer has no need of feelin# in order to be of !alue. It &onsists solely in the mo!ement of the *ill to*ards God) and by its nature this mo!ement has nothin# to do *ith feelin#. God?s #ra&e operates in us in the same *ay. It may be &ompared to the effe&ts produ&ed in us by the food *e eat. We do not feel the food inside our bodies *hile it is en#a#ed in its hidden *or1 of restorin# and fortifyin#3 and in the same *ay Christ) our hea!enly food) *ho is #i!en to us for our spiritual nourishment) *or1s hiddenly in our souls. But the trouble is *e *ant to feel e!erythin#) and *hen

*e e'perien&e no feelin# of satisfa&tion) *e either #et dis&oura#ed or try by lon# and for&ed prayers to produ&e somethin# inside oursel!es to reassure us. Su&h efforts impede rather than aid the operation of #ra&e by o&&upyin# and a#itatin# our minds too mu&h. It is related of St. Catherine of Siena that one day she as1ed .ur 0ord *hy it *as that God had so often re!ealed +imself to the patriar&hs) prophets and Christians of early times but rarely did so in her o*n time. .ur 0ord replied that it *as be&ause they *ere de!oid of selfesteem and &ame to +im as faithful dis&iples to a*ait +is inspiration) allo*in# themsel!es to be fashioned li1e #old in the &ru&ible or painted on by +is hands li1e an artist?s &an!as) and lettin# +im *rite the la* of lo!e in their hearts. But the Christians of her time a&ted as if +e &ould not see or hear them) and *anted to do and say e!erythin# by themsel!es) 1eepin# themsel!es so busy and restless that they *ould not allo* +im to *or1 in them. >ote that .ur Sa!ior had already tried to *arn us a#ainst su&h e'&ess in the Gospel *hen +e said #hen you pray" do not multiply words as the Gentiles do( for they think that by saying a great deal they will be heard. So do not be like them for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 79 !!. IN THE "ONSE4)EN"ES OF O) SINS With submission and &onformity to the *ill of God *e should bear the e!il &onse:uen&es of *hi&h fallin# into sin is often the &ause. It may be some indisposition or some more serious effe&t on our health brou#ht about by o!er-indul#en&e3 some sa&rifi&e *e ha!e to ma1e be&ause of money spent foolishly for selfish ends3 some bad turn in our affairs o*in# to impatient or imprudent &ondu&t on our part3 diffi&ulty in resistin# temptation and leadin# a #ood life be&ause of a lon# habit of sin *e ha!e &ontra&ted -- the situation fills us *ith *orry and an'iety and *e feel unable to &ope *ith it. God &ertainly did not *ish you should sin) but the sin ha!in# been &ommitted) +e *ishes for your #ood that it should he follo*ed by this punishment. "&&ept it then from +is hand in the belief that there is nothin# more suited to re#ainin# +is fa!or than your humble a&&eptan&e of it. Then) far from bein# pre8udi&ial to you) your failures) in so far as they #i!e you the opportunity of submittin# to +is *ill) *ill be as it *ere a monument to your perse!eran&e in God?s ser!i&e) and the more numerous they ha!e been) the more #lorious *ill be their *itness to your perse!eran&e. 0et us ta1e a pra&ti&al e'ample. " man has to ma1e a 8ourney on foot. +e must #o a&ross rou#h &ountry) he is *ithout food and almost e'hausted) so he falls repeatedly. But he #ets to his feet a#ain ea&h time) determined not to #i!e in and) &ome *hat may) arri!e at his destination. When he finally arri!es) is it not true to say that his perse!eran&e has been all the #reater and more heroi& in proportion to the number of obsta&les he has had to o!er&ome and

the falls from *hi&h he has re&o!ered, !'. IN INTE IO T IALS We ou#ht to &onform to God?s *ill in interior trials) that is to say in all the diffi&ulties met *ith in our spiritual life) su&h as temptations) s&ruples) an'ieties) aridity) desolation and so on. Whate!er immediate &ause *e may attribute to these states of mind) *e must al*ays loo1 beyond to God as their author. If *e thin1 they &ome from oursel!es) then it is true to say that they ha!e their ori#in in the i#noran&e of our mind) the o!er-sensiti!eness of our feelin#s) the disordered state of our ima#ination or the per!ersity of our in&linations. But if *e #o ba&1 farther) if *e as1 *here the defe&ts themsel!es &ome from) *e &an only find their ori#in in the *ill of God Who has not endo*ed us *ith #reater perfe&tion) and by ma1in# us sub8e&t to these infirmities has laid on us the duty of bearin# all the &onse:uen&es of them for our san&tifi&ation until +e is pleased to put an end to them. "s soon as +e 8ud#es it the ri#ht moment to tou&h our mind or heart) *e shall be enli#htened) fortified and &onsoled. $!en if *e suppose that our disturbed state is the *or1 of the de!il) it must still be attributed to God. %oes not the history of Job sho* that Satan has no po*er o!er us unless God #i!es it to him, When Saul *as beset by temptations of 8ealousy and hate to*ards %a!id) the S&riptures tell us) the evil spirit from God came upon Saul. 7; But if the spirit *as from God) ho* &ould it be e!il, "nd if it *as e!il) ho* &ould it be from God, It is e!il be&ause of the de!il?s e!il and depra!ed *ill to affli&t men in order to brin# them to perdition) and it is from God be&ause God allo*s him to affli&t them in +is plan of sal!ation for them. oreo!er *e learn from the prin&iples of our faith and the tea&hin# of the saints that often God +imself by +is immediate a&tion *ithdra*s the !isible effe&ts of +is #ra&e for purposes in a&&ordan&e *ith +is *isdom and #oodness. +o* many persons *ho ha!e be&ome lu1e*arm and &areless in their duties are roused by the a*areness of God?s absen&e and are able to re#ain the fer!or they had lostF +o* many more ha!e been led to the pra&ti&e of the hi#hest !irtue by interior trialsF Who &an measure the de#ree of heroi& !irtue saints li1e St. I#natius) St. Teresa or St. Fran&is of Sales attained by this means, We must &onsider it the a&tion of a Pro!iden&e un&easin#ly attenti!e to the *elfare of +is &hildren) *ho fei#ns to abandon them in order to rouse them from slumber or in&rease their humility) self-distrust and selfrenoun&ement) their &onfiden&e in God) submission to +is *ill and perse!eran&e in prayer. +en&e instead of allo*in# oursel!es to be&ome dis&oura#ed and faint-hearted under trials *hi&h may seem to o!er*helm us) let us a&t in the same *ay as *e do *hen our bodies are si&1) &onsult a #ood

do&tor -- a #ood spiritual dire&tor -- and applyin# the remedies he ad!ises) patiently a*ait the effe&ts that it pleases God to #i!e. $!erythin# is meant for our #ood) and su&h trials ou#ht to be &ounted as spe&ial #ra&es from God. Whether or not they are sent as a punishment for our sins) they &ome from +im and *e should than1 +im for them) pla&in# oursel!es entirely in +is hands. If *e bear them *ith patien&e *e shall re&ei!e #reater #ra&e than if *e *ere filled *ith a sense of fer!ent de!otion. !,. IN SPI IT)AL FAVO S Finally -- and this is perhaps the most diffi&ult aspe&t of *hat &on&erns the pra&ti&e of &onformity to the *ill of God -- *e should desire !irtue itself and the de#rees of #ra&e only in so far as God *ishes to #i!e them) and not desire more. .ur *hole ambition should be to attain the de#ree of perfe&tion that has been appointed for us) sin&e it has not been #i!en to e!erybody to rea&h the same hei#ht. It is ob!ious that ho*e!er *ell *e may &orrespond *ith the #ra&es #i!en us) *e &an ne!er e:ual the humility) &harity and other !irtues of the Blessed Gir#in. "nd *ho &an e!en presume to ima#ine that he &an rea&h the same hei#hts as the apostles, Who &an e:ual St. John the Baptist *hom Christ &alled the #reatest of the &hildren of men, .r St. Joseph to *hom God entrusted +is Son, In this *e must as in all else submit to the *ill of God. +e must be able to say of us) y *ill is in them3 it rules and #o!erns e!erythin#. So *hen *e hear or read that God in a short time has brou#ht some souls to a !ery hi#h de#ree of perfe&tion and sho*n them si#nal fa!ors) enli#htened their understandin# and imbued their hearts *ith +is lo!e) *e should repress any desire to be treated li1e*ise so as not to fall short in pure lo!e of &onformity to +is *ill. We should e!en unite oursel!es still more &losely to +is *ill by sayin#) /I praise Thee) . 0ord) and bless Thee for dei#nin# to sho* Thyself *it

II. T )STF)L S) P OVIDEN"E

by St. 4laude de la 4olombiere

ENDE TO DIVINE

(. Consolin# truths Trust in God?s *isdom When God sends us trials 0o!in# re&ourse to God Pra&ti&e of trustful surrender -. "d!ersity is useful for the 8ust and ne&essary for sinners

We must trust in Pro!iden&e Hne'pe&ted ad!anta#es from our trials .pportunities for a:uirin# merit and sa!in# our souls 4. Ce&ourse to prayer To obtain *hat *e *ant To be deli!ered from e!il We do not as1 enou#h Perse!eran&e in prayer .bstinate trust !. "ONSOLING T )THS It is one of the most firmly established and most &onsolin# of the truths that ha!e been re!ealed to us that @apart from sinA nothing happens to us in life unless God wills it so. Wealth and po!erty ali1e &ome from +im. If *e fall ill) God is the &ause of our illness3 if *e #et *ell) our re&o!ery is due to God. We o*e our li!es entirely to +im) and *hen death &omes to put an end to life) +is *ill be the hand that deals the blo*. But should *e attribute it to God *hen *e are un8ustly perse&uted, Ees) +e is the only person you &an &har#e *ith the *ron# you suffer. +e is not the &ause of the sin the person &ommits by ill-treatin# you) but +e is the &ause of the sufferin# that person infli&ts on you *hile sinnin#. God did not inspire your enemy *ith the *ill to harm you) but +e #a!e him the po*er to do so. If you re&ei!e a *ound) do not doubt but that it is God +imself *ho has *ounded you. If all li!in# &reatures *ere to lea#ue themsel!es a#ainst you) unless the Creator *ished it and 8oined *ith them and #a!e them the stren#th and means to &arry out their purpose) they *ould ne!er su&&eed. 8ou would have no power over me if it had not been given you from above) the Sa!ior of the *orld said to Pilate. We &an say the same to demons and men) to the brute beasts and to *hate!er e'ists -- Eou *ould not be able to disturb me or harm me as you do unless God had ordered it so. Eou are sent by +im) you are #i!en the po*er by +im to tempt me and to ma1e me suffer. 8ou would have no power over me if it had not been given you from above. If from time to time *e meditated seriously on this truth of our faith it *ould be enou#h to stifle all &omplaint in *hate!er loss or misfortune *e suffer. What I ha!e the 0ord #a!e me) it has been ta1en a*ay by +im. It is not a la*suit or a thief that has ruined you or a &ertain person that has slandered you3 if your &hild dies it is not by a&&ident or *ron# treatment) but be&ause God) to *hom all belon#s) has not *ished you to 1eep it lon#er. Trust in God*s Wisdo5 It is then a truth of our faith that God is responsible for all the happenin#s *e &omplain of in the *orld and) furthermore) *e &annot doubt that all the

misfortunes God sends us ha!e a !ery useful purpose. We &annot doubt it *ithout imputin# to God a la&1 of 8ud#ment in de&idin# *hat is ad!anta#eous for us. It is usually the &ase that other people &an see better than *e &an oursel!es *hat is #ood for us. It *ould be foolish to thin1 that *e &an see better than God +imself) Who is not sub8e&t to any of the passions that blind us) 1no*s the future and &an foresee all e!ents and the &onse:uen&es of e!ery a&tion. $'perien&e sho*s that e!en the #ra!est misfortunes &an ha!e #ood results and the #reatest su&&esses end in disaster. " rule also that God usually follo*s is to attain +is ends by *ays that are the opposite to those human pruden&e *ould normally &hoose. In our i#noran&e of *hat the future holds) ho* &an *e be so bold as to :uestion *hat &omes about by God?s permission, Surely it is reasonable to thin1 that our &omplaints are #roundless and that instead of &omplainin# *e ou#ht to be than1in# Pro!iden&e. Joseph *as sold into sla!ery and thro*n into prison. If he had felt a##rie!ed at these apparent misfortunes) he *ould really ha!e been feelin# a##rie!ed at his happiness for they *ere the steps to the throne of $#ypt. Saul loses his father?s asses and has to #o on a lon# !ain hunt for them. But if he had felt annoyed at the #reat *aste of time and ener#y it &aused him) his annoyan&e &ould not ha!e been more unreasonable as it *as all a means of brin#in# him to the prophet *ho *as to anoint him 1in# of his people. 0et us ima#ine our &onfusion *hen *e appear before God and understand the reasons *hy +e sent us the &rosses *e a&&ept so un*illin#ly. The death of a &hild *ill then be seen as its res&ue from some #reat e!il had it li!ed) separation from the *oman you lo!e the means of sa!in# you from an unhappy marria#e) a se!ere illness the reason for many years of life after*ards) loss of money the means of sa!in# your soul from eternal loss. So *hat are *e *orried about, God is loo1in# after us and yet *e are full of an'ietyF We trust oursel!es to a do&tor be&ause *e suppose he 1no*s his business. +e orders an operation *hi&h in!ol!es &uttin# a*ay part of our body and *e a&&ept it. We are #rateful to him and pay him a lar#e fee be&ause *e 8ud#e he *ould not a&t as he does unless the remedy *ere ne&essary) and *e must rely on his s1ill. Eet *e are un*illin# to treat God in the same *ayF It loo1s as if *e do not trust +is *isdom and are afraid +e &annot do +is 8ob properly. We allo* oursel!es to be operated on by a man *ho may easily ma1e a mista1e -- a mista1e *hi&h may &ost us our life -- and protest *hen God sets to *or1 on us. If *e &ould see all +e sees *e *ould unhesitatin#ly *ish all +e *ishes. We *ould be# +im on bended 1nees for those affli&tions *e no* as1 +im to spare us. To all of us +e addresses the *ords spo1en to the Sons of Iebeedee2

Eou 1no* not *hat you as1 -- . blind of heart) your i#noran&e saddens me. 0et me mana#e your affairs and loo1 after your interests. I 1no* *hat you need better than you do yoursel!es. If I paid heed to *hat you thin1 you need you *ould ha!e been hopelessly ruined lon# a#o. W6en God sends us tri7ls If you *ould be &on!in&ed that in all +e allo*s and in all that happens to you God has no other end in !ie* but your real ad!anta#e and your eternal happiness) refle&t a moment on all +e has done for you3 you are no* sufferin#) but remember that the author of this sufferin# is +e *ho &hose to spend +is life sufferin# to sa!e you from e!erlastin# sufferin#) *hose an#el is al*ays at your side #uardin# your body and soul by +is order) *ho sa&rifi&es +imself daily on the altar to e'piate your sins and appease +is Father?s an#er) *ho &omes lo!in#ly to you in the +oly $u&harist and *hose #reatest pleasure is to be united to you. We must be !ery un#rateful to mistrust +im after +e has sho*n su&h proofs of +is lo!e and to ima#ine that +e &an intend us harm. But) you *ill say) this blo* is a &ruel one) +e stri1es too hard. What ha!e you to fear from a hand that *as pier&ed and nailed to the &ross for you, -- The path I ha!e to tread is full of thorns. If there is no other to rea&h hea!en by) do you prefer to perish fore!er rather than to suffer for a time, Is it not the same path +e trod before you out of lo!e for you, Is there a thorn in it that +e has not reddened *ith +is o*n blood, -- The &hali&e +e offers you is a bitter one. But remember that it is your Cedeemer *ho offers it. 0o!in# you as +e does) &ould +e brin# +imself to treat you so se!erely if the need *ere not ur#ent) the #ain not *orth*hile, Can *e dare to refuse the &hali&e +e has prepared for us +imself, Cefle&t *ell on this. It should be enou#h to ma1e us a&&ept and lo!e *hate!er trials +e intends *e should suffer. oreo!er it is the &ertain means of se&urin# our happiness in this life :uite apart from the ne't. Lovin8 recourse to God 0et us no* suppose that by these refle&tions and the help of God you ha!e freed yourself from all *orldly desires and &an no* say to yourself2 "ll is !anity and nothin# &an satisfy my heart. The thin#s that I so earnestly desire may not be at all the thin#s that *ill brin# me happiness. It is diffi&ult for me to distin#uish *hat is #ood from *hat is harmful be&ause #ood and e!il are nearly al*ays mi'ed) and *hat *as #ood for yesterday may be bad for today. y desires are only a sour&e of *orry and my efforts to realiDe them mostly end in failure. "fter all) the *ill of God is bound to pre!ail in the end. >othin# &an be done *ithout +is &ommand) and +e &annot ordain anythin# that is not for my #ood. "fter this let us suppose that you turn to God *ith blind trust and surrender

yourself un&onditionally and unreser!edly to +im) entirely resol!ed to put aside your o*n hopes and fears3 in short) determined to *ish nothin# e'&ept *hat +e *ishes and to *ish all that +e *ishes. From this moment you *ill a&:uire perfe&t liberty and *ill ne!er a#ain be able to feel troubled or uneasy) and there is no po*er on earth &apable of doin# you !iolen&e or #i!in# you a moment?s unrest. Eou may ob8e&t that a person on *hom both #ood and e!il ma1e the same impression is a pure fi&tion. It is nothin# of the 1ind. I 1no* people *ho are 8ust as happy if they are si&1 or if they are *ell) if they are badly off or they are *ell off. I 1no* some *ho e!en prefer illness and po!erty to health and ri&hes. oreo!er it is all the more remar1able that the more *e submit to God?s *ill) the more +e tries to meet our *ishes. It *ould seem that as soon as *e ma1e it our sole aim to obey +im) +e on +is part does +is best to try and please us. >ot only does +e ans*er our prayers but +e e!en forestalls them by #rantin# the !ery desires *e ha!e endea!ored to stifle in our hearts in order to please +im) and #rantin# them in a measure *e had ne!er ima#ined. Finally) the happiness of the person *hose *ill is entirely submitted to God?s is &onstant) un&han#eable and endless. >o fear &omes to disturb it for no a&&ident &an destroy it. +e is li1e a man seated on a ro&1 in the middle of the o&ean *ho loo1s on the fury of the *a!es *ithout dismay and &an amuse himself *at&hin# and &ountin# them as they roar and brea1 at his feet. Whether the sea is &alm or rou#h) *hi&he!er *ay the *a!es are &arried by the *ind is a matter of indifferen&e to him) for the pla&e *here he is firm and unsha1eable. That is the reason for the pea&eful and untroubled e'pression *e find on the fa&es of those *ho ha!e dedi&ated themsel!es to God. Pr7ctice of trustful surrender It remains to be seen ho* *e &an attain to this happy state. .ne sure *ay to lead us to it is the fre:uent pra&ti&e of the !irtue of submission. But as the opportunities for pra&ti&in# it in a bi# *ay &ome rather seldom) *e must ta1e ad!anta#e of the small ones *hi&h o&&ur daily) and *hi&h *ill soon put us in a position to fa&e the #reater trials *ith e:uanimity *hen the time &omes. There is no one *ho does not e'perien&e a hundred small annoyan&es e!ery day) &aused either by our o*n &arelessness or inattention) or by the in&onsideration or spite of other people) or by pure a&&ident. .ur *hole li!es are made up of in&idents of this 1ind) o&&urrin# &easelessly from one minute to another and produ&in# a host of in!oluntary feelin#s of disli1e and a!ersion) en!y) fear and impatien&e to trouble the serenity of our minds. We let an in&autious *ord slip out and *ish *e had not said it3 someone says

somethin# *e find offensi!e3 *e ha!e to *ait a lon# time to be ser!ed *hen *e are in a hurry3 *e are irritated by a &hild?s boisterousness3 a borin# a&:uaintan&e buttonholes us in the street3 a &ar splashes us *ith mud3 the *eather spoils our outin#3 our *or1 is not #oin# as *ell as *e *ould *ish3 a tool brea1s at a &riti&al moment3 *e #et our &lothes torn or stained -- these are not o&&asions for pra&ti&in# heroi& !irtue but they &an be a means of a&:uirin# it if *e *ish. If *e *ere &areful to offer all these petty annoyan&es to God and a&&ept them as bein# ordered by +is pro!iden&e *e *ould soon be in a position to support the #reatest misfortunes that &an happen to us) besides at the same time insensibly dra*in# &lose to intimate union *ith God. To this e'er&ise -- so easy and yet so useful for us and pleasin# to God -another may be added. $!ery mornin# as soon as you #et up thin1 of all the most disa#reeable thin#s that &ould happen to you durin# the day. Eour house mi#ht be burnt do*n) you mi#ht lose your 8ob or all your sa!in#s) or be run o!er) or sudden death mi#ht &ome to you or to a person you lo!e. "&&ept these misfortunes should it please God to allo* them3 &ompel your *ill to a#ree to the sa&rifi&e and #i!e yourself no rest until you really feel prepared to *ish or not to *ish all that God may *ish or not *ish. Finally) if some #reat misfortune should a&tually happen) instead of *astin# time in &omplaint or self-pity) #o thro* yourself at on&e at the feet of your Sa!ior and implore +is #ra&e to bear your trial *ith fortitude and patien&e. " man *ho has been badly *ounded does not) if he is *ise) &hase after his assailant) but ma1es strai#ht for a do&tor *ho may sa!e his life. $!en if you *anted to &onfront the person responsible for your misfortune) it *ould still be to God you *ould ha!e to #o) for there &an be no other &ause of it than +e. So #o to God) but #o at on&e) #o there and then. 0et this be your first thou#ht. Go and report to +im *hat +e has done to you. Biss the hands of God &ru&ified for you) the hands that ha!e stru&1 you and &aused you to suffer. Cepeat o!er and o!er a#ain to +im +is o*n *ords to +is Father *hile +e *as sufferin#2 >ot y *ill but Thine be done. In all that Thou *ishest of me) today and for al*ays) in hea!en and on earth) let Thy *ill be done) but let it be done on earth as it is done in hea!en. '. ADVE SIT( IS )SEF)L FO THE 9)ST AND NE"ESSA ( FO SINNE S Ima#ine the an#uish and tears of a mother *ho is present at a painful operation her &hild has to under#o. Can anyone doubt on seein# her that she &onsents to allo* the &hild to suffer only be&ause she e'pe&ts it to #et *ell and be spared further sufferin# by means of this !iolent remedy,

Ceason in the same manner *hen ad!ersity befalls you. Eou &omplain that you are ill-treated) insulted) slandered) robbed. Eour Cedeemer @the name is a tenderer one than that of father or motherA) your Cedeemer is a *itness to all you are sufferin#. +e *ho lo!es you and has emphati&ally de&lared that *hoe!er tou&hes you tou&hes the apple of +is eye) ne!ertheless allo*s you to be stri&1en thou#h +e &ould easily pre!ent it. %o you hesitate to belie!e that this passin# trial is ne&essary for the health of your soul, $!en if the +oly Ghost had not &alled blessed those *ho suffer) if e!ery pa#e of S&ripture did not pro&laim aloud the ne&essity of ad!ersity) if *e did not see that sufferin# is the normal destiny of those *ho are friends of God) *e should still be &on!in&ed that it is of untold ad!anta#e to us. It is enou#h to 1no* that the God Who &hose to suffer all the most horrible tortures the ra#e of man &an in!ent rather then see us &ondemned to the sli#htest pain in the ne't life is the same God *ho prepares and offers us the &hali&e of bitterness *e must drin1 in this *orld. " God Who has so suffered to pre!ent us from sufferin# *ould not ma1e us suffer today to #i!e +imself &ruel and pointless pleasure. We 5ust 67ve trust in Providence When I see a Christian #rief-stri&1en at the trials God sends him I say to myself2 +ere is a man *ho is #rie!ed at his o*n happiness. +e is as1in# God to be deli!ered from somethin# he ou#ht to be than1in# +im for. I am :uite sure that nothin# more ad!anta#eous &ould happen to him than *hat &auses him so mu&h #rief. I ha!e a hundred unans*erable reasons for sayin# so. But if I &ould read into the future and see the happy out&ome of his present misfortune) ho* #reatly stren#thened I *ould be in my 8ud#mentF If *e &ould dis&o!er the desi#ns of Pro!iden&e it is &ertain *e *ould ardently lon# for the e!ils *e are no* so un*illin# to suffer. We *ould rush for*ard to a&&ept them *ith the utmost #ratitude if *e had a little faith and realiDed ho* mu&h God lo!es us and has our interests at heart. What profit &an &ome to me from this illness *hi&h ties me do*n and obli#es me to #i!e up all the #ood I *as doin#) you may as1. What ad!anta#e &an I e'pe&t from this ruin of my life *hi&h lea!es me desperate and hopeless, It is true that sudden #reat misfortune at the moment it &omes may appear to o!er*helm you and not allo* you the opportunity there and then of profitin# by it. But *ait a *hile and you *ill see that by it God is preparin# you to re&ei!e the #reatest mar1s of +is fa!or. But for this a&&ident you *ould not ha!e perhaps be&ome less #ood than you are) but you *ould not ha!e be&ome holy. Isn?t it true that sin&e you ha!e been tryin# to lead a #ood Christian life there has been somethin# you ha!e been un*illin# to surrender to God, Some *orldly ambition) some pride in your attainments) some indul#en&e of the body) some blame*orthy habit) some &ompany that is the o&&asion of sin for you, It *as only this final step that pre!ented you from attainin# the perfe&t

freedom of the lo!e of God. It *asn?t really !ery mu&h) but you &ould not brin# yourself to ma1e this last sa&rifi&e. It *asn?t !ery mu&h) but there is nothin# harder for a Christian than to brea1 the last tie that binds him to the *orld or to his o*n self. +e 1no*s he ou#ht to do it) and until he does it there is somethin# *ron# *ith his life. But the !ery thou#ht of the remedy terrifies him) for the malady has ta1en su&h a hold on him that it &annot be &ured *ithout the help of a serious and painful operation. So it *as ne&essary to ta1e you una*ares) to &ut deep into the flesh *ith s1ilful hand *hen you *ere least e'pe&tin# it and remo!e the ul&er &on&ealed *ithin) or other*ise you *ould ne!er be *ell. The misfortune *hi&h has befallen you *ill soon do *hat all your e'er&ises of piety *ould ne!er ha!e been able to do. )ne:;ected 7dv7nt78es fro5 our tri7ls If the &onse:uen&e of your ad!ersity is that *hi&h *as intended by God) if it turns you aside &ompletely from &reatures to #i!e yourself unreser!edly to your Creator) I am sure that your than1s to +im for ha!in# affli&ted you *ill be #reater than your prayers *ere to remo!e the affli&tion. In &omparison *ith this misfortune all the other benefits you ha!e re&ei!ed from +im *ill appear to ha!e been !ery sli#ht fa!ors indeed. Eou ha!e al*ays re#arded the temporal blessin#s +e has hitherto sho*ered on you and your family as the effe&ts of +is #oodness to*ards you) but no* you *ill see &learly and realiDe to the depths of your bein# that +e has ne!er lo!ed you so mu&h as *hen +e too1 a*ay all that +e #a!e you for your prosperity) and that if +e *as #enerous in #i!in# you a family) a #ood position) an in&ome and #ood health) +e has been o!er-#enerous in ta1in# them all a*ay. I am not referrin# to the merit *e a&:uire by the !irtue of patien&e. Generally spea1in#) one day of ad!ersity &an be of more profit to us for our eternal sal!ation than years of untroubled li!in#) *hate!er #ood use *e ma1e of the time. It is &ommon 1no*led#e that prosperity has the effe&t of softenin# us. When a man is materially *ell off and &ontent *ith his state) it is a #reat deal if he ta1es the trouble to thin1 of God t*o or three times a day. +is mind is so pleasantly o&&upied *ith his *orldly affairs that it is easy for him to for#et all the rest. "d!ersity on the other hand leads us as if naturally to raise our eyes to +ea!en to see1 &onsolation in our distress. Certainly God &an be #lorified *hate!er &ondition *e are in) and the life of a Christian *ho ser!es +im *hen fortune is fa!orable is most pleasin# to +im. But &an he please +im as mu&h as the man *ho blesses +im *hile he is sufferin#, It &annot be doubted that a man *ho en8oys #ood health) position) *ealth and the *orld?s esteem) if he uses his ad!anta#es as he ou#ht) attributin# them to God and than1in# +im for them) by doin# so #lorifies his a1er and leads a Christian life. But

if Pro!iden&e ta1es a*ay *hat he has and stri1es him do*n) and in the midst of his re!erses he &ontinues to e'press the same sentiments) returnin# the same than1s and obeyin# his 0ord *ith the same promptness and submission as he did formerly) it is then that he pro&laims the #lory of God and the effi&a&y of +is #ra&e in the most &on!in&in# and stri1in# manner. O;;ortunities for 7c<uirin8 5erit 7nd s7vin8 our souls Jud#e then *hat re&ompense those persons *ill re&ei!e from Christ *ho ha!e follo*ed +im alon# the *ay of +is Cross. .n the 8ud#ment day *e shall understand ho* mu&h God has lo!ed us by #i!in# us the opportunities to merit so ri&h a re*ard. Then *e shall reproa&h oursel!es for &omplainin# at *hat *as meant to in&rease our happiness) for #rie!in# *hen *e should ha!e been re8oi&in#) for doubtin# God?s #oodness *hen +e *as #i!in# us &on&rete e!iden&e of it. If su&h *ill be our feelin#s one day) *hy not anti&ipate them no*,Why not bless God here and no* for somethin# *e shall be than1in# +im for e!erlastin#ly in hea!en, It is &lear from this that *hate!er the manner of our life *e should al*ays a&&ept ad!ersity 8oyfully. If *e are leadin# a #ood life ad!ersity purifies us) ma1es us better and enables us to a&:uire #reater merit. If our life is sinful it ser!es to brin# us to repentan&e and obli#es us to be&ome #ood. ,. E"O) SE TO P A(E It is a stran#e fa&t that thou#h Christ repeatedly and solemnly promised to ans*er our prayers) most Christians are &ontinually &omplainin# that +e does not do so. We &annot a&&ount for this by sayin# that the reason is be&ause of the 1ind of thin#s *e as1 for) sin&e +e in&luded e!erythin# in +is promise -"ll thin#s *hatsoe!er you shall as1. >or &an *e attribute it to the un*orthiness of those *ho as1) for +is promise e'tended to e!erybody *ithout e'&eption -- Whoe!er as1s shall re&ei!e. Why is it then that so many prayers remain unans*ered, Can it be that as most people are ne!er satisfied) they ma1e su&h e'&essi!e and impatient demands on God that they tire and annoy +im by their importunity, The &ase is 8ust the opposite. The only reason *hy *e obtain so little from God is be&ause *e as1 for so little and *e are not insistent enou#h. Christ promised on behalf of +is Father that +e *ould #i!e us e!erythin#) e!en the !ery smallest thin#s. But +e laid do*n an order to be obser!ed in all that *e as1) and if *e do not obey this rule *e are unli1ely to obtain anythin#. +e tells us in St. atthe*2 Seek first the kingdom of God and his ustice and all these things shall be given to you besides. To o=t7in >67t >e >7nt We are not forbidden to *ish for money) material *ell-bein# and *hate!er is ne&essary to maintain us in our position in life) but *e must *ish for these thin#s in their proper order. If *e *ant our desires in this respe&t to be met

*ithout fail *e must first of all as1 for the lar#er thin#s) so that *hile #rantin# them +e may also add the smaller ones. We &an ta1e an e'ample from the &ase of Solomon. God #a!e him the &hoi&e of *hate!er he desired and he as1ed for *isdom) *hi&h *as needful for him to &arry out his 1in#ly duties. +e did not as1 for ri&hes or #lory) 8ud#in# that if God #a!e him su&h an opportunity he ou#ht to ma1e use of it to obtain the #reatest ad!anta#e. +is pruden&e #ained for him both *hat he as1ed for and *hat he did not as1 for. Because thou hast asked this thing" and hast not asked for thyself long life or riches . . . behold ' have done for thee according to thy words -- I *ill *illin#ly #rant you *isdom be&ause you ha!e as1ed me for it) but I *ill #i!e you lon# life) honor and ri&hes as *ell be&ause you did not as1 for any of them -- 8ea" and the things also which thou didst not ask" to wit" riches and glory. If then this is the order God obser!es in the distribution of +is benefits) *e must not be surprised if our prayers ha!e so far been unsu&&essful. I &onfess that I am often mo!ed to pity *hen I see the ea#erness of some people in #i!in# alms) ma1in# !o*s of pil#rima#e and fastin#) or ha!in# asses said for the su&&ess of their temporal affairs. I am afraid the prayers they say and #et said are of little use. They should ma1e their offerin#s and !o* their pil#rima#es to obtain from God the amendment of their li!es) the #ift of Christian patien&e) &ontempt for the thin#s of the *orld and deta&hment from &reatures. Then after*ards they &ould pray for return of health or su&&ess in business. God *ould then ans*er these prayers) or rather +e *ould anti&ipate them3 it *ould be enou#h to 1no* their desires for +im to fulfil them. Hntil *e ha!e obtained these first #ra&es) anythin# else may be harmful to us and) in fa&t) usually is so. That is the reason *hy *e are refused. We murmur and a&&use God of not 1eepin# +is promises. But our God is a Father of 1indness *ho prefers to put up *ith our &omplaints and &riti&isms rather than stop them by #ifts *hi&h *ould be fatal to us. To =e delivered fro5 evil What has been said of benefits &an also be said of the ills from *hi&h *e *ish to be deli!ered. I do not desire *ealth) a person *ill say) but I *ould be satisfied *ith not ha!in# to suffer hardship. I lea!e fame and reputation to those *ho *ant it) but I *ould li1e at least not to be an ob8e&t of s&orn. I &an do *ithout pleasures) but I &annot support pain3 I ha!e prayed and be##ed God to lessen it but +e *ill not hear me. It is not surprisin#. Eou ha!e se&ret ills far #reater than the ills you &omplain of) but you do not as1 +im to deli!er you from them. If for this purpose you had said half the prayers you ha!e said to be healed from your out*ard ills) God *ould ha!e deli!ered you from both a lon# time sin&e. Po!erty ser!es to 1eep you humble *hile your nature is proud) the s&orn of the *orld to free you from your atta&hment to it)

illness to 1eep you from the pleasure-see1in# *hi&h *ould be your ruin. It *ould be hatin# you) not lo!in# you) to ta1e a*ay your &ross before #i!in# you the !irtues you la&1. If God found some desire in you for these !irtues +e *ould #i!e you them *ithout delay) and it *ould be unne&essary for you to as1 for the other thin#s. We do not 7s? enou86 It is &lear then that *e do not re&ei!e anythin# be&ause *e do not as1 enou#h. God &ould not #i!e us little) +e &ould not restri&t +is liberality to small thin#s *ithout doin# us #ra!e harm. %o not misunderstand me. I am not sayin# that *e offend God if *e as1 for temporal benefits or to be freed from misfortune. .b!iously prayers of this 1ind &an ri#htly be addressed to +im by ma1in# the &ondition that they are not &ontrary to +is #lory or our eternal sal!ation. But as it is hardly li1ely that it *ould redound to +is #lory for +im to ans*er them) or to our ad!anta#e to ha!e them ans*ered if our *ishes end there) it must be repeated that as lon# as *e are &ontent *ith little *e run the ris1 of obtainin# nothin#. 0et me sho* you a #ood *ay to as1 for happiness e!en in this *orld. It is a *ay that *ill obli#e God to listen to you. Say to him earnestly2 $ither #i!e me so mu&h money that my heart *ill be satisfied) or inspire me *ith su&h &ontempt for it that I no lon#er *ant it. $ither free me from po!erty) or ma1e it so pleasant for me that I *ould not e'&han#e it for all the *ealth in the *orld. $ither ta1e a*ay my sufferin#) or -- *hi&h *ould be to your #reater #lory -- &han#e it into deli#ht for me) and instead of &ausin# me affli&tion) let it be&ome a sour&e of 8oy. Eou &an ta1e a*ay the burden of my &ross) or you &an lea!e it *ith me *ithout my feelin# its *ei#ht. Eou &an e'tin#uish the fire that burns me) or you &an let it burn in su&h a *ay that it refreshes me as it did the three youths in the fiery furna&e. I as1 you for either one thin# or the other. What does it matter in *hat *ay I am happy, If I am happy throu#h the possession of *orldly #oods) it is you I ha!e to than1. If I am happy *hen depri!ed of them) it #i!es you #reater #lory and my than1s are all the #reater. This is the 1ind of prayer *orthy of bein# offered to God by a true Christian. When you pray in this *ay) do you 1no* *hat the effe&t of your prayers *ill be, First) you *ill be satisfied *hate!er happens3 and *hat else do those *ho most desire this *orld?s #oods *ant e'&ept to be satisfied, Se&ondly) you *ill not only obtain *ithout fail one of the t*o thin#s you ha!e as1ed for but) as a rule) you *ill obtain both of them. God *ill #i!e you the en8oyment of *ealth) and so that you may possess it *ithout the dan#er of be&omin# atta&hed to it) +e *ill inspire you at the same time *ith &ontempt for it. +e *ill put an end to your sufferin#s and e!en more +e *ill lea!e you *ith a desire for them *hi&h *ill #i!e you all the merit of patien&e *ithout ha!in#

to suffer. In a *ord +e *ill ma1e you happy here and no*) and lest your happiness should do you harm) +e *ill let you 1no* and feel the emptiness of it. Can one as1 for anythin# better, But if su&h a #reat blessin# is *ell *orth bein# as1ed for) remember that still more is it *orth bein# as1ed for *ith insisten&e. For the reason *hy *e obtain little is not only be&ause *e as1 for little but still more be&ause) *hether *e as1 a little or *e as1 a lot) *e do not as1 often enou#h. Persever7nce in Pr7@er If you *ant all your prayers to be ans*ered *ithout fail and obli#e God to meet all your *ishes) the first thin# is ne!er to stop prayin#. Those *ho #et tired after prayin# for a time are la&1in# in either humility or &onfiden&e) and so do not deser!e to be heard. Eou *ould thin1 that they e'pe&ted their re:uests to be obeyed at on&e as if they *ere orders. Surely *e 1no* that God resists the proud and sho*s +is fa!ors to the humble. Won?t our pride allo* us to as1 more than on&e for the same thin#, It sho*s !ery little trust in God?s #oodness to #i!e up so soon and ta1e a delay for an absolute refusal. .n&e *e ha!e really understood 8ust ho* far God?s #oodness e'tends *e &an ne!er belie!e that *e ha!e been refused or that +e *ishes to depri!e us of hope. Cather) the more +e ma1es us 1eep on as1in# for somethin# *e *ant) the more &onfident *e should feel that *e shall e!entually obtain it. We &an be#in to doubt that our prayer has been heard only *hen *e noti&e *e ha!e stopped prayin#. If after a year *e find that our prayer is as fer!ent as it *as at the be#innin#) then *e need not doubt about the su&&ess of our efforts) and instead of losin# &oura#e after so lon# a delay) *e should re8oi&e be&ause *e &an be &ertain that our desires *ill be all the more fully satisfied for the len#th of time *e ha!e prayed. If our first attempts had been :uite useless *e *ould not ha!e repeated them so often and *e *ould ha!e lost hope3 but as *e ha!e 1ept on in spite of this) there is #ood reason to belie!e *e shall be liberally re*arded. In fa&t it too1 St. oni&a si'teen years to obtain the &on!ersion of "u#ustine) but the &on!ersion *as entire and far beyond *hat she had prayed for. +er desire *as that her son?s in&ontinen&e mi#ht be &he&1ed by marria#e) and instead she had the 8oy of seein# him embra&e a life of holy &hastity. She had only *anted him to he baptiDed and be&ome a Christian) and she sa* him a bishop. She as1ed God to turn him aside from heresy) and God made him a pillar of the Chur&h and its &hampion a#ainst hereti&s. Thin1 *hat *ould ha!e happened had she #i!en up hope after a &ouple of years) after ten or t*el!e years) *hen her prayers appeared to obtain no result and her son #re* *orse instead of better) addin# a!ari&e and ambition to the *ildness of his life

and sin1in# further and further into error. She *ould ha!e *ron#ed her son) thro*n a*ay her o*n happiness) and depri!ed the *orld of one of the #reatest Christian thin1ers. O=stin7te Trust "s a final *ord I address myself to those faithful souls 1neelin# in prayer before the altar and as1in# God for the #ra&es +e is so pleased to hear us as1in# for. Eou *ho are happy that God has sho*n you the !anity of the *orld) you *ho #roan under the yo1e of your passions and be# to be deli!ered from them) you *ho burn *ith desire to lo!e God and ser!e +im as +e *ould be ser!ed) you *ho inter&ede *ith God for the sa1e of one *ho is dear to you) do not #ro* *eary of as1in#) be steadfast and tireless in your demands. If you are refused today) tomorro* you *ill obtain e!erythin#3 if this year brin#s nothin#) the ne't *ill brin# you abundan&e. >e!er thin1 your efforts are *asted. Eour e!ery *ord is numbered and *hat you re&ei!e *ill be in the measure of the time you ha!e spent as1in#. Eour treasure is pilin# up and suddenly one day it *ill o!erflo* to an e'tent beyond your dreams. Consider the *or1in#s of %i!ine Pro!iden&e and thin1 that the refusal you meet *ith no* is only God?s strata#em to in&rease your fer!or. Cemember ho* +e a&ted to*ards the Canaanite *oman) treatin# her harshly and refusin# to see or listen to her. +e seemed to be irritated by her importunity) but in reality +e admired it and *as deli#hted *ith her trust and humility) and for that reason +e repulsed her. With *hat tenderness does +e repulse those *hom +e most *ishes to be indul#ent to) hidin# +is &lemen&y under the mas1 of &rueltyF Ta1e &are not to be de&ei!ed by it. The more +e seems to be un*illin#) the more you must insist. %o as the *oman of Canaan) use a#ainst +im the !ery ar#uments +e may ha!e for refusin# you. It is true that to hear me) you should say to +im) *ould be to #i!e the bread of the &hildren to do#s. I do not deser!e the #ra&e I as1) but I do not as1 Eou to #i!e me *hat I deser!e3 I as1 it throu#h the merits of my Cedeemer. Eou ou#ht to thin1 more of Eour promises than of my un*orthiness) and Eou *ill be un8ust to Eourself if Eou #i!e me only *hat I deser!e. If I *ere *orthier of Eour benefits it *ould be less to Eour #lory to #i!e me them. It is un8ust to #rant fa!ors to a sinner) but I do not appeal to Eour 8usti&e but to Eour mer&y. %o not lose &oura#e *hen you ha!e be#un so *ell to stru##le *ith God. %o not #i!e +im a moment?s rest. +e lo!es the !iolen&e of your atta&1 and *ants to be o!er&ome by you. a1e importunity your *at&h*ord) let persisten&e be a mira&le in you. Compel God to thro* off the mas1 and say to you *ith admiration ?Great is thy faith) be it done as thou *ishest. I &an no lon#er resist you) you shall ha!e *hat you desire) in this life and the ne't.?

E&E "ISE IN "ONFO MIT( TO DIVINE P OVIDEN"E (. "CT .F F"IT+)+.P$ ">% C+"CITE -. "CT .F FI0I"0 SHB ISSI.> T. PC.GI%$>C$ 4. HS$FH0>$SS .F T+IS $J$CCIS$ The pra&ti&e of this e'er&ise is of #reat importan&e be&ause of the ad!anta#es it al*ays &onfers on those *ho underta1e it de!outly. !. A"T OF FAITH# HOPE AND "HA IT( First ma1e an a&t of faith in God?s Pro!iden&e. editate *ell on the truth that God?s &ontinual &are e'tends not only to all thin#s in #eneral but to ea&h parti&ular thin#) and espe&ially to oursel!es) our souls and bodies) and e!erythin# that &on&erns us. >othin# es&apes +is lo!in# *at&hfulness -- our *or1) our daily needs) our health as *ell as our infirmities) our life and our death) e!en the smallest hair on our head *hi&h &annot fall *ithout +is permission. "fter this a&t of faith) ma1e an a&t of hope. $'&ite in yourself a firm trust that God *ill pro!ide for all you need) *ill dire&t and prote&t you *ith more than a father?s lo!e and !i#ilan&e) and #uide you in su&h a *ay that) *hate!er happens) if you submit to +im e!erythin# *ill turn out for your happiness and ad!anta#e) e!en the thin#s that may seem :uite the opposite. To these t*o an a&t of &harity should be added. Sho* your deep lo!e and atta&hment for %i!ine Pro!iden&e as a &hild sho*s for its mother by ta1in# refu#e in her arms. Say ho* hi#hly you esteem all +is intentions) ho*e!er hidden they may be) in the 1no*led#e that they sprin# from an infinite *isdom *hi&h &annot ma1e a mista1e and supreme #oodness *hi&h &an *ish only the perfe&tion of +is &reatures. %etermine that this feelin# *ill ha!e a pra&ti&al result in ma1in# you ready to spea1 out in defense of Pro!iden&e *hene!er you hear it denied or &riti&iDed. '. A"T OF OF FILIAL S)$MISSION TO P OVIDEN"E "fter repeatin# these a&ts se!eral times *ith fer!or) &ommit your soul lo!in#ly to %i!ine Pro!iden&e as a &hild rests and sleeps in its mother?s arms. a1e your o*n the *ords of %a!id2 ' will lie down and sleep in peace" for thou alone" 1 &ord" hast established me in hope. 9; .r a#ain in the *ords of the psalm2 The 0ord is my shepherd3 I shall not *ant. In !erdant pastures he #i!es me repose3 Beside restful *aters he leads me3 he refreshes my soul. +e #uides me in ri#ht paths for his name?s sa1e. $!en thou#h I *al1 in the dar1 !alley

I fear no e!il3 for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that #i!e me &oura#e. Eou spread the table before me in the si#ht of my foes3 Eou anoint my head *ith oil3 my &up o!erflo*s. .nly #oodness and 1indness follo* me all the days of my life3 "nd I shall d*ell in the house of the 0ord For years to &ome. 9< Filled *ith the 8oy these &onsolin# *ords inspire) the soul &an trustfully a&&ept from %i!ine Pro!iden&e *hate!er happens no* or in the future *ith tran:uility and pea&e of mind. Its happiness is that of a &hild *ho feels prote&ted and se&ure. >ot that it li!es in idle e'pe&tation of *hat it needs or ne#le&ts to o&&upy itself *ith the affairs of daily life. .n the &ontrary it does all in its po*er and employs all its fa&ulties in attendin# to them *ell. But *hat it does it does under God?s #uidan&e and re#ards its o*n 8ud#ment as entirely sub8e&t to God?s. It freely entrusts e!erythin# to +is #o!ernan&e *ithout e'pe&tin# any other result from its a&tions but *hat is in a&&ordan&e *ith +is *ill. ,. )SEF)LNESS OF THIS E&E "ISE What honor and #lory is #i!en to God by the soul that a&ts thusF It is a #reat #lory for +im to ha!e a &reature so atta&hed to +is Pro!iden&e) so dependent on +im) full of su&h firm hope and pea&e of mind in the e'pe&tation of *hat +e *ill send. +is &on&ern for su&h a one is redoubled) +e *at&hes o!er the sli#htest thin#s that are of interest to him and inspires those *ho are o!er him to a&t prudently3 and if for any reason they try to a&t in a manner harmful to him) +e pre!ents them in the hidden *ays of +is Pro!iden&e from &arryin# out their desi#ns and &ompels them to do only *hat is to his ad!anta#e. %hus the &ord keeps those who love Him. ;= If the S&riptures spea1 of God as ha!in# eyes) it is in order to *at&h o!er them3 as ha!in# ears) to hear them3 as ha!in# hands) to defend them. "nd those *ho tou&h them) tou&h the apple of +is eye. ' shall carry you in my arms) +e says by the mouth of the prophet Isaias) ' shall caress you upon -y knees. +s one whom his mother caresses" so will ' comfort you ;( "nd in .see2 ' was like a foster father to /phraim" ' carried them in my arms. ;- 0on# before oses had said2 'n the desert the &ord your God carried you" as a man carries his child" all along your ourney until you arrived at this place. ;4 "#ain God says in Isaias2 8ou shall be nursed with the breasts of kings" and you shall know that ' am the &ord your Savior and your 7edeemer. ;5 In the person of >oah *e &an find a fi#ure of the happiness of the man *ho

thro*s himself entirely upon God. While the flood#ates of hea!en *ere opened and the *orld *as laid in ruin >oah *as safe and at pea&e in the ar1 be&ause God *as #uidin# him. .thers remained at the mer&y of the *aters) losin# all they had) their families) their li!es. Thus the man *ho entrusts himself to Pro!iden&e) lets God be the pilot of his bar1) floats tran:uilly on the o&ean of life in the midst of storm and tempest) *hile those *ho try to #uide themsel!es are in &ontinual unrest) and their only pilot bein# their o*n in&onstant *ill) they are tossed about by sea and *ind until they end in ship*re&1. 0et us then trust oursel!es entirely to God and +is Pro!iden&e and lea!e +im &omplete po*er to order our li!es) turnin# to +im lo!in#ly in e!ery need and a*aitin# +is help *ithout an'iety. 0ea!e e!erythin# to +im and +e *ill pro!ide us *ith e!erythin#) at the time and in the pla&e and in the manner best suited. +e *ill lead us on our *ay to that happiness and pea&e of mind for *hi&h *e are destined in this life as a foretaste of the e!erlastin# happiness *e ha!e been promised.

( St. Thomas) Sum. p. () :. (<) a. 53 St. "u#ustine) %e Gen. - Ps. (4527 4 "po&. 52(( 5 $ph. (26 6 Wis. ((2-6 7 %eut. 4-25 9 Gen. (24( ; Pro!. 42(< < Wis. (-2(4 (= id. ((2-= (( id. (-2(63 (72( (- $&&les. ;25 (4 $ph. 629 (5 +eb. (=247 (6 ( John -2(9 (7 (s. 5627-9 (9 %eut. 4-24< (; ( Bin#s -27-9 (< "mos 427 -= $&&lus. ((2(5 -( - Bin#s (-2<-(-- Is. (=26-7 -4 0am. 4249-5-5 "&ts (92-; -6 Job (2-( -7 Gen. 5626-; -9 John (;2(( -; $&&les. (2(); -< Ps. (=42-5 4= Ps. ((=24( Wis. ;2( 4- Wis. (-2(;

44 "po&. 42(< 45 +eb. (-2--9 46 ( Cor. (=2(4 47 "&ts. (52-( 49 0u1e -52-7 4; I Thessalonians 524 4< att. --K49-4; 5= Col. 4(5 5( Ps. (552(<--= 5- Com. ;2-; 54 Is. 5;2(; 55 Job --2-(--7 56 0u1e -2(5 57 Is. 572<-(= 59 Job <25 5; Phil. 529 5< Pro!. (-2-( 6= 0u1e <2-4 6( att. (<2-< 6- id. ((24= 64 ( Thes. 62(; 65 id. 62(7 66 %an. 4279 et se:. 67 att. (=24= 69 - Cor. <2; 6; - Cor. <2; 6< 0u1e ((2(4 7= att 72-6-4-3 0u1e (-2---4= 7( (Tim. 52; 7- - Bin#s (62-7 74 John (729 75 id. 524-)45 76 att. 92-( 77 id. (-26= 79 id. 729 7; ( Bin#s (;2(= 7< ( Bin#s (72(-3 "&ts (42-9= Ps. 672;3 (=929( "&ts <-7 9- Ps. 9-2-94 id. ((;2<5 95 John 52453 624=3 724; 96 att. ((2-73 72(= 97 Ps. 5-299 0u1e --259; Ps. 52< 9< id. --2(-7 ;= Ps. (552-= ;( Is. 772(--(4 ;- .see ((24 ;4 %eut. (24( ;5 Is. 7=2(7

Tr7nscri=er*s Note "lthou#h one *ould be tempted to *rite a &ommentary) all one &an say is read) study and meditate on the entire boo1F Then put it aside and &ome ba&1 in a fe* months and #o o!er it all a#ainF Addition7l Note Please spread this boo1 far and *ide) and &onsider pur&hasin# bul1 &opies from a #ood Catholi& boo1 seller to distribute in parishes.

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