"If, devout soul, it is your will to please God and live a life of serenity in this world, unite yourself always and in all things to the divine will. Reflect that all the sins of your past wicked life happened because you wandered from the path of God's will. For the future, embrace God's good pleasure and say to him in every happening: "Yea, Father, for so it hath seemed good in thy sight." "

St Alphonsus de Liguori

* * *

"If you wish to learn and appreciate something worth while, then love to be unknown and considered as nothing. Truly to know and despise self is the best and most perfect counsel."

Thomas á Kempis

* * *

"The more you know and the better you understand, the more severely will you be judged, unless your life is also the more holy. Do not be proud, therefore, because of your learning or skill. Rather, fear because of the talent given you."

Thomas á Kempis

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Fr Jean-Pierre de Caussade, SJ   (1675 - 1751)
 

ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE

by Fr Jean-Pierre de Caussade, SJ

CONTENTS


Title Page

Introduction
 

Book I. On the virtue of abandonment to Divine Providence. Its nature and excellence.

 
CH1.
 
SANCTITY CONSISTS IN FIDELITY TO THE ORDER OF GOD, AND IN SUBMISSION TO ALL HIS OPERATIONS.
S1 Hidden Operations of God.
S2 Hidden Operations of God (cont)
S3 The Work of our Sanctification.
S4 In what Perfection Consists.
S5 The Divine Influence alone can Sanctify Us.
S6 On the Use of Mental Faculties.
S7 On the Attainment of Peace.
S8 To Estimate Degrees of Excellence.
S9 Sanctity Made Easy.
CH2.
THE DIVINE ACTION WORKS UNCEASINGLY FOR THE SANCTIFICATION OF SOULS.
S1 The life of God in the soul
S2 By Faith the Operation of God is recognised.
S3 How to Discover what is the Will of God.
S4 The Revelations of God.
S5 The action of Jesus Christ in the Souls of Men.
S6 The Treatment of the Divine Action.
S7 The Hidden Work of Divine Love.
S8 Experimental Science.
S9 The Will of God in the Present Moment is the Source of Sanctity.
S10 God Makes Known His Will Through Creatures.
S11 Everything is Supernaturalised by the Divine Action.
S12 The Divine Word our Model.

Book 2 - On the State of Abandonment
CH1.
ON THE NATURE AND EXCELLENCE OF THE STATE OF ABANDONMENT.
S1 The life of God in the soul.
S2 The most perfect way.
S3 Abandonment a Pledge of Predestination.
S4 Abandonment as a Source of Joy.
S5 The Great Merit of Pure Faith.
S6 Submission a Free Gift to God.
S7 Divine Favours Offered to All.
S8 God Reigns in a Pure Heart.
CH2.
THE DUTIES OF THOSE SOULS CALLED BY GOD TO THE STATE OF ABANDONMENT.
S1 Sacrifice, the Foundation of Sanctity.
S2 The Pains and Consolations of Abandonment.
S3 The Different Duties of Abandonment.
S4 God Does All for a Soul of Goodwill.
S5 The Common Way of all Souls.
S6 The Duty of the Present Moment the Only Rule.
S7 Trust in the guidance of God.
S8 Great Faith is Necessary.
CH3.
THE TRIALS CONNECTED WITH THE STATE OF ABANDONMENT.
S1 Unwise Interference.
S2 Unjust Judgments.
S3 Self-Contempt.
S4 Distrust of Self.
S5 The Life of Faith.
CH4.
CONCERNING THE ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY THE FATHERLY PROVIDENCE OF GOD TO THOSE SOULS WHO HAVE ABANDONED THEMSELVES TO HIM.
S1 Confidence in God.
S2 Diversity of Grace.
S3 The Generosity of God.
S4 The Most Ordinary Things are Channels of Grace.
S5 Nature and Grace the Instruments of God.
S6 Supernatural Prudence.
S7 Conviction of Weakness.
S8 Self-guidance a Mistake.
S9 Divine Love, the Principle of All Good.
S10 We Must see God in all His Creatures.
S11 The Strength of Simplicity.
S12 The Triumph of Humility.
 

End of Book