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It is not hard to spurn human consolation when we
have the divine. It is, however, a very great thing
indeed to be able to live without either divine or
human comforting and for the honor of God willingly
to endure this exile of heart, not to seek oneself in
anything, and to think nothing of one's own merit.
Does it matter much, if at the coming of grace, you
are cheerful and devout? This is an hour desired by
all, for he whom the grace of God sustains travels
easily enough. What wonder if he feel no burden when
borne up by the Almighty and led on by the Supreme
Guide! For we are always glad to have something to
comfort us, and only with difficulty does a man
divest himself of self.
The holy martyr, Lawrence, with his priest,
conquered the world because he despised everything in
it that seemed pleasing to him, and for love of
Christ patiently suffered the great high priest of
God, Sixtus, whom he loved dearly, to be taken from
him. Thus, by his love for the Creator he overcame
the love of man, and chose instead of human
consolation the good pleasure of God. So you, too,
must learn to part with an intimate and much-needed
friend for the love of God. Do not take it to heart
when you are deserted by a friend, knowing that in
the end we must all be parted from one another.
A man must fight long and bravely against himself
before he learns to master himself fully and to
direct all his affections toward God. When he trusts
in himself, he easily takes to human consolation. The
true lover of Christ, however, who sincerely pursues
virtue, does not fall back upon consolations nor seek
such pleasures of sense, but prefers severe trials
and hard labors for the sake of Christ.
When, therefore, spiritual consolation is given by
God, receive it gratefully, but understand that it is
His gift and not your meriting. Do not exult, do not
be overjoyed, do not be presumptuous, but be the
humbler for the gift, more careful and wary in all
your actions, for this hour will pass and temptation
will come in its wake.
When consolation is taken away, do not at once
despair but wait humbly and patiently for the
heavenly visit, since God can restore to you more
abundant solace.
This is neither new nor strange to one who knows
God's ways, for such change of fortune often visited
the great saints and prophets of old. Thus there was
one who, when grace was with him, declared: "In my
prosperity I said: 'I shall never be moved.'" But
when grace was taken away, he adds what he
experienced in himself: "Thou didst hide Thy face,
and I was troubled." Meanwhile he does not despair;
rather he prays more earnestly to the Lord, saying:
"To Thee, O Lord, will I cry; and I will make
supplication to my God." At length, he receives the
fruit of his prayer, and testifying that he was
heard, says "The Lord hath heard, and hath had mercy
on me: the Lord became my helper." And how was he
helped? "Thou hast turned," he says, "my mourning
into joy, and hast surrounded me with gladness."(1)
If this is the case with great saints, we who are
weak and poor ought not to despair because we are
fervent at times and at other times cold, for the
spirit comes and goes according to His will. Of this
the blessed Job declared: "Thou visitest him early in
the morning, and Thou provest him suddenly."(2)
In what can I hope, then, or in whom ought I
trust, save only in the great mercy of God and the
hope of heavenly grace? For though I have with me
good men, devout brethren, faithful friends, holy
books, beautiful treatises, sweet songs and hymns,
all these help and please but little when I am
abandoned by grace and left to my poverty. At such
times there is no better remedy than patience and
resignation of self to the will of God.
I have never met a man so religious and devout that
he has not experienced at some time a withdrawal of
grace and felt a lessening of fervor. No saint was so
sublimely rapt and enlightened as not to be tempted
before and after. He, indeed, is not worthy of the
sublime contemplation of God who has not been tried
by some tribulation for the sake of God. For
temptation is usually the sign preceding the
consolation that is to follow, and heavenly
consolation is promised to all those proved by
temptation. "To him that overcometh," says Christ, "I
will give to eat of the Tree of Life."(3) Divine
consolation, then, is given in order to make a man
braver in enduring adversity, and temptation follows
in order that he may not pride himself on the good he
has done.
The devil does not sleep, nor is the flesh yet
dead; therefore, you must never cease your
preparation for battle, because on the right and on
the left are enemies who never rest.
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