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The Voice of Christ
It is better and safer for you to conceal the grace
of devotion, not to be elated by it, not to speak or
think much of it, and instead to humble yourself and
fear lest it is being given to one unworthy of it. Do
not cling too closely to this affection, for it may
quickly be changed to its opposite. When you are in
grace, think how miserable and needy you are without
it. Your progress in spiritual life does not consist
in having the grace of consolation, but in enduring
its withdrawal with humility, resignation, and
patience, so that you neither become listless in
prayer nor neglect your other duties in the least;
but on the contrary do what you can do as well as you
know how, and do not neglect yourself completely
because of your dryness or anxiety of mind.
There are many, indeed, who immediately become
impatient and lazy when things do not go well with
them. The way of man, however, does not always lie in
his own power. It is God's prerogative to give grace
and to console when He wishes, as much as He wishes,
and whom He wishes, as it shall please Him and no
more.Some careless persons, misusing the grace of
devotion, have destroyed themselves because they
wished to do more than they were able. They failed to
take account of their own weakness, and followed the
desire of their heart rather than the judgment of
their reason. Then, because they presumed to greater
things than pleased God they quickly lost His grace.
They who had built their homes in heaven became
helpless, vile outcasts, humbled and impoverished,
that they might learn not to fly with their own wings
but to trust in Mine.
They who are still new and inexperienced in the
way of the Lord may easily be deceived and overthrown
unless they guide themselves by the advice of
discreet persons. But if they wish to follow their
own notions rather than to trust in others who are
more experienced, they will be in danger of a sorry
end, at least if they are unwilling to be drawn from
their vanity. Seldom do they who are wise in their
own conceits bear humbly the guidance of others. Yet
a little knowledge humbly and meekly pursued is
better than great treasures of learning sought in
vain complacency. It is better for you to have little
than to have much which may become the source of
pride.
He who gives himself up entirely to enjoyment acts
very unwisely, for he forgets his former helplessness
and that chastened fear of the Lord which dreads to
lose a proffered grace. Nor is he very brave or wise
who becomes too despondent in times of adversity and
difficulty and thinks less confidently of Me than he
should. He who wishes to be too secure in time of
peace will often become too dejected and fearful in
time of trial.
If you were wise enough to remain always humble
and small in your own eyes, and to restrain and rule
your spirit well, you would not fall so quickly into
danger and offense.
When a spirit of fervor is enkindled within you,
you may well meditate on how you will feel when the
fervor leaves. Then, when this happens, remember that
the light which I have withdrawn for a time as a
warning to you and for My own glory may again return.
Such trials are often more beneficial than if you had
things always as you wish. For a man's merits are not
measured by many visions or consolations, or by
knowledge of the Scriptures, or by his being in a
higher position than others, but by the truth of his
humility, by his capacity for divine charity, by his
constancy in seeking purely and entirely the honor of
God, by his disregard and positive contempt of self,
and more, by preferring to be despised and humiliated
rather than honored by others.
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