Thus Father Caussade does not suppress our active co-operation in the work of our sanctification, but he teaches us to profit much better than we do of God’s part therein, by abandoning ourselves more to Him. In events where too frequently we see only misfortunes, because we regard them as more or less reprehensible effects of the malice or the imperfection of creatures, he teaches us to see the divine love using these same creatures as instruments either to correct our vices or to cause us to practise virtue. Therefore he changes the principal obstacles to the success of this great work into means of sanctification, and teaches us the art of changing creatures the most indifferent or the most hostile into powerful auxiliaries. With good reason does he desire to be able to inculcate this doctrine in men of all conditions; for there is no doubt that, if they understood it well, sanctity would seem to them much more attainable; and that, seeing God laboring unceasingly upon this work, they would fulfil with much greater courage the duties imposed upon their free will. H. RAMIÈRE, S.J. CONTENTS. PAGE PREFACE BY REV. H. RAMIÈRE, S.J. 3 BOOK FIRST. _OF THE NATURE AND EXCELLENCE OF THE VIRTUE OF HOLY ABANDONMENT._ CHAPTER I. The sanctity of the righteous of the Old Law, and of Joseph and of Mary herself, consisted in fidelity to the order of God 31 II. The duties of each moment are the shadows which veil the divine action 33 III. How much easier sanctity becomes when studied from this point of view 36 IV. Perfection does not consist in knowing the order of God, but in submitting to it 42 V. Reading and other exercises only sanctify us in so far as they are the channels of the divine action 44 VI. The mind and other human means are useful only in so far as they are the instruments of the divine action 49 VII. There is no enduring peace but in submission to the divine action 52 VIII. The perfection of souls and the excellence of different states are in proportion to their conformity to the order of God 54 IX. All the riches of grace are the fruit of purity of heart and perfect self-abandonment 62 BOOK SECOND. _THE DIVINE ACTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT UNCEASINGLY WORKS THE SANCTIFICATION OF SOULS._ CHAPTER PAGE I. The divine action is everywhere and always present, though only visible to the eye of Faith 69 II. The divine action is all the more visible to the eye of Faith when hidden under appearances most repugnant to the senses 74