Abandonment; or, Absolute Surrender to Divine ProvidenceCaussade, Jean Pierre de
Religion
Abandonment; or, Absolute Surrender to Divine Providence
Caussade, Jean Pierre de
Mysticism -- Catholic Church; Spiritual life -- Catholic Church
5th. Then we must not endeavor to multiply, or produce several other
acts or various dispositions, but remain simply attentive to this
presence of God, exposed to this divine radiance, thus continuing this
devout attention or exposition as long as God gives us the grace of it,
without being eager to make other acts than those with which we are
inspired, since this prayer is a prayer with God alone, and a union
which eminently contains all the other special dispositions; and which
disposes the soul to passiveness; that is to say, God becomes sole
master of her interior, and there effects more special work. The less
the creature labors in this state, the more powerfully God acts in her;
and since the operation of God is a repose, the soul, in this prayer,
becomes in a manner like Him, and receives, also, marvellous effects;
and as the rays of the sun cause the plants to grow and blossom and
bear fruit, so the attentive soul, exposed in tranquillity to the rays
of the divine Sun of justice, more effectually imbibes the divine
influences which enrich her with all virtues.
6th. The continuation of this attention in faith will serve her
as thanksgiving for all the graces received during the night, and
throughout her life, as an offering of herself and all her actions, as
a direction of her intention, etc.
7th. The soul may fear to lose much by the omission of other acts,
but experience will teach her, on the contrary, that she gains a
great deal; for the greater her knowledge of God, the greater also
will be the purity of her love, of her intentions, the greater will
be her detestation of sin, and the greater and more continual her
recollection, mortification, and humility.
8th. This will not prevent her from making other interior or exterior
acts of virtue when she feels herself impelled thereto by grace; but
the fundamental and usual state of her interior should be that union
with God which will keep her abandoned to His hands and delivered up to
His love, to quietly accomplish all His will.
9th. The time of meditation being come, we must begin it with great
respect by a simple recollection of God, invoking His Spirit, and
uniting ourselves intimately with Jesus Christ; then continue it in
this same way. It will be the same with vocal prayers, office, and
the Holy Sacrifice, whether we celebrate it or assist at it. Even the
examination of conscience should be made after no other method: this
same light which keeps our attention upon God will cause us to discover
our slightest imperfections, and deeply deplore and regret them. We
should go to table with the same spirit of simplicity which will keep
us more occupied with God than with the repast, and leave us free to
give better attention to what is being read. This practice binds us
to nothing but to keep our soul detached from all imperfection, and
attached only to God and intimately united with Him, in which consists
all our welfare.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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