The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life — John Shaqi
The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy LifeLawrence, of the Resurrection, Brother
Religion
The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life
Lawrence, of the Resurrection, Brother
Christian life -- Catholic authors; Spiritual life -- Catholic Church
That he had been long troubled in mind from a certain belief that he
should be damned; that all the men in the world could not have
persuaded him to the contrary; but that he had thus reasoned with
himself about it: _I engaged in a religious life only for the love of_
GOD, _and I have endeavored to act only for Him; whatever becomes of
me, whether I be lost or saved, I will always continue to act purely
for the love of_ GOD. _I shall have this good at least, that till
death I shall have done all that is in me to love Him_. That this
trouble of mind had lasted four years; during which time he had
suffered much. But that at last he had seen that this trouble arose
from want of faith; and that since then he had passed his life in
perfect liberty and continual joy. That he had placed his sins betwixt
him and GOD, as it were, to tell Him that he did not deserve His
favors, but that GOD still continued to bestow them in abundance.
That in order to form a habit of conversing with GOD continually, and
referring all we do to Him, we must at first apply to Him with some
diligence: but that after a little care we should find His love
inwardly excite us to it without any difficulty.
That he expected after the pleasant days GOD had given him, he should
have his turn of pain and suffering; but that he was not uneasy about
it, knowing very well, that as he could do nothing of himself, GOD
would not fail to give him the strength to bear it.
That when an occasion of practicing some virtue offered, he addressed
himself to GOD, saying, LORD, _I cannot do this unless Thou enablest
me_: and that then he received strength more than sufficient.
That when he had failed in his duty, he only confessed his fault,
saying to GOD, _I shall never do otherwise, if You leave me to myself;
it is You who must hinder my falling, and mend what is amiss_. That
after this, he gave himself no further uneasiness about it.
That we ought to act with GOD in the greatest simplicity, speaking to
Him frankly and plainly, and imploring His assistance in our affairs,
just as they happen. That GOD never failed to grant it, as he had
often experienced.
That he had been lately sent into Burgundy, to buy the provision of
wine for the society, which was a very unwelcome task for him, because
he had no turn for business, and because he was lame and could not go
about the boat but by rolling himself over the casks. That however he
gave himself no uneasiness about it, nor about the purchase of the
wine. That he said to GOD, _It was His business he was about_, and
that he afterwards found it very well performed. That he had been sent
into Auvergne, the year before, upon the same account; that he could
not tell how the matter passed, but that it proved very well.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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