“Resolve each morning to avoid, combat, and overcome everything that is incompatible with the salvation of your soul and the glory of God.” (St. Francis de Sales)
This is the advice that St. Francis de Sales gives us for waging the spiritual battle earnestly. It is a decision of our will, a fundamental direction we take in order to walk the path of holiness.
“Let us plunge into the sea of His goodness, where every weakness is wiped away and fear is transformed into love” (Saint Paul of the Cross).
A similar passage is found in Madre Eugenia’s Little Book of the Father, in which we are invited to plunge into the sea of the Father’s mercy, where we are to be purified and strengthened so that we may continue our journey.
“Oh, how My paternal love has been forgotten by Men! Yet I love you so tenderly!” (Little Book of the Father)
How easily we humans forget God’s blessings, and with them, our Father, who bestowed them upon us. The consequences are inevitable, for our living connection to God and His presence in our lives is lost. We then easily sink into the normal routine of life without remembering the Lord.
“No one is wiser than the one who always holds his soul in his hands. Man has no treasure more precious than his soul. He must therefore be vigilant and constantly on guard, for nothing compares to the salvation of the soul.” (Thomas à Kempis)
Elsewhere, Thomas à Kempis laments: „For a small reward, a man will hurry away on a long journey; while for eternal life, many will hardly take a single step.“
“Sometimes it is good for us to have troubles and hardships, for they often call us back to our own hearts. Once there, we know ourselves to be strangers in this world.” (Thomas a Kempis)
The spiritual teacher Thomas a Kempis gives us an important reason why even those things that seem only to stand in our way can be used by our Father for our good. God always has the salvation of our soul in mind, and all of His guidance and allowances are intended to serve us. The greatest service the Lord renders us is the salvation and strengthening of our soul. This is what matters, as the Church rightly states: its most important task is the salvation of the soul.
“The innermost connection with me is necessary and the key to spiritual resistance.” (Inner Word).
We must never forget that we are not simply at the mercy of evil, but are called to resist it. This is also a way for us to demonstrate our faithfulness to our Heavenly Father. As long as everything in our following of Christ proceeds without major complications, it is easy to follow the Lord. However, even when it seems easy, we must be careful not to become overconfident. Spiritual wisdom demands this of us.
“Until God ordains otherwise, a man ought to bear patiently whatever he cannot correct in himself and in others.” (Thomas à Kempis)
The effort to improve oneself or help others do so appropriately is never in vain because it is an act of love. Furthermore, every improvement benefits everyone. Yet one easily encounters limits in this process. One should certainly try again and again and not give up in resignation. The latter would be a misguided attitude, focused not on God but on one’s own feelings.
“Death holds no terror for a sincere servant of Christ who works to lead souls to the knowledge of the truth.” (St. Ramon Llull)
As we move toward the great goal of meeting the Lord in death, it is a great comfort to know that we have sincerely tried to serve in the Lord’s vineyard. There is hardly anything more important that we can do on earth than help people find God and walk in His ways. From this, we can draw the confidence that St. Paul had when he knew that the crown of victory awaited him (cf. 2 Tim. 4:8).
“Therefore let not thy heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Believe in Me, and put thy trust in My mercy.” —The Imitation of Christ, III, 30
There are many circumstances that seek to take hold of our hearts. Fear and dread are among them and have the power to captivate a person completely or, at the very least, rob them of their inner peace.
From stories and reports, we know that in times of war, it is not uncommon for people to deliberately try to spread fear and dread to intimidate the enemy before the battle begins and use them as a weapon of war. If successful, the enemy’s fighting strength is weakened, and their courage may wane.
“Nothing is impossible for me, and when I find an open heart, I want to give everything and, through it, bestow gifts upon others as well.” (Inner Word)
How deeply our Father longs to find open hearts! Perhaps we cannot even imagine this because God is self-sufficient. It is true: God is perfect and does not need our love to become more perfect. And yet….
Our Father longs for this love, which He Himself is. God longs to share with those creatures whom He has made His children everything He wishes to give them. It is an unimaginably vast amount. However, it requires an open heart to receive it.
