“My Lord and my God, take from me everything that keeps me from You. Give me everything that brings me closer to You. Let me no longer be mine, but entirely Yours.” (St. Nicholas of Flüe)
This prayer of St. Nicholas of Flüe briefly summarizes the stages of the spiritual journey.
To utter it requires a certain courage and a greater trust in our Heavenly Father. But in reality, if we have awakened to the love of God and know that it is necessary to go through inner purifications in order to grow in that love, it should be natural to address these petitions to Him. The love of our Father must melt all that still prevents us from uniting with Him.
St. Teresa of Ávila lamented that few people are willing to undergo these purifications on the spiritual path. Perhaps they have not yet understood what it is really all about, allowing themselves to be confused by all kinds of fears and false ideas. Undoubtedly, the enemy of mankind will also do his part, trying to prevent us from transforming ourselves into the image of Christ. Ultimately, that is the goal of the spiritual path.
In the Message to Sister Eugenia Ravasio, our Father assures us that He is not “that terrible God,” as some imagine Him to be out of fear. The same can be said of interior purifications. They are not terrible, but the wise work of the Holy Spirit, ridding us of what prevents us from fully welcoming our Father’s love. If we collaborate with Him, we will be able to free ourselves from what binds us, opening ourselves to the greatest and truest love. The sufferings that these processes of detachment from excessive attachments to lesser goods are likely to entail—we can offer them to the Lord, asking Him to integrate them mysteriously into His work of salvation.
God will hear this prayer, and no one can surpass His wisdom in guiding a docile soul toward its goal.