Abandonment To Divine Providence

 BOOK I ON THE VIRTUE OF ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE ITS NATURE AND EXCELLENCE.

 CHAPTER I. SANCTITY CONSISTS IN FIDELITY TO THE ORDER ESTABLISHED BY GOD, AND IN SUBMISSION TO ALL HIS OPERATIONS.

 SECTION I.—Hidden Operations of God.

 SECTION II.—The Duties of Each Moment.

 SECTION III.—The Work of our Sanctification.

 SECTION IV.—In what Perfection Consists. 6

 SECTION V.—The Divine Influence alone can Sanctify Us.

 SECTION VI.—On the Use of Mental Faculties.

 SECTION VII.—On the Attainment of Peace.

 SECTION VIII.—To Estimate Degrees of Excellence.

 SECTION IX.—Sanctity Made Easy.

 CHAPTER II. THE DIVINE ACTION WORKS UNCEASINGLY FOR THE SANCTIFICATION OF SOULS.

 SECTION I.—The Divine Action.

 Section II. By Faith the Operation of God is recognised. 17 SECTION II.—By Faith the Operation of God is recognised.

 Section III. How to Discover what is the Will of God. SECTION III.—How to Discover what is the Will of God.

 Section IV. The Revelations of God. SECTION IV.—The Revelations of God.

 Section V. The action of Jesus Christ in the Souls of Men. SECTION V.—The action of Jesus Christ in the Souls of Men.

 Section VI. The Treatment of the Divine Action. SECTION VI.—The Treatment of the Divine Action.

 Section VII. The Hidden Work of Divine Love. SECTION VII.—The Hidden Work of Divine Love. 26

 Section VIII. Experimental Science. 27 SECTION VIII.—Experimental Science.

 Section IX. The Will of God in the Present Moment is the Source of Sanctity. SECTION IX.—The Will of God in the Present Moment is the Source of Sancti

 Section X. God Makes Known His Will Through Creatures. SECTION X.—God Makes Known His Will Through Creatures.

 Section XI. Everything is Supernaturalised by the Divine Action. SECTION XI.—Everything is Supernaturalised by the Divine Action.

 Section XII. The Divine Word our Model. SECTION XII.—The Divine Word our Model. 34

 BOOK II ON THE STATE OF ABANDONMENT.

 CHAPTER I. ON THE NATURE AND EXCELLENCE OF THE STATE OF ABANDONMENT.

 Section I. The life of God in the soul. SECTION I.—The life of God in the soul.

 Section II. The most perfect way. SECTION II.—The most perfect way.

 Section III. Abandonment a Pledge of Predestination. SECTION III.—Abandonment a Pledge of Predestination.

 Section IV. Abandonment as a Source of Joy. SECTION IV.—Abandonment a Source of Joy.

 Section V. The Great Merit of Pure Faith. SECTION V.—The Great Merit of Pure Faith.

 Section VI. Submission a Free Gift to God. SECTION VI.—Submission a Free Gift to God.

 Section VII. Divine Favours Offered to All. SECTION VII.—Submission a Free Gift to God.

 Section VIII. God Reigns in a Pure Heart. SECTION VIII.—God Reigns in a Pure Heart.

 CHAPTER II. THE DUTIES OF THOSE SOULS CALLED BY GOD TO THE STATE OF ABANDONMENT.

 Section I. Sacrifice, the Foundation of Sanctity. SECTION I.—Sacrifice, the Foundation of Sanctity.

 Section II. The Pains and Consolations of Abandonment. SECTION II.—The Pains and Consolations of Abandonment.

 Section III. The Different Duties of Abandonment. SECTION III.—The Different Duties of Abandonment. 52

 Section IV. God Does All for a Soul of Goodwill. SECTION IV.—God Does All for a Soul of Goodwill.

 Section V. The Common Way of all Souls. SECTION V.—The Common Way of all Souls.

 Section VI. The Duty of the Present Moment the Only Rule. 57 SECTION VI.—The Duty of the Present Moment the Only Rule.

 Section VII. Trust in the guidance of God. SECTION VII.—Trust in the guidance of God.

 Section VIII. Great Faith is Necessary. SECTION VIII.—Great Faith is Necessary.

 CHAPTER III. THE TRIALS CONNECTED WITH THE STATE OF ABANDONMENT.

 Section I. Unwise Interference. SECTION I.—Unwise Interference.

 Section II. Unjust Judgments. SECTION II.—Unjust Judgments.

 Section III. Self-Contempt. SECTION III.—Self-Contempt.

 Section IV. Distrust of Self. SECTION IV.—Distrust of Self. 68

 Section VI. The Life of Faith. SECTION V.—The Life of Faith.

 CHAPTER IV. CONCERNING THE ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY THE FATHERLY PROVIDENCE OF GOD TO THOSE SOULS WHO HAVE ABANDONED THEMSELVES TO HIM.

 Section I. Confidence in God. SECTION I.—Confidence in God.

 Section II. Diversity of Grace. SECTION II.—Diversity of Grace.

 Section III. The Generosity of God. 78 SECTION III.—The Generosity of God.

 Section IV. The Most Ordinary Things are Channels of Grace. SECTION IV.—The Most Ordinary Things are Channels of Grace.

 Section V. Nature and Grace the Instruments of God. SECTION V.—Nature and Grace the Instruments of God.

 Section VI. Supernatural Prudence. SECTION VI.—Supernatural Prudence.

 Section VII. Conviction of Weakness. SECTION VII.—Conviction of Weakness.

 Section VIII. Self-guidance a Mistake. SECTION VIII.—Self-guidance a Mistake.

 Section IX. Divine Love, the Principle of All Good. SECTION IX.—Divine Love, the Principle of All Good.

 Section X. We Must see God in all His Creatures. SECTION X.—We Must see God in all His Creatures.

 Section XI. The Strength of Simplicity. SECTION XI.—The Strength of Simplicity.

 Section XII. The Triumph of Humility. SECTION XII.—The Triumph of Humility.

SECTION II.—The Duties of Each Moment.

The duties of each moment are the shadows beneath which hides the divine operation.

“The power of the most High shall over-shadow thee” (Luke i, 35), said the angel to Mary. This shadow, beneath which is hidden the power of God for the purpose of bringing forth Jesus Christ in the soul, is the duty, the attraction, or the cross that is presented to us at each moment. These are, in fact, but shadows like those in the order of nature which, like a veil, cover sensible objects and hide them from us. Therefore in the moral and supernatural order the duties of each moment conceal, under the semblance of dark shadows, the truth of their divine character which alone should rivet the attention. It was in this light that Mary beheld them. Also these shadows diffused over her faculties, far from creating illusion, did but increase her faith in Him who is unchanging and unchangeable. The archangel may depart. He has delivered his message, and his moment has passed. Mary advances without ceasing, and is already far beyond him. The Holy Spirit, who comes to take possession of her under the shadow of the angel’s words, will never abandon her. 3

There are remarkably few extraordinary characteristics in the outward events of the life of the most holy Virgin, at least there are none recorded in holy Scripture. Her exterior life is represented as very ordinary and simple. She did and suffered the same things that anyone in a similar state of life might do or suffer. She goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth as her other relatives did. She took shelter in a stable in consequence of her poverty. She returned to Nazareth from whence she had been driven by the persecution of Herod, and lived there with Jesus and Joseph, supporting themselves by the work of their hands. It was in this way that the holy family gained their daily bread. But what a divine nourishment Mary and Joseph received from this daily bread for the strengthening of their faith! It is like a sacrament to sanctify all their moments. What treasures of grace lie concealed in these moments filled, apparently, by the most ordinary events. That which is visible might happen to anyone, but the invisible, discerned by faith, is no less than God operating very great things. O Bread of Angels! heavenly manna! pearl of the Gospel! Sacrament of the present moment! thou givest God under as lowy a form as the manger, the hay, or the straw. And to whom dost thou give Him? “Esurientes implevit bonis” (Luke i, 53). God reveals Himself to the humble under the most lowly forms, but the proud, attaching themselves entirely to that which is extrinsic, do not discover Him hidden beneath, and are sent empty away.