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J. P. De Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence
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Abandonment To Divine Providence
BOOK I ON THE VIRTUE OF ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE ITS NATURE AND EXCELLENCE.
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 IV. The Revelations of God. SECTION IV.—The Revelations of God.
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 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 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 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 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.
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 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 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.
Perfection consists in doing the will of God, not in understanding His designs.
The designs of God, the good pleasure of God, the will of God, the operation of God and the gift of His grace are all one and the same thing in the spiritual life. It is God working in the soul to make it like unto Himself. Perfection is neither more nor less than the faithful co-operation of the soul with this work of God, and is begun, grows, and is consummated in the soul unperceived and in secret. The science of theology is full of theories and explanations of the wonders of this state in each soul according to its capacity. One may be conversant with all these speculations, speak and write about them admirably, instruct others and guide souls; yet, if these theories are only in the mind, one is, compared with those who, without any knowledge of these theories, receive the meaning of the designs of God and do His holy will, like a sick physician compared to simple people in perfect health. The designs of God and his divine will accepted by a faithful soul with simplicity produces this divine state in it without its knowledge, just as a medicine taken obediently will produce health, although the sick person neither knows nor wishes to know anything about medicine. As fire gives out heat, and not philosophical discussions about it, nor knowledge of its effects, so the designs of God and His holy will work in the soul for its sanctification, and not speculations of curiosity as to this principle and this state. When one is thirsty one quenches one’s thirst by drinking, not by reading books which treat of this condition. The desire to know does but increase this thirst. Therefore when one thirsts after sanctity, the desire to know about it only drives it further away. Speculation must be laid aside, and everything arranged by God as regards actions and sufferings must be accepted with simplicity, for those things that happen at each moment by the divine command or permission are always the most holy, the best and the most divine for us.