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.
O, all you who thirst, learn that you have not far to go to find the fountain of living waters; it flows quite close to you in the present moment; therefore hasten to find it. Why, with the fountain so near, do you tire yourselves with running about 28after every little rill? These only increase your thirst by giving only a few drops, whereas the source is inexhaustible. If you desire to think, to write, and to speak like the Prophets, the Apostles, and the Saints, you must give yourself up, as they did, to the inspirations of God. O unknown Love! it seems as if Your wonders were finished and nothing remained but to copy Your ancient works, and to quote Your past discourses! And no one sees that Your inexhaustible activity is a source of new thoughts, of fresh sufferings and further actions: of new Patriarchs, Apostles, Prophets, and Saints who have no need to copy the lives and writings of the others, but only to live in perpetual abandonment to Your secret operations. We hear of nothing on all sides but “the first centuries,” “the time of the Saints.” What a strange way of talking! Is not all time a succession of the effects of the divine operation, working at every instant, filling, sanctifying, and supernaturalising them all? Has there ever been an ancient method of abandonment to this operation which is now out of season? Had the Saints of the first ages any other secret than that of becoming from moment to moment whatever the divine power willed to make them? And will this power cease to pour forth its glory on the souls which abandon themselves to it without reserve.
O Love eternal, adorable, ever fruitful, and ever marvellous! May the divine operation of my God be my book, my doctrine, my science. In it are my thoughts, my words, my actions, and my sufferings. Not by consulting Your former works shall I become what You would have me to be; but by receiving You in everything. By that ancient road, the only royal road, the road of our fathers shall I be enlightened, and shall speak as they spoke. It is thus that I, would imitate them all, quote them all, copy them all.