SOME OTHER WAYS OF DOING OUR WORKS QUITE WELL FOR THE LOVE OF GOD
When the peahens hatch in entirely white surroundings, their young ones are also all white. Our intentions are in the love of God. We intend to do some good work. Or we enter into some profession. Then all the actions which flow (result) from it take their value and receive their dignity from this love from which they have their origin. For who does not see that the actions which are essential to my vocation and required for my project depend on this first choice and resolution that I have made?
Theotimus, we are not to stop there. To make great progress in devotion, it is not enough that we at the beginning of our conversion, then every year rededicate our life and all our actions to God. We must also offer them to him everyday in keeping with morning exercise we have taught Philothea[1]. For in this daily renewal of our offering, we pour out on our actions the energy and power of love. Thus we offer our heart to the glory of God. By this, our heart is always more and more sanctified.
Besides these, let us offer hundreds and hundreds of times a day our lives to divine love by the practice of ejacu- latory prayers, spiritual aspirations and recollections. For these holy exercises lift up and constantly cast our hearts in God and bring all our actions there. A soul at every moment soars up into divine goodness. It sighs unceasingly words of love to keep its heart always in the bosom of its heavenly Father. Can we not think of it as doing all its good actions in and for God? How could it be otherwise, I ask You?
Such is one who says: O Lord I am yours (Ps 119:94). My Beloved is all mine and I am all his (Song 2:16). “My God, you are my all." O Jesus, you are my life. Ah, who will give me the grace that I die to self that I may live to you! “O, to love! O, to set out! O, to die to oneself! O, to live to God!" O, to be in God! O, God! What is not you is nothing for me. Such a soul, I say, does it not continually dedicate its actions to the heavenly Spouse?
O, how happy is the one who once and for all has made the renunciation and perfect submission of self into the hands of God. We have spoken about it earlier[2]. For afterwards one has only to make a little sigh and glance at God to renew and confirm one’s renunciation, submission and offering. It is made with a protestation that one desires only God and for God and one loves neither self nor the things of the world except in God and for love of God. Now this practice of continual aspirations is the best way of offering all our works to divine love. Chiefly, it is more than enough for the tiny, ordinary actions of our daily life. For as regards great and important works, it is good to use the following method to draw great benefit. I have already touched on it elsewhere26. In such events, let us raise our hearts and spirits to God. Let us deepen our attention and raise our thoughts to the most holy and glorious eternity. Let us see that in this situation divine goodness has tenderly cherished us. God destined for our salvation all the suitable means for our progress in love. It is especially so on the opportunity to do good which presents itself now or to suffer the evil which is happening to us. Opening, if we may say so, and raising the arms of our consent to God, let us embrace affectionately, fervently and very lovingly the good which presents itself to be done or the evil which we have to suffer. We do this thinking that God desired it eternally to please him and obey his providence.
See the great St Charles [Borromeo], when the plague ravaged his diocese, enhanced his courage trusting in God. He reflected carefully that from all eternity divine Providence had foreseen and allowed this plague for his people. In the midst of this calamity, this same Providence had decreed that he should have a very tender care to serve, comfort and whole-heartedly help the victims of plague. For in this context, he was the spiritual father, pastor and bishop of that province. Hence, aware of the great pains, labours and hardships which he had to undergo for remedying this situation, he immolated himself in spirit to the good will of God. Tenderly he kissed his cross. He exclaimed from the depth of his heart like St Andrew: “I greet you, O precious cross!" [3] I greet you, O happy trials! O, holy distress, how lovable you are since you come from the bosom of the eternal, merciful Father! How he permitted it from all eternity and assigned it for this dear people and for me! O, cross, my heart welcomes you since my God willed you! O, cross, my spirit cherishes you and embraces you with all its love!
In this spirit we are to undertake the most difficult tasks and accept the most bitter trials which may come to us. They may be of long duration. Then from time to time and very often repeat this practice. Thus we keep up more profitably our union with the permissive will of God. We may say this short but most holy protestation of his Son: Yes, O, eternal Father, I desire with all my heart because thus it has been pleasing in your sight (Mt 11:26). O God, Theotimus, how great are the treasures which this practice contains!
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[1] IDL, Pt.II Ch.10
[2] TLG Bk IX, Ch.16
[3] Office of the Feast of St Andrew, 30 November