Monday, April 26, 2010

DeCaussade Abandonment to the Divine Providence

You do well to give yourself up entirely and almost solely to the excellent practice of an absolute abandonment to the will of God. In this lies for you all perfection, this is the straight path leading most quickly and surely to a profound and unchangeable peace; it is also a secure safeguard to preserve this peace in the depths of the soul even in the midst of the most violent storms. Far from doing it harm, these storms will serve infallibly, not only to increase its merits, but also to strengthen more and more this union of the created will, with the divine will, and it is this which renders the peace of the soul unchangeable. Oh, what happiness! what grace! what a certainty as to the life to come, and what unalterable peace does she possess who belongs to God alone, who has no being out of God; who has no other support, no other help, no other hope but God alone. Jean-Pierre de Caussade, SJ

The great Saints depicted in Fra Angelico's Coronation of the Virgin (St. Thomas, St Benedict, St. Dominic, St. Francis, St. Peter Martyr and St. Mark) all lived united to God's will. What a joy, what peace! The road there does not come without a price, just as Christ's gift of love does not come with a cross. The grace that converts us all makes us desire the Father's will. Jesus will not let go of us once we are in His hand. Mary Queen of Peace Pray for Us that we may be united to your Son. Amen

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