The Ninth Chapter
Wanting No Share in Comfort
IT IS not hard to spurn human consolation when we have the divine. It
is, however, a very great thing indeed to be able to live without
either divine or human comforting and for the honor of God willingly to
endure this exile of heart, not to seek oneself in anything, and to
think nothing of one’s own merit.
Does it matter much, if at the coming of grace, you are cheerful and
devout? This is an hour desired by all, for he whom the grace of God
sustains travels easily enough. What wonder if he feel no burden when
borne up by the Almighty and led on by the Supreme Guide! For we are
always glad to have something to comfort us, and only with difficulty
does a man divest himself of self.
The holy martyr, Lawrence, with his priest, conquered the world because
he despised everything in it that seemed pleasing to him, and for love
of Christ patiently suffered the great high priest of God, Sixtus, whom
he loved dearly, to be taken from him. Thus, by his love for the
Creator he overcame the love of man, and chose instead of human
consolation the good pleasure of God. So you, too, must learn to part
with an intimate and much-needed friend for the love of God. Do not
take it to heart when you are deserted by a friend, knowing that in the
end we must all be parted from one another.
A man must fight long and bravely against himself before he learns to
master himself fully and to direct all his affections toward God. When
he trusts in himself, he easily takes to human consolation. The true
lover of Christ, however, who sincerely pursues virtue, does not fall
back upon consolations nor seek such pleasures of sense, but prefers
severe trials and hard labors for the sake of Christ.
When, therefore, spiritual consolation is given by God, receive it
gratefully, but understand that it is His gift and not your meriting.
Do not exult, do not be overjoyed, do not be presumptuous, but be the
humbler for the gift, more careful and wary in all your actions, for
this hour will pass and temptation will come in its wake.
When consolation is taken away, do not at once despair but wait humbly
and patiently for the heavenly visit, since God can restore to you more
abundant solace.
This is neither new nor strange to one who knows God’s ways, for such
change of fortune often visited the great saints and prophets of old.
Thus there was one who, when grace was with him, declared: “In my
prosperity I said: I shall never be moved.’” But when grace was taken
away, he adds what he experienced in himself: “Thou didst hide Thy
face, and I was troubled.” Meanwhile he does not despair; rather he
prays more earnestly to the Lord, saying: “To Thee, O Lord, will I cry;
and I will make supplication to my God.” At length, he receives the
fruit of his prayer, and testifying that he was heard, says “The Lord
hath heard, and hath had mercy on me: the Lord became my helper.” And
how was he helped? “Thou hast turned,” he says, “my mourning into joy,
and hast surrounded me with gladness.” [15]
If this is the case with great saints, we who are weak and poor ought
not to despair because we are fervent at times and at other times cold,
for the spirit comes and goes according to His will. Of this the
blessed Job declared: “Thou visitest him early in the morning, and Thou
provest him suddenly.” [16]
In what can I hope, then, or in whom ought I trust, save only in the
great mercy of God and the hope of heavenly grace? For though I have
with me good men, devout brethren, faithful friends, holy books,
beautiful treatises, sweet songs and hymns, all these help and please
but little when I am abandoned by grace and left to my poverty. At such
times there is no better remedy than patience and resignation of self
to the will of God.
I have never met a man so religious and devout that he has not
experienced at some time a withdrawal of grace and felt a lessening of
fervor. No saint was so sublimely rapt and enlightened as not to be
tempted before and after. He, indeed, is not worthy of the sublime
contemplation of God who has not been tried by some tribulation for the
sake of God. For temptation is usually the sign preceding the
consolation that is to follow, and heavenly consolation is promised to
all those proved by temptation. “To him that overcometh,” says Christ,
“I will give to eat of the Tree of Life.” [17] Divine consolation,
then, is given in order to make a man braver in enduring adversity, and
temptation follows in order that he may not pride himself on the good
he has done.
The devil does not sleep, nor is the flesh yet dead; therefore, you
must never cease your preparation for battle, because on the right and
on the left are enemies who never rest.
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[15] Ps. 29:7-12.
[16] Job 7:18.
[17] Apoc. 2:7.
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