Patience
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
ABANDONMENT OR ABSOLUTE SURRENDER TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE
[Continued from yesterday]
If we do not lose sight of these principles, which no Christian can question, we shall understand that our confidence in the providence of our Father in heaven cannot be too great, too absolute, too child-like. If nothing but what He permits happens, and if He can permit nothing but what is for our happiness, then we have nothing to fear, except not being sufficiently submissive to God. As long as we keep ourselves united with Him and we walk after His designs, were all creatures to turn against us they could not harm us. He who relies upon God becomes by this very reliance as powerful and as invincible as God, and created powers can no more prevail against him than against God Himself.
This confidence in the fatherly providence of God cannot, evidently, dispense us from doing all that is in our power to accomplish His design; but after having done all that depends upon our efforts we will abandon ourselves completely to God for the rest.
St. Vincent de Paul tells us: "One act of resignation to the divine will in that which is contrary to our inclination is of more value than ten thousand words of thanks for that which conforms to our taste."
St. Vincent showed by the sweetness of his words and the serenity of his countenance that he looked upon all the events of life with equal indifference. He never lost sight of his great maxim, "Nothing happens in the world but by the order of divine Providence." Into the arms of Providence he threw himself and abandoned himself entirely. A worthy prelate who was struck with admiration at his constant sweetness, which nothing could disturb, said, "Father Vincent is always Father Vincent."
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Compiled and Edited by Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
1937, Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
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