Desires often inflame thee, and violently hurry thee on; but consider whether it be for My honour or thy own interest that thou art more moved. If thou hast no other view but Me, thou wilt be well contented with whatever I shall ordain: for if there lurk in thee anything of self-seeking, behold this it is that hinders thee and troubles thee.
Take care then not to rely too much upon any desire which thou hast conceived before thou hast consulted Me, lest afterwards thou repent, or be displeased with that which before pleased thee, and which thou zealously didst desire as the best. For every inclination which appears good is not presently to be followed: nor every contrary affection at first sight to be rejected.
Even in good desires and inclinations, it is expedient sometimes to use some restraint; lest by too much eagerness thou incur distraction of mind; lest thou create scandal to others by not keeping within discipline, or by the opposition which thou mayest meet with from others, thou be suddenly disturbed and fall.
-Bk. III, ch. xi.
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She warned me that when it became known after her death that she had been the spiritual sister of two missionaries, many young priests would ask for a like favour, but that it might be dangerous for certain souls: "Anyone could write what I write, and would receive the same compliments and inspire the same confidence; but we can be of use to the Church by prayer and sacrifice. Such correspondences should be allowed rarely, and denied altogether to those nuns who would think too much about it. They would imagine they were doing wonders, whereas they would only be harming their own souls, and might be deceived by the wiles of the devil."
"Do not forget what I say as time goes on, for it is most important. We must not mint false coin at Carmel with which to buy souls. How often the fine letters one writes, and that one receives in return, are nothing more than an exchange of worthless coin."
-Novissima Verba.
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For more information, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
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