Third Sunday of Lent

J.M.J.

 

IN WHAT WE SHOULD CONFORM TO GOD'S WILL

 

Taken from "Preparation for Death" by St. Alphonsus De Liguroi,

Bishop and Doctor of the Church (page 375)

It is necessary to conform ourselves to the will of God not only in crosses and adversity

which come directly from God, such as infirmities, desolation of spirit, loss of property or relatives;

but also in those which come indirectly from him,

- that is, through men,

- such as defamation, contempt, injuries,

and all other persecutions.
And let us remember that when others injure us in our property or honor,

God does not will their sin, but he wills our poverty and our humiliation.

It is certain that whatsoever happens takes place by the divine will.

"I am the Lord; I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace and create evil."

(Isa. xlv.6) And Ecclesiasticus says:
"Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from God."

In a word, all things, blessings as well as misfortunes, come from God.

The crosses that happen to us are called evils, because we call them so, and because

we make them evils; if we accepted them as we ought, with resignation,

from the hands of God, they should prove to us, not evils, but blessings.

The jewels which give the greatest splendor to the crown of the saints are the tribulations

which they have borne for God, as coming from his hands.

What did holy Job say when he was told the

Sabeans had taken away his property?

"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away." (Job, i.21) He did not say:

The Lord gave me these goods and the Sabeans have taken them away; but the Lord has given them,

and the Lord has taken them away.

And therefore he blessed the Lord, knowing that all had happened by his will.

"And as it hath pleased the Lord, so it is done; blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job, i. 21)

When the holy martyrs Epictetus and Athone were tormented with iron hooks and burning torches,

they only said: "Lord, Thy will be done in us."

And their dying words were:

"O eternal God, be blessed for giving us the grace to accomplish in ourselves Thy holy will."

Cesarius relates (lib.l x., cap. vi.)

That a certain monk wrought many miracles,

though his life was not more austere than that of the other monks.

Being astonished at his miracles, the abbot asked him one day what devotions he practiced.

In answer he said that he was more imperfect than his companions,

but that he was always careful to conform himself

in all things to the divine will. "And," said the Superior,

"did you feel no displeasure at the injury which an enemy

did to our farm some days ago?" "No, Father," replied the monk;

"I, on the contrary, thanked the Lord, because

I know that he does and permits all things for our welfare."

From this, the abbot perceived the sanctity of this good religious.

We ought to do the same when any cross or adversity happens to us.

Let us accept them all from the divine hands, not only with patience,

but also with joy, in imitation of the apostles, who rejoiced when

they were maltreated for the sake of Jesus Christ.

"They went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they

were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus."

(Acts, v 41). And what greater happiness than to bear crosses,

and to know that, in embracing them, we please God?

If we wish to enjoy continual peace, let us endeavor from this day forward,

to embrace the divine will, always saying in all that happens to us:

"Yea, Father, for so hath it seemed good in Thy sight." (Matt. xi. 26) Lord,

this has pleased Thee, let it be done. To this end we ought to direct all our meditations,

Communions, visits, and prayers,

always imploring the Lord to make us conform to his will.

And let us always offer ourselves to him, saying:

"Behold me, O my God! Do with me what thou pleasest."

St. Teresa offered herself to God at least fifty times in the day,

that he might dispose of her as he wished.

Affections and Prayers

Ah, my divine King, my beloved Redeemer! come and reign henceforth

in my soul with undivided sway.

Take my whole will, that it may desire and wish nothing but what Thou wishest.

My Jesus, I have hitherto offended Thee so grievously by resisting Thy holy will.

This gives me greater pain than if I had suffered every other evil.

I repent of it, and am sorry for it with my whole heart. I deserve chastisement;

I do not refuse it; I accept it.

Preserve me only from the chastisement of being deprived of Thy love,

and then do with me whatever Thou pleasest. I love Thee, my dear Redeemer;

I love Thee, my God and, because I love Thee, I wish to do whatever Thou wishest.

O will of God! Thou art my love.

O blood of my Jesus, Thou art my hope.

In Thee I hope to be, from this day forward,

always united to the divine will.
It shall be my guide, my desire,

my love, and my peace.

In it I wish always to live and repose.

"In peace in the self-same I will sleep and I will rest."(Ps.iv.9).

I shall always say, in whatever shall befall me:

My God, thus Thou hast willed, thus I will ;

my God, I wish only what Thou wishest, may Thy will be always accomplished in me.

Thy will be done. My Jesus, through Thy merits,

grant me the grace always to repeat this beautiful dictate of love: Thy will be done! Thy will be done!

O Mary, happy thou, who didst always fulfil,

in all things, the divine will.

Obtain for me the grace that henceforth I, too, may always fulfil it.

My queen, through thy great love for Jesus Christ, obtain for me this grace.

Through thy prayers I hope for it.

--
Sincerely in Christ,
Our Lady of the Rosary Library
"Pray and work for souls"
http://olrl.org

--

For good Catholic books, articles and religious goods visit www.olrl.org.