QUOTATION: Resignation to God's Will

Cæsarius relates that in a certain monastery there was a Religious, upon whom God had so abundantly conferred the gift of miracles, that he cured the sick by the very touch of his habit or girdle. The abbot of the monastery taking notice of it, and not discerning any particular mark of sanctity in the Religious, took him aside, and forced him to discover whence it came, that God worked so many miracles by his means. I cannot conceive the reason, answered the Religious; for I do not fast more than others; I practice no more austerities and penances, than others; I neither work nor watch, nor do I spend more time in prayer and meditation than others do. All in reality I can say of myself is, that I am neither puffed up with prosperity, nor dejected with adversity; so that whatsoever happens, I am never discomposed, or troubled in mind; and in all the misfortunes which are annexed to this life, whether they fall upon me in particular, or my brethren in general, I always, notwithstanding, retain equal temper and peace of mind, as before. But were you not somewhat concerned, replied the abbot, when the enemy put fire to our farm and burnt it down? Not in the least, said the Religious; I was not at all troubled thereat: because I have long since resigned all things into the hands of God: and so, let whatever happen, whether good or bad, great or small, I receive them with equal thanksgiving, as coming from the hand of the Almighty. By this, the abbot clearly understood that doubtless this resignation was the cause of the many miracles which God wrought by this holy man. (Op. Cit. Volume I of III, The Eighth Treatise - Of Conformity to the Will of God).

--St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

QUOTATION: Perfection

First, I do not here pretend to deny but that we are to rejoice when God approaches us, and be sorry when he withdraws himself from us. For it is impossible a soul should not feel a sensible joy in the presence of her beloved, and be sensibly afflicted at his absence, since by this she is left to desolations and temptations. Jesus Christ himself was sensibly affected on seeing himself forsaken by his eternal father, when on the cross he cried out: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? (Matthew 27:46). But what I desire is, that we make our profit of this hard proof and trial which God sometimes sends his elect; and that we endeavor to fortify our souls, in conforming ourselves to the divine will, saying: Nevertheless, O Lord, not as I will, but as you will. (Matthew 26:39).

We must make use of this means the more readily, as Christian perfection consists neither in the sweetness of consolations, nor in sublime prayer; and as our advancement is not measured thereby, but only according to the rule of charity, which is independent of all other things, and which consists in a perfect union and submission to the Divine Will, as well in adversity and desolation, as in prosperity and comfort. Wherefore upon this account it is, that spiritual crosses and aridities ought to be received from the hand of God, as well as consolations and favors: and we must thank him equally for both. If it be your pleasure, O Lord, that I remain in darkness, blessed be your holy name; if you will have me enjoy the light, blessed be your holy name; if you confer comforts upon me, blessed be your holy name; and if you will have me suffer afflictions, blessed be your holy name. This is the advice of the apostle when writing to the Thessalonians, he says: In all this give God thanks; for this is what God would have all do in Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

--St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

QUOTATION: Spiritual Perfection

Rushrochius a man very learned, and excellently well versed in spirituality, relates that a holy virgin, explaining to her director, who was a great servant of God, the method she used in prayer, told him, she was accustomed to make her meditation upon the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ: and the fruit she reaped thence, was to have a knowledge of herself, of her own faults, and her vicious inclinations; and above all to have a great compassion and sorrow for the sufferings of the Son of God. The director answered her, what she said was very good, but that any one might without attaining any great perfection, be extremely touched with the sufferings of Jesus Christ, even as amongst men, the very sentiments of nature make them feel for the afflictions and calamities of their neighbour. But, the holy virgin, who desired to know the opinion of her confessor, thereby to regulate her way of proceeding, demanded, if a continual lamenting her sins, were not a profitable devotion? Yes, my daughter, replied the confessor: but still that is not what is the most perfect; because naturally what is evil in itself, causes in us dissatisfaction and regret. Would it then be, answered she, a perfect devotion to exercise ourselves in meditating on the pains of the damned, and the glory of the blessed? Nor is that, replied he, what is the most sublime in perfection. For nature itself abhors all that causes it any grief or pain, and is always inclined to what affords it joy and content. At last seeing she could get no other answer from her director, she departed in tears and very much troubled, that she could not understand, to what she should more particularly apply herself in her meditations, to render them more acceptable to God.

Awhile after, as she was still in the same affliction, there appeared to her a young child, of surprising beauty, to whom, after she had discovered the cause of her affliction, and that she could find no one capable of giving her any comfort — not so, said the child: for I both can and will comfort you. Go seek your spiritual father, and tell him that true and real devotion consists in an entire renunciation of one's self, and an absolute resignation into the hands of God, by a strict union with him in love, and a perfect conformity in all things to his divine will. The holy woman, abundantly satisfied with this, told it her director; who answered, that that very thing in reality was the essential point, to which she ought most particularly to apply herself in meditation. Because in this consists true charity, and love of God, and consequently all our advancement and perfection.

--St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

QUOTATION: Recourse to God

Whoever does not lose courage in unexpected difficulties, but immediately has recourse to God with confidence, shows that this virtue is well rooted in his heart.

--St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

QUOTATION: Obedience

True obedience manifests itself in executing gladly and without any repugnance, things which are objects of antipathy or contrary to one's interests.

--St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

QUOTATION: Mortification

There are some so much inclined to mortify themselves that they take care to find in everything some means of mortification. What a beautiful practice is this, and of how much advantage.

--St. Alphonsus Rodriguez