These two things should be combined—a strong desire to carry out our religious duties exactly, our prayers as well as our practices, and the desire not to allow ourselves to be troubled, disquieted, or astonished if we find ourselves failing in either; for the first point depends on our fidelity, which should always be complete and grow hourly, the second on our infirmity, which we can never get rid of in this life. When we fail we should at once examine our heart and learn from it if it is slackening in its firm resolution of serving God; and I hope that it may reply. No, that it would suffer a thousand deaths rather than lose hold of this intention. One must then further ask, what then is the cause of your stumbling? Why are you acting so weakly? It may reply, I was taken unawares; I do not know how, but my feet are so heavy just now. Alas! then we must pardon it. It is not failing through infidelity but by frailty. We must correct it gently, not scold it and add to its trouble, we must cry, up in God's name, and onwards ! let us take more care, looking towards God, our help. We must have charity towards our own soul, not rate it for an offense that is not willful.
Observe, in this exercise we practice holy humility; what we do for our salvation is done in God's service; for our Savior Himself only worked for our salvation while on earth.
~St. Francis de Sales.
What harm can come to him who knows that God does all, and who loves, before it happens, all God does?
~Mme. Swetchine.
Observe, in this exercise we practice holy humility; what we do for our salvation is done in God's service; for our Savior Himself only worked for our salvation while on earth.
~St. Francis de Sales.
What harm can come to him who knows that God does all, and who loves, before it happens, all God does?
~Mme. Swetchine.
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