Further Reference to: Detachment | Resignation

Abandonment by God

  Letter to Péronne-Marie de Chatel

(Letters of Spiritual Direction, Arm yourself with the patience we should have toward ourselves)

Although at times it feels as if it is about to be discouraged over the little reproofs it receives, yet this poor heart of yours never has actually lost its courage; that’s because God has held it in His strong hand and, according to His mercy, He has never abandoned His unhappy little creature.  Dearest daughter, He will never abandon you, for even if you are troubled and in anguish over these absurd temptations to sadness and bitterness, still, you never want to leave God or our Lady or our congregation which belongs to them or our Rules which are His will.

(Read further in Letter to Péronne-Marie de Chatel, Letters of Spiritual Direction)

  Letter to a Gentleman

(Letters of Spiritual Direction, Facing temptations while trusting in God)

I must have a little heart to heart chat with you and tell you that anyone who has a true desire to serve Our Lord and flee from sin should not torment himself with the thought of death or divine judgement; for while both the one and the other are to be feared, nevertheless, the fear must not be that terrible kind of natural fear which weakens and dampens the ardour and determination of the spirit, but rather a fear that is so full of confidence in the goodness of God that in the end it grows calm. 

(Read further in Letters to a gentleman, Letters of Spiritual Direction)

Abandonment to God

  Letter to Madame de Brûlart

(Letters to Persons in the World, Let us be what we are, and let us be it well)

Regard not at all the substance of the things you do, but the honour they have, however trifling they may be, to be willed by our God, to be ordered by His Providence, and to be disposed by His wisdom.  In a word, being agreeable to God, and recognized as such, to whom can they be disagreeable? 

(Read further in Letters to Madame de Brûlart, Letters to Persons in the World)

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