Salesian Literature

Chapter 9  :  Other ways of doing our actions for the love of God

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If love for God informs our intentions, when we contemplate some good work or enter upon some profession, all our subsequent action receive their value and derive their dignity from this love in which they originated.  The natural activities of my profession – or actions which are an essential part of what I have planned to do – obviously result from my original choice.

 

But we are not to be satisfied with that, Theotimus.  Indeed, for any first-rate progress in devotion, it is not enough to form an initial or annual intention of living and working for God; we must make this offering every day – after the fashion of the morning exercise which I taught Philothea[1].  This daily renewal puts the powerful imprint of love on all our actions, by redirecting our hearts to God’s glory; thus it ever increases our holiness.

 

Let us, in addition, devote our lives to God’s love over and over again throughout the day by means of ejaculatory prayers, spiritual aspirations, recollection.  These pious practices – ever lifting our minds to God – bring our actions too in their train.  Suppose a soul continually soars up towards God, incessantly forms acts of love to preserve union of heart with him – surely we can hold that God is the origin and motive of all the good which that soul does!

 

This practice of continual aspirations is the best way of bringing love into everything we do – especially into the tiny, ordinary things of life.

 

When it comes to unusual, important things, the following method (which I have already touched on elsewhere[2]) is the way to get the best results … Lift up heart and mind to God; concentrate on eternity.  In the far reaches of eternity God’s kindness cherished the idea of us; he planned everything that would help us to grow in his love and achieve salvation – especially the circumstances now offering us something good to be attempted or something evil to be endured.  This done, we must open wide our arms to accept and welcome, with all the love we can muster, either the good that needs doing or the evil to be endured.  In this way we please and obey God’s providence, since from eternity he willed it all.

 

Take the great St. Charles, when his diocese was stricken by the plague … He thought of God and took heart.  He was careful to reflect that God’s providence foresaw this catastrophe for those very people form all eternity, and that the same providence had also prepared him for the tender care of helping the victims with all his heart, since the event found him spiritual father, pastor and bishop of that particular province.  He thought of the difficulties, the dangers that lay ahead, offered himself to whatever God’s will demanded, kissed the cross in anticipation, then exclaimed like St. Andrew: “Precious cross, I greet you!”

 

That is the way to approach the hardest tasks, the worst sufferings life may bring.  If they happen to be long drawn out, however, repeat the practice from time to time, as often as you can.  This helps to keep your will united to the permissive will of God.  Be it so, Father, you could say with our Lord, since this finds favour in thy sight (Mt. 11:26).  Heaven knows the treasures which this practice contains!

 

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[1] Introduction to the Devout Life, Part 2, Chapter 10.

[2] Book Eight, Chapter 14.

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