Salesian Literature

Chapter 15:  The tremendous impression of charity we receive through the virtue of hope

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Under the rays of the noonday sun we are no sooner aware of its brightness than we feel its heat.  So it is with the light of faith: no sooner has it shed the splendour of its truth on the mind than straightaway the will feels the glowing warmth of charity.

 

With infallible certitude faith gives us knowledge of God’s existence, shows us that he is infinite in goodness, that he is capable of sharing his life with us … indeed, not merely that he can do this, but that he wants to.  With this in view, he has provided – with indescribable tenderness – all that we need to attain the bliss of eternal glory.

 

We have a natural tendency towards the supreme good.  As a result the human heart knows an innermost eagerness, a constant restlessness, which it has no way of quietening; it has no way of hiding its lack of perfect satisfaction, of utter contentment.  Once faith has pictured to the mind the beauty of the goal of its natural tendency, God alone knows how we thrill through and through with joy and happiness!  As though caught off balance by the sight of such superlative beauty, we cry out with love: How fair thou art, my true love, how fair (Cant. 1:15; 4:1).

 

The human heart is drawn to God by a natural tendency, even though a man has no clear knowledge of who God is.  When we discover him at the well of faith, however; when we see how good he is, how beautiful, how kind, how gracious towards everyone, how ready to give himself as the supreme good to all who want him – heaven knows the gratification we feel, the inspirations we have to unite ourselves for ever with a goodness so supremely lovable!

 

So long have we had a tendency towards our supreme good, we were unaware of what the impulse led to, until faith showed us.  Then we saw clearly that here was what our souls were crying out for, what all our faculties were seeking, the goal of our natural tendency.  Willy-nilly, indeed, our whole being craves its supreme good.  Only we are unaware of who or what it is.  We are like those good Athenians, who offered sacrifice to the Unknown God, until St. Paul taught them to recognize him (cf. Acts. 17:23).

 

A deep mysterious instinct leads us, in all we do, to satisfy our hearts’ search for happiness.  We grope about for it here and there, not knowing where to find it, nor what it is like, until faith shows us it, makes known its infinite wonders.  Once we have found this treasure we have been looking for, how it gratifies these poor hearts of ours, what joy it gives, what loving contentment!

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