Salesian Literature

Chapter 4:  Perseverance in Charity

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Just as a kind mother, when taking her small child for a walk, helps it where she sees the need – now letting it toddle by itself in safe level places, now grasping it steadyingly by the hand, now picking it up and carrying it; so our Lord is ever watching carefully over his children – those, in other words, who possess charity – keeping them in sight, stretching out his hand in their difficulties, holding them in his arms when he sees that their troubles would otherwise be past bearing.

 

God, in his kindness, leads us by the hand from our first steps in charity until we possess it in all its perfection; but that will not be until our dying day.  In such constant care of us lies the great gift of perseverance; to this our Lord expressly attaches the even greater gift of the eternal glory – that man will be saved, who endures to the last (Mt. 10:22).  This gift is simply an enduring combination of many supports, all the solace, all the help, which enables us to keep on loving God to the end.  It is like the education, upbringing or fostering of a child – simply a mixture of concern, care, assistance, and other things a child needs, shown (all of them) until it is of an age to do without them.

 

The period of help, of encouragement, is not the same for all who persevere.  In some cases it is very brief – as in those who turn to God only shortly before they die.  For many people, on the contrary, perseverance is much longer.  They had need of a thousand different helps corresponding to the adventures of their pilgrimage, and to its duration.

 

Perseverance, however, is always the most desirable gift that we can hope for in this life; it is, besides (as the Council of Trent declares[1]), “one which can only come to a man from God, who alone is well able to give him a sure footing (Rom. 14:4) when he is on his feet, or raise him when he falls.”  That is why we are to ask for it unceasingly, resorting to those measures for granting it that God has taught us to use: prayer, almsgiving, frequent reception of the sacraments, membership of religious societies, attendance at sermons, spiritual reading.

 

So, dear Theotimus, we should follow the advice of the Council of Trent[2], and “place all our trust in God, who will bring to perfection that work of salvation which he has inspired us, as long as we are not unfaithful to his grace.”

 

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[1]  Session 6, Chapter 13.

[2]  Session 6, Chapter 13.

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