Salesian Literature

Chapter 11  :  How to recognize imperfect love

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Can I suggest a way of telling charity from imperfect love, in any pious inclinations that you may experience?

 

Take a good look at whatever it is you are wanting, loving, working for at the time.  If you find anything for which you would be ready to ignore God’s way, and what he wants, to commit mortal sin – then you whole intention, all your readiness, your apparent aptitude for God’s service spring, without a shadow of doubt, from natural imperfect love.

 

Oh for the empire of perfect love! That would make short work, heaven knows, of any attachment, any desire, any aim, which could prove so fatal; it would not allow you even to think of such a thing.

 

But it is what your heart is set on at the time, notice, that you are to look at.  No need to let your fancy stray to what you may feel like later; we are only expected to be loyal here and now in this set of circumstances.  Each moment bears its own load of toil and trouble.

 

If we feel safe and loyal after trying our courage in imagination, we are to thank God for it; it is ever a good impression to have.  Yet we are to tread humbly between confidence and diffidence: hoping, by God’s grace, to translate fancy into fact if opportunity offers; but fearing, through our normal inadequacy, that we should be nothing of the sort and play the coward.

 

We can become far too diffident, of course, convinced we have neither strength nor heart, letting our imaginary temptations drive us to despair, as though we really were lacking charity and grace.  If that happens, we must make up our minds, despite the discouragement we feel, to be faithful at all costs short of the temptation we are dreading, hoping that – when it comes – God will increase his grace, redouble his aid, and give us all the help we need.

 

So you see, Theotimus, my friend, it is not necessary for us to know a continuous sensation of courage in order to overcome the devil, who goes about roaring like a lion, to find his prey (1 Pet. 5:8); that way lies vanity and presumption.  No, an earnest desire to struggle stoutly is quite enough – with complete assurance that the Holy Spirit will be at hand to help us as often as we have need of him.

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