CIUDAD to - the Catholic Kingdom!
CIUDAD to - the Catholic Kingdom! CIUDAD to - the Catholic Kingdom!
INTRODUCTION 19 of falling and thereby preserving it in the knowledge and humiliation of self. 18. I must acknowledge that by these and other con tinual favors, the Lord has not so much freed me from fears, as confirmed me in them; for I live in continual dread, lest I show myself ungrateful and fail to cor respond by displeasing Him or losing Him; lest I be wanting in the perfect love of Him, who is so good in Himself; and lest I should not deserve to retain the fullest possible love toward Him, or even that which is not possible. Filled with these anxieties, and on ac count of my great misery, solicitude and many faults, I said on one occasion to the Most High : "My sweetest Love, Lord and Master of my soul, although Thou givest me so many assurances to quiet my troubled heart, how can I do away with my fears amid the dan gers of this laborious and dreadful life, full of tempta tions and persecutions, during which I hold my treasure in a vase more fragile and weak than that of any other creature?" With paternal condescension He responded: "My cherished spouse, I do not wish thee to lose the just fear of offending Me; but it is my will, that thou be not disturbed and grieved in a disorderly manner, nor so as to hinder thee from rising to my exalted and perfect love. Thou hast my Mother for a Teacher and a model, for thy instruction and imitation. I shall assist thee by my grace and support thee with my direction. Tell Me then, what thou askest, or what thou desirest for thy peace and security." 19. With the greatest resignation that I could muster I replied : "Highest Lord and Father, much is that which thou askest, although thy goodness and immense love deserve that I fulfill it all. But I know my weakness and inconstancy, and I shall be satisfied in no other Private Use Only
20 INTRODUCTION way than by not offending Thee, neither by the slightest thought, nor by the least movement of my faculties; and I shall rest only when all my actions shall be ac cording to thy pleasure and good will." The Lord an swered : "My continual help and favors shall not fail thee, if thou correspond to them. In order that thou mayest do it so much the better, I wish to perform a work, which is in keeping with the love I have for thee. I will connect my immutable Being with thy insignifi cance by an especial Providence, chaining and binding thee in such a way, that, whenever thou shalt, in the weakness of thy will, do anything less pleasing to Me, thou shalt feel my influence detaining and recalling thee to Me. The effect of this blessing Thou shalt know and feel immediately within thyself, just like a slave, who is bound by chains in order that she may not fly." 20. To the great joy and advantage of my soul the Almighty fulfilled his promise and among many other favors and blessings (which may not be mentioned and none has been so which do not concern my purpose), precious to me as this one. I perceive it not only in great dangers, but in the smallest; and in such a way, that if I neglect or carelessly omit any work or ceremony, although it be no more than to humiliate myself or to kiss the floor on entering the choir to adore the Lord, as is customary in the convent, I at once feel a sweet force, which draws me and calls my attention to the defect, and which, on its part, permits not the least im perfection. If sometimes in my weakness I fall into any, this divine force is at once present, causing in me heart rending pain. This pain serves as a check to the least disorderly inclination and at the same time as a goad toward seeking immediate remedy for the fault or im perfection committed. As the gifts of the Lord are More Free Items at www.catholickingdom.com
- Page 1 and 2: "Dear Sir: REV. GEO. J. BLATTE
- Page 3 and 4: IMPRIMATUR Rome City, Ind., Aug. 24
- Page 5 and 6: APR 27 More Free Items at www.catho
- Page 7 and 8: vi CONTENTS CHAPTER VI. THE APOSTLE
- Page 9 and 10: viii CONTENTS CHAPTER III. THE DOIN
- Page 11 and 12: x CONTENTS CHAPTER XIX. THE GLORIOU
- Page 13 and 14: xii NOTABLE UPHOLDERS OF CIUDAD Spa
- Page 15 and 16: More Free Items at www.catholicking
- Page 17 and 18: xvi APPROBATIONS and have learned o
- Page 19 and 20: xviii APPROBATIONS Finally follows
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- Page 23 and 24: 4 INTRODUCTION star of the sea, he
- Page 25 and 26: 6 INTRODUCTION Lord, who is so even
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- Page 49 and 50: 30 CITY OF GOD choice of the heaven
- Page 51 and 52: 32 CITY OF GOD her desire, to this
- Page 53 and 54: 34 CITY OF GOD such great delight t
- Page 55 and 56: 36 CITY OF GOD jected himself to he
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INTRODUCTION 19<br />
of falling and <strong>the</strong>reby preserving<br />
it in <strong>the</strong> knowledge<br />
and humiliation of self.<br />
18. I must acknowledge that by <strong>the</strong>se and o<strong>the</strong>r con<br />
tinual favors, <strong>the</strong> Lord has not so much freed me from<br />
fears, as confirmed me in <strong>the</strong>m; for I live in continual<br />
dread, lest I show myself ungrateful and fail <strong>to</strong> cor<br />
respond by displeasing Him or losing Him; lest I be<br />
wanting in <strong>the</strong> perfect love of Him, who is so good in<br />
Himself; and lest I should not deserve <strong>to</strong> retain <strong>the</strong><br />
fullest possible love <strong>to</strong>ward Him, or even that which<br />
is not possible. Filled with <strong>the</strong>se anxieties, and on ac<br />
count of my great misery, solicitude and many faults,<br />
I said on one occasion <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Most High : "My sweetest<br />
Love, Lord and Master of my soul, although Thou<br />
givest me so many assurances <strong>to</strong> quiet my troubled<br />
heart, how can I do away with my fears amid <strong>the</strong> dan<br />
gers of this laborious and dreadful life, full of tempta<br />
tions and persecutions, during which I hold my treasure<br />
in a vase more fragile and weak than that of any o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
creature?" With paternal condescension He responded:<br />
"My<br />
cherished spouse, I do not wish <strong>the</strong>e <strong>to</strong> lose <strong>the</strong> just<br />
fear of offending Me; but it is my will, that thou be<br />
not disturbed and grieved in a disorderly manner, nor<br />
so as <strong>to</strong> hinder <strong>the</strong>e from rising <strong>to</strong> my exalted and perfect<br />
love. Thou hast my Mo<strong>the</strong>r for a Teacher and a model,<br />
for thy instruction and imitation. I shall assist <strong>the</strong>e<br />
by my grace and support <strong>the</strong>e with my direction. Tell<br />
Me <strong>the</strong>n, what thou askest, or what thou desirest for<br />
thy peace and security."<br />
19. With <strong>the</strong> greatest resignation that I could muster<br />
I replied : "Highest Lord and Fa<strong>the</strong>r, much is that which<br />
thou askest, although thy goodness and immense love<br />
deserve that I fulfill it all. But I know my weakness<br />
and inconstancy, and I shall be satisfied in no o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
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