Thirty-second meditation. The will of God

First point.

Reflect that since our salvation depends on the will of God, it is not to be doubted that all our perfection, all our happiness likewise rest thereon. Ah, how happy and peaceful will be the heart that, by love and total submission, realizes in all things that the divine will is good, pleasant, and perfect!

Second point.

Eeflect that the will of God is the sovereign queen of the universe. Nothing is done but in obedience to it. It ordains everything except sin, and we should regard all in this blessed will, without ever attempting to ascribe secondary causes. O how happy would religious souls be, if they considered all things in this happy source, and if they received all events as coming from His holy will! In all circumstances we should endeavor to hear these words of Habacuc, addressed to the Prophet Daniel: " Take what the Lord sends thee."

Third point.

Eeflect that the eternal Son of God came upon earth to teach the submission and reverence due the divine will, not only in so far as He said that He came not to do His own will, but that of His Father, but furthermore by His resignation: " Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass away; nevertheless, Thy will, not Mine, be done." This good Master, moreover, teaches us to ask daily that the will of God may be done

TSE WILL Of GOD. W on earth as it is in heaven. Finally, He concluded the whole course of His mortal life by the surrender of Himself to the will and disposition of His eternal Father: " My Father, I remit My spirit into Thy hands."

Affections.

O holy and divine will of my God! since the true characteristic and infallible mark of the daughters of my holy Congregation is to see you and to follow you in all things, I wish most earnestly to undertake this blessed exercise. 0 sweet will, how shall I know you in order that I may follow you? It is, indeed, good for me to adhere to Thee, 0 my God. I behold Thy will in Thy commandments. If I observe them, I shall be loved by Thee and by Thy Father. I recognize it in my rules, my vows, and observances, and therefore I shall endeavor to observe them carefully, for Thou hast said: " Vow ye, and pay to the Lord, your God." I know it in the direction of my Superiors, for God has said: " Be subject to your Superiors, and obey them; he who hears them, hears Me." I shall recognize it in treating with my neighbors. Whatsoever you wish your brother to do to you, do to him in like manner. In short, as I behold this divine will in all things, I shall by God's grace strive to honor it, and I shall follow it in every event of my life.

Ah! self-will, it is time for you to die, since I no longer desire to live but in the will of my God. I wish to follow it as my princess and mistress. Let it be inscribed in large characters on the first page of the book of my soul. My own judgment, no longer shall you be permitted to discern, to discourse, or to see; it is sufficient for you to submit yourself wholly to the divine dispensation. 0 my God! conduct me according to Thy will. Make me suffer from cold, from heat, from light, from darkness, in my labors and in my repose. If Thou dost conduct me even to the gates of death, under Thy guidance I shall not fear,

Tes, O heavenly Father, may Thy will be done on earth, where consolations are rare and trials innumerable! Take as a daily practice, O my soul, to say when something disturbs you, " Let not my will, but that of my God be accomplished."

170 COSCLJTSlOir OF mS &MT&EAT.