Part 2, lesson 6. How we may communicate spiritually, and unite ourselves to the Spirit of our Lord in all our actions

Q. Can you teach me how we may communicate frequently in spirit during the course of the day, and perform well so holy an action?

A. I shall do it briefly, after reminding you of the words of our Lord to his apostles, that his food was to do the will of his Father,* and that he did all

• Meus cibus est ut faciam voluntatem ejus qui misit me, ut perficiam opus ejus. Joan, iv, 34.

things with him.* We may learn from this, that, as our Lord performed all his actions in and with his Father, we must also perform ours in union with this divine Saviour, because he has come to dwell in us, in or der to vivify us by his virtue, and give us the grace of sanc tifying all our actions and ren dering them agreeable to his Father.

Q. How is this done ? I do not understand it.

A. Be not astonished at it; our Lord anticipated your com plaint and desire, when he said to his disciples: You will know

• Pater meus usque modo operatur, et ego operor. Joan, v, 17.

the last day, that, as my Father is in me and I in him; so I am in you, and you in me; and as my Father, dwelling in me, performs my actions,* so I will perform yours, and you mine, as I do those of my Father.

Q. If this knowledge is defered until the last day, in what can it help me now, to perform my actions in Jesus Christ?

A. Although you neither know or understand this doctrine per fectly, it is nevertheless very easy to faith, to make you put it practice. It is enough to be-

• In illo die vos cognoscetis quia ego sum in Palre meo, et vos in me, et ego in vobis. Joan, xiv, 10. ^

Pater in me manens, ipse facit opera. Joan xiv, 12.

lieve; it is not necessary to see or understand clearly. Is it not true that you believe, though you do not understand, all the mysteries that faith teaches you. Be satisfied to know that faith commands you to act in Christ and with Christ; this the church repeats every day, at mass, when saying;* all honor and glory be to God the Father, through Jesus Christ, with Jesus Christ, arid in Jesus Christ. It is enough to believe it; do not wish to un derstand it.

Q. Teach me then in what manner I may do my actions in

• Per ipsura, et cum ipso, et in ipso, est tibi Deo Patri omnipotent!, in imi tate Spirits sancti, omnis honor et gloria, Cannon Missac.

union with our Lord, since this is the means given by faith to do them well.

A. I shall explain it to you in a few words, and add to it a short exercise for all the actions of the day, containing the dispositions both of the mind and heart, in which you must be to do them christianly. The perfection of a Christian life consists in per forming all your actions for the glory of God and in union with our Saviour; it is what St. Paul calls, living for God, in Christ our Lord.*

We already said that, ac cording to St. Paul, our Lord

• Viventea autena Deo, in Christo Jesu Domino nostro. Rom. vi, 11.

dwells in us by faith, that we may do every thing in him and with him, since what is not done so, is not done for God. Our intentions and thoughts tend to evil by the corruption of nature; and if we act by ourselves, and follow the bent of our inclina tions, we wholly tend to sin. You see from this, how carefully we ought, at the beginning of each action, to renounce our own sentiments, wishes, incli nations, and will, to enter, ac cording to the direction of St. Paul, into the sentiments and intentions of Christ,* and thus be able to live in the exercise

• Hoc sentite in vobis quoi et in Christo Jesu. Philip, ii, 5.

of devotion towards God, jus tice to our neighbor, sanctity for ourselves, and moderation in re gard to all creatures.* It is what our Lord said in these words: If any one wishes to come after me, let him renounce himself and follow me.t