Visitation Spirit

Grace

by | Jan 17, 2018 | Discernment Sundays - Chat Room, Salesian Spirituality, St. Francis de Sales

The work of grace in our hearts
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This week we are moving into the section from Saint Francis’ Treatise on the Love of God. Be sure to watch the video “How the Love of God Begins to Grow in Us” to help deepen your reflection and give you a new way to embrace his timeless wisdom. (If you’d prefer to read St. Francis’ original text, this week’s video covers Chapters 9–13 of Book II, starting with “How The Eternal Love Of God Prevents Our Hearts With His Inspirations In Order That We May Love Him.”)
We have a natural desire to love God above all things

God draws us to himself
It was not by the works of justice, which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by that ancient, yea, eternal, charity which moved his divine Providence to draw us unto him. No man can come to me except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him. For if the Father had not drawn us we had never come to the Son, our Saviour, nor consequently to salvation.. …

… We rob God of his right if we attribute to ourselves the glory of our salvation, but we dishonour his mercy if we say he failed us. If we do not confess his benefits we wrong his liberality, but we blaspheme his goodness if we deny that he has assisted and succoured us. In fine, God cries loud and clear in our ears: Destruction is thy own, O Israel: thy help is only in me. …

… What a consolation it is to consider the secret method by which the Holy Ghost pours into our hearts the first rays and feelings of his light and vital heat! O Jesus! how delightful a pleasure it is to see celestial love, which is the sun of virtues, as little by little with a progress which insensibly becomes sensible, it displays its light upon a soul, and stops not till it has it all covered with the splendour of its presence, giving it at last the perfect beauty of love’s day! O how cheerful, beautiful, sweet and agreeable this daybreak is!

Questions for reflection:

  1. We have the power to reject God’s grace, His inspiration. The ruin is our doing, but God who is all good, never forsakes unless forsaken; never takes away his gifts unless we take away our hearts from Him. Man has the power to reject, no matter how much grace is given or how little. From what source comes the attraction to love God? How are we able to resist it?
  2. Does God want our love? How can we demonstrate this?
  3. Although God awakens us without our cooperation, He will not make us rise without it. What is our part in growing in the love of God?

Once again, Francis’ original text, which covers Chapters 9–13 of Book II, is at “How The Eternal Love Of God Prevents Our Hearts With His Inspirations In Order That We May Love Him.”
 

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