The love of benevolence causes in us a desire

This week we are continuing with book five (“Of The Two Principal Exercises Of Holy Love Which Consist In Complacency And Benevolence.”) from Saint Francis’ Treatise on the Love of God. Be sure to watch the video “Benevolent Love” 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 Chapter 6-12 of Book V, starting with “Of The Love Of Benevolence Which We Exercise Towards Our Saviour By Way Of Desire.”)

Keep in mind that the word “complacency” has changed in meaning over the years. Today it means being smug or self-satisfied. The word, in fact, got its origin in the mid-17th century, about the time St. Francis was writing. It is from the medieval Latin complacentia (or complacere), “to please.”

So if you keep the word pleasing in mind when you read the word complacent, you will be keeping closer to the original meaning of St. Francis.

Watch video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtgOQ6orHG4&feature=youtu.be

Benevolent Love

He made David according to his heart by benevolence, then he found him according to his heart by complacency. He first created the universe for man, and man in the universe, giving to each thing such a measure of goodness as was proportionable to it, out of his pure benevolence, then he approved all that he had done, finding that all was very good, and by complacency rested in his work.

But, on the contrary, our love towards God begins from the complacency which we have in the sovereign goodness and infinite perfection which we know is in the Divinity, then we come to the exercise of benevolence; and as the complacency which God takes in his creatures is no other thing than a continuation of his benevolence towards them, so the benevolence which we bear towards God is nothing else but an approbation of and perseverance in the complacency we have in him…

… [Thus] we desire not the complacency for the pleasure it yields us, but purely because this pleasure is in God. For as we desire not the compassion for the pain it brings to our heart, but because this sorrow unites and associates us to our well-beloved, who is in pain; so we do not love the complacency because it brings us pleasure, but because this pleasure is taken in union with the pleasure and good which is in God; to be more united to which, we would desire to exercise a complacency infinitely greater, in imitation of the most holy Queen and Mother of love, whose sacred soul continually magnified and exalted God. And that it might be known that this magnifying was made by the complacency which she took in the divine goodness, she declares; My spirit hath exultingly rejoiced in God my Saviour…

… The love of benevolence, then, causes in us a desire, more and more to increase the complacency which, we take in the divine goodness; and to effect this increase, the soul sedulously deprives herself of all other pleasure that she may give herself more entirely to taking pleasure in God.

1. Complacence in God leads towards benevolence towards God. What makes the transition?
2. Wherein lies the difficulty as regards a benevolent love toward God? How can we express it?
3. Do you find your joy in the Lord? It requires concentration on the Lord. – i.e., the benevolent love that leads us to give ourself to Him.
4. How does complacence, or pleasing love, grow into compassion, as the saint mentions?
5. Why is it that to honor God is a very good way to express benevolence towards Him? What have you done to honor the Lord?