The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life | Page 5

was nothing else but a sense of the presence of GOD,
his soul being at that time insensible to everything but Divine love: and
that when the appointed times of prayer were past, he found no
difference, because he still continued with GOD, praising and blessing
Him with all his might, so that he passed his life in continual joy; yet
hoped that GOD would give him somewhat to suffer, when he should
grow stronger.
That we ought, once for all, heartily to put our whole trust in GOD, and
make a total surrender of ourselves to Him, secure that He would not
deceive us.
That we ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of
GOD, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with
which it is performed. That we should not wonder if, in the beginning,
we often failed in our endeavors, but that at last we should gain a habit,
which will naturally produce its acts in us, without our care, and to our
exceeding great delight.
That the whole substance of religion was faith, hope and charity; by the
practice of which we become united to the will of GOD: that all besides
is indifferent, and to be used as a means that we may arrive at our end,
and be swallowed up therein, by faith and charity.
That all things are possible to him who _believes_--that they are less
difficult to him who _hopes_--that they are more easy to him who
_loves_, and still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of

these three virtues.
That the end we ought to propose to ourselves is to become, in this life,
the most perfect worshippers of GOD we can possibly be, as we hope
to be through all eternity.
That when we enter upon the spiritual life, we should consider, and
examine to the bottom, what we are. And then we should find ourselves
worthy of all contempt, and not deserving indeed the name of
Christians: subject to all kinds of misery and numberless accidents,
which trouble us and cause perpetual vicissitudes in our health, in our
humors, in our internal and external dispositions; in fine, persons whom
GOD would humble by many pains and labors, as well within as
without. After this we should not wonder that troubles, temptations,
oppositions and contradictions happen to us from men. We ought, on
the contrary, to submit ourselves to them, and bear them as long as
GOD pleases, as things highly advantageous to us.
That the greater perfection a soul aspires after, the more dependent it is
upon Divine grace.
[2]Being questioned by one of his own society (to whom he was
obliged to open himself) by what means he had attained such an
habitual sense of GOD, he told him that, since his first coming to the
monastery, he had considered GOD as the end of all his thoughts and
desires, as the mark to which they should tend, and in which they
should terminate.
That in the beginning of his noviciate, he spent the hours appointed for
private prayer in thinking of GOD, so as to convince his mind of, and
to impress deeply upon his heart, the Divine existence, rather by devout
sentiments, and submission to the lights of faith, than by studied
reasonings and elaborate meditations. That by this short and sure
method, he exercised himself in the knowledge and love of GOD,
resolving to use his utmost endeavor to live, in a continual sense of His
Presence, and if possible, never to forget Him more.
That when he had thus in prayer filled his mind with great sentiments
of that infinite Being, he went to his work appointed in the kitchen (for
he was cook to the society); there having first considered severally the
things his office required, and when and how each thing was to be done,
he spent all the intervals of his time, as well before as after his work, in
prayer.

That when he began his business, he said to GOD, with a filial trust in
Him, "O my GOD, since Thou art with me, and I must now, in
obedience to Thy commands, apply my mind to these outward things, I
beseech Thee to grant me the grace to continue in Thy Presence; and to
this end do Thou prosper me with Thy assistance, receive all my works,
and possess all my affections."
As he proceeded in his work, he continued his familiar conversation
with his Maker,--imploring His grace, and offering to Him all his
actions.
When he had finished, he examined himself how he had discharged his
duty; if he found _well_, he returned thanks to GOD; if otherwise, he
asked pardon; and without being discouraged, he set his