I continue today with more excerpts from "Fenelon's Spiritual Letters" by Francois Fenelon (1651 - 1715). To read the first article in this series, click here. As I read these true nuggets of spiritual truth, I find myself having to go back and re-read them many times. I hope these are as helpful to you in your spiritual walk as they are to me.
On The Necessity and
Benefit of Suffering
A cross borne simply, without the additions of…self-love, is
only half a cross. Those who suffer with this loving simplicity
are not only happy in spite of the cross, but they are even happy because of it; for love delights in suffering
on behalf of the beloved, and the cross which likens them to their Beloved One
is a consoling bond of love.
On Caring For An Aged
Person
Bear the heavy burden of a very aged person who can no
longer bear her own. Reason becomes weak
at so great an age; goodness itself, unless very deeply rooted, seems to grow
slack; temper and restlessness acquire all the strength which the mind loses…
(As a caretaker) take care of your health, and relieve your
mind by intervals of repose, of joy, and of innocent freedom.
As age advances, less and less must be expected of a person
who has no resources. You must expect
almost nothing of her, and you must not expect too much of yourself.
On Forbearance To
Others
…Suffering (at the hands of others) is needful for us. We are sent into the world only to be
purified by dying to our inclinations and to all of our own will. Let self die in you then; you have excellent
opportunities for so doing; what a pity to let them be lost!...
(In your conversations with others) you must learn at times
to slip quietly over certain little matters, while you need all your firmness
in those (matters) which you believe essential.
But remember that true firmness is gently, humble, and tranquil. Anything like sharp, haughty, and restless
firmness is unworthy of God’s work. We
are told that Wisdom “sweetly ordereth all things.”…act in the same manner;
and, if ever you are betrayed into acting harshly, humble yourself immediately
without reserve.
On Possessing A Calm
Spirit
What I most desire for you is a certain calmness, which
comes from recollection (collecting yourself, composure), detachment (not being
attached to the world), and love of God.
Occupy yourself as little as possible about external
matters. Give at proper seasons a quiet,
calm attention to those things assigned to your care by Providence: leave the
rest. We do much more by quiet, tranquil labor in the presence of God, than
by the greatest eagerness and over-activity of a restless nature.
On Carrying the
Spirit of Prayer Into All Our Actions
Do not be discouraged at your faults; bear with yourself in
correcting them, as you would with your neighbor. Lay aside this ardor (eagerness) of mind which
exhausts your body, and leads you to commit errors. Accustom
yourself gradually to carry prayer into all your daily occupations. Speak, act, work in peace, as if you were in
prayer, as indeed you ought to be.
Do everything without eagerness, in the spirit of
grace. As soon as you perceive your
natural impetuosity gliding in, retire quietly within, where is the kingdom of
God.
Listen only to the leadings of grace, then say and do nothing but what
the Holy Spirit shall put in your heart.
You will find that you will become more tranquil, that your
words will be fewer and more effectual, and that, with less effort, you will
accomplish more good…
I entreat you to try to train yourself to this dependence on
the inner voice, then all your life will
gradually become a prayer. You may
suffer, but a peaceful suffering is only half a suffering.
On Over-Eagerness
You must stifle your restlessness, renounce your self-will,
retrench (cut off, pare back) petty curiousity, your longings after success,
and your eagerness to attract what gratifies self-conceit. Silence, (when used) to cultivate the
presence of God, is the best remedy for our troubles; it is the way to deny
ourselves continually in the most ordinary life.
Make good use of your period of repose by calming yourself,
softening your temper, fostering (nourishing) charity, humbling presumption… (and)
cultivating…the presence of God. God has
given you a great treasure in your (sensitive) temperament, by making it liable
to suffer a slow martyrdom every hour of the day. Things which would scarcely rouse other
people touch you to the very core….
On Gaining The Spirit
of Composure
…Avoid whatever
dissipates (scatters your attention) and excites you, whereby you cut off the
source of dangerous distractions, which dry up prayer. You
cannot expect to find interior nourishment if you live only for what is
exterior. Faithfulness in renouncing (abandoning) whatever makes you too
eager and (temperamental in your conduct) is absolutely necessary, if you would
win the spirit of recollection (composure) and prayer. No one
can have a relish for God and the world at the same time; and you will carry to
your hours of prayer the same spirit which you have during all the rest of the
day.
On Love and Prayer
Let us not bargain with God with a view to what will cost us
least and bring us in most comfort. Let
us seek only self-denial and the cross.
Let us love, and live by love alone.
Let Love do whatsoever He will to root out self-love. Let us not be content to pray morning and
evening, but let us live in prayer all
day long. Let this prayer, this life
of love, which means death to self, spread out from our seasons of prayer as
from a center over all that we have to do.
All should become prayer, that
is, a loving consciousness of God’s presence, whether it be social
intercourse or business. Such a course
as this will insure you a profound peace.
On True Fidelity
It seems to me that true fidelity consists in obeying God in
all things, and in following the light which points out our duty, and the grace
which guides us; taking as our rule of life the intention to please God in all
things, and to do always not only what
is acceptable to Him, but, if possible, what is most acceptable; not trifling with petty distinctions, between
sins great and small, imperfections and faults; for, although it may be very
true that there are such distinctions, they should have no weight with a soul
which is determined to refuse nothing it possesses to God.
And if, besides this sincere desire always to do what is best
in God’s sight, you also do it with joy, are not depressed when you fail, but
begin again a hundred times over, hope to the end for success, bear with
yourself in your involuntary frailties as God bears, wait patiently for His
appointed time of complete deliverance, and meanwhile go on quietly and
according to your strength in the path before you… not looking upon God as a spy watching to surprise you, or an enemy
laying snares for you, but as a Father who loves, and would (desire to) save
you…such you will find to be the path towards true liberty…
BTW - If these are a blessing to you or if you have any suggestions for future blog posts here, I'm available anytime on Facebook or Twitter. Also, my email is waynenalljr@gmail.com.
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