ALL THINGS SHOULD BE REFERRED TO GOD AS THEIR LAST
END
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, I must be your supreme and last end, if you truly
desire to be blessed. With this intention your affections, which are
too often perversely inclined to self and to creatures, will be
purified. For if you seek yourself in anything, you immediately fail
interiorly and become dry of heart.
Refer all things principally to Me, therefore, for it is I Who
have given them all. Consider each thing as flowing from the highest
good, and therefore to Me, as to their highest source, must all things
be brought back.
From Me the small and the great, the poor and the rich draw the
water of life as from a living fountain, and they who serve Me
willingly and freely shall receive grace upon grace. He who wishes to
glory in things apart from Me, however, or to delight in some good as
his own, shall not be grounded in true joy or gladdened in his heart,
but shall be burdened and distressed in many ways. Hence you ought not
to attribute any good to yourself or ascribe virtue to any man, but
give all to God without Whom man has nothing.
I have given all things. I will that all be returned to Me
again, and I exact most strictly a return of thanks. This is the truth
by which vainglory is put to flight.
Where heavenly grace and true charity enter in, there neither
envy nor narrowness of heart nor self-love will have place. Divine
love conquers all and enlarges the powers of the soul.
If you are truly wise, you will rejoice only in Me, because no
one is good except God alone, Who is to be praised above all things
and above all to be blessed. |
That all things are to be referred to God, as the
final end
"My Son, I must be thy Supreme and final end, if
thou desirest to be truly happy. Out of such purpose thy affection
shall be purified, which too often is sinfully bent upon itself and
upon created things. For if thou seekest thyself in any matter,
straightway thou wilt fail within thyself and grow barren. Therefore
refer everything to Me first of all, for it is I who gave thee all.
So look upon each blessing as flowing from the Supreme Good, and thus
all things are to be attributed to Me as their source.
2. "From Me the humble and great, the poor and
the rich, draw water as from a living fountain, and those who serve Me
with a free and faithful spirit shall receive grace for grace. But he
who will glory apart from Me, or will be delighted with any good which
lieth in himself, shall not be established in true joy, nor shall be
enlarged in heart, but shall be greatly hindered and thrown into
tribulation. Therefore thou must not ascribe any good to thyself, nor
look upon virtue as belonging to any man, but ascribe it all unto God,
without whom man hath nothing. I gave all, I will receive all again,
and with great strictness require I the giving of thanks.
3. "This is the Truth, and by it the vanity of
boasting is put to flight. And if heavenly grace and true charity
shall enter into thee, there shall be no envy, nor straitening of the
heart, nor shall any self-love take possession of thee. For divine
charity conquereth all things, and enlargeth all the powers of the
soul. If thou art truly wise, thou wilt rejoice in Me alone, thou wilt
hope in Me alone; for there is none good but one, that is God,(1) Who
is to be praised above all things, and in all things to receive
blessing." |