PURE AND ENTIRE RESIGNATION OF SELF TO OBTAIN
FREEDOM OF HEART
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, renounce self and you shall find Me. Give up your own
self-will, your possessions, and you shall always gain. For once you
resign yourself irrevocably, greater grace will be given you.
THE DISCIPLE
How often, Lord, shall I resign myself? And in what shall I
forsake myself?
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
Always, at every hour, in small matters as well as great -- I
except nothing. In all things I wish you to be stripped of self. How
otherwise can you be mine or I yours unless you be despoiled of your
own will both inwardly and outwardly? The sooner you do this the
better it will be for you, and the more fully and sincerely you do it
the more you will please Me and the greater gain you will merit.
Some there are who resign themselves, but with certain
reservation; they do not trust fully in God and therefore they try to
provide for themselves. Others, again, at first offer all, but
afterward are assailed by temptation and return to what they have
renounced, thereby making no progress in virtue. These will not reach
the true liberty of a pure heart nor the grace of happy friendship
with Me unless they first make a full resignation and a daily
sacrifice of themselves. Without this no fruitful union lasts nor will
last.
I have said to you very often, and now I say again: forsake
yourself, renounce yourself and you shall enjoy great inward peace.
Give all for all. Ask nothing, demand nothing in return. Trust purely
and without hesitation in Me, and you shall possess Me. You will be
free of heart and darkness will not overwhelm you.
Strive for this, pray for this, desire this -- to be stripped
of all selfishness and naked to follow the naked Jesus, to die to self
and live forever for Me. Then all vain imaginations, all wicked
disturbances and superfluous cares will vanish. Then also immoderate
fear will leave you and inordinate love will die. |
Of pure and entire resignation of self, for the
obtaining liberty of heart
"My Son, lose thyself and thou shalt find Me.
Stand still without all choosing and all thought of self, and thou
shalt ever be a gainer. For more grace shall be added to thee, as
soon as thou resignest thyself, and so long as thou dost not turn back
to take thyself again."
2. O Lord, how often shall I resign myself, and
in what things shall I lose myself?
3. "Always; every hour: in that which is little,
and in that which is great. I make no exception, but will that thou
be found naked in all things. Otherwise how canst thou be Mine and I
thine, unless thou be inwardly and outwardly free from every will of
thine own? The sooner thou dost this, the better shall it be with
thee; and the more fully and sincerely, the more thou shalt please Me,
and the more abundantly shalt thou be rewarded.
4. "Some resign themselves, but with certain
reservations, for they do not fully trust in God, therefore they think
that they have some provision to make for themselves. Some again at
first offer everything; but afterwards being pressed by temptation
they return to their own devices, and thus make no progress in virtue.
They will not attain to the true liberty of a pure heart, nor to the
grace of My sweet companionship, unless they first entirely resign
themselves and daily offer themselves up as a sacrifice; without this
the union which bringeth forth fruit standeth not nor will stand.
5. "Many a time I have said unto thee, and now
say again, Give thyself up, resign thyself, and thou shalt have great
inward peace. Give all for all; demand nothing, ask nothing in
return; stand simply and with no hesitation in Me, and thou shalt
possess Me. Thou shalt have liberty of heart, and the darkness shall
not overwhelm thee. For this strive thou, pray for it, long after it,
that thou mayest be delivered from all possession of thyself, and
nakedly follow Jesus who was made naked for thee; mayest die unto
thyself and live eternally to Me. Then shall all vain fancies
disappear, all evil disturbings, and superfluous cares. Then also
shall immoderate fear depart from thee, and inordinate love shall
die." |