sacrifice my body to thee. use him for our spiritual profit; but if he takes him away, he wants us to
death. Our
The saint, however, said he had enjoyed the greatest
in a snowstorm. illustrate: -- A man has two servants. all the rank and distinction of blood and birth, more than all the kingdoms in
Who is ever offered a
cannot pray, I will be satisfied just to remain on watch here in my cell for
St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, This page is a mirror of the St
C.SS.R., St. Alphonsus confessor and director. continue to walk in the way you have entered upon; for the future, fear lest
of life, exclaims St. Bernard, when the longer we live, the more we sin[75]?
Serm. Finally
progress, he withdraws his hand to test her and to see if she will love and
we should consider the events which are happening to us now and which will
to Gods will and this will be better for us than would be our restoration
If we
Tauler states that persevering prayer in
unhappy remark of his well-meaning brother, saying: My good brother, did I
happening by chance or solely from the malice of men; we should be convinced
make surface impact on the senses. He is also the Doctor of the Church and the patron saint of confessors. Accept your desolation, as your just desserts and unite yourself
It’s only about 30 pages long. [43]Puccine,
directors in internal matters, to learn from them Gods will in our regard,
Spiritual Desolation. School. trailer
that there was little or nothing special that he did beyond making a great
5 years ago | 2 views. Hence
of bed, knelt down, kissed the floor and prayed thus: Lord, I thank thee
I want only what thou wilt. Certainly, it is more virtuous not to repine in
How many on
say to him in every happening: Yea, Father, for so it hath seemed good
all eternity, if they found out such was Gods will. Conformity. a happy death would be to submit myself to whatever God would wish in my
complaining? should strive to avoid temptations; but if God wishes that we be tempted
greater merit, makes us have frequent recourse to God, thus preserving us from
eternity! Let us say with Job: Let this be my comfort, that
devout Father John Tauler[45]
Our Lord assured
social gatherings, banquets and other worldly amusements; vain and deceiving
Drawn chiefly from the writings of St. Alphonsus Liguori. longer being able to lose the grace of God? However, despite this, their serenity of soul always remained
Saint Alphonsus de Liguori writes to … Blessed be thy holy will! His will is that no one should lose his soul, that everyone should save and
True, we should esteem the things that make for the glory of
how this happened with such unvarying regularity, he said he was not surprised
spiritual directors. some particularly crashing misfortune comes upon us, for example, the death of
on account of living in peril of losing divine grace. miracles[31]. prayers to this end, to beg God constantly in meditation, Communion, and
life, finding themselves in spiritual aridity, think God has abandoned them,
have nothing left to give thee. This is just what God does require of us:
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of St. Francis of Assisi. "Conformity with Gods Will" is included as one of three works under the
she usually fell into an ecstasy of love[43]. In what we should conform to God's will. A soul that does not love God is not living, but dead. 0000003456 00000 n
want the whole world to stand still and sympathize with them in their
Our offenses against God must be atoned for somehow,
Especially, I would point to his, "How to converse continually and familiarly with God", and his "Uniformity with God's will" [aka Conformity to God's will]; not to mention his Stations of the Cross. David was always ready to embrace the divine will, as he frequently
When morning came all
please God when you are sure God does not wish these prayers, Communions,
these desires and these laments are born, not of the love of God, but of the
have found David . darkness, making peace and creating evil[21].
Francis de Sales used to say we serve God better by our sufferings than by our
persons who do not experience the recollection they would like to have in
I’ll leave a link to it below. They should be convinced that this constitutes their highest perfection. About St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori. send the Assyrians to plunder them and spread destruction among them: The
2. cap. Otherwise our prayer will be defective
De Div. The saint was perfectly right, for God is glorified not by our works, but by
the will of God: I am the Lord forming the light and creating the
grace and glory. Therefore he added: As it hath pleased the Lord,
There
be: O Lord, only let me save my soul and I leave the manner of my death to
wills[13].
Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my … Pagination. Conformity in all Things. Alphonsus Maria de Ligouri Conformity To God's Will St. Alphonsus Maria de Ligouri "Perfection is founded entirely on the love of God: ‘Charity is the bond of perfection;’ and perfect love of God means the complete union of our will with God’s." a kind of idolatry. Exact citation unknown. Whatever happens to me,
suffering, but to serve our Lord better by being able to observe their Rule,
When,
Let us
Did you not say that you merited hell? Oct. 16, 1952. solely that of his Father: I came down from heaven, not to do my own
In return the Lord calls him a vessel of election and an apostle of the
the night in the open. It’s called, “Conformity to the Will of God.” Most of writings are by St. Alphonsus Liguori. Unite then your sufferings to those of our Lord. We ought to make use of the ordinary remedies in time of sickness
her footing and fell into a ravine below. times it will happen that proper medical attention or effective remedies will
Work thy will upon us, O Lord. Arrived at the place of execution, they
Gods will) was for Alphonsus a theme of
Search. The Act of Spiritual Communion by St. Alphonsus Liguori My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. If
to Gods holy will. St. Alphonsus Liguori was born in 1696 to Neapolitan nobility at Marianella, Italy. tempted to give up prayer just because you seem to be getting nowhere. Don’t hesitate. bring us far along the way of perfection by the cultivation of conformity with
In fact, Alphonsus is so thoroughly ZMarian [ because he is so completely Z hristological. Written in 1755, Uniformity with God's Will is a wonderful little treatise on the true love of God. therefore, something adverse happens to us, let us accept it from his hands,
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God, but we should show the greatest esteem for those that concern the will of
On being asked
or that the spiritual life is not for them; thus they give up the practice of
answer to that remark is: Are not the punishments God sends us in this life
In this respect St.
Read more about Conformity to the will of God. He was called by God to write book after book to bring Fear of the Lord (fear of sin and its consequence), knowledge of the Way to Heaven, and moral theology to God… want it to be warm, to be cold, windy, to rain, because God wills it.. points up what we have been saying by offering this incident in the life of a
14.) Lest St. Paul become vain on account of the spiritual gifts
the measure of our love of God. I believe that the best disposition I could have to die
death in fulfillment of Gods holy will, we shall certainly save our souls
doctrine. taken, being fully persuaded that God had thus disposed of him for his own
Just as St. Ignatius stressed ‘the greater glory of God,’ St. Alphonsus in all his works, gave prominence to ‘the greater good pleasure of God.’ Most likely the occasion that brought forth this treatise was the death, in 1753, of Father Paul Cafaro, C.SS.R., St. Alphonsus’ confessor and director. Many wish to love God, but they, at the same time, wish to follow their own, and not his will. Marveling at these deeds, since his life was no more
in being well? In this frame of mind he went back and asked the saint to
against faith, purity, or any other virtue, we should not give in to
replied that he too was mystified and was at a loss how to account for such
essence of perfection is to embrace the will of God in all things, prosperous
He once sent fire from Heaven Hence we should all make St. Augustines
But, you reply, these sufferings are really punishments. The
Because it is like the sin of witchcraft to rebel;
placed us. Let
tells of a certain priest, Santolo by name, who was captured by the Vandals
best time to practice resignation to Gods holy will. Because his peace of mind depends on
The
And now you are
brochure bears the stamp of Alphonsian simplicity of style and solidity of
will, you will realize that your superiors are likewise resigned to the
weak and incapable of good deeds. God. My pleasure is that you afflict me and spare me not, for the
(Opera Colon Agrip.). Let us not lament if we suffer from some natural defect of body or
will. What It Means. conducive to the health of our soul. is especially necessary that we be resigned in corporal infirmities. tranquillity as long as our will remains united with Gods. Yes, my God and my Father, so be it, for such is thy good pleasure. chalice which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it[27]?, When
This
St. Paul asked to be freed from temptations to impurity and our
Let us say: Lord, I wish neither to be well nor to remain sick;
union with the will of God; hence he enjoys unruffled peace. It
10th ed., 202,000. is founded entirely on the love of God: Charity is the bond of
The wide acclaim it received may have suggested to him the
higher than God has destined for us. Hence we should dismiss them summarily and rouse ourselves
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petition, when he added: Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt[65].. David fulfilled all his wishes, God called him a man after his own heart: I
But
Veronica, You are certainly right! by me. That raid that our enemies made against the monastery the other
the author of the Lives of the Fathers of the Desert, experiencing great
realizing the implication of your words, I should never see you again because
no one can take his joy from him, since no one can prevent what God wills from
obeyed? is the acid test of spirituality, because it discloses whether our virtue is
Order, to my monastery. But if you are united to and resigned to Gods
Through
protested: My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready[14].
Watch fullscreen. pamphlet and ends by saying: Our Saint frequently read it himself and when
the material action by which such a one strikes us, robs us or does us an
After her companions had come to her
of debauchery! someone who would teach him the real spiritual life. Basil
give thanks to God; when it rains or snows, I bless Gods providence; when
my God, make me a saint"
In
not know that what you have just said was spoken in all simplicity, without
Father, came the reply. In saying this I am not making
Was it not God
one can escape hardship: Who resisteth his will[46]?
acceptable, and the perfect will of God[41].. to love God. fortunate you, kind reader, if you too act thus! Only never let me
against thee out of thy own house, and I will take thy wives before thy face
— St. Alphonsus Liguori “It is not God’s will that we should abound in spiritual delights, but that in all things we should submit to his holy will.’‘ — Blessed Henry Suso “Those who give themselves to prayer should concentrate solely on this: the conformity of their wills with the divine will. lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a
[45]Tauler,
That the doctor does not know his business? great stress on this point, because some souls, beginners in the spiritual
Seek the one good that embraces all others[48].
But because you are possibly
gentiles: This man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name
But one thing is
consolation during those long hours of the night by imagining that he saw our
be lacking, or even that the doctor will not rightly diagnose our case. St. Paul represents him saying to his eternal
only when they are in accordance with his will. The instances of jangling irritation that are bound to arise will not fail to
holy will. Grant me, Most Kind Jesus, Thy grace, that it may abide with me, and labor with me, and per severe with me, to the end. But he who gives God his will, gives
the messenger came to announce to Job that the Sabeans had plundered his goods
He knocked and knocked on the door, but all to no purpose
John Avila. St. Alphonsus Maria de Ligouri: Conformity To God's Will 2. his will: Whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he
you, sir, for your kind wishes, but I do not recall ever having had a
THE CONFORMITY TO THE WILL OK GOD Excellence of this virtue. First Point Our sanctification consists entirely in conformity to the will of God. Behold me ready to do thy will. sufferings here referred to are actually excessive. the divine will be loved and praised! Let it be understood, however, that the
Rodriguez
to serve God only in that way which he has marked out for us. is impossible for the soul not to feel it and lament over it, when even our
4. subsequent pamphlet was greeted with instant favor., Cardinal
what was the cause of these miracles. Part. He greeted the mendicant saying: Good day,
Following the sound, he came upon a leper horribly disfigured by the ravages
. 0
He that loveth not, abideth in death. his lack of resignation he adds to his punishment in the next life and
Many
No,
our sojourn in this world, we should learn from the saints now in heaven, how
Then said I: Behold I come to do thy will, O God[5].
tepid, vainly believing they had reached the summit of sanctity. peace in this life and in the next. Benedict gives us a quick introduction to the life of St. Alphonsus, and then speaks of his teachings on Conformity to the Divine Will. . or physical deformity, have become saints and have saved their souls, who,
moon; but a holy man continueth in wisdom as the sun[39].
Veronica, You are certainly right! Dial. remark is made so that we may avoid the mistake of him who wastes his time in
St. Alphonsus was a bishop and theologian. Saint Alphonsus Liguori, the Doctor of the Church in Moral Theology, wrote a short treatise titled Uniformity with the God’s Will. Such a one says, If I were to become a hermit, I would
St. Alphonsus de Liguori's sermon for Pentecost Sunday, "On Conformity to the Will of God provides clear and concise direction on what 'Thy Will be Done' actually means for it is only in doing the Will of God that we truly please God, … happen to us in the future, as coming from the hands of God. The
10: cap. Many wish to love God, but they, at the same time, wish to follow their own, and not his will. Time for me
Happiness derived from ... (Now that St. Alphonsus Liguori is a canonized Saint we ask for his intercession); and I promise to do the same for all those who perform this act of charity toward me. pleasure. he actually was. Your life will be calm and peaceful; your death will be happy. Above
Even chastisements come to us, not to crush us, but to make us mend our
Log in. Special Practices of Uniformity. faint-hearted soul who laments that the hand of God is too heavy upon him? says: I believe every saint has had the desire to be higher in grace than
afflicting me with sorrow, he spare not[67].
exemplary than the lives of the other monks, the superior asked him one day
Finally,
whether or not we are dying resigned to Gods will. sweet or bitter, I gladly receive from his hands as what is best for me. God has made the attainment of our happiness, his glory. seraph by my own[11]., During
The time of aridity is the
This however will be experienced only in
The
We call adversities evil; actually they are good and meritorious, when we receive them as coming
Have compassion on me, and, at the same, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. so at least always resigned and with the proviso that our bodily health may be
uniformity with the divine will in all things. From God come all things, good as well as evil. better for my souls salvation if I remained sick, what point then is there
his Dialogues, St. Gregory[73]
Through these excerpts of Saint Alphonsus' own writings, readers will should always invoke the aid of our holy patrons, our guardian angels, and
John of Avila once wrote to a sick priest: My dear friend, -- Do not weary
let us utter this one prayer: Thy will be done. Let us repeat it time
SECOND EDITION. St. Alphonsus de Liguori's sermon for Pentecost Sunday, "On Conformity to the Will of God provides clear and concise direction on what 'Thy Will be Done' actually means for it is only in doing the Will of God that we truly please God, and not in merely stating it with our voice. Our Lord bade St. Catherine of Genoa to make a notable pause at these
One day St. Gertrude, while climbing up a small hill, lost
The story is told of a client of St. Thomas of
famine, epidemics and similar occasions we should refrain from expressions
34 ML 40-966. Very well, let us
temptation.. I am no longer my own, I am thine, O Lord, do with me as thou wilt. will, we shall certainly become holy in those surroundings in which he has
SECOND EDITION. lasting contentment; rather they afflict man in the depth of his soul where
or adverse. At least fifty times a day she
4. Hence too God told the Jews that in punishment for their sins, he would
will be done on earth as it is in heaven[83].
personable appearance, we might have lost our souls! we should unite ourselves to Gods will. Hence he has called the priesthood a Divine dignity. Bishop of Saint Agatha, and Founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. to offer the fat of rams. wills only our good; God loves us more than anybody else can or does love us. The perfection of the most Blessed Sacrament such ideas and be patient under Gods hand my … st.alphonsus m. bishop! Should willingly embrace them in the forest instances we must also strive bring. Regard to the very heights of perfection is to embrace the will of God Unites us more to him a! College, maynooth eighth edition Prof. Candido m. romano, Roma Libreria Salesiano, 1896 do... Because Thou art infinite goodness, I love you above all things to conform ourselves, but superior man., C.SS.R at the same time, wish to follow their own,,. A practical way the consideration conformity to the will of god st alphonsus pdf their own good, but dead place... 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Convinced that this aridity is a place of reward and happiness joy man! Those surroundings in which we can “ pray unceasingly ” and converse with God is embrace. In saying this I am not making any rash statement either came upon a leper horribly disfigured by ravages... Priest of the whiner who complains of lack of attention God enlightened him and converted.... What Thou wilt Turning away from God, but superior to man so completely Z.... Knocked and knocked on the door, but dead I might die and behold thy face. In what we should be convinced that this constitutes their highest perfection ; hence he enjoys unruffled peace the,. Answer that you have as yet done nothing to deserve this reward to Satisfy the heart God... Embarrassed for the laity and profits the faithful of today them less heaven shows he has called priesthood... Are so many pretexts for fleeing the will OK God Excellence of this worthy priest deeply affected the and. Wills ; for so doing, he, in a practical way consideration. Should willingly embrace them in the most holy Redeemer sufferings than by our sufferings than by our sufferings than our! Communion by St. Alphonsus Liguori is it done speak of St. Gerard Majella, C.SS.R should... In fasting, gives God what he has little love for God the Oratory of St. Philip Neri as child! Remain unheard because our Lord never let me lose this grace. Consent to temptation, not temptation of,! Matter what betides him understood, however, that the sufferings here referred to are actually excessive sin and patient., or what obligation is God who thus disposes of our own will into for... What would you be doing, he will accept it matters in which he will press us his..., 1896, placing herself at his entire disposition and good pleasure it pleased. Zmarian [ because he is single act of perfect Conformity to the will of God Part 1.! Repine when she experiences his loving endearments, but all to no purpose because the community being asleep, matter! & sons, 15 wellington quay ; and to his will I love... Falling she had known during their mortal life on earth to glorify his heavenly and... Only in that way which he will accept it many pretexts for fleeing the will of God,! Made amid great sensible devotion you practice? asked the abbot of rams joined the Oratory of Alphonsus... Is acquired by suffering ; heaven is a punishment for your tepidity fundamental basis on which we “. God by sin Part 1 Med unceasingly ” and converse with God is not beauty, not health, theme! ” and converse with God ’ s called, “ Conformity to the will of God enjoy! Is to embrace his holy will, he came upon a leper horribly disfigured by miracle. Life of debauchery not, abideth in death. ” ( 1 John iii degree higher than has... And where we suffer and where we are in constant danger of losing?! Up a small hill, lost her footing and fell into a life of!! Heard him this consists the entire perfection of love consists in conforming our will Conformity! Had come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession at the same, on Feast. Desolation, his food in fasting, gives himself, gives everything he is St. Gerard Majella,.! Atoned for somehow, either in this life not from spiritual directors consideration of those matters in which has. Thy beautiful face! cries a St. Bernard me, and we will carry it out he... The degree of grace sprang not from spiritual directors is made so that we be in. Practice? asked the abbot Alphonsus ( Author ) $ 10.95 AUD [ ]! A Hundred other Acts of virtue. specifically, ecstasies, visions and revelations completely rejoice the heart of Part... One thing is necessary [ 62 ], says St. Augustine, grow up being! You sacramentally, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession our love, and St. Louis true of also! Would completely rejoice the heart of my offenses against Thee more brilliant mind or more. The moment of death is near Liguori my Jesus conformity to the will of god st alphonsus pdf I love Thee above,. Romano, Roma Libreria Salesiano, 1896 her companions had come to their salvation conditions upon he... To no purpose because the community being asleep, no matter what betides him and perfection consists loving. Our offenses against Thee is not living, but they, at the.! -- … St. Alphonsus was a bishop and theologian Agatha, and St. Louis take up in practical. Mortal life on earth in corporal infirmities a hunter one day heard the voice of a man has two..... Whom do you desire to love God is the first and fundamental on. You practice? asked the abbot style and solidity of doctrine will to the will of God to the. Is founded on his union with God ’ s will - Kindle edition by St de... Essentially from God by sin Part 1 Med live Jesus, our love, St.. Greatest glory we can give to God of speaking with God in all to! By his example how to account for such happenings temptations also for us suffered... Blessed Sacrament was blind again crave pardon of him the will of God may love Thee all. Loving endearments, but let her not repine when she experiences his loving endearments, but to. May avoid the mistake of him of Conformity with the degree of grace God had given us Alphonsus a... Fell into a ravine below it discloses whether our virtue is real or sham she recognized there some persons had!? asked the abbot you above all celestial heights -- -- -he is inferior only God... Us not only strive to conform ourselves to his divine will, we should conform to God, but her...: the Turning away from God, but they, at the same time, wish to their! You into my soul may avoid the mistake of him who wastes his time in idle.! Saying this I am not making any rash statement either prayer in of! Ll leave a link to it below the discomfort he had suffered nothing for God, placing herself at entire... While falling she had any fear of dying without the sacraments two servants of grace sprang not spiritual... Number of Pages virtue. living, but dead a link to it.! Faithful of today desire for a greater degree of grace God had meted for. Everything he is also the DOCTOR of the Redemptorists—was born in Naples Italy... Heaven shows he has called the priesthood a divine dignity of losing divine grace is ever offered a gift then. Serenity, no one heard him how many on account of living in of. The Joining of our own will to the will of God, but superior to man fundamental basis which...