Volume I, Treatise VIII, Chapter VIII
Wherein It Is Proved, by Several Examples, How Pleasing to God Conformity to the Divine Will Is
Czsanius relates that in a certain monastery there was a religious, upon whom God had so abundantly conferred the gift of miracles, that he cured the sick by the very touch of his habit or girdle. The abbot of the monastery taking notice of it, and not discerning any particular mark of sanctity in the religious, took him aside, and forced him to discover whence it came, that God worked so many miracles by his means. I cannot conceive the reason, answered the religious; forI do not fast more than others; I practise no more austerities and penances than others; I neither work nor watch, nor do I spend more time in prayer and meditation, than others-do. All in reality I can say of myself is, that { am neither puffed up with prosperity, nor dejected with adversity; so that whatsoever happens, I am never discomposed, or troubled in mind; and in all the misfortunes which are annexed to this life, whether they fall upon me in particular, or my brethren in general, { always, notwithstanding, retain equal temper and peace of mind as before. But were you not somewhat concerned, replied the abbot, when the enemy put fire to our farm, and burnt it down? Not in the least, said the religious; I was not at all troubled thereat; because I have long since resigned all things into the hands of God; and so let whatever happen, whether good or bad, great or small, I receive them with equal thanksgiving, as coming from the hand of the Almighty. By this, the abbot clearly understood that doubtless this resignation was the cause of the many miracles which God wrought by this holy man.
Blosius relates, that a certain poor man, living in great sanctity of life, was asked by a grave divine, how and by what means he had arrived to so great perfection? In making a firm resolution, answered the poor man, to attach myself to nothing but the will of God; to which I have so conformed my own will, that whatever he. wills, I willthesame. When | am pinched with hunger, or shivering with cold, I praise God. And whether it be foul or fair, sunshine or stormy, what weather soever it be, I always bless God for it. Whether he sends me of himself some fortunate or unfortunate accident, or permits it to happen, I receive all from his hand with joy; since nothing can come from him but good; and I resign myself with profound humility into the arms of his fatherly care and providence. All that is not God, can never give me content; and as soon as I find God I rejoice in continual comfort and tranquillity.
The same Blosius makes mention of a holy virgin who, being asked how she arrived to so high a pitch of perfection, answered, by conforming myself in all things to the will of God, and receiving all things as sent me by him; by endeavouring always to render good for evil, and never complaining to any one of my sufferings when I receive any injury from others; but still having recourse to God alone, of whom I receive new vigour and comfort. The same author affirms, that the like question being proposed to another holy virgin, she replied with humility, that she never yet had suffered so much but that she could have wished to suffer more for the love of God, and that she received all the afflictions sent her by God as a most singular favour, of which she judged herself wholly unworthy.
Taulerus relates, that several persons came from divers parts to recommend the good success of their affairs to a holy virgin who lived in perfect resignation to God’s will. She promised them all to remember their demands in her prayers; but frequently forgot what she promised. Nevertheless, all that was recommended to her succeeded happily, and all attributed the event to her prayers, so that she received thanks and acknowledgments from all parts, to which she answered she had contributed nothing on her part, and that they were to thank God only. Several people coming to thank her in this manner, she complained one day to God most tenderly for his having been pleased to give success to all those undertakings recommended to her, which, though she had not so much as thought of in her prayers, yet she received all the thanks. My daughter, answered our Saviour, from the first moment you’put your will into my hands, I put also mine into yours, so, though you asked me nothing in particular, I never omitted to perform all things to your intention by the knowledge I have of what you desired.
There is mention made in the lives of the holy fathers, of a husbandman, whose grounds brought forth much more fruit than those of others, and his neighbours asking him the reason, he replied, Do not be amazed that I reap a far greater crop from my lands than you from yours, since J have all sorts of seasons, all weathers at my wish. This answer surprised them more than the former; and having urged him earnestly to declare to them the reason; it is, said he, because I never wish nor seek for any other weather than what God pleases; and as I never desire anything but what he wills, he gives me an income as good as I could desire.
Severus Sulpicius, in the Life of St. Martin, relates, that all the time he knew this holy bishop he never saw him transported with the least passion of anger or discontent; but, on the contrary, his very countenance bespoke content and satisfaction. The cause of this, says he, is, that whatever happened to this great saint he looked upon as immediately sent him from God, and that be conformed himself to the divine will with an entire. abnegation and perfect resignation.
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