SECTION IX.--Sanctity Made Easy.
Conclusion of the first chapter. How easy sanctity becomes
when this doctrine is properly understood.
I believe that if those souls that tend towards sanctity were
instructed as to the conduct they ought to follow, they would
be spared a good deal of trouble. I speak as much of people
in the world as of others. If they could realise the merit concealed
in the actions of each moment of the day: I mean in
each of the daily duties of their state of life, and if they could be
persuaded that sanctity is founded on that to which they give
no heed as being altogether irrelevant, they would indeed be
happy. If, besides, they understood that to attain the utmost
height of perfection, the safest and surest way is to accept the
crosses sent them by Providence at every moment, that the true
philosopher's stone is submission to the will of God which
changes into divine gold all their occupations, troubles, and sufferings, what consolation would be theirs! What courage would
they not derive from the thought that to acquire the friendship
of God, and to arrive at eternal glory, they had but to do what they
were doing, but to suffer what they were suffering, and that what
they wasted and counted as nothing would suffice to enable
them to arrive at eminent sanctity: far more so than extraordinary states and wonderful works. O my God! how much
I long to be the missionary of Your holy will, and to teach all
men that there is nothing more easy, more attainable, more
within reach, and in the power of everyone, than sanctity.
How I wish that I could make them understand that just as
the good and the bad thief had the same things to do and to
suffer; so also two persons, one of whom is worldly and the
other leading an interior and wholly spiritual life have, neither
of them, anything different to do or to suffer; but that one
is sanctified and attains eternal happiness by submission to
Your holy will in those very things by which the other is damned
because he does them to please himself, or endures them with
reluctance and rebellion. This proves that it is only the heart
that is different. Oh! all you that read this, it will cost you
no more than to do what you are doing, to suffer what you are
suffering, only act and suffer in a holy manner. It, is the
heart that must be changed. When I say heart, I mean will.
Sanctity, then, consists in willing all that God wills for us. Yes!
sanctity of heart is a simple "fiat," a conformity of will with the will of God.
What could be more easy, and who could refuse to love a will
so kind and so good? Let us love it then, and this love, alone
will make everything in us divine.