A Reading: On Fervor

Retreat Notes. Lyons, 1674

It is strange how many enemies we have to fight as soon as we make the resolution to become a saint. It would seem that everything is let loose against us: the devil with his snares; the world and its attractions; nature with its resistance to all good desires; the praise of the good; the mockery of the wicked; the suggestions of the tepid. If God visits us, vanity is to be feared. If God withdraws himself, we fall into dejection. Despair may succeed the greatest fervor.

Our friends tempt us because we are accustomed to try and please them; the indifferent because we fear to displease them. Indiscretion is to be feared in fervor, sensuality in moderation, and self-love everywhere. What is to be done? We have no refuge but in thee, O God. "As we know not what to do, we can only turn our eyes to thee" (2 Chron. 20:12)

Above all, as sanctity does not consist in being faithful for a day or a year but in persevering until death, we must use God as a shield which covers us completely because we are attacked from all sides. "His truth shall compass thee as a shield" (Ps 91:5)

God must do everything. All the better; there will be no fear of failure. As for ourselves, we have only to acknowledge our powerlessness and to be fervent and constant in asking for help through the intercession of Mary, to whom God refuses nothing; but even this we cannot do without a great grace, or rather without many graces.

Letter 137. London, 1678

The spirit of God inclines us to fervor, but this fervor is calm and causes no trouble either to ourselves or to others; when it meets with obstacles it knows how to stop and submit to God's will. Its only arms are patience and gentleness. You want to be a martyr; you have a daily martyrdom which you endure unwillingly and without resignation! I see nothing reasonable in such a desire and nothing which looks like an inspiration.

St. Claude de la Colombiere