attachments and lack thereof

[Bailey2]

I posted something about detachment on another thread and I thought I'd share where I got my thoughts.  I'm reading this book that contains some of St. Francis de Sales's spiritual direction letters to St. Jane Francis de Chantal.  Below is part of what I was reading.  I thought it might start a discussion of its own.  I have been praying over this because of some work I find myself too attached to and also a life-style I have liked but now have to move it in another direction.  But anyway, here is where I got the thought about being detached from ways of worshiping.

“The freedom I’m referring to is the ‘freedom of the children of God’ who know they are loved. And what is that?  It’s the detachment of a Christian heart from all things so that it is free to follow the known will of God………..

First characteristic: The heart that enjoys this freedom is not attached to consolations….. I’m not saying that the person doesn’t like or long for these consolations, but just that her heart isn’t bound to them.

Second characteristic: A person who has this spirit is not emotionally bound to her spiritual exercises; so, if she can’t do them because of illness or some emergency, she doesn’t get upset.  Again, I’m not saying she doesn’t like them, but that she is not attached to them.

Third, she hardly ever loses her joy, for no deprivation can sadden a person whose heart is attached to nothing.  This isn’t to say that she can’t lose her joy, but if she does, it’s never for very long.”


He goes on to say that the effect of this is inner serenity, gentleness, and flexibility.  The example he gives is that one who is interrupted praying “who is attached to the exercise will be flustered, upset, and taken back.”  A person with this freedom will leave her prayer, “unruffled and gracious toward the person who has unexpectedly disturbed her…… that to her it is all the same—serving God by praying or serving Him by responding to her neighbor.”

St. Francis de Sales to St. Jane Francis de Chantal

[Brigid]

Second characteristic: A person who has this spirit is not emotionally bound to her spiritual exercises; so, if she can’t do them because of illness or some emergency, she doesn’t get upset.  Again, I’m not saying she doesn’t like them, but that she is not attached to them.

Third, she hardly ever loses her joy, for no deprivation can sadden a person whose heart is attached to nothing.  This isn’t to say that she can’t lose her joy, but if she does, it’s never for very long.”


He goes on to say that the effect of this is inner serenity, gentleness, and flexibility.  The example he gives is that one who is interrupted praying “who is attached to the exercise will be flustered, upset, and taken back.”  A person with this freedom will leave her prayer, “unruffled and gracious toward the person who has unexpectedly disturbed her…… that to her it is all the same—serving God by praying or serving Him by responding to her neighbor.”

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. Am I far away from that!

[Shin]

There's a way.. there's a way! We -can- do it! 

I know we can!

[martin]

My word Baily2!… That’s put the cat among the pigeons.

The closer I try to get to God the further away I seem to be...
It’s not fair! He keeps moving the goal posts!  
Looks like I’ll be stuck with the Rosary for along long time yet and at my age I don’t have a long long time.  :'(

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. Am I far away from that! Embarrassed

There's a way.. there's a way! We -can- do it!  boxing cherubim flower

I know we can!

PS.. It's ok.. The panics off.... Your right Shin there is a way... For man this is impossible but with God all things are possible.
                                                 ALLELUIA !!    

[Brigid]

The closer I try to get to God the further away I seem to be...
It’s not fair! He keeps moving the goal posts!   

 

For man this is impossible but with God all things are possible.

Phew!
 

[Bailey2]

You all sound so ........... hmmm............ like you make something do-able, something out of reach!

I have been working on this.  He says you don't have to enjoy the giving up of attachments and he also says you're going to have natural reactions to giving up consolations in prayer, infractions on time, etc.  He simply says to think first, and then do what charity dictates.

Ex.  We were 4 hrs away from home yesterday and our oldest son called us from the 24 hr emerg. clinic so we could verbally give permission for him to be treated (he's 17.10).  He had fallen while long boarding.  Long story short, he broke his hand.  So getting home at 9 pm, my husband and I had to go get his car (a friend drove him home).  This a.m., I have had to change my whole routine in order to tape up his hand for shower and drive him to work........... oops, and now he just stopped in to ask me to make his lunch.   That's what St Francis de Sales is talking about................ charity...........  not happy about it........... but I smile and be as gracious as I can focusing on him rather than my inconvenience.  (and sometimes one must really squash the feelings and bite hard the tongue!!! )

[Patricia]

A person with this freedom will leave her prayer, “unruffled and gracious toward the person who has unexpectedly disturbed her…… that to her it is all the same—serving God by praying or serving Him by responding to her neighbor.”

So getting home at 9 pm, my husband and I had to go get his car (a friend drove him home).  This a.m., I have had to change my whole routine in order to tape up his hand for shower and drive him to work........... oops, and now he just stopped in to ask me to make his lunch.   

Ample opportunity for serving God as  a mother.  

[martin]

What a day you've had Bialy2 !!
Hope your son's hand not too messed up and he recovers soon. Bless him.

Again I got the wrong end of the stick concerning the prayer topic.
There was me thinking I had to grow out of formulated prayer and reach this mystical union where forms of prayer no longer matter when all it really meant was that charity to neighbor comes first..  Phew   ( Well I am Irish)  

Bless you too Baily2. Being a parent is half way to sainthood  

[Bailey2]

There was me thinking I had to grow out of formulated prayer and reach this mystical union where forms of prayer no longer matter when all it really meant was that charity to neighbor comes first..  Phew  sweat drop ( Well I am Irish)   Embarrassed

I think that the practice of charity will get us there faster than formulated prayer and that is why St Francis said what he said about leaving prayer to practice charity if one is so interrupted.  And why St. Teresa Avila said, "love then do what you will."   

but that's my way I guess...... not yours.