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The Primacy of Acceptance
All Virtues are from the Lord
If it seems the Lord has already given us virtue, let us understand that actually it has been received and that he can take it away, as in fact often happens, but not without his wonderful providence. Haven’t you seen this in yourselves, Sisters? I have. Sometimes I think I am very detached; and as a matter of fact when put to the test, I am. At another time I will find myself so attached, and perhaps to things that the day before I would have made fun of, that I almost don’t know myself… Now since this is true, who will be able to say of themselves that they are virtuous or rich? For at the very moment, when there is need of virtue one finds oneself poor, and not go into debt when we do not have the means with which to repay. The treasure will have to come from elsewhere, and we do not know when the Lord will want to leave us in the prison of our misery without giving us anything. And if others in thinking that we are good, bestow favour and honour on us — which is the borrowing I mentioned, both they and we ourselves will have been fooled. True, if we serve with humility, the Lord in the end will succor us in our needs; but if this poverty of spirit is not genuinely present at every step, as they say, the Lord will abandon us. And this abandonment by the Lord is one of his greatest favours, for he does it so that we might be humble and understand…
