THE MEMORY OF INTIMATE COMMUNICATIONS OF GRACE IS A SUSTAINING FORCE

When we are in periods of darkness, our light and strength comes from remembering our experiences of God.

When I hear what you say about the workings of grace in yourself. I am filled with an almost tangible joy; that is how God in his goodness deals with his children when they display goodwill! The profound impressions that your soul thus receives are not given merely for your progress in these days of fervour when the dew of heaven falls in a tangible way for your consolation and encouragement, but also for times of trial and darkness, should the Lord condemn you to them, as he sometimes does even those he loves much. Then the memory of intimate communications of grace is a sustaining force: one lives, so to speak, on this nourishment.

Letter to Casimir Aubert, 10 November 1835 EO VIII n 551

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1 Response to THE MEMORY OF INTIMATE COMMUNICATIONS OF GRACE IS A SUSTAINING FORCE

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    I focus for a moment on the joy that Eugene receives in hearing about Casimir’s experience(s) of God – that too is a gift to others. To recognize in others what we hold dearest within ourselves is a gift beyond measure. It opens a shared channel between hearts. I think of the image of the flaming hearts being shared outwards.

    I think for a moment of the parable of the woman loses a pearl and how she searches for it until it is found; then invites her friends to come and celebrate and share her joy in finding it.

    It is not only our own experiences of God that nourish and sustain us, but also when another whom we love shares their personal experience of God with us. It is as if the joy in our heart jumps up and runs out to meet their joy (and even as I type the words the image of Mary and Elizabeth comes to mind). I remember how a year or so ago a friend of mine returned from a retreat he’d taken part in – he looked different somehow. He shared with me that God have given to him what he had been waiting for his entire life. That was all that he said and my heart jumped to share his joy and as we hugged each other there were tears of joy between us; the joy that Eugene speaks of as tangible.

    Our hearts are touching the divine within us at those moments. That too is a description of ‘sharing the Good News’. The image of those flaming hearts seems almost to come to life.

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