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Once an individual is drawn into God's orbit, withdrawing into his own interior and surrendering himself to Him in loving union, he has forever resolved the problem. It suffices that he allow himself to be directed and guided by the Spirit of God- who henceforth moves him noticeably - because he has always and everywhere the certainty of acting rightly.

Only in union with the divine Head does human suffering take on expiatory power. To suffer and to be happy although suffering, to have one's feet on the earth, to walk on the dirty and rough paths of this earth and yet to be enthroned with Christ at the Father's right hand, to laugh and cry with the children of this world and ceaselessly to sing the praises of God with the choirs of angels. This is the life of the Christian until the morning of eternity breaks forth.

On the road to union with God the night of faith shall guide me.

Full of love you sink your gaze into mine,

And bend your ear to my quiet words,

And deeply fill my heart with peace.

Courage then, O soul most beautiful!  You now know that your Beloved dwells hidden within your own breast. Endeavor therefore to be truly hidden with Him.

He wants to be my peace...He will keep me as still and as peaceful in His presence as if my soul were already in eternity.

When I see souls very earnest in trying to understand the prayer they have and very sullen when they are in it- for it seems they don't dare let their minds move or stir lest a bit of their spiritualdelight and devotion be lost- it makes me realize how little they understand of the way by which union is attained.

Some there are who call the Bridegroom their Beloved, but He is not really beloved, because their heart is not wholly with Him. Their prayers are, therefore, not so effectual before God, and they shall not obtain their petitions until, persevering in prayer, they fix their minds more constantly upon God and their hearts more wholly in loving affection upon Him, for nothing can be obtained from God but by love.

God has to work in the soul in secret and in darkness because if we fully knew what was happening, and what Mystery, transformation, God and Grace will eventually ask of us, we would either try to take charge or stop the whole process.

"In perfect love this law holds:

that the lover become like the one he loves;

for the greater their likeness the greater their delight.

Surely your bride's delight would greatly increase

were she to see you like her, in her own flesh."

"My will is yours," the Son replied,

"and my glory is that your will be mine...

When the spiritual man has been brought to nothing, when his humility is perfect, then will take place the union of the soul with God. This consists not in spiritual refreshment, sweetness and fine sentiments but in the living death of the cross.

I see in each infant a creature justified and within the Church another child capable of giving honor to God.