June 26th
St Chantal on Prayer
Abandonment and Trust

I may add that it is this that our blessed father [St Francis de Sales] would always order me to practice, holding the mind in all simplicity and directness, without act or effort, in that simple gaze upon God and contemplation of God, in total surrender to His will; without a wish to see, or feel, or carry out any work, but merely content to remain in His presence -- relaxed, at peace, confident, patient, never inspecting self to see how things are going, nor what one is doing, feeling or enduring.  No, you must not inquire what your soul is doing, has done, or will do, nor what may happen to it in any future event or contingency.  From this position you  must not budge because this sole and single gaze upon God embraces all our duty, especially in a state of suffering.

Of course, all this you know already and I am simply assuring you now of the truth of it.  So hold fast to this simple state, and at the instant that you notice your mind drifting away from it, draw yourself back gently, without strain, or looking about, or self-dissection, concerning anything whatever.  One thing alone is necessary:  it is to have God.  In short, then, no matter what is going on, we must hold both our attention and our love on God, not wasting our time in studying what is happening to ourselves, nor what is its cause.  Our Lord asks this of us.

Carry on with your holy Communions and other spiritual duties as usual, without asking yourself how you are discharging them, and leave to God Himself all care for your salavtion and spiritual life, along with everything else which concerns you.  To Him you have sacrificed all, to Him given up all:  so let Him take charge.  Amen.  May God be blessed.