In Love with The Divine Outcast

For the power to give up many things―every earthly thing―is at the bottom a power of not being able to do without other things. He to whom honour is P. 49 necessary can do without money. He who must have God's communion can do without the sweet companionship of fellow-men. He who cannot lose his eternity, can easily cast aside time and the body which belongs to it, and by the martyr's slow or sudden death exchange the visible for the invisible, the symbol for the reality; nay, he who values most intensely his friend's or his child's life, can, easily, but still not grudgingly, let go the joy and daily comfort of his friend's or his child's hourly presence, and see him die that he may enter into life.

On these two ladders, the order of human character mounts up―the power to do without, and the power not to do without. As we grow better, there are some things that are always growing looser in their grasp upon us; there are other things that are always taking a tighter hold upon our life. We sweep up out of the grasp of money, praise, ease, distinction. We sweep up into the necessity of truth, courage, virtue, love and God. The gravitation of the earth grows weaker, the gravitation of the stars takes stronger and stronger hold upon us. And, on the other hand, as we grow worse, as we go down, the terrible opposite of all this comes to pass. The highest necessities we let go, and the lowest necessities take tighter hold on us. Still, as we go down, we are judged by what we can do P. 50 without and what we cannot do without. We come down at last to where we cannot do without a comfortable dinner and an easy bed, but we can without an act of charity or a thought of God.

The abiding in Christ, then, demands a surrender of all that hinders the union of the soul with Him. Here is no broad rule that can be laid down beforehand; it is an individual matter between each soul and Christ. All possibility of pride or harsh criticism of others is out of the question, for none can judge beforehand of what another ought to give up. Each must follow as he is led, resolving that if need be he will give up all for Him. 

Our Lord said to St. Margaret Mary. "I am looking for a Victim who is willing to sacrifice herself for the fulfillment of My designs. Wilt thou give Me thy heart as a refuge for My suffering Heart Which is despised by men?"

And what response will be made by generous souls? There are offers of help from all sides, such as Our Lord was hoping to receive when He made his pitiful and reiterated appeal. Xavierine de Maistre writes: "My God and my All, I realize Thy mysterious operations in my soul, I have heard Thy appeal, and behold, I am ready. I offer myself to Thee to be Thy victim and the full acceptance of the term. I deliver over to Thee my body, my soul, and my heart, and all that I have, so that Thou mayest sacrifice P. 51 them

Continue with Chapter Five