Elizabeth Seton: Conference
Elizabeth Seton: Conference
"I WILL tell you what is my own great help. I once read or heard that an interior life means but the continuation of our Savior's life in us; that the great object of all his mysteries is to merit for us the grace of his interior life and communicate it to us, it being the end of his mission to lead us into the sweet land of promise, a life of constant union with himself.
And what was the first rule of our dear Savior's life? You know it was to do his Father's will. Well, then, the first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills; and thirdly, to do it because it is his will.
I know what his will is by those who direct me; whatever they bid me do, if it is ever so small in itself, is the will of God for me. Then do it in the manner he wills it, not sewing an old thing as if it were new, or a new thing as if it were old; not fretting because the oven is too hot, or in a fuss because it is too cold. You understand - not flying and driving because you are hurried, not creeping like a snail because no one pushes you.
Our dear Savior was never in extremes. The third object is to do his will because God wills it, that is, to be ready to quit at any moment and to do anything else to which you may be called....
You think it very hard to lead a life of such restraint unless you keep your eye of faith always open. Perseverance is a great grace. To go on gaining and advancing every day, we must be resolute, and bear and suffer as our blessed forerunners did. Which of them gained heaven without a struggle?...
What are our real trials? By what name shall we call them? One cuts herself out a cross of pride; another, one of causeless discontent; another, one of restless impatience or peevish fretfulness. But is the whole any better than children's play if looked at with the common eye of faith? Yet we know certainly that our God calls us to a holy life, that he gives every grace, every abundant grace; and though we are so weak of ourselves, this grace is able to carry us through every obstacle and difficulty.
But we lack courage to keep a continual watch over nature, and therefore, year after year, with our thousand graces, multiplied resolutions, and fair promises, we run around in a circle of misery and imperfections. After a long time in the service of God, we come nearly to the point from whence we set out, and perhaps with even less ardor for penance and mortification than when we began our consecration to him.
You are now in your first set out. Be above the vain fears of nature and efforts of your enemy. You are children of eternity. Your immortal crown awaits you, and the best of Fathers waits there to reward your duty and love. You may indeed sow here in tears, but you may be sure there to reap in joy." [St. Joseph Daily Prayer Book, Catholic Book Publishing Co. NJ (2001) pp. 216-17. Imprimatur: +Patrick J. Sherdan, D.D., Archdiocese of New York. Used for religious and educational purposes only under 17 USC 107.]
Note from the pastor: Our foremost objective is to obey God, but
there are times when knowing what God wants in a specific matter is
not easy. Mother Seton's insight, which has a long tradition in the
church, is that God guides those He calls to shepherd his people.
When our religious superior directs us to act, we trust that God is
guiding him and so we obey. Although Jesus is the Good Shepherd
(John
10:11-17; Psalm 23), He has
called some people to share in this role. When those who are
shepherds in the church, those who are called to be pastors of the
church, give us goals, guidelines, directives and regulations, as
well as teach the truth in God's name, we are called to obey. No one
claims this is easy for modern people to do, because we are
culturally trained to promote our own ideas and self-interest.
However, this is not the way the church works. The Pope guides and
directs the whole church (CCC881),
the bishop
does this for the local church, his diocese, and those he sends to
smaller communities guide the parishes. (CCC
1547) Parishioners listen to
their priest, who obeys the bishop who accepts direction from the
Pope (CCC871f).
Even if one feels that these shepherds are making a mistake, be
docile and pray
for your shepherd. In the unlikely event that a shepherd urges
something sinful, we must not obey, but still we must prayer for that
leader. If people are unwilling to obey when the matter is difficult
or disagreeable, the church will know no peace and unity will be
destroyed. See
The Church is One.
"We know certainly that our God calls us to a holy life. We know
that he gives us every grace, every abundant grace; and though we are
so weak of ourselves, this grace is able to carry us through every
obstacle and difficulty. " Saint
Elizabeth Ann Seton.
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