GOD dwelling within us, the life of CHRIST Himself, when on earth, living
always in His FATHER'S Presence.
It is the life of which S. Paul speaks when he says, "nevertheless I live;
yet not I, but CHRIST liveth in me."
All saints must lead this life, and their degree of holiness is in
proportion to the perfection of their union with GOD.
CHRIST animates their souls, even as the soul animates the body.
They own CHRIST as Master, Counsellor, and Guide; and nothing is done
without submitting it to Him, and imploring His aid and approval.
CHRIST is their strength, their refuge, their defender.
They live in constant dependence upon Him, as their Father, Protector, and
all-powerful King.
They are drawn to Him, as the child is drawn by love, the poor by need.
They let themselves be guided by Him, as the blind let themselves be led
by the child in whom they confide; they bear all suffering that comes from
Him, as the sick, in order to be healed, bear suffering at the hands of a
physician; and they lean on Him, as the child leans on its mother's
breast.
It lifts them above the troubles and miseries of life; the whole world may
seem a prey to calamities; themselves, deprived of their goods through
injustice or accident; they lose their relations through death, their
friends through treachery or forgetfulness, their reputation and honor
from slander, a serious illness deprives them of health, their happiness
is destroyed by hardness and temptations.... Ah! no doubt, they will have
these trials, no doubt they must shed bitter tears, but still GOD'S peace
will remain to them, the peace that passeth all understanding; they will
realize GOD has ordered it, guided it with His Hand Divine, and they will
be able to exclaim with joy, "Thou art left to us, and Thou art
all-sufficient!"
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