THE FOLLOWING OF CHRIST

BY THOMAS A KEMPIS
Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur, 1941

CHAPTER 33: OF THE INCONSTANCY OF OUR HEART,
AND OF DIRECTING OUR FINAL INTENTION TO GOD

SON, trust not to thy feeling; whatever it may be now it will be quickly changed into another. As long as thou livest thou art subject to change, even against thy will; so as to be sometimes joyful, at other times sad; now at peace, again troubled; at one time devout, at another indevout; sometimes fervent, at other times sluggish; one day heavy, another elated.

But he that is wise and well instructed in spirit stands above all these changes, not minding what he feels in himself, nor on what side the wind of instability bloweth: but that the whole bent of his soul may be made conducive towards the due and wished-for end.

For thus one and the same and unshaken can he stand, directing, through all this variety of events, the single eye of his intention unflinchingly towards Me.

2. And the purer the eye of thine intention is, with so much greater constancy wilt thou pass through these diverse storms.

But in many the eye of pure intention is dark; for men quickly look towards something delightful as it comes in their way; and seldom will you find anyone altogether free from all blemish of self-seeking.

So of old the Jews came into Bethania, to Martha and Mary, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also.

The eye of the intention must therefore be purified, that it may be single and right; and it must be directed unto Me, beyond all various objects that come between.

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

IN order to fix the instability of our hearts in what regards the service of God, and the care of our salvation, we should, first, mistrust, ourselves and confide in God; secondly, we should have recourse to Him and implore His assistance on all occasions; thirdly, we should often renew our intention of pleasing Him, without wishing to please ourselves; fourthly, we should fight without ceasing against our natural repugnances; fifthly, we should desire only what God wills, and endeavor to execute it; sixthly, we should habituate our hearts to love God, and, as it were, contract those holy bonds by which He desires to be united with us forever; and, seventhly, we should punctually attend to the inspirations and motions of His grace.

PRAYER.

WHEN shall Thy grace, O God, inspire me with some degree of that firmness and faithful adherence to Thee which Thy glory imparts to the blessed? Suffer not my heart to be overcome by that inconstancy which is so natural to it, nor my life to be a perpetual succession of good desires and evil practices, of promises and infidelities. Not to love Thee at all times is to love Thee not as God; Thy reign over our hearts, to be worthy of Thee, should be constant and invariable.

Grant, then, O God, that my soul may be all Thine, at all times, and forever; and that, by my perpetual fidelity, I may merit eternal happiness. Amen.

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