The psychology of the saints.

  • Joly, Henri, 1839-1925.
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The psychology of the saints. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    “the bad spirit” is that which causes doubt and sadness even in the midst of sensible pleasures. This is very unlike the “ Bear and forbear ” (sustine et abstine) of the stoic. The saint tells his disciples what he tells himself: “ Mistrust a state of hope- lessness and depression, because you are then under the influence of a bad spirit, but when your heart is light and you feel strong and joyous, go forward, for God is with you.” Is not this the best possible incentive to action ? For it is surely better to begin by resolute action which is in time reinforced by a feeling of manly joy, than to start with a feeling of pleasure which is likely to become insipid and to weaken the energy of the soul. To come now to a practical conclusion : we must make profit out of desolation as out of any other punishment, trial or lesson, but we must also fight against it by means of reflection and prayer and still more by constancy to former resolutions made in time of consolation. From a merely human point of view, this rule, if followed, must carry us victorious through useless regrets and moments of weakness. It is to no purpose to object that there is danger of confounding consolation and illusion, and that desola- tion may sometimes be only a clearer sight of real difficulties and obstacles, for the saints do not fall into either of these errors. They have entertained preliminary doubts when these were in any way reasonable, for, as the Scriptures tell us, there is a time for all things, a time for hesitation and a time for decision. If there are difficulties when the time comes for execution, there is all the greater need of M